The V-Moda M-200 ANC is a $500 over-the-ear headphone with customizable earcup shields and, as the name implies, active noise cancellation.

The headphones, which are currently on sale, may be one of the few headphones that can nearly match the AirPods Max's $549 price tag, but there is no doubt that the M-200 ANC is overflowing with many features not found in Apple's headphones. [For example, ANC can be adjusted to 10 levels via the mobile app, with six EQ presets and full customization of bass, mids, and treble. Personalization seems to be the primary focus of the M2-200 ANC in general, as the aluminum shields on the outside of the ear cups can be removed and replaced with different designs.

According to V-Moda, there will initially be six color options, with the ability to print or laser-engrave custom designs in the future. This is quite an answer to the AirPods Max's $69 interchangeable earcup pads.

Acoustically, the M-200 ANC features 40mm dynamic drivers and, like the JBL Tour One, is certified for high-res audio playback from lossless music sources. aptX Bluetooth codec support is also available.

The smart features of the M-200 ANC may make the AirPods Max hesitant. Covering the left ear cup with your hand activates the "Voice In" mode, which lowers the playback volume and pauses ANC until you move away. This appears to be an ambient mode that does not need to be triggered manually in the app or activated with a delicate tap, which may be a practical improvement for many ANC headphones.

The noise-canceling battery life is a modest 20 hours, which is the only thing not particularly extreme about the M-200 ANC; $500 may be a few dollars less than the AirPods Max, but it's still a fraction of the price of other best far higher than what you'd pay for most noise-canceling headphones, such as Sony's WH-1000XM4.