Cardo + SCHUBERTH Launch the SC EDGE ANC: Active Noise Cancellation Built for Riders
Wind noise above 60mph sits around 95 decibels. Sustained exposure at that level causes fatigue within hours, and over a season, it adds up to real hearing damage. The SC EDGE ANC, developed by Cardo and SCHUBERTH specifically for the C5 ANC helmet, addresses that problem without trading away the sounds you actually need to hear.
This is not a universal noise-cancelling product repurposed for riding. The SC EDGE ANC was tuned from the ground up to match the acoustic profile of the C5 ANC helmet, and that distinction matters more than any spec on paper.
What the SC EDGE ANC Actually Does
Rider fatigue on long days comes mostly from two sources: physical effort and constant auditory processing. Your brain filters wind roar and engine noise the whole time you are riding, and that work costs something. The SC EDGE ANC removes that load by reducing the continuous background noise inside the helmet while keeping the sounds that carry information - traffic movement, emergency sirens, horns - intact and audible
The system sits fully integrated into the C5 ANC helmet rather than clipped onto it, which gives SCHUBERTH's acoustics engineers full control over how the ANC calibration interacts with the helmet's existing noise management design. The result is a quieter interior than passive foam inserts or aftermarket earplugs can achieve, without the disorienting effect of aggressive blanket noise cancellation that blocks everything indiscriminately.
For riders who spend multiple hours in the saddle, especially on motorways or in open terrain where wind load is constant, the difference shows up clearly by the second half of a long day.
“We are excited to be launching the C5 ANC helmet to market, a helmet that brings industry-leading innovation to the end consumer. SCHUBERTH has a long history of developing rider-focused helmets, with aeroacoustics, safety, and comfort as three of the leading factors in the development of all our products. With the C5 ANC, we take this to a new level of performance and provide riders with a product that once again provides them with an unparalleled riding experience.”
Matteo Schieppati, Head of Business Unit Motorcycle
(Read the full case study here)
The Audio Hardware
The SC EDGE ANC uses 53mm speakers developed by Cardo Sound Labs, a significant step up from the 40mm JBL units in the standard PACKTALK EDGE. That extra driver surface area is not cosmetic. Music and turn-by-turn navigation instructions both benefit from it, and intercom conversation quality at speed improves because the speaker can reproduce voice frequencies with more clarity against the reduced noise floor the ANC creates.
Communication: Full 2nd Generation DMC
On the communication side, the SC EDGE ANC carries the same 2nd Generation Dynamic Mesh Communication found in the PACKTALK EDGE, PACKTALK PRO, and PACKTALK NEO. That means a self-healing mesh network for groups of up to 15 riders, with unit-to-unit range of up to 1.6km (approximately 1 mile) and a group range of up to 8km across the network. Real-world range varies by terrain and obstacles, but the mesh architecture means a single rider dropping signal does not break the whole group's connection the way a standard Bluetooth chain would.
The unit pairs via Bluetooth 5.2, supports Natural Voice Operation so you can manage calls, intercom, and music by saying "Hey Cardo" without touching any buttons, and receives over-the-air firmware updates through the Cardo Connect App. All current Cardo units support OTA updates, and the SC EDGE ANC is no different.
The Partnership Behind the Product
SCHUBERTH and Cardo first previewed the SC EDGE ANC at EICMA 2025. The collaboration goes deeper than a co-branding exercise. The two companies worked across every development stage to calibrate the ANC specifically to the C5's internal acoustic shape, rather than applying a generalised noise profile.
Matteo Schieppati, Head of Business Unit Motorcycle at SCHUBERTH, described the C5 ANC as taking their long-standing focus on aeroacoustics and comfort to a new performance level. The integration with Cardo's communication technology is what makes it functional as a complete riding system rather than just a quiet helmet.
Who Is SC EDGE ANC For?
The SC EDGE ANC is built for riders who want full mesh communication and premium audio alongside genuine noise reduction, and who are buying or already own a SCHUBERTH C5 ANC helmet. If you ride long distances, tour regularly, or cover significant motorway miles, the fatigue reduction case for ANC is concrete rather than theoretical.
If you ride with a group, the 15-rider DMC capacity and self-healing mesh give you the same communication performance as any standalone PACKTALK EDGE. The ANC and the 53mm speakers are what you gain by going the integrated C5 ANC route.
SC EDGE ANC - FAQs
Is the SC EDGE ANC compatible with helmets other than the SCHUBERTH C5 ANC?
No. The SC EDGE ANC is developed and calibrated specifically for the SCHUBERTH C5 ANC helmet. Because the ANC tuning is matched to the acoustic profile of that specific helmet's interior, it is not available as a standalone unit or as an add-on for other helmets.
Does the SC EDGE ANC have Crash Detection?
No. Crash Detection is available on the PACKTALK PRO only. It is not a feature on the SC EDGE ANC or the standard PACKTALK EDGE.
Can riders using the SC EDGE ANC communicate with riders on other Cardo units?
Yes. The SC EDGE ANC uses 2nd Generation DMC, so it connects natively with other Cardo DMC units in a mesh group of up to 15 riders. It also connects via Bluetooth to Sena and other major brands for basic intercom, though cross-brand communication uses a Bluetooth chain rather than mesh, which means lower group capacity and no self-healing if a rider drops out.
Does Active Noise Cancellation block out all sounds?
No, and by design. The SC EDGE ANC is calibrated to reduce wind and engine noise, the constant background frequencies that contribute to fatigue, while preserving sounds like traffic, emergency sirens, and other environmental cues that matter for rider awareness. It targets the noise that tires you out without cutting your awareness of the road around you.
