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TL;DR: Get open-box JBL Vibe Beam 2 noise-canceling earbuds for $24.97 (reg. $64.95), plus a free one-month Surfshark VPN Starter Plan.

Name-brand earbuds with active noise canceling usually cost $60 or more, and the cheap pairs tend to drop noise canceling first. If you want the JBL name and the quiet for less, try a pair of JBL Vibe Beam 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds (Open Box), on sale for $24.97 (reg. $64.95). They have active noise canceling, JBL's bass-heavy tuning, and up to 40 hours of total playback.

Quiet the commute, keep the bass

Active noise canceling turns down the noise of a commute or a busy office, so you don't have to turn your music up to compete with it. When you need to hear a train announcement or the person at the next desk, Smart Ambient lets outside sound back in without taking the buds out.…