A:Answer Noise cancelling CAN be turned off, sadly I called JBL support to see if there was ambient mode for phone calls but it doesn't have ambient for phone calls, also, we all know noise Cancelling will not be like the XM4s but trust me, the XM4s gave me a headache and Tinnitus, this NC is gentle and it blocks more high pitch sounds than the XM4s for some reason.