Embodiments are disclosed relating to an active noise reducing system and method for a headphone with a rigid cup-like shell which has an outer surface and an inner surface that encompasses a cavity with an opening. The system and method include picking up sound at least at three positions that are regularly distributed over the outer surface, and providing a first electrical signal that represents the picked-up sound. The system and method further include: filtering the first electrical signal to provide a second electrical signal, and generating in the opening of the cavity sound from the second electrical signal. Filtering is performed with a transfer characteristic that is configured so that noise that travels through the shell from beyond the outer surface to beyond the inner surface is reduced by the sound generated in the opening.