Sennheiser PXC 450 NoiseGard Active Noise-Canceling Headphones

Price: $349.95

(257 customer reviews)

14 used & new available from $292.71

Sennheiser has released yet another range of noise-cancelling headphones, tailor made for frequent travelers and fliers. The Sennheiser PXC 450 is one such product that promises up to 90% ambient noise cancellation. The product comes with the new NoiseGuard 2.0 technology, the latest in the noise compensation technology. It also includes the Duofol diaphragm technology and adaptive baffle damping, said to enhance audio quality and experience. It is fuelled by a single AAA battery, which provides working time of around 16 hours. It comes with adequate cable length, and a transport case, which is an absolute requirement. The in-flight entertainment adapter for air travel is very useful.

At the outset, the PXC 450 satisfies most of the requirements of someone looking to enjoy good music while travelling, without damaging their eardrums. Its noise cancelling is top-notch, and as seems to be a promise that has been kept. There is extra padding given to the ear cups, which not only makes the headphones more comfortable, but also enables passive noise cancelling. In addition, the softness of the ear pads adds to the comfort. I have not experienced any heating up that generally happens with other headphones that are in a similar league as these. The build of these headphones is solid and sturdy. The parts are of excellent quality, the plastics are strong and the cord is thick enough.

One other highlight of the PXC 450 is the TalkThrough technology. This unique innovation enables communication with neighbors without removing the headphones. When it is activated by the push to press of a button by the user, all other unwanted noise in the environment, apart from the neighbor’s voice is cancelled, enabling top quality communication. I have found this feature to be particularly useful while communicating with airhostesses and flight attendants. Its sound quality is wonderful. There were parts of a song I recognized and appreciated only after listening to them with these headphones! The built-in amplifiers, which are a common feature of any noise cancelling headphones, are made use of in a novel way, the volume of which can be controlled by the user. The audio also works in the passive mode, and hence doesn’t always require batteries.

One small drawback of the PXC 450 is its size. For over the ear headphones, and in comparison to their counterparts, these are fairly small. They can also be folded. However, they are a little too big for travel. The travel case that comes along with the headphones is ideal for its storage but is larger than most of its counterparts. Surprisingly though, it is relatively lightweight and makes up for the relatively larger size of the headphones, making them less cumbersome to travel with. The bass is not as much as powerful as some of Sennheiser PXC 450′s counterparts, but is not something that affects the sound quality adversely. Also, the PXC 450 might seem to be a bit on the expensive side. They might not be the cheapest in the market, but nor are they the most pricey. However, it is not affordable by everyone as not everyone would be willing to spend $200 to $275 on a pair of primarily noise cancelling headphones. If they fall within your price range, then they are definitely worth every penny.

Pros
• Excellent noise cancelling technology
• Superior sound quality
• Includes passive mood which can operate without batteries

Cons
• Bigger than most of its counterparts
• Bass is not too powerful
• Price is a little on the higher side

Bose® QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones

Price: $299.00

(946 customer reviews)

74 used & new available from $215.00

Bose QuietComfort 15, as the name suggests, has been launched in the market keeping in mind two important features of any pair of headphones – noise cancelling and comfort. These are quite possibly the best range of headphones from Bose for frequent flyers. They run on AAA batteries, and come with remote for iPad/iPhone control, along with a mic for hands-free iPhone calling. All this, alone with the fact that its case can store an iPod makes it seem to be tailor-made for a music experience through an Apple product.

The product’s superior noise cancelling technology is probably what stands out the most. Microphones are located both inside and outside the ear cups, which sense and reduce the noise in the surrounding environment. The unique ear cushion technology also provides passive noise cancellation. From my experience, if only the noise cancelling feature is taken into consideration, it is easily the best pair of headphones I have used. QuietComfort employs a unique TriPort acoustic headphone structure, which ensures excellent sound quality. Quite honestly, there were parts of songs and background scores, which I hadn’t recognized before I heard those songs with these headphones on. However, since this is primarily an acoustic headset, the bass is not given too much importance. It isn’t too loud or powerful. This is not a drawback as such, and can easily be overcome by adjusting the volume.

With leather atop the headset, and around the ear, QuietComfort 15 truly lives up to its name. It is extremely comfortable, even for long periods of time. However, since these are over the ear headphones, you might experience some discomfort due to heat and sweat after an hour or so, which is understandable and can be easily overcome by removing the headset for a minute or so. In terms of size, for being over the ear headphones, these are relatively small. Since they come with a rather slim carrying case, which can hold accessories such as an iPod as well, they are a non-intrusive addition to your luggage. The product comes with an airline adapter, which is very useful, as well as a detachable cord, which enables you to use the noise cancelling feature even if you are not listening to music.

One major drawback of the QuietComfort 15 is that it cannot function without batteries. Although the battery life is long, I would recommend you to carry a pair to be on the safe side, especially if you are going on long flights. Although there are some users who have reported that the build is not too strong, I have personally not experienced any problems. The pair that I own is sturdy and solid. Although not everyone will be willing to spend $300 dollars on a pair of noise cancelling headphones, they are definitely worth the price. If it falls within your price range, then you should definitely not think twice before buying the QuietComfort 15.

Pros
• Excellent noise cancellation
• Superior sound quality
• Efficient carrying case

Cons
• A bit expensive
• Cannot run without AAA batteries
• Bass is not very powerful

Price: —

(0 customer reviews)

0 used & new available from

Monster Beats Studio by Dr. Dre is one of the more advanced high performance noise cancelling headphones that Monster has brought out. It comes is a variety of colors and has everything you will look for in a pair of headphones – sound quality, noise cancellation and comfort. As with many other Monster products, it is extremely compatible with Apple products. It comes with the additional feature of a cable with a microphone and built-in answer button for immediately answering calls on your iPhone.

The sound quality of the Beats Studio is very good. The bass is strong, the audio is clean and the clarity is excellent. I definitely observed certain nuances of songs that I had never noticed before. For those of you who have an in-depth knowledge about music and its intricacies, you will definitely be satisfied with the sound quality. What stands out about these headphones is its design. They might be big, but the design is attractive and elegant. They have a lot of padding, which adds to the comfort. The scratch-resistant gloss finish and good build prevent their internal and external damage. They are solid, and are durable. They can also be folded up, and the carrying case makes them ideal for travelling. Their mobile design and style certainly make them more desirable than their counterparts in the market.

The noise cancellation feature is achieved passively by the extra padding and the closed circumaural design of the headphones. Actively, this is achieved by the Monster’s isolation technology which cancels the external noise in the environment. I have found the noise isolation feature to be excellent, and on par with, if not better than, most of the other headphones in the market. Another impressive feature of these headphones is that the sound produced by mp3′s and iPod’s are amplified, for a better music experience.

These are fuelled by two AAA batteries that come along with the headphones. However, the headphones don’t work without these batteries, and during long flight journeys, I would recommended that you carry spare ones along with you. In some cases, the build has been reported to be of moderate quality, but I personally did not experience any problems. One possible drawback of the Beats Studio by Dr. Dre is its price. As is with the other Monster products, these are expensive. Anyone would think twice before spending $300 on a pair of headphones. But their features, especially the noise cancelling technology, are excellent and make them worth the price. If it falls within your price range, then it is definitely a good buy. Its push to listen feature lets you switch off the music, and listen to the outside world by the push of a single button, which is an added advantage.

Pros
• Excellent bass
• Portable (comes with an excellent carrying case) and foldable
• Very good noise cancellation

Cons
• Requires two AAA batteries to run
• Surround sound can be better
• A bit on the expensive side

Bose® QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones(Old Version)

Price: $329.95

(277 customer reviews)

20 used & new available from $209.95

If what you are looking for is a good pair of noise cancelling headphones, for use during travel in particular but nothing too fancy, then Bose QuietComfort 3 is quite definitely the best suited headphones for you. It runs on rechargeable lithium ion batteries, which lasts approximately for 25 hours, and can be recharged up to 500 times. For those of you who are frequent flyers, they come with an airline adapter as well.

These are primarily a pair of noise cancelling headphones. The Acoustic Noise Cancelling technology identifies and reduces unwanted environmental noise, for a better audio experience. The active noise cancellation is excellent. Once the feature is switched on, the reduction of external environmental noise is very significant. The over-the-ear design passively enhances reduction of noise. This also adds to the comfort of these headphones. In comparison to other over-the-ear headphone counterparts, these are relatively smaller and lighter, while maintaining high levels of comfort. The padding around the ear cups adds to the comfort. They also make use of a TriPort acoustic headphone structure, which includes small vents in ear cups to enhance the sound quality. The sound quality is definitely good, but there are other headphones within the same price range which have better sound quality, but not necessarily as good at noise cancelling. They also come with detachable audio cables, which make their storage simpler.

The build of these headphones is very good, and I have personally not experienced any problems. They are sturdy and solid. Since they are smaller and lighter than most of their counterparts, they are more prone to damage, which can easily be avoided if you take at least decent amount of care. Overall, their durability is very good. They are foldable, making them easily portable. They come with a very slim carrying case, which can also store accessories such as iPods, making it very efficient and an excellent travel companion.

One other problem with these pair of headphones is that they cannot run without the battery, irrespective of whether you operate the noise cancellation feature or not. I would therefore recommend that you carry spare batteries with you, especially on long flight journeys. Also, $350 for a pair of headphones is quite obviously not within everyone’s price range and does come off as a bit too expensive. However, given the superior noise cancelling feature, the excellent build and comfort and the obvious trust that comes with the brand name, paying $350 dollars for these headphones is definitely worth it. If you are willing to spend on a pair of headphones, then these must most definitely be on your list of options.

Pros
• Excellent noise cancellation technology
• Easily portable – foldable, and also comes with a carrying case
• Very comfortable

Cons
• A little expensive
• Does not run without batteries
• The sound quality could be better for the price

AKG K480NC Active Noise Reducing Mini Headphones (Black)

Price: $154.99

(9 customer reviews)

1 used & new available from $154.99

Adding to the rather sudden influx of noise reducing headphones is the AKG K480NC. These “mini” headphones feature active noise reduction technology and are specifically iPhone compatible (all versions). They run on a single AAA battery, and come with an adapter for connecting to in-flight entertainment systems, apart from the regular 6-millimeter adapter.

The active noise cancelling features of these headphones, as is heavily publicized by AKG, is very good, especially taking into consideration the fact that these headphones do not entirely cover your ear. The active noise cancelling technology is extremely effective and lives up to the promised 80% of external environmental noise reduction. The passive noise cancellation is enhanced by the extra padding that is present in the ear cups. The ear pads are extremely soft, and the headband is padded as well. This makes them very comfortable, and suitable for both everyday use as well as extended hours of listening. Being a music lover myself, I often listen to music for hours at a stretch, and have found these to be one of the most comfortable headphones that I have used. They do not weigh much, which adds to the comfort and does not put much pressure on the ears. Since they are foldable and fairly flexible, they cater to personal needs for the right fit. The cable that comes along with a pair of these headphones comes in two lengths, adding to the comfort and versatility of these headphones. They also look stylish, with a characteristic espresso finish. Since these are on the ear headphones, they are slimmer. The build is excellent, both sturdy and solid. For me, personally, they have proven to be quite durable. They are very conveniently foldable, and come with a slim carrying case, making them very travel friendly. They are also smaller in comparison to other headphones in the market that are in the same league as these.

The sound quality is excellent. The songs I listened to were much clearer and the sound was much crisper, in comparison to other headphones that I had used. The bass, mids and highs are given the appropriate amount of importance. When noise cancellation is switched on, however, the bass seems to get a little on the heavier side. They also require a lot less volume for good sound, unlike many of its counterparts in the market.

There are not any drawbacks as such for these pair of headphones. The noise cancellation, for the amount you pay for these headphones, is very good, but is probably less effective in comparison to higher end headphones. For being less than $300, however, they produce excellent sound quality and noise cancellation. Definitely worth the price, if you want to skip spending $400 on higher end models from Bose and Sennheiser.

Pros
• Very good noise cancellation
• Good sound quality
• Comfortable

Cons
• Bass gets a little heavy with noise cancellation
• A little on the expensive side

JVC HANC250 Noise Cancelling Headphones – Black

Price: $93.88

(563 customer reviews)

75 used & new available from $80.00

JVC HA-NC250 is an advanced, yet not sophisticated pair of headphones that has been brought out by the company. With a promised noise cancellation of up to 85%, these are fuelled by an AAA battery, which is said to last for up to 50 hours. It also comes with a detachable cord and specific adapter for airlines, which is a pretty common feature in most such headphones. For those of you who are frequent flyers and travel long distances, these make for an ideal travel companion.

The noise cancelling is excellent. The technology employs a feedback monitory system that continuously monitors and reduces external environmental noise. The double housing structure that is present in each of the ear cups, adds a second layer to the insulation against noise. A third layer is formed by the extra padding that is given, which makes its noise cancellation superior to its counterparts in the market. The extra padding, along with the light weight makes these pair of headphones extremely comfortable. For being over the ear headphones, they are relatively smaller and slimmer. The build is solid, and the headphones are durable. They might not be the sturdiest in the market, but they certainly aren’t flimsy, and I haven’t experienced any problems as such, so far.

The sound quality is better than I expected. The treble and bass are well-balanced, and considering that I’m not that big an audiophile, I was pretty satisfied with the sound quality. Some users, however, have had a problem with the fact that the HA-NC250 does not have too tight a bass. If you are a true audiophile, then these pair of headphones might not meet your expectations on the sound quality front. Another advantage with these headphones is that they are foldable; in fact they fold flat, and come with a slim carrying case, making them extremely travel friendly. The length of the cable that comes along with a pair is sufficient. One thing I liked about the HA-NC250 is that the noise cancelling feature can be switched on and off whenever required by the press of a single button. This particularly comes in handy during flight announcements.

There are not too many drawbacks or things to complain about with these headphones. One possible feature is that there is no volume control dial on the headphones. Also, replacement of the battery might prove to be a little difficult as the right ear piece has to be popped out for this purpose. The cable length might seem insufficient to a few if you’re looking to connect it to home stereo equipment. However, for a pair of noise cancelling headphones that are just above $100, the perceived drawbacks can be ignored. They are definitely worth the price.

Pros
• Excellent noise cancelling
• Great sound quality
• Worth the price

Cons
• Lack of volume control dial on the headphones
• Replacement of battery a little tiresome
• Bass might be a little too tight

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Closed-Back Headphones

Price: $134.00

(773 customer reviews)

84 used & new available from $90.33

The Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B is a premium noise cancelling pair of headphones that runs on two AAA batteries. It weighs only 1.6 pounds, and is a great travel companion for those of you who are frequent flyers. The effective environmental noise cancellation is said to be up to 90%. As an added bonus to frequent travellers, these headphones come with airline specific adapter, apart from the 1/4 inch one, to connect to the entertainment systems on the flight.

One of the reasons why you might want to consider buying these pair of headphones is its noise cancellation feature. It is very effective, especially during flight travels. Its noise-cancelling circuitry does a good job of reducing external environmental noise. However, there is a significant amount of sound leakage because of which these headphones cannot be used when there are a lot of people around you, such as in a coffee shop or in an office. The sound leakage, however, might prove to be a major issue if you are very particular it. It has been a problem that has been experienced by almost all users. The headphone construction however, is excellent. The padding around the ear cups not only adds to the passive noise cancellation, it also makes the headphones very comfortable. The design is good, and for over the ear headphones, these are very light. Also, many of the parts are replaceable and easily obtainable in the market. The headphones can also be folded, and are durable. They come with a nice carrying case, that is large enough to fit in a number of other accessories like your mp3 or iPod, but not so large that they’re inconvenient to carry around while travelling.

One of the few problems I had with these headphones was the sound quality. Without the noise cancelling feature switched on, there is a small amount of muddled noise being heard. With the noise cancellation on, however, the sound is much clearer, and the sound quality is much better. The treble, however, seems to have been given more importance than the bass. The sound leakage also proved to be a problem for me, as I couldn’t listen to music in a coffee shop without people around me knowing what I was listening to.

If you are looking for a pair of headphones that you are going to use only during flight journeys, then you can most definitely give these a try. But if you’re looking to use it in a number of other places, then you might want to look at other options as there are other headphones within the same price range which would satisfy your varied needs.

Pros
• Excellent noise cancellation
• Very comfortable
• Portable (comes with a nice carrying case) and durable

Cons
• Average sound quality
• Sound leakage problems
• A bit on the expensive side

Sony MDR-NC200D Digital Noise-Canceling Headphones

Price: $119.00

(90 customer reviews)

75 used & new available from $83.99

Sony has brought out yet another high-end noise cancelling headphone, the MDR-NC200D. There is a promised 98.2% noise reduction, fuelled by one AAA battery, with a battery life of up to 22 hours. For over the ear headphones, these are pretty light, weighing just about 1.5 pounds. It comes with an airline specific adapter, to connect to in-flight entertainment systems. All these factors make it the perfect travel companion.

The first and foremost reason why you should consider buying these pair of headphones is the noise cancellation. It is excellent, and makes use of digital technology. There are three different noise cancelling modes – Airplane mode, Bus/Train mode and Office mode, all of which come in handy and optimise the noise cancelling depending on the environment. It also comes with intelligent auto-selection, which automatically recognises and chooses the most appropriate noise cancelling mode. With flight journeys in particular, amongst other things, there is a monitor button that can be used to listen to in-flight announcements and flight attendants, without removing the headphones. Also, the noise cancelling can be turned off, to turn on passive listening and save on battery life. The headphones are also extremely comfortable and come with extremely soft padding of the ear cups. They are light, and I’ve worn them for long hours without experiencing any particular discomfort. The ear pads are flexible and the headband is adjustable, which helps maintain a proper fit. The cord is thick, and the build is solid, making them very durable. They are foldable, and come with a carrying case that can also accommodate other accessories like iPods and mp3 players. This makes them portable, and very travel efficient.

The sound quality, however, has proven to be a small problem. In lower volumes, the sound is crisp and very clear. I experienced no problems as such, and enjoyed the audio experience. However, when listening to songs at higher volumes, I experienced considerable amounts of distortion. The static was very evident, and was present throughout. This problem has been experienced by a number of other users, and is definitely one to be considered if you enjoy listening to music at loud volumes. For those of you who stick to medium to low volumes, the sound quality is good, although not great. For $200 that you pay for these, better sound quality is definitely expected and the distortion is a major flaw. However, if it fits well within your budget, and you are not too picky about what you listen to then you might want to consider these pair of headphones. Especially, if you are looking at noise cancelling as the main feature, and sound quality takes a comparative back seat, then you can most definitely give these a shot.

Pros
• Very good noise cancelling technology – comes in three different modes
• Very comfortable – light weight and soft padding
• Easily portable – the carrying case hardly occupies any space in comparison to its counterparts in the market

Cons
• High volume distortion
• A bit expensive for the sound quality

Sennheiser PXC 310 Compact Noise-Canceling Travel Headphones (Black)

Price: $239.99

(28 customer reviews)

20 used & new available from $210.04

The Sennheiser PXC 310 is a collapsible premium headphone that features a highly effective noise cancellation technology. It is an on the ear headphone that has a closed back design that is dynamic. It has been specially designed for travel, and comes with an airline adapter. This promises up to 90% noise cancelling and weighs less than half a pound, lesser than most of its counterparts in the market.

The first good feature of these headphones is the noise cancellation. Although I personally did not experience 90% cancellation of the surrounding environmental noise, it was satisfactory. The circuitry is a built in feature, hence enhancing its size slightly. However, this increases the comfort. The noise cancelling can be switched on and off at any point of time with the press of a single button. This is something I found very convenient. Also, the controls are nice and big, unlike those in most other headphones. One of these controls can be used for shutting off the music by the press of one button, which particularly comes in handy during flight announcements, which you can hear through a built in microphone. The build quality is very good. It might not be the best in the market, but it is quite satisfactory, making it very durable. The components are sturdy and solid.

The sound quality is very good. The music that I listened to was extremely clear and crisp, with equal focus given to the bass, mids and highs. For the quality of sound that it produces, the price is justified. Personally though, I found the music to be better when the noise cancellation was not switched on. Even with the noise cancellation switched on, the sound quality is very good. The 22 hours of battery life that is specified is definitely true, as I have my personal experiences with it. Also, to save on battery, the noise cancelling can be switched off and music can be listened to. The carrying case that comes along with a pair is very convenient, is not hardbound and can also store accessories. This makes it an ideal travel companion, and as promised, is a travel specific pair of headphones.

One obvious flaw in the component build is that the battery pack pulls out very easily, because of which problems are experienced after charging, as disconnecting it tends to pull out the entire battery. Another drawback is that it is not the most comfortable pair of headphones that you will find. Since it is an on the ear headphones, people with a rather large head will find it to be too tight fitting. It is also a little tiring on the ears when listened to continuously for more than a couple of hours. For the $390 odd that you pay for each of these, you would expect more comfort.

Pros
• Great noise cancelling
• Excellent sound quality
• Carrying case is very handy, and is easily portable

Cons
• Some small flaws in the mechanical build
• A little strenuous on the ears
• A bit too expensive

Klipsch IMAGE S4 In-Ear Enhanced Bass Noise-Isolating Headphones (Black)

Price: $49.88

(2400 customer reviews)

77 used & new available from $20.49

The in-ear pair of headphones from Klipsch, Image S4′s primary features are noise cancellation and bass enhancement. Its piano black finish makes it more attractive and stylish. It does not require any battery to run and is compatible with iPods, iPhone and all other products that have a standard 3.5mm jack.

To start with, the build is very good. It is solid, and the two year warranty that comes along with a pair makes its durability more trustworthy. The oval ear tips, which are flexible and soft add to the comfort. The oval ear tips come in three different sized – small medium and large, which I personally found very useful when being used by different members of the family. In addition, the ear tips are flexible, washable and extremely light, completing the comfort that these provide. The ear tips also feature as an acoustic seal, which helps in cancelling unwanted external environmental noise. For in-ear headphones, which have relatively lesser noise cancellation effectiveness that over the ear ones, these achieve satisfactory amounts of noise cancellation.

The sound quality is excellent. As is promised, the bass is enhanced and the clarity is wonderful. This is done by the dual magnet micro speaker. In all honestly, there were parts of a song I discovered after listening with these pair of headphones. The instrument definition is very clear. The enhancement of bass has not shifted focus from the treble, and the music I listened to was complete. I am not an audiophile as such, but I could certainly appreciate the songs more. The tin that comes along with a pair of these is sturdy and compact. However, if you don’t want to crush these headphones, you must remove the padding and then place them. They are light weight, hardly occupy any space and therefore make for excellent travel companions.

As far as drawbacks go, there are not any features that are lacking, or ones that have posed particular problems for me. It has been a rather common complaint that the wires are too thin, but I would not question their durability, as they have worked well for me. However, these are best suited only for compressed music formats, such as mp3 and mp4. If you have audio files in non-compressed format, then you will experience some problems with respect to sound quality. Also, these are primarily noise cancellation headphones. Hence, if you aren’t looking for noise reduction, then you must most definitely not go for these headphones.

The sound quality to cost ratio for these pair of headphones is very high. For less than $100, these are excellent, and definitely worth the price.

Pros
• Excellent noise cancellation
• Great sound quality – Bass, mids and highs are all given equal importance, making for a clear and complete audio experience
• Worth the price

Cons
• Not suitable for non-compressed audio files, but works well with mp3 and mp4 formats
• Wire might be a little thin