(Dec 23, 2009)
Jasmine France
Senior Associate Editor
These headphones hush ambient noise by creating antinoise that obviates the noise at your ear. They don't eliminate noise, but the better models significantly reduce the whoosh of airplanes' air-conditioning systems. (They're somewhat less effective at quieting the background din on trains and buses.) Noise-canceling headphones come in all forms, from full size to earbuds. Since you no longer have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise, this type of headphone lets you listen at lower levels, which leads to reduced ear fatigue. You'll also hear more low-level detail in your music.
Bose QuietComfort 15
While they're no bargain, the Bose QuietComfort 15s currently offer the best sound and silencing capabilities in a pair of noise-canceling headphones.
Price: $299.95 (check prices)
Review date: Aug 21, 2009
Excellent
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Bose QuietComfort 3
With the QuietComfort 3s, Bose has done a remarkable job of shrinking its popular noise-canceling headphones while achieving similarly impressive sound quality--but that engineering feat doesn't come cheap.
Price: $349.00 - $349.95 (check prices)
Review date: Jun 30, 2006
Excellent
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Sony MDR-NC500D Digital Noise Canceling Headphones
The Sony MDR-NC500D Digital Noise Canceling Headphones may lighten the wallet, but they are a great option for frequent fliers and tetchy commuters who need superior noise cancellation.
Price: $257.24 - $399.99 (check prices)
Review date: Apr 15, 2008
Very good
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JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones
The JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones make a great travel companion for those who demand quality sound. And they may not be cheap, but they seem that way next to the Bose QuietComfort 3.
Price: $104.11 - $149.99 (check prices)
Review date: Jul 18, 2007
Very good
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Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones
The unique and stylish Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones offer solid audio, useful accessories, and a look that's anything but copycat. For fashion-forward folks with cash to spare, they're a great option.
Price: $259.00 - $299.99 (check prices)
Review date: Aug 28, 2008
Very good
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Sennheiser PXC-300
Sennheiser's featherweight noise-canceling headphones are supercomfy and produce sound quality approaching that of some full-size models.
Price: $121.00 (check prices)
Review date: Sep 21, 2005
Very good
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Creative Aurvana X-Fi headphones
The Creative Aurvana X-Fi headphones are a good option for bass-loving frequent fliers who have the money to spend and don't mind others eavesdropping on their listening experience.
Price: $249.88 - $299.99 (check prices)
Review date: Sep 14, 2007
Very good
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Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint
We hoped that the Audio-Technica's QuietPoint ATH-ANC7b noise-canceling headphones would deliver more bang for the buck than Bose's noise-canceling models--but they don't.
Price: $124.04 - $199.99 (check prices)
Review date: Oct 28, 2009
Good
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