Everyone loves traveling, so do I. But believe me, there can be nothing more stressful than the constant roar of jet planes while taking off or landing, snoring of fellow passengers, crying babies, or the continuous chatter of the travel companions and so forth.
At times it becomes so annoying that I fervently dream of being transported to a far-off place where I can listen to my favorite music, catch up on the latest movies or even bask in the divine bliss of silence. Although I carry my regular headphone at all times, nevertheless it is just not enough. I am sure many of you have faced a similar predicament.
Well, the good news is that many companies are now coming forward with noise-reducing headphones. However, with so many brands to choose from online, often travelers are left at a loss. Only a handful of these headphones can live up to the clarity, substantial noise reduction, and full baseness of sound that audiophiles are aiming for. To make the job a bit easier, I have compiled a list of noise cancellation headphones for travelers after intensive research to make their journey enjoyable.
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Serious audiophiles and music lovers have been grappling with the question of which is the best headphone for noise-canceling while on the go. My answer to them is, the best Bluetooth noise-canceling headphone is undauntedly Bose noise-cancelling headphone 700. If you insist on blocking out the rambling of trains or the persistent honking sound of the buses you can never go wrong with this. They are a delight to use. Sleek and elegantly designed and at the same time being extremely lightweight it is truly a dream come true.
Buying Guide for The Best Headphone for Travelling
The online market is flooded with travel headphones of all kinds. But before making a choice I would strongly advise you to take into consideration the following determinants
- Capacity for Noise Reduction – All noise-reducing headphones make tall claims about the maximum level of noise reduction but some are better at it than others. They permit you to customize the noise reduction as per your preference and needs. Decide on the type of noise cancellation headphones you require. There are three choices in the market – passive, active and adaptive. The decision is entirely yours.
- Comfort – Since travel headphones enclose your ears for prolonged periods, comfort is of utmost importance. Not all headphones offer the same level of satisfaction. Some headphones may come with softer ear-cups or be light in weight for additional satisfaction.
- Battery Life – Battery life generally lasts for 20-30 hrs. However, if you are a frequent traveler look for a headphone for larger battery life.
- Microphone – All headphones have attached microphones enabling you to make calls but some have gone a step further. They have engineered their microphones to allow you to be heard blocking out outside unnecessary chatter.
- Durability – Travel headphones are subject to a lot of wear and tear. They can be accidentally dropped, bumped or even be soaked by rain. So always be on the lookout for the water-resistant model.
- Budget – In general noise cancelling feature of a headphone comes with a hefty price tag. The better it performs in noise cancellation, the higher will be the price. If you do not wish to compromise on the audio quality as well as noise cancellation you must be willing to shell out a few extra dollars.
Best Noise-Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones
Here are some best noise-canceling headphone that improves your traveling experience
1. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Bose has always been a pioneer in noise-canceling headphones and Bose noise-canceling headphones 700 is the best in the market at present. The best feature is undoubtedly the noise cancellation capacity. It comes with 6 microphones to eliminate outside noise and voice isolating microphones provide for crisp clear quality sound.
However, the best part of these 11 levels of customized noise cancellation feature. It is extremely lightweight and comes with extra puddings to go soft on the ears. In addition, it is water-resistant.
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Durable
- Elegant design
Cons
- No folding hinges
2. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
Sony has come up with one of the best noise-canceling headphones of all time. Its premium sound quality elevates your musical experience to a new level. Plush ear cups allow you to keep on these headphones throughout your journey without any discomfort whatsoever.
The best feature however is that it lets you connect to several devices at the same time. In other words, you can easily switch over from watching Amazon on your laptop to taking a call. Its long-lasting battery life of 30 hours is an added advantage.
Pros
- Good noise cancelling
- Superior sound quality
- Long-lasting battery life
Cons
- Expensive
- Double-tap to pause at times not responsive
3. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 are decent headphones for those looking for budget headphones while traveling. The memory foam which covers the ear-cups is quite comfortable. These headphones come with a pouch that gives it a certain amount of protection from being tossed and turned while traveling.
The normal sound is quite good but if you are into heavy bass, their bass-up feature will be an instant hit with you. Their noise cancellation technique blocks out the outside noise to some extent but the overly loud conversation or the rumbling of the airplane can still be heard.
On the whole, it is a decent headphone for anyone on the lookout for the budget-friendly but incredible sounding headphone with long battery life.
Pros
- Good battery life
- Elegant design
Cons
- ANC is not effective to block out the roar of jet planes
4. Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WHCH710N
This headphone comes with a dual noise sensor which is good considering the price you are paying for. The isolating padding on the ear cups coupled with the noise-canceling technique helps to drown a lot of ambient sounds.
The sound quality is good, and its USB Type C quick charging gives you uninterrupted 60 minutes of playback time after only 10 minutes of charging. On the whole, it poses a serious contender for anyone looking for budget-friendly options without compromising on the quality of sound.
Pros
- Good active noise cancelling
- Padding comfortable
- Great battery life
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- The quality of the build is not good
- Un-foldable hinges
- Does not come with the carry case
5. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Over Ear Wireless Headphone
These headphones do a better job of blocking a substantial portion of outside noise but at the same time allow you to safety announcements without taking off your headphone. PX7 comes with the latest wear detection sensors allowing intelligent battery conservation upon switching over to the standby mode when taken off.
Its battery lasts for approximately 30 hrs with 5 hrs playtime after which it needs to be charged for a minimum of 15 minutes through USB C. The microphone is good for calls unless and until you are in a very noisy environment.
The companion app allows you to connect to 2 devices at the same time. This headphone is very comfortable to wear even for a long period. At the end of the day, it can be folded and tucked away into a hard case.
Pros
- Superior battery life
- Comfortable
- Motion sensing feature
Cons
- A bit bulky
6. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 3rd Gen Wireless Bluetooth
It is one of the best headphones while travelling brought by Bang Olufsen. Elegant design, advanced ANC, transparency mode and up to 24 hours of playtime make it a premium choice for avid travelers on the go. It boasts of hybrid ANC function. This feature allows you to mitigate outside noise experience pure divine sound. However, if you wish to usher in the outside world you simply have to switch it back to transparency mode.
Its superior quality battery allows 24 hrs of uninterrupted music. The intuitive touch interface provides for easy controlling of the headphone from switching racks, pausing, playing, and more.
Pros
- Sound quality excellent
- Elegant design
Cons
- Battery life could be better
7. Shure AONIC 50 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
This is an impressive noise-canceling headphone for serious audiophiles. The sound quality is truly outstanding due to the headphone’s gigantic 50mm drives. The memory foam and high-quality leather ear-cup add comfort.
Although it may seem a bit surprising considering Shure’s foray into noise-reducing headphones they have indeed done a remarkable job with the noise-canceling technique. There are primarily two settings- active noise cancellation and environment mode. The environment model can be operated via the Shure plush play app.
Pros
- Multipoint connectivity
- Ear-pads can be removed
- Fast charging
Cons
- Price
- No folding hinges.
Parting Through
I hope this list truly guides you in making your choice. But let me assure you that there is no single headphone that can manage all your expectations. Ultimately the onus is upon you to decide your choice based on personal preferences, taste, and needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question:1. Is it safe to wear noise-reducing headphones for long periods?
Yes, it is safe. Noise-canceling headphones reduce noise-induced stress. Stress is an important cause of high heart rate, high blood pressure, and a host of other symptoms. There is no pressure from noise-reducing headphones tailored especially for traveling. Thus you can rule out headaches, ear pressure, and dizziness even after persistent use.
Question:2. How well do noise reduction headphones work?
Let us say that on average 70% of the background noise is successfully mitigated, thus making it a supreme choice for travelers on the go.
Question:3. Can you still listen to important public announcements even while using a noise-can collation headphone?
You can silence the surrounding backgrounds with noise-canceling headphones. But for travelers who do not wish to miss out on important announcements with the transparency mode, you can usher the outside sounds.
