BOSE are Excellent - But All Noise-Cancelling Headphones Have Limitations
There is no doubt that the BOSE noise-cancellation headphones are excellent (design, form/fit, function) and that they are at the top of their league - but they are expensive (never moreso than when you get out of the airport at your destination and realise that you left them on the seat for some lucky sod 3 rows back to walk off with them into the wild blue yonder....
)
All noise-cancellation headphones should be trying to attack the low frequency range at which the passenger cabin is subjected to the familiar 'drone' of the aircraft engines.....this noise is much reduced on B787s and A350s but even then, there is a persistent 'machine room compressor' type of annoyance when trying to listen to the IFE in flight entertainment system - or your own personal media device.
There's a reason why airlines such as Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia Airlines, Finnair, TAP, Air France, Etihad, Air Canada, Korean Air, Oman Air, Fiji Air, Virgin Australia and soon Kuwait Airways all provide their premium cabin passengers with high quality noise-cancellation headphones! (Oh, it could also be that I sell these headphones to those airlines and more.....
).
If you are looking for much less expensive noise-cancellation headphones and ear buds that give a 'near-Bose' experience, and which use the
same noise-cancellation technology as those airlines, have a good look at
www.blackboxonline.com
Whatever you do:
- don't buy crap from any brand that gives anything less than -14dB active noise-cancellation (i.e. the technical specs should state -14dB, through to -22dB)
- make sure that the pair you buy comes with airline audio socket adapters - and one that has home stereo adaptor is useful
- always name/label/tag your headphone case in the event that you do leave on an aircraft
- don't expect that the headphones will completely eliminate that favourite background noise of frequent flyers - screaming kids! (the frequency range is understandably, way-off that of aircraft engines)
Safe travels!