By Carl Dombek
Unless you actually like hearing the conversations of too-loud fellow passengers, the drone of aircraft engines or, like film director Francis Ford Coppola, the sound of crying babies (he included crying babies in several scenes in The Godfather), you may want to invest in, or perhaps upgrade your current noise-cancelling headphones before your next flight.
Fortunately there are many more, and more affordable, options than just a few years ago as I recently discovered after my old, hard-wired Panasonic phones finally gave up the ghost.
The majority of headphones on the market today use Bluetooth to connect to other devices, which is good because newer devices such as iPads and iPhones don’t have the 3.5-mm jack anymore. Wired phones are rapidly becoming antiques.
My research started with review sites like PCMag.com and others, searching for “best noise-cancelling headphones.” I was glad to see many options besides the Bose Quiet Comfort phones that so many travelers have. I wanted over-the-ear phones, not earbuds, and there were many to choose from at a wide range of price points.
As one might expect, the Bose Quiet Comfort phones got 4.5 out of 5 stars from PCMag but, at $329 list price, “expensive” was listed as a drawback. Bose has also just introduced the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at $449. They’re available in black, white and three additional colors.
Unless you actually like hearing the conversations of too-loud fellow passengers, the drone of aircraft engines or, like film director Francis Ford Coppola, the sound of crying babies (he included crying babies in several scenes in The Godfather), you may want to invest in, or perhaps upgrade your current noise-cancelling headphones before your next flight.
Fortunately there are many more, and more affordable, options than just a few years ago as I recently discovered after my old, hard-wired Panasonic phones finally gave up the ghost.
The majority of headphones on the market today use Bluetooth to connect to other devices, which is good because newer devices such as iPads and iPhones don’t have the 3.5-mm jack anymore. Wired phones are rapidly becoming antiques.
My research started with review sites like PCMag.com and others, searching for “best noise-cancelling headphones.” I was glad to see many options besides the Bose Quiet Comfort phones that so many travelers have. I wanted over-the-ear phones, not earbuds, and there were many to choose from at a wide range of price points.
As one might expect, the Bose Quiet Comfort phones got 4.5 out of 5 stars from PCMag but, at $329 list price, “expensive” was listed as a drawback. Bose has also just introduced the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) at $449. They’re available in black, white and three additional colors.
 |
| Bose Quiet Comfort (2nd Gen). Photo Credit: Bose |
A more economical choice was the Urbanista Los Angeles phones. Solar-powered charging and stylish design were included among its pros, while no in-app equalization was one of two cons. At $114 they are certainly economical … but I’d never heard of the brand.
A brand I had heard of – and think quite highly of – is German manufacturer Sennheiser. I used many Sennheiser products, including several different styles of headphones and microphones, during my 20 years as a broadcaster, so I had confidence in their product quality. When I found that the Accentum Wireless phones were available for less than $100, I was sold.
A brand I had heard of – and think quite highly of – is German manufacturer Sennheiser. I used many Sennheiser products, including several different styles of headphones and microphones, during my 20 years as a broadcaster, so I had confidence in their product quality. When I found that the Accentum Wireless phones were available for less than $100, I was sold.
 |
| Sennheiser Accentum with blue accent. Photo credit: Sennheiser |
I’ve only begun playing with them and getting used to all the features but so far, I’m impressed.
Features include active noise cancellation, customizable sound, and up to 50 hours of battery life. And they’re rechargeable via an included USB-C cable, so no need to keep AAA batteries on hand. You will need to provide your own power block if you plan to recharge from an outlet rather than your computer or another USB outlet.
While I have not yet traveled with these phones, I’ve played with the active noise cancellation and it seems pretty robust. I’m eager to see how it performs when onboard an airliner.
The Accentum phones can be controlled by buttons on the side of the right ear unit or by a free, downloadable app. I downloaded the app and found it to be pretty user-friendly but I prefer not to be tied to an app so I’ve been getting used to the rather small buttons for power, Bluetooth synching, volume and telephone interface, which is handy if you’re streaming through your phone and not a tablet. I would list the small size of the buttons as a “con” but a minor one.
Accentum phones come in black, with a blue accent, or white.
Features include active noise cancellation, customizable sound, and up to 50 hours of battery life. And they’re rechargeable via an included USB-C cable, so no need to keep AAA batteries on hand. You will need to provide your own power block if you plan to recharge from an outlet rather than your computer or another USB outlet.
While I have not yet traveled with these phones, I’ve played with the active noise cancellation and it seems pretty robust. I’m eager to see how it performs when onboard an airliner.
The Accentum phones can be controlled by buttons on the side of the right ear unit or by a free, downloadable app. I downloaded the app and found it to be pretty user-friendly but I prefer not to be tied to an app so I’ve been getting used to the rather small buttons for power, Bluetooth synching, volume and telephone interface, which is handy if you’re streaming through your phone and not a tablet. I would list the small size of the buttons as a “con” but a minor one.
Accentum phones come in black, with a blue accent, or white.
 |
| Accentum phones in black and white. Photo credit: Sennheiser |
Fortunately, there are many other headphones by reputable manufacturers from which to choose. AKG has several models in the $100 price range, and of course manufacturers including Bose, Beats and Sony have many more models for those willing to spend an additional $200 or more.
Decide on your price point, do your research, and grab that new set of cans. Your ears – and your nerves – will thank you next time you fly.
Decide on your price point, do your research, and grab that new set of cans. Your ears – and your nerves – will thank you next time you fly.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Click on photos to view larger images
Comments
Post a Comment
PLEASE NOTE:Comments on this website must pertain to the topic of the article and may be edited for content and/or clarity. Comments that include URLs WILL NOT BE POSTED. Please contact me directly if you wish to do a "link exchange."