Bose QuietComfort 15
If you are going on holiday and want to break the monotony of the journey with some music, you should invest in a decent pair of headphones. Over-the-head designs are generally more comfortable than the ear-bud versions you get with most phones and MP3 players, and provide better sound quality by blocking out background noise. They also leak less noise, so you don’t annoy fellow passengers. These Bose headphones are fairly chunky but cocoon you from the grim reality of a long flight by getting rid of background hubbub. They also serve up first-class sound and feel as comfy as silk slippers. Like the Sennheiser and Goldring models here, they offer active noise reduction (see panel); a feature that employs a small, built-in microphone to filter out engine drone. Of the three, the Bose achieved the best silencing — they were startlingly effective. Power comes from a single AAA battery that will provide enough juice for 35 hours of playback. Keep a spare, though, because these cans won’t function at all without power. The sound quality is rich and crisp. At a weight of less than 5oz, these are the second lightest headphones here. Surprisingly, the only other feature of note is a pair of master volume settings, selectable by a switch on the jack, although Bose has included a spare cable that contains a smartphone remote-control with a microphone for handling calls, enabling your handset to remain in your pocket. The main drawback of these headphones is the high cost.
Audio Technica ATH-ES55
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So many cans swamp music with bass that it’s a shock to discover a pair that don’t. This Audio Technica headset doesn’t have fancy noise-cancelling but its ear cups are the second smallest on test, after the AKG pair, and fold flat for easy transport. Robust build quality will help them survive a rough passage in an overnight bag. The main selling point of this pair is their simplicity and compactness. They come in a choice of white or black finishes, weigh just 4¼oz, won’t leak sound and deliver excellent audio. This is highly detailed and more revealing with most styles of music than many rivals, although there is far less low-end grunt than you might be used to. They’re fairly comfortable, too, despite the fact that the headband has no padding.
AKG K 83 0BT
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If you like the idea of liberation from headphone cables yet operate on a budget, consider this compact headset, weighing just over 5oz. It uses standard Bluetooth to deliver music wirelessly from a nearby device and can also make or receive phone calls, once linked to a suitable phone. Establishing a reliable wireless connection proved straightforward within a range of 10 yards. There are buttons to control music playback, as well as some call-handling functions. The headset folds up small too, but that’s about it for the good news. The sound isn’t disastrous and it doesn’t leak, yet it isn’t in the same league as its rivals here. The built-in battery, which charges via USB, lasts eight hours, but these cans won’t work with a cord, so if the battery dies, you’re stuffed. Also, you can’t use Bluetooth on most planes.
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Sennheiser PXC 360BT
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These are Sennheiser’s luxury cans, which incorporate noise reduction, surround sound and two forms of Bluetooth — regular and one called aptX, which provides enhanced audio quality. A Bluetooth connection was easy to set up and remained reliable within a distance of 10 yards. Sound quality was impressive: better over the supplied cable than with standard Bluetooth, but add an aptX dongle (£40) to your player and it becomes as good. The battery can be recharged via a USB port and will last 20 hours, though only eight if the power-hungry Bluetooth and noise-reduction systems are on. This 6½oz headset folds away and has buttons to control your tunes or pause audio and activate a microphone to let you to hear someone speaking to you without removing the cans.
Goldring NS1000
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Goldring’s fine audio pedigree is readily evident here. These cans also feature active noise-reduction technology, which makes a discernable, if not dramatic, difference. The headset is of a similar size to the Bose unit, albeit heavier at just over 8oz, and with plastic rather than leather padding. The cable is also fairly chunky, which could prove annoying while out and about. Nevertheless, the NS1000s are pleasant enough to wear and punch well above their price in terms of delivering a clean and thoroughly enjoyable sound. In fact, with some types of music, they are slightly better than the Bose headphones, if ultimately outgunned overall. The noise cancellation is powered by a single AAA battery and can last for up to 40 hours. However, the headphones will continue to play music should they run out of juice. Taking value into the mix, these Goldring cans rock.
The sound of silence
All of the headsets here have a closed-back design that prevents sound leaking and also helps to isolate wearers from their surroundings — at least to some degree. The Bose, Sennheiser and Goldring models go a step further with an active noise-reduction feature. This uses a small, built-in microphone and processing circuitry to pick up ambient sound, then tinker with the music being played to provide a “cancelling” effect. As well as making music sound better over, say, background engine noise, it allows you to listen to music at a lower volume because you don’t have to compensate for the hubbub — doing less ear damage.
The headphones reviewed are all considered to be over-the-head style. Take note, however, that “on-ear” models (such as the AKG and Audio Technica) are smaller than so-called “around-the-ear” headsets (the Bose, Goldring and Sennheiser) which, as the name suggests, have larger ear cups.
The former style is more compact but the latter usually does a better job of keeping out external sound, and tends to be more comfortable. Around-the-ear sets often sound better too, mostly due to having larger speakers.