Headphones for plane

[RZ1]

I’ve got a fair amount of plane travel coming up over the next few months so want to get some noise cancelling headphones.

I’ve currently got some apple air pod pro and the noise cancelling on them is ok, but want something that I can use on 8-10 hours flights. The air pods won’t last that long and won’t be comfortable, so I’m thinking over the head types.

Requirements:
Good battery life
Comfortable
Good noise cancelling
Ideally a storage case
Wireless but also the option to have wired, so they work with the screens on the planes
The adaptor for above, is that still a thing?
Be good to have the ability to also use them with MS teams
Readily available, either at duty free or John Lewis, Curry’s, Amazon etc.
Good quality both build and sound
No budget in mind, can be flexible but can’t afford to pay £500 either. Thinking around £200ish

[Mark V GTD]

Bose Quietcomfort. Job done !

[abzmike]

Bose QC35 used to be the default answer when I last used mine on a long flight nearly 2 years ago! Not sure if much has changed in this time, but mine are great.

[Lovey1]

I have Sony WH1000-XM3's and they are excellent and typically pipped the Bose in reviews with slightly better sound and noise cancelling (not that i tested them side by side). The XM3's have since been updated to XM4's are are supposedly better still.

[caminator11]

I use Bose QC35 for when I'm awake and switch to Airpod Pros for sleep as I find them less disruptive as an earbud if I turn on my side.

[Carbon Sasquatch]

Another vote for Bose / AirPods combo - I have both but only really use the Bose on long haul & just use AirPods short haul

[Shambler]

I regularly do 16 hour flights and the Sonys are just incredible.

[RZ1]

Thanks, looks as though i need to do some research on both the Bose and Sony.

[Freakuk]

I've used Bose for years, currently on the QC35's.

I struggle to sleep on planes, but these help no end. I've also go some NC airpods but due to Covid not really had much chance to try them on a plane yet, but obviously you cannot wire them as per your requirements.

[RizzoTheRat]

Another vote for the QC35's. I don't think you'll go far wrong with either of the higher end Bose or Sony offerings. When I bought my QC35's the reviews reckoned the Sony equivalents had slightly better sound but the Bose had slightly better noise cancellation. There's now at least 1 new model above the QC35 and I assume Sony have moved on a bit too.

For Teams calls or similar however, the mics on these types of headsets are ok but they're not directional so will pick up a lot more background noise than something with a boom mike. I used to use my QC35s on phone calls a lot but now use my less comfortable Plantronics Blackwire headset because the microphone on it is vastly superior. They're fine in a fairly quiet room though.

[JackReacher]

Lovey1 said:

I have Sony WH1000-XM3's and they are excellent and typically pipped the Bose in reviews with slightly better sound and noise cancelling (not that i tested them side by side). The XM3's have since been updated to XM4's are are supposedly better still.

+1 for the Sony XM3, great for long haul, short haul, by the pool or just chilling out with music at home.

[tog]

RZ1 said:

Wireless but also the option to have wired, so they work with the screens on the planes
The adaptor for above, is that still a thing?

I was on Iberia last month and their A350s needed a 2-pin adapter (which I didn't have of course) for headphones.

[Mammasaid]

Bose Noise Cancelling 700. You should be able to find them for around £150 (rrp £350) as Google were giving them away for Pixel 6 pre-orders.

I've kept mine, and they're comfortable with 17 hours battery life (the sound is pretty good also!)

[ecs]

The QC35s come complete with an airline adaptor in the carry case, so you can't forget it!

[MrThomo]

Another vote for QC35's. Also use airpods for short haul

[RZ1]

Looks like the QC 35 has been replaced with the QC45

[thebraketester]

I have had the qc35ii for a few years now and they are outstanding and right on your budget from amazon.

[somouk]

I use the Sony ones mentioned further up but have over the years used the Bose ones.

Recently had a set of Airpod Pros for use at work and on calls and the ANC on those is really good for a much lighter and smaller package. Depends if you want to hook in to the aircraft audio.

[hyphen]

Airpods leak sound though? So the passengers next to you won't thank you.

[Gweeds]

Head over to AV Forums and you can pick up sealed Bose 700's for £130-150 thanks to the aforementioned Pixel deal.

Or some lightly used QC35's for around £80