Noise cancelling headphones for Flights

Sony MDR-ZX110NC

I used those when I was in the field and having nice stuff generally meant it got stolen.

Flew all over the world using them

Now have wh1000s that I'm office based and they are better for sure especially at adaptive changing tone such as people talking but for constant drone aeroplane. Noise the zx110s work well

I have some JBL 650 BT& NC Live ones; a good few years old and have survived unbelievable abuse. Mega comfortable; I've just replaced earcups as old ones were trashed, but still amazing battery, plus they still have a cable facility.

Might be worth seeing if there's an equivalent on offer as I'd imagine they'd be cheap as chips now.

I do have some lightly use Senheiser ones that are cable only with NC, They fold into a small pack. Could be open to parting with them for a small cost as I just don't use them anymore.

How cheap

These are good they don't block everything out on the plane but make a massive difference. Good battery and currently £38. They also come with a aux cable

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NM3RSRQ/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=79d50a4c486ccd4f700b7454c7765126&content-id=amzn1.sym.25f7c301-a223-4ff8-91c9-accfeab9fda8%3Aamzn1.sym.25f7c301-a223-4ff8-91c9-accfeab9fda8&hsa_cr_id=5998187820702&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=be281dae-77d1-4fcd-b720-7cf82adc770f&pd_rd_w=pL8UX&pd_rd_wg=Loazj&qid=1685692070&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_lsi4d_asin_0_img&sr=1-1-e0fa1fdd-d857-4087-adda-5bd576b25987

These Edifiers are often down to about £55 (£15 voucher to be applied) and claim to have a longer battery and higher cancellation level but I haven't tried these on a plane. Looks like they take a cable

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-W820NB-Hybrid-Cancelling-Headphones-Black/dp/B09FF244QP/ref=sr_1_2?c=ts&keywords=Noise+Cancelling+Headphones&qid=1685692218&refinements=p_89%3AEdifier&rnid=1632651031&s=electronics&sr=1-2&ts_id=310193011

Comfort is entirely subjective. You first need to decide if you want in-ear or over-ear.

I have WH1000 xm3 and they're superb, but the over-ear design can be uncomfortable if I am wearing glasses. They are expensive (although I paid a lot less in Oslo duty free) but it's one of those things where you don't regret spending the money if you have it. Later models are apparently even better.

A major factor for me in listening comfort is listening to uncompressed music. I can't listen to compressed audio for long, it makes my ears get really tired and hurt somehow. This was the reason I never listened to music whilst out and about, and I didn't realise it until I tried uncompressed aka HD audio.

We have had some WH1000 for some years and they are good. However on long flights where you might want to kip they make your ears hot, and its actually difficult to get comfortable unless you can sleep like a wooden plank, I this will be the same for all over ear headphones.

I've often wondered if its worth trying in ear ones. Aer they noticeably not as good, lets face it a big cup over the ear surly helps more than just in ear regardless of technology

I also had an headband style set of headphones blue tooth off Amazon or eBay for about 10 quid. Not great sound quality but excellent for listening to music or podcasts and sleeping on planes and noisy platforms

I still use these at home for podcasts at bed time

I have several pairs of NC headphones. My most used are Sony 1000XM3 in ear, I wear them about 8hrs a day, most days.
I find the over ear Sonys (XM3) I have make me too hot. The sound (of the in ear) is excellent, I’m no sound engineer but I like good quality. However, you can’t plug these into plane systems so I travel with my old Bose QC for that, maybe some used or NOS Bose might be in your budget? There’s some clever electronics in NC headphones so I think the more spendy versions deal with that better than cheapo’s.

I got the Bose over ear, fab but as a glasses wearer they do get uncomfortable, also with glasses the noise seal is not as effective.

Solution....remove glasses.

Think I d freak out now without them.

I’ve often wondered if its worth trying in ear ones.

Well, before I got these I tried the wireless Sony buds, I forget their codename, and they were wonderful things but the noise cancelling was poor. However the more recent versions are apparently much much better. I am actually very tempted, I do wish I were able to try them in the same noise environment as my current ones.

If it helps, I have in the past found in-ear buds intolerable, but the Sonys were supremely comfortable. As, to be fair, are the Anker/Soundcore ones I use on Zwift.

I just bought some in ear jobbies for exactly this. Flying on Sunday.

But I fly so rarely that I didn't really realise I wouldn't be able to plug them in for films and stuff. So now I'm also packing my moulded earplugs and some cheap cabled cans for when I want to watch a film 😩😂

Oh, and if you want to use earbuds to watch films on planes then you can cheaply buy a bluetooth adapter that plugs into the socket and you pair your earphones with it.

I find the over ear Sonys (XM3) I have make me too hot. The sound (of the in ear) is excellent, I’m no sound engineer but I like good quality. However, you can’t plug these into plane systems

Yes you can - there's a 3.5mm socket on the left. It even comes with a cable and a two-prong plane adapter in the box..? Or at least mine do and did.

Yes there is an adaptor and they even work with NC if battery is flat.

I haven’t been on a plane in over 4 years now, but I used to do the States 4 times a year.

The Bose over ear ones worked for me, and I given I don’t fly these days I’d be happy to move them on.

They’re the Bluetooth / corded depending on how you’re feeling ones.  I’d have to check they charge up ok.

Thanks all.

IGM I’d be interested in those if working but to avoid wasting your time I’ll tell you I’m looking to spend less than £50?

I've Bose QC 25s, jabra in-ear hobbies, some plantronics 8200s and my wife has some non-branded ones.

I frequently do 10 hour flights, on those I take the jabras. They're very nearly as good as the Bose at shutting out noise but more comfortable over very extended periods at keeping noise out. A small Bluetooth transmitter gets the plane sound to me if needed, but newer planes have Bluetooth inseat anyway making that un needed.

So in ear for me, if you're doing a longer flight

I've had Bose 700s and I now have the Sony xm4s which are great.
Mrs, Miss and Master OTS all have The Anker Life Q30s ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soundcore-Cancelling-Headphones-Multiple-Comfortable-Black/dp/B08NP4CBBM)
They are great VFM and with the current 25% off voucher come in at just over £50
In ear's are useless for dealing with in flight drone IME.

Based on your budget I would definitely recommend the Anker Soundcore Q20's I linked to above for £38.
I find them comfy for a few hours of flying with glasses on

Review here

https://www.soundguys.com/anker-soundcore-life-q20-review-80070/

Edit: good price on those Q30's

I've had a pair of these for 3 years and they have been faultless. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325631555438?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=325631555438&targetid=1405282543919&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046596&poi=&campaignid=17218284410&mkgroupid=142217514411&rlsatarget=aud-1657461043628:pla-1405282543919&abcId=9300867&merchantid=6995734&gclid=CjwKCAjwpuajBhBpEiwA_Ztfhd3ZQyWYiv2sapn0rZNzeNLd8IHSx_wOyaM-z_Upl6AplK3_fUu3dBoCGvUQAvD_BwE

Those are second hand. There are newer versions https://www.amazon.co.uk/Infurture-Cancelling-Headphones-Bluetooth-Memory-Protein/dp/B08HDBZNZ9/ref=asc_df_B08HDBZNZ9/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=535148305381&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7781006651252909042&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046596&hvtargid=pla-1009610158693&psc=1

for £34. At that price you could buy, try and return if not suitable.

Yes you can – there’s a 3.5mm socket on the left. It even comes with a cable and a two-prong plane adapter in the box..? Or at least mine do and did

Sorry, I meant the in ear versions which obviously don’t have cables.

I hadn’t considered getting a Bluetooth plug in adapter for the seat side however, so I can use the in ears.  good call whoever it was.

Thanks again for the assist - I went for the Anker Q30's discounted at Amazon, they arrive tomorrow.

I’ve often wondered if its worth trying in ear ones.

Sorry, I meant the in ear versions which obviously don’t have cables.

My personal choice for in-ear would be a set of MeeAudio cabled IEM’s, for the same reason I use cabled over-ear headphones - IEM’s can be fitted with a variety of different eartips that passively block background noise, in exactly the same way that PPE ear protectors work, you can get a variety of different adaptors to fit things like Lightning, USB-C, 1/4”, or aircraft sockets/ports, they have no batteries to crap out on you eventually forcing you to bin them, and you can listen to Lossless audio, which isn’t possible with BT wireless.

These would be a good choice, they’ve got replaceable cables, so if the cable fails, which they do, then you can just plug in a new one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132680595738?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201210111314%26meid%3Dc8c088b45f2c4d5aa848e61f26200087%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D364114517016%26itm%3D132680595738%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuWithLambda85KnnRecallV1V4V6ItemNrtInQueryAndCassiniVisualRankerAndBertRecall%26brand%3DMEE+Audio&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A132680595738c8c088b45f2c4d5aa848e61f26200087%7Cenc%3AAQAIAAABUA2rugFlOq3qu1cLac%252F%252Fk6Vp0Oa0HaJIqoXKeIiOR%252BTUgsSvHaeyPxKYu6UqHqq7GaGyKVqHQnjeiiXcQpMGw2t3aB%252BssGfjtIWOBj8wExc7oYYP7xGMyQCrHDyDaSaWjB1CueI3A94n0yxXX5dx5gC0u04D2vYtv%252BghujOBEEykhc%252BxpCrzyzYl4W6g43CZdD2AHNfSpI4J2guRJIWbzjLRaQ3rwds8O6WBNkjz2sAVG8P%252F2VjD%252B9WUdIpXAka%252FvpV32jMcl10srOGFOfjCvV5OQRoAWH5rpKun1C7Bz2q0ZTFpcXck5zKiJIj4OASQcwoaSwxkXvY2j8t2fOQU1B6ZJRc0%252FZVnJvwSL8l%252BJbekvMzy1j2OzaiOolodQwPSsCvmlx3sgh6e9JtZ1Zz0Xl8nTioTk5HcYEo2%252FiwocHZropmsm4GBZ4MZWC%252BroFPYgQ%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675

Oops, sorry about the huge block of text, I’ve no idea how to shorten the link!

I’ve got a couple of pairs of MeeAudio Pinnacle P1’s, which have replaceable cables, one pair have a MeeAudio Bluetooth adapter, but one side has now gone intermittent, so I’ll have to put the original 3.5mm cable back on. The other pair have a Pinion MMCX > Lightning cable, which works perfectly. That’s what I mean about BT systems failing…

I’m in the process of getting a Fiio DAC, which will let me use a standard 3.5mm jack with a 4.4mm adapter in the balanced socket on the DAC, all of which will run off my phone’s Lightning port, and with a different connector, a USB-C port.
All of which means I can use any of my IEM’s and my Røde NTH-100 studio ‘phones, and get the full-fat Lossless audio from my phone. 😎

Q30s are good. My children have them. More impressive than several more expensive brands’ models IME.

I gave up on watching movies on planes. Aspect ratio changes, dodgy edits, meh. I found it take some stuff on the computer or phone that I know I won’t be disappointed by. Or read a book and listen to music.

So I got some for when I’m the office and wanted similar to AirPods without the silly price. Anker soundcore and I’ve been blown away by the quality! Noise cancelling a never going to be stunning for £50 but they’re good and the sound from them is excellent with some great deep bass but treble doesn’t suffer!

Oops, sorry about the huge block of text, I’ve no idea how to shorten the link!

You can delete anything after the question mark. This is the case generally, as a rule of thumb.

WTF is a 4.4mm adapter? Do you mean 5mm or is this a weird fitting I've not come across before?

All of which means I can use any of my IEM’s and my Røde NTH-100 studio ‘phones, and get the full-fat Lossless audio from my phone. 😎

That's cute and no doubt expensive. But what about playing the shitty audio from the aeroplane TV.