Best Noise Cancelling Headphones

We suggest the Bose QuietComfort 35 wireless active noise cancelling headphones as the best noise cancelling headphones for airplane riders.  They are a yet another advancing version of the QC15 earphones. They are indeed a step up from the QC25 phones with wires.

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Airplane Travelers

While these cost even more than most other around-ear headphones, you’ll get your money’s worth in the QC35s. We played with these at a local brick-and-mortar audio store.  We tested them around loud fans, to get sounds like jet engine airplanes.

The result?  We found their music sound quite moving.  The QC35 had rich-but-not-boomy bass, flowing mid range, and well-reproduced treble. The fidelity in these QC-35 Bluetooth headphones rivals that of the older, wired headphone models.

Also, as expected, these QC-35 earphones, like their predecessors, actively cancel surrounding noise, quite well. They blocked out the fan white noise amazingly well.  Indeed, they’re far more effective than the simpler passive noise cancelling earphones of the 1980s and 1990s.  Plus, the fact that they’re Bluetooth does not degrade their active noise canceling performance.

Further, the QC-35s really cut the outside noises at the shop. They work well to reduce stereos and home theater systems blasting, doors slamming, smart speakers thumping, and people gabbing. The best example of active noise control we’ve ever tested since the QC15s. So this Quiet Comfort 35 headset uses outer noise sensing mics both inside and outside of each earcup.  So they need battery power; a single AAA cell. Bit this lasts many hours.

Furthermore, each ear has its own separate mics for better noise control for that ear.





Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Airplane: QC-35 Advantages, Pros, Benefits, and Features

Yep, They’re Wireless!

These are the first Bluetooth headphones in the QuietComfort series. But you can still connect them via the cable Bose includes, should the battery run dead. This cord also comes in handy should the device you wish to play through them does not support Bluetooth.

Work with Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod Mobile Devices

The Bose QC35 headphones can play content from iPhone, iPhone, and iPad devices with ease.  They also work with Android tablets and phones as well. You can pair them with your phone and conduct hands-free talks through the QC35 too.  This is one reason these are indeed the best noise cancelling headphones for airplane riders.

Stock picture of the Bose QuietComfort QC35 active noise cancelling wireless headphones in black.
Bose QuietComfort QC35 active noise cancelling wireless headphones in Black, stock photo.

The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Have a Closed Air Design

With the exception of the ports, this wireless QuietComfort offering, like both of its earlier models, has closed back earcups. This helps not only keep unwanted airplane noise out of your ears. But it also keeps the music inside. That way, you won’t disturb your seatmate.  Unless you play your music at top volume, any escaping sound is unheard.

Little Pressure on Ears Felt

Some flyers mention feeling a pressure on their eardrums when working the noise reduction circuit. That’s especially when in noisy environments. This is because the QC35 must produce lots of anti noise to cancel out the outside noise.

But we felt no pressure, even with subwoofers blasting around us while listening.  The QC35s are indeed comfy enough that you can easily fall asleep with them on your head on the airplane.

Plenty of Loudness

The dynamic range of the QC35 does not suffer due to the Bluetooth connection. In fact, these headphones sound better with their wireless connection, than did the QC25s with their wired one. The circuitry and drivers can still play at ear-splitting volumes, if that’s what you like.

But long-term exposure to very loud sounds may hurt your hearing, the user’s guide says. Yet if high volume is your desire, you’ll still get it in these Bose QuietComfort 35 Bluetooth headphones.

You won’t need that extra volume on the airplane though.  Why?  Because the noise cancelling circuitry really cuts outside noises. It lowers them to the point that you don’t have to turn up the volume to overcome them.





Side Speaker Function Found on the Best Noise Cancelling Headphones

This allows you to hear your own voice in these earphones while talking via your cellphone. The side speaker reduces the need to shout to assure that the other person can hear you.  So, you won’t disturb as much your fellow travelers.

Wear Them Comfortably While Sleeping on the Airplane

If you ride taxies, trains, or airplanes, you’ll love the advanced active noise cancelling feature. Plus, you don’t even have to be listening to anything to benefit. Like with the earlier versions in the QuietComfort series, we wore these while playing nothing through them. Yet we left the power switch ON to enable the noise control processors.

The result?  The QC35 works just as well to cut outside sounds. It particularly works well against snoring and airplane cabin noise.  Almost as good as a decent pair of beeswax earplugs. Now they still drain the battery any time they’re running, even with no audio playing. So the noise cancelling does have a price.

Like the Bose QC25s, the QC35s work well when wearing while leaning back in your airplane seat and facing forward.

Yet another reason these are indeed the best noise cancelling headphones for airplane travelers.

No Bigger or Heavier than Non Noise Cancelling Headphones

Lightweight, although a bit heavier than the QC25s. In spite of the battery and additional circuitry for Bluetooth operation, the QC-35 earphones are quite light.  Indeed they seem no more imposing than the many passive phones we’ve sampled.  Even the older active cancelling ones.  So in terms of comfort, these earphones are indeed among the best for airplane riders.

The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Feature Deep, Soft Ear Cups 

The Bose QC35 ear cushions, completely surround each ear. Plus, there’s enough depth to prevent the back of the can (the speaker) from touching the ear. They’re flexible enough that they quickly mold themselves over eyeglasses (the temple pieces). And there’s no loss of fidelity or noise reduction. They rarely become uncomfortable, even on the longest airplane flights. In fact, you’ll probably grow weary of listening, before you tire of wearing these earphones.

The ear cushions also create an effective noise barrier to both outside noises, and inside program sounds leaking out.  This further enhances the noise reducing qualities of the QC35.





Great Fidelity

Now other wired noise cancelling headphones often suffer from fidelity loss. This is due to their inferior noise cancelling circuitry. But we find no such loss in the QC-35. Bose indeed overcame these perennial setbacks of typical active noise canceling headphones in this offering.  They made the wireless medium as transparent to the sound signals as the wired earphones with the audio cords.  So airplane travelers need not compromise great sound for great noise cancelling.  You get both in these Bose noise cancelling headphones.

Better Outside Noise Detection

The QC-35 features at least two microphones in each ear unit. One senses external noises directly (there’s a grill-covered opening on the back of each driver).  Plus, there are mics inside the driver case, near your ear. This improves cancellation of higher frequency noises. Such noise comes from jet engines and clinking silverware from other passengers eating.

Also, newer and faster audio processing in the QC35 better reduces outside noise. We could tell that noise cancellation worked well. We did this by stopping the music, and then covering the noise sensing microphones with a finger. As we covered more and more of the mic, the external noise we could hear increased a lot.

Both Low and High Frequency Outside Noises Cancelled

The noise you’re likely to hear on an airplane is diverse.  Everything from slamming overhead bins, to many conversations, to roaring or whistling engines.  Bose makes the QC-35 phones specifically to cut these sorts of noise.  Bose builds them with awesome noise isolation.  Plus, their state-of-the-art active noise cancellation circuitry adds to that noise cutting in a huge way. ALL external noise frequencies soften, especially with the earphones running.

Works with Today’s Mobile Audio Sources

So long as your device supports Bluetooth, the QC35 will pair with popular mobile players and phones. This includes the Blackberry, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch. These also work with Android devices from Samsung, Google, Amazon, et al. These earphones are quite useful thus for airplane passengers.  Why?  Because people who fly a lot usually carry such devices with them.

Wired Option if the Battery Goes Dead

Now the rechargeable battery may go dead. Or perhaps you wish to drive the phones from a device that does not provide Bluetooth. So you can still plug in the QC35 via an audio cable for that.

But if you’re planning a trip though, be sure to fully charge the earphones before taking off.  You’ll want all the noise cancelling ability the QC35 headphones have to offer, to best enjoy your flight.





Thus, you can Still listen Should the Battery Run Low

Keep the battery well charged, since without a fresh battery, you will lose any active noise suppression.

But unlike the QC15, you can still listen to music. But you just won’t get the enhanced experience that comes via the active noise cancellation circuit. Why? Because this circuit requires battery power to operate

The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones Have a Level LO / HI switch

Functions as an audio attenuator. This lets you lower the volume when listening to airplane audio sources. Sometimes these volumes may be too high for your liking.

Affordable for Serious Airplane Travelers

The QC35 costs roughly $300 US. But for the best price, we suggest checking out online resellers and second-hand sites like Amazon and eBay. We found them as lost as $150. However be careful paying too little, as the headphones you buy might be fake. Buyer beware of very low prices.

Even the Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Airplane have some Problems, Cons, and Disadvantages

The Bose QuietComfort QC-35 noise cancelling headphones are indeed, we feel, the best noise cutting earphones for airplane travel. Yet they nonetheless have a few minor drawbacks we wanted to tell you about.

They are Pricey

At around $350 for a new pair, the QC-35 comprise a decidedly substantial purchase. Although their overall quality likely justifies three and a half c-notes, do keep them out of reach of children. Even adult novice listeners might not appreciate that workmanship and advanced performance the QC-35 offers. So, we suggest making sure your tastes for high fidelity have grown into these phones before buying them. If you can’t appreciate the difference in sound between these and much cheaper models, then you’re better off buying cheap.

Ear Cushions Make Ears Sweat

Now there is the closed air design of the QuietComfort series to consider. While wearing the QC35, you get little to no air moving around your ears to cool them. Thus, sweat can quickly soil the ear cushions. So we suggest wiping the ear cups after each long listening session.





They Cancel Outside Noise So Well, that they Could Create Hazards

The active noise cancelling hallmark works well. So well in fact, that even with your music set to lower volumes, you’ll probably not hear someone approaching. You may not even hear when they call out to you. Plus, these earphones also seriously reduce traffic noises. Things like horns, squealing tires, sirens, and other warning sounds are very much lower. Thus we recommend not using the QC-35 when driving or walking near busy streets.

All That Considered, Still the Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Airplane

These QC-35 wireless headphones continue the progression of many years of research and development. We find that this effort works well.  It has come to fruition for Bose, in their best wireless noise canceling headphones so far. Indeed, these are the best sounding Bluetooth headphones we’ve tested.

Further, all the parts appear durable. They are easy to clean. Plus they appear to be of superior grade construction in contrast to the earlier versions. Now we prefer waiting to buy a refurbished set. This avoids the high-end retail price of nearly $350. Indeed we see this retail price as the only limiting factor of the QC35.

Even if you don’t fly much, the high-grade active noise cancelling performance means that you’ll likely need less volume. This is true because you’ll have less outside noise to overcome by turning the volume up. We therefore, rate this audio product at 97 out of 100. Expensive yes, but well worth the money.

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References for the Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Airplane

    1. QC-35 User’s Manual
    2. Where to buy the Bose QC-35 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones