Sadly, buying a great pair of headphones — especially with noise cancelation that you’re going to want in your regular, take-everywhere pair — means spending a lot of money, with most good options ranging from $300 to $400. But can you make peace and quiet a price or make long-haul flights more bearable? I use them regularly to sleep a little easier — with nothing to do.
Bose is the company that has built its name on headphones that cancel noise. And while competitors like Sony have done a commendable job of catching up over the past few years, in the best overall package, Bose still packs everything together. The Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are the follow-up to Bose’s QuietComfort 35 cans, which have become an essential kit for frequent flyers or subway transportation.
GOOD STUFF
Superb noise reduction The best voice calls you can encounter on any headphone will connect to two devices simultaneously
BAD STUFF
Not as light as QC35 IIs Bose Music app allows you to create an account for customizing settings
On the NCH700s, Bose made an effort to improve the quality of voice calling, and this is another area where they are best in class. If, while wearing headphones, you rarely chat with people, this may not be a big draw. The NCH700s can be combined simultaneously with two devices— a great feature if you are multitasking between a phone and a laptop or tablet. You can adjust the noise cancelation level to your preference, and these headphones do not have the same at the highest setting. It’s like reaching the outside world with the silence. The battery life these days is 20 hours, but plenty for any travel purpose.
