Smart Meetings

Gotta Have it: Bose QuietComfort® 3 Noise Cancelling ® Headphones

February 2008

Departments

What to know before you go

Smart Buy: Noise-canceling headphones deliver more than just cleaner music—even unplugged they can block out plenty of ambient sound.

The baby bawling his head off across the aisle. The eight-year-old in the seat behind you relentlessly begging his mother for soda. The oaf snoring loudly a few feet away. Annoyance comes from all directions, and when you’re strapped into your seat on a long flight, there is little you can do to escape it. If you remembered to bring your iPod, you could turn on some Van Halen and crank it all the way to 10. But there is another, more peaceful option—noise-canceling headphones. Remarkably, this wonderful technology works without any sound at all, effectively blocking much of the ambient sound around you, like airplane hum or an air conditioner. When music is added, the reduction in outside noise means you don’t have to turn up your volume as high, saving those precious eardrums for another day.

Top Dog: Bose is arguably the leader in noise-canceling technology, but serenity comes at a price. Expect to spend a few hundred dollars on a top-of-the-line set of headphones. Other brands, like JVC and Sennheiser, provide more affordable alternatives.

Bring it With You: While noise-canceling technology (and music) usually works best with the large, over-the-ear models, you can also expect great performance from smaller, more portable styles—even ear buds.