To me, there is truly no activity that evokes a deeper sense of reluctant endurance than spending countless hours trapped within the narrow confines of a crowded airplane cabin, seated shoulder-to-shoulder with complete strangers, suspended thirty thousand feet above the earth’s surface, and propelled across vast expanses of time and space. The experience of flying—although miraculously convenient and undeniably modern—never fails to test my patience. My words carry a heavy dose of sarcasm, of course, because I genuinely despise the repetitive rituals of air travel: the discomfort, the noise, and the claustrophobic atmosphere. In order to endure these airborne excursions, I have learned to rely on one essential comfort—a dependable pair of high-quality headphones that can transform those endless hours into a stream of watchable, somewhat escapist entertainment. In my case, that means immersing myself in episodes of ‘The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’ until the descent begins.
There is no shortage of headphones or earbuds deserving of praise for their craftsmanship, innovative features, or excellent sound profiles. Yet the true measure of performance for any pair, in my opinion, lies not within the pristine silence of a testing laboratory but rather amid the unpredictable chaos of a bustling airport and a noisy airplane cabin. Over a period of six weeks, I thoroughly evaluated five different pairs of headphones by taking them through some of the busiest travel hubs in the United States—Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City—making multiple round trips and noting how each model performed under genuine travel conditions.
My flights included two round trips between Atlanta and New York, and another two between Atlanta and Los Angeles. Throughout these journeys, I tested the Sonos Ace, Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Generation), AirPods Pro 3, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Generation). What follows is an in-depth reflection on how each of these pairs excelled in its strengths, as well as where each one fell short of perfection.
Beginning with the Sonos Ace—a pair I wore on flights between Atlanta (ATL) and New York City’s LaGuardia (LGA)—the most notable qualities were their luxurious comfort, impressive acoustic fidelity, and strong active noise cancellation (ANC). Among every over-ear model I’ve worn, these proved to be the most comfortable by a significant margin, even outperforming established comfort champions like Bose. The plush, memory-foam-padded earcups, combined with a gently distributed clamping pressure and a cushioned headband, allowed me to wear them for hours without discomfort. The two-and-a-half-hour flight could easily have stretched twice as long, and I would have continued wearing them uninterrupted.
Sonically, the Ace produced a balanced yet engaging sound signature characterized by a rich, dynamic bass presence and a slightly accentuated treble that stops short of harshness—creating a sound that is immersive but never fatiguing. After a recent software update, the Ace’s ANC performance significantly improved, managing to reduce much of the airport’s general clamor, including the constant announcements blaring over the PA system. Onboard the aircraft, however, their ability to muffle low-frequency engine rumbles was somewhat less absolute; while persistent mechanical hums faded into the background, higher-pitched disturbances such as crying infants, chatty neighbors, and the rattling snack cart occasionally slipped through the sonic shield.
Their greatest drawback lies in portability. I often prefer storing my headphones in my bag before reaching the TSA checkpoint to minimize the number of loose items in the bins. Unfortunately, the Ace do not fold, and their protective case is bulky and unwieldy. Since I do not possess TSA PreCheck—by my own decision, though I question it every time—I must repeatedly manage these logistical inconveniences. Though the headphones remain unscathed so far, I can’t help wishing for a more travel-friendly design.
Next up was the Sony WH-1000XM6, tested once again on the ATL-LGA route. In the domain of noise cancellation, Sony remains a powerhouse, and this model reaffirmed that reputation. The XM6 effortlessly subdued the combination of engine drone, conversation, and cabin commotion, enabling me to enjoy my audio content without cranking the volume excessively. Moreover, their foldable construction makes them remarkably convenient for travel, easily tucked into a bag without taking up precious space.
A software upgrade recently introduced Bluetooth LE Audio sharing, known as Auracast, allowing users to share audio wirelessly with another compatible device. Though I tested this feature on the ground rather than in flight, I could easily imagine it enhancing a shared travel experience. Whereas Apple’s AirPods limit their sharing capability to iPhone-to-iPhone connections, Sony’s implementation operates across various Android devices, showcasing greater flexibility. Despite these technological advantages, the XM6 faltered somewhat in comfort. Though lightweight, their clamping pressure was overly firm during longer flights, pressing uncomfortably against my head after about an hour. The discomfort prompted me to transition to my AirPods Pro 3 midway through one journey, and I stuck with those for my return flight.
When traveling from Atlanta to Los Angeles, I turned to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Generation). For travelers like me—those who favor the window seat and often rest their heads against the cabin wall—these earbuds offer a marvelously ergonomic solution. Their unconventional bud shape avoids the protruding stem design seen in competing models, resulting in a secure, cushioned fit that bolsters their already superior noise-canceling performance. Bose’s trademark sound profile—warm, bass-emphasized, and softly restrained in treble—made them pleasant for marathon listening sessions. During the lengthy cross-country flight, these earbuds created a personal cocoon of serenity, dimming the drone of the engines to a gentle murmur and leaving me comfortably insulated from the chaos around me.
However, portability again proved to be an issue. The QC Ultra Earbuds’ charging case is quite large, making it cumbersome to slip into small pockets. The earbuds themselves are somewhat bulkier than those made by Sony, Apple, or Google, but this added volume accommodates internal components essential for their impressive comfort and stability. Their six-hour battery life, while respectable, fell slightly short of my needs—mine ran out just as I reached my destination and summoned a car to my hotel. Nevertheless, the mellow sound and effective ANC largely compensated for this limitation.
For my return journey from Los Angeles to Atlanta, I once again reached for the AirPods Pro 3. Among all compact earbuds, their noise cancellation stood out as the most potent. The tight seal formed by their in-canal design rivaled that of bulkier over-ear models, producing remarkably silent moments amid an inherently noisy setting. Coupled with an eight-hour battery life and a vibrant, spacious sound signature, they served as the perfect travel companion for a transcontinental flight. An added convenience was their seamless integration into Apple’s ecosystem—their built-in heart rate monitor synchronized with iOS 26’s Fitness app, allowing me to track my physical activity without relying on my Apple Watch or its charger.
Yet, even these near-perfect earbuds have one Achilles’ heel: achieving a consistently stable fit. Although soft and unobtrusive when stationary, the Pro 3’s seal tended to loosen when I moved my jaw, whether to eat, talk, or occasionally laugh. This required frequent adjustments, proving more bothersome than with their earlier iteration.
Lastly, on my next round-trip between Atlanta and Los Angeles, I tested the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Generation). As expected, Bose delivered some of the most refined ANC in its class. I noticed that these headphones excelled particularly in suppressing human voices and sudden sounds—such as clattering overhead bins—while being slightly less dominant in neutralizing the pervasive hum of airplane engines. Their distinctive, warm tonality, supported by soft bass and restrained treble balance, yielded an effortlessly enjoyable listening experience. One standout feature was their intelligent power management: removing the headphones automatically triggered a low-power standby state, eliminating the need to search for physical power buttons amid a hectic airport shuffle. Their foldable structure further enhanced portability, cementing them as one of the most practical pairs for travelers.
Surprisingly, what disappointed me about this second-generation model was comfort—an attribute that Bose typically masters. Compared to the first iteration, these newer headphones applied a firmer clamping force, and their earcups offered slightly less depth. During my five-hour flight to Los Angeles, I could wear them comfortably for approximately four hours before the pressure became noticeable. Ultimately, I switched back to my AirPods for the remainder of the flight. The same discomfort repeated on the return leg.
Reflecting on all eight flights, my conclusions were clear. The AirPods Pro 3 emerged as the most balanced earbuds overall, outperforming others in battery life, noise cancellation, and integration with health-tracking features—all while maintaining vivid, high-quality audio and crisp microphone performance for calls or quick app interactions. In contrast, the Sonos Ace proved to be my personal favorite for extended comfort, particularly beneficial for travelers like me who wear glasses or have multiple ear piercings. Their elegant design, Dolby Atmos support, and thirty-hour battery longevity compensate for noise-canceling capabilities that, while slightly behind Sony and Bose, remain quite effective. Ultimately, each of these models presents its own kind of triumph for travelers, but finding the perfect match depends on whether you value immersive sound, advanced functionality, or enduring comfort during those long hours in the sky.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-wore-5-different-headphones-across-8-flights-heres-how-each-pair-won-and-lost/
