You can't open an in-flight magazine without seeing an ad for the Bose QuietComfort 2 (QC2) headphones. They really do work, and nothing outperforms them for sheer noise reduction. These headphones listen to your environment and subtract what they hear from what you hear. They even block noise well without music: Turn them on while you're talking and you'll have the eerie experience of hearing the lowest octave of your own voice disappear. Noise isolation is excellent, but frequency response could be a lot smoother. Weakness in the low midrange leaves vocals sounding a little disconnected or hollow. After 6.3 kHz, high frequencies plummet 12 dB and more—a disappoinment.

The circumaural (covering the ear) design is very comfortable, and the QC2s are light, for closed-back headphones. The travel case is bulky but protects the headset well. A single triple-A battery slips into one of the ear cups. Bose supplies a quarter-inch adapter and a two-prong airline adapter. Sensitivity is low; you may have to turn your player up all the way. Quieting: 20 dB; Frequency response: Mid sag, high dive; Comfort: Excellent.