Labs

Bose invented the first noise- cancelling headphones, and the company cultivates a reputation for high-end audio, so we were hoping for something special. We weren't immediately impressed by the plasticky, albeit solid, construction; this may keep the weight down, but we found the finish easily scratched and the on/off switch

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flimsy.

But there's no doubting the effectiveness of the noise-cancelling circuitry, which is built into the cans rather than a box in the cable. Once the music starts and it kicks in, you understand the price tag. Bass is warm without losing subtlety, and the high end is clear and airy. With good-quality audio you'll hear details that elude lesser drivers thanks to tremendous mid-range and top-end complexity.

There's one irritating flaw: there's no passive option, so once the battery goes dead, so does the sound, and you're wearing comfortable but rather expensive earmuffs. On the plus side, battery life is rated at a long haul-friendly 35 hours. It's not a big hassle to carry spare batteries, but at this price it's a niggle.

For bog-standard MP3 playback they're an unnecessary investment, but frequently flying music lovers will appreciate the sheer quality of the QuietComforts.