Best headphones on the market. Period. A great way to stay sane for long flights!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Comfortable, convenient, and compact. Powerful noise reduction cuts out even the loudest sounds!

Cons: Rather expensive (but worth it)

The Bottom Line: 
This is simply the best unit you can possibly buy. Incredibly clear sound coupled with enhanced comfort and stunning noise reduction makes these headphones the best on the market.

Author's Review
I received the Bose QC2 headphones as a gift from my brother-in-law, and I have to say that they are simply the best headphones I've ever used. The sound quality is incredible, the headphones themselves are comfortable and easily stored, and the noise reduction is nothing short of amazing.

Size, weight, and comfort:
The headphones aren't anything particularly huge, they have your basic support structure with two cups that go over your ears. The cups are cushioned with a soft, leather-like material that not only ensures that these headphones will remain comfortable for hours of use, but they also muffle outside sound. You can easily forget that you have them on, which makes it very easy to sleep on an airplane. The cups rotate 90 degrees inward, allowing the entire apparatus to fold flat. They come with a semi-hard carrying case that is sleek and easily storable in the front part of a backpack or carry-on luggage.

Operation:
Bose has improved significantly over its QC1 headphones. The earlier models came with a small handheld pad that switched the noise reduction on and off, but the QC2's now have the on/off switch built inconspicuously into the side of the headphones themselves, eliminating the wires and the handheld pad. The headphones are capable of operating wirelessly with noise reduction only, which is nice if you plan on sleeping in a plane or crowded bus. To attach the headphones to an mp3 or DVD player, Bose has included a sleek audio wire that snaps right into the headphones and then can be attached to whatever device you plan on listening to. In all, the design is much less cumbersome than earlier models. Bose really went all out to ensure that this device was considerably sleeker and user-friendly than earlier headphones.

Sound quality:
The sound quality is what one can expect from Bose: crisp, clear sound. The headphones deliver the full range of the audio spectrum, including incredibly clear highs and surprisingly powerful lows. After a few minutes of use, you forget that you have these comfortable headphones on your ears, and you are pleasantly enveloped in rich digital sound.

Noise reduction:
Absolutely incredible. I travel a great deal for business and these headphones have been invaluable to me. The incessant droning of an airplane is quickly reduced to an almost imperceptible hum with the flick of a switch, as well as that annoying child that is usually seated right next to you and loudly singing his ABC's. These headphones turn an otherwise unbearable flight into an opportunity to take a nap, watch a movie, or catch up on work in near silence. I suggest coupling the noise reduction abilities of these headphones with a portable DVD player like the Panasonic DVD-LS90 highly recommended), the noise reduction is so complete that you'll think you're in a movie theater, albeit a cramped one.

Durability:
I have no problems to report after lugging these headphones across three continents and on around 15 or so business trips. They've been kicked, dropped, squished, and have had water spilled on them. I could have really done without the last part, but I haven't noticed any ill effects.

Price/value:
Mine were $250, well worth every penny. Think about how loud airplanes can be, or even the person typing in the office next to you. These headphones provide you an oasis of calm in whatever chaotic environment you choose to use them in.

Accessories:
Comes with a semi-hard carrying case, 2 AAA batteries, audio wires, and adapters to suit every possible time of audio jack. These adapters come in handy when traveling internationally. The batteries last for at least 20 or 30 hours, so you're not constantly changing batteries.

Overall:
5 stars! Two thumbs up! Oscar-worthy! A perfect 10! I love these headphones. They are my constant traveling companions and have provided me with entertainment on long flights, sleep in a noisy cabin, and hours upon hours of canceling out my coworkers in the office. The price tag is steep, but if you like crystal clear music and sound without outside interruption, these are the headphones for you. They are a simply must-have for any executive or businessman who logs a lot of hours in planes and trains. There are a lot of other models on the market by Panasonic, Sony, and Sennheiser, to name a few, but Bose was the originator of the noise reduction technology and they are still the ones that do it BEST. Don't try to save $50 or more by going with another brand, you'll regret your decision. Buy the best, buy it once, and then enjoy the sound.