Able Planet NC200B Noise-Canceling Headphones

Open the briefcase of any seasoned road warrior, and you are guaranteed to find a few things: a smart phone, laptop or iPad, and noise-reducing headphones. As a frequent traveler myself, I have always resisted the urge to carry bulky headphones that do not completely mask sound and take up significant room in my carry-on.

My curiosity finally got the best of me after watching person after person don large headphones on flights. My concern is that headphones rarely cancel out noise such as loud talkers, gum smackers, or newspaper rustlers. We have all been seated around these people before, those frustrating travelers who take little concern for those seated around them. But, there is no eliminating them so I sought out the next best solution.

Able Planet offers a line of affordable headphones making them the perfect entry-level product for someone wanting to try them out. The True Fidelity NC200B headphones come in a convenient carrying case with a strap to secure them. They fold up easily and feature numerous jacks to plug them into any device or airplane audio system.

The first time I wore them, I did not know what to expect. As I had predicted, the noise was not eliminated rather reduced. But, even the most expensive Bose headphones do not eliminate noise. They simply muffle it. My assumption that noise would be completely gone was unfounded, but I slowly began to appreciate the white noise bubble that the Able Planet headphones create.

To make a fair comparison, I tested out a friend’s Bose headphones. They offered little uptick in sound reduction making me excited about the affordability, durability, and sound quality of the Able Planet pair.

Once I got over my misunderstanding that every single sound would be eliminated, I quickly fell in love with the peace and quiet that has befallen me on my flights. It makes it ten times easier to fall and stay asleep with these on, and I appreciate that I can connect them to the audio jack on the plane (there’s a two-prong converter as well since aircraft jacks vary) to listen to music or watch a movie as I doze off.

It requires only one AAA battery (comes with the headphones), and the headphones themselves are lightweight. They wrap around my ear sealing off loud noises without being uncomfortable. I now understand why people love their noise-canceling headphones, but this impressive pair of Able Planet equipment does a remarkable job of creating a calm oasis in a noisy atmosphere performing just as well as many Bose products but at half the price.