Head-Fi Buying Guide (Travel Headphones)

I've decided to group these two Bose headphones together, as I find their performance, in terms of sound quality and noise canceling ability, to be somewhat similar. While there are other minor differences, the obvious differentiator between the two is that the QuietComfort 25 is a wired-only headphone, whereas the QuietComfort 35 is essentially a Bluetooth wireless version of the former. The QC35 has received some nice refinements where sound quality is concerned, which I'll get to in a minute.

Despite the Sony MDR-1000X's (see above) emergence to take our top pick for best travel headphone, there are still occasions I'd recommend these Bose headphones over the Sony. First of all, there's price, with the Sony, Parrot Zik 3 (see below) and Sennheiser PXC550 (see below) being priced $50 more than the QC35 and $100 more than the QC25. Secondly, there's simplicity, and this is a crucial point for some customers. Some people do not want to mess with a plethora of settings and tweaks, which the Sony and Parrot are loaded with, and the new Sennheiser is virtually overwhelmed with. There a lot of people who just want to think about nothing more than simply turning the headphone on, and to not be burdened by a variety of buttons, ANC modes, DSP settings, companion apps (which the Bose QC35 does have, but isn't necessary for its use), etc. For people like this, the Bose QC25 and QC35 remain the best choice for travel over-ears.

Outside of the Sony, Bose's ANC is still a cut above the rest of the field, too. Also, both the QC25 and QC35 are at or near the top of the heap in terms of battery life, with up to 35 hours from a single AAA battery for the QC25, and up to 20 hours per charge from the QC35's built-in rechargeable battery. The QC35 also has a last-ditch 15-minute charge mode that buys you 2.5 hours of listening time, which comes in handy if you happen to run its battery down but still have more listening to squeeze in. Build quality for both is solid. While neither feels as substantial as the Sony, they seem to be as well built, with the QuietComfort 25 having accompanied me on hundreds of thousands of miles of travel without any malfunctions or problems (and I most certainly do not baby my gear--I would never buy used gear from me).

Though I find both the QC25 and QC35 to sound rather similar overall, the QC35 has received some welcome refinements in sound quality versus its wired sibling. First of all, bass performance has been improved, with better extension and solidity. In direct comparisons, I find the QC35 to be smoother and more polished through the midrange and treble than the QC25, too. Also, the passive mode on the QC35 is another area where improvements in sound quality have been achieved versus its predecessor. Frankly, the only reason I'd recommend going with the QC25 versus the QC35 is if the $50 price difference is make-or-break for you, if you absolutely require maximum battery life, or if you have a strong preference for the QC25's use of an easily available and replaceable AAA battery, versus the built-in lithium-ion battery in the QC35.

Versus the Sennheiser PXC550 or Parrot Zik 3 in their bone-stock settings, I tend to prefer the sound of the QC35--however, the Sennheiser and Parrot offer so much customizability and equalization that I can adjust them to suit my sonic preferences to a greater degree than the QC35 (or QC25) can achieve for me personally. And, again, for my tastes, the Sony MDR-1000X trumps them all, in terms of its sound with music and movies, and also in terms of the amount of ambient noise canceled.

In terms of comfort, the QC35 has slightly roomier ear cups than the QC25, and so is a bit more comfortable. I also give it the edge in comfort over the Sennheiser; and it's far more comfortable than the Parrot. However, the Sony--for long-haul, multi-hour flights--is more comfortable over my ears and head than even the QC35.

While challengers to their ANC and travel headphone supremacy are banging on their doors, Bose's ANC travel headphone offerings are still among the very best on the market, especially their latest QuietComfort 35, with its sonic refinements and wireless capability. If not for the Sony MDR-1000X, the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 would be my top travel headphone recommendation.

The truly wireless earphone form factor is growing in popularity, no doubt the biggest push coming from Apple's AirPod wireless earbuds (which I can't get to fit me, but that Joe can, so he's reviewing the AirPods for this Guide). The truly wireless earphone is a form factor that practically begs for compromises -- compromised sound quality (which several I've tried have had); compromised range (not much antenna room, and essentially placed in your body); compromised battery life (not a lot of room to shoehorn much of a battery inside); and sometimes challenges coordinating the wireless connection of the earpieces to each other.

I believe the WF-1000X is Sony's first truly wireless earphone, and it's a wonderful debut, with Sony addressing some key trade-offs I've come to expect from truly wireless earphones on their very first try. I've used the WF-1000X with both an iPhone 7 Plus and a LG V20, and the wireless range I get is easily better than most of the other truly wireless earphones I've used. Our office is about 1400 square feet, and even with my phone at the opposite end of the office the WF-1000X's connection holds firm (both with the iPhone and the V20). I've noticed some comments on the forums from WF-1000X users who've had some right-side dropouts -- thankfully this is something I have not yet experienced.

In terms of battery life, the Sony WF-1000X isn't setting any standards, rated for only up to three hours of music playback from a full charge -- this isn't impressive, but, for my day-to-day use, it'll do most of the time. The very cleverly designed and well made carrying case also serves as a charger, and its fully charged battery can charge the earphones twice, for a total of nine hours of listening time. When you do run the battery down, a 15 minutes charge is good for an additional 75 minutes of listening time, which is a nice emergency option.

As a Bluetooth headset for phone calling, the WF-1000X is okay. It'll get you by, but it goes into left-ear-only mode with me when I'm on a phone call with it, and the people I've talked to tell me it sounds just so-so on the other end -- that it's a bit room-echoey.

Even though the WF-1000X isn't nearly as custom-technology-packed as Sony's other latest-generation wireless models (the WH-1000XM2 and WI-1000X), it does have pretty capable digital active noise cancelling (ANC). Additionally the WF-1000X's ANC can be configured (via use of a mobile app that's available for both Android and iOS) for what Sony Calls Adaptive Sound Control that automatically adjusts the amount of ambient sound allowed into your mix. Again, its noise canceling is effective, but definitely not as trick as the ANC system used in the WH-1000XM2 and WI-1000X.

And even though the WF-1000X doesn't support aptX, aptX-HD, or LDAC like its two latest-gen wireless siblings, it does have the best sound quality I've yet heard from a truly wireless earphone, and supports SBC and AAC. All three of us at the Detroit office were very surprised by the WF-1000X's sonic performance, with its surprisingly rich tone, impactful bass, and very good resolution for its class. For me, its sound quality is its biggest strength, and that's why the Sony WF-1000X is with me just about everywhere I go since its arrival.

Once you've used a truly wireless earphone, you'll find the freedom addicting. For Joe, it's the Apple AirPod. For me, it's the Sony WF-1000X.

The Bose QuietComfort 20 isn't a Summit-Fi product. It's not the most resolving in-ear I've ever heard--not by a long shot. The QuietComfort 20 (also called the QC20) is not about transparency, speed, timbral accuracy, spatial presentation, and all that other stuff we're usually looking for. No, the Bose QC20 is about peace. It's about creating a cocoon of relative tranquility for you on even the loudest buses, trains and airplanes you're likely to board (unless you're a biplane pilot). Sometimes a product comes along that is so good at what it does--so obviously the product of a tremendous amount of experience and R&D--that you can't help but marvel at the result. The Bose QC20 is one of those products.

In terms of sound quality, it's not difficult (especially for a seasoned Head-Fi'er) to find another headphone that has higher fidelity; but if that headphone is not stamping out the noise around you when listening in noisy environments, all that fidelity's not going to mean much then. So the louder the environment you're in, the more the QC20 shines. On planes and trains, it has become my favorite headphone,by far, making listening to music in the clamor of your commute at reasonable volumes doable; and making dialog in movies easier to understand.

In quiet environments, the QC20 still sounds good, with a safe tuning that doesn't strike me as overemphasized anywhere; but, again, it won't win any awards for its resolving power. In other words, when it's quiet, the Bose QC20 is merely...good. When it's loud out there, though, the Bose QC20 pretty much trumps all current challengers I've tried.

The Bose QC20 also has another important distinction with me: it's the most comfortable in-ear headphone I've got, as it doesn't really gointhe ear, as much as it covers the canal with its super soft silicone bowl eartips. I can wear them all the way to Tokyo with little to no discomfort.

The noise canceling and comfort make you want to keep the Bose QC20 in your ears, and a very cool feature called "Aware Mode" makes that easier. When Aware Mode is activated (with the press of a button), you will hear select sounds from your surrounding environment (fed to you by microphones in the QC20) while still reducing some of the background noise. When I hear an announcement, or when someone is talking to me, I press the button, and the world around me pierces the cone of silence.

The Bose QC20 has a built-in rechargeable battery providing around 16 hours of listening time on a full charge. It has gotten me through 13-hour flights without quitting, including airport time at either end. When the battery does die, the QC20 can be used in passive mode, so the music doesn't have to stop when the battery does. It comes with a few different sets of eartips for a more tailored fit, and a nice, compact carrying case.

When it comes to a headphone for frequent travelers, there's simply no other headphone I recommend right now more than the Bose QC20.

NOTE: There is a version called the Bose QC20i, which includes a three-button iOS-compatible inline remote/mic, which is the version I use.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless Over-Ear remains one of my top choices for wireless Bluetooth headphones, as it still represents a combination of so many of the features and traits I seek that so many other wireless headphones miss. That said, the Bluetooth headphones segment also happens to be one of the most heavily invested-in, most dynamic categories in the industry, so the most recent crop of premium headphones in the category have given the MOMENTUM Wireless formidable competitors (even from within its own Sennheiser family). Even still, the MOMENTUM Wireless stacks up very nicely.

With the MOMENTUM Wireless, Sennheiser seems to have assessed many of the gaps left by the competition, and filled them. It is still among the best in build quality of all Bluetooth headphones I've tried, with its ample use of stitched high-grade leather and the wonderful brushed stainless steel carried over from the first MOMENTUM. The fit and finish is simply superb (as would be expected for its highest-in-class price). Also, though it's not immediately evident when you see it, the MOMENTUM Wireless has hidden hinges that allow it to fold without sacrificing the MOMENTUM aesthetic, making it much more compact for carrying.

The second-generation over-ear MOMENTUMs (including this wireless one) also have substantially larger earcups than the first-gen over-ear model. While most seemed to find the first-gen MOMENTUM Over-Ear models comfortable, I think all will agree the larger cups and larger super-plush earpads only make this latest generation substantially more comfortable.

In terms of battery life, the MOMENTUM Wireless is outstanding. Its battery is rated to provide a very generous 22 hours of use in wireless mode, which puts it in the upper range of headphones of this type, and enough that I've not yet run it down completely in normal use. For me, long battery life is critically important, especially for a headphone to be suited for travel, and this headphone meets or exceeds my expectations here. It also charges rather quickly, taking only three hours to top off.

The MOMENTUM Wireless' outgoing voice quality is excellent, too, which is important for someone who's on the phone a lot (which I am). In direct comparisons, I've found it's among the best for this, the equal to its PXC550 sibling and the Bose QC35, and a step above Sony's MDR-1000X. Like the others, it doesn't do much (if anything) to actively cancel noise on outgoing voice, but the clarity of its dual-omni beamforming mic array is very good. Perhaps I'm nitpicking, but as good as its outgoing voice quality is, knowing what Sennheiser is capable of with noise-canceling on outgoing voice as evidenced by their PRESENCE earpiece--which is still, over three years after its launch, the best Bluetooth earpiece I've used--I do wish they'd incorporated all of the PRESENCE's technologies into the MOMENTUM Wireless.

The MOMENTUM Wireless also has active noise-canceling, using something Sennheiser calls hybrid active NoiseGuard. What I find very nice about this headphone's noise canceling circuit is that it is effective at blunting travel noise, yet isn't invasive. (This is no doubt helped by the MOMENTUM Wireless' very good passive noise attenuation.) No, it isn't the crazy noise barriers that are the Sony MDR-1000X's or Bose QC35's circuits, but it does enough to be an effective travel headphone--and it sounds substantially better for music than the Bose. Compared to the Beats Studio Wireless (possibly the most popular >$300 wireless headphone), the MOMENTUM's noise canceling circuit is more effective, but with substantially lower self-noise--and the MOMENTUM also sounds heaps better than the Beats Studio Wireless. Also, compared to most noise cancelers, the MOMENTUM Wireless seems less likely to bother those sensitive to the feeling of pressure that some noise canceling circuits present.

In addition to canceling noise, the MOMENTUM Wireless' version of Sennheiser's NoiseGard also has a sound sculpting effect that I actually like a lot. The bass seems to tighten up nicely when it's on, and the sense of enhanced clarity it imparts overall is very nicely executed. I also prefer the MOMENTUM Wireless' imaging with the circuit on--it's more spacious and airy, and I imagine that's owing to careful application of DSP. I suspect a lot of subjective listening tests and engineering at Sennheiser's HQ were generously employed in crafting this headphone's performance when the active circuit is employed. Simply put, I think most who compare the two modes will prefer the MOMENTUM when it's turned on.

On balance, the Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless is still one of the best headphones of its type on the market. It provides the freedom of wireless and long battery life. It allows me to take and make phone calls with excellent outgoing voice quality. It provides very good active noise cancellation. It is comfortable. It is relatively compact. It is a gorgeous headphone, with build quality to match.

All of this excellence comes at a steep price, though, with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless Over-Ear priced at $499.95. This (along with the similarly priced Bang & Olufsen H8 that I haven't yet heard) is among the most expensive in this class of headphones.