Noise-canceling headphones, such as these QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise-Canceling Headphones from Bose, are an option for reducing sounds in noisy places. Instead of simply blocking sound, they include electrical components that actively cancel out noise; the device produces inverted sound waves to offset sounds detected in the environment. They require power sources like batteries, and they filter out sounds mainly in the lower ranges--the drone in airplane cabins or noise on trains and buses.
The QuietComfort 2, at about $300, are bulkier than Walkman-style headphones but comfortable, and the fit is snug. The padded headband wraps over your head, and the earphones, also padded, totally enclose your ears.
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