Best Sony headphones for frequent long-distance air travel?

Question

ugh my old headphones literally snapped in half this morning and i have a 14 hour flight from SFO to London next thursday. i am so annoyed because i need something that actually blocks out engine noise or i wont sleep at all.

i am torn between the sony xm5 and the xm4. the xm5 looks cool but i heard they dont fold? that seems like a total dealbreaker for my tiny carry-on bag but everyone says the noise cancelling is better. the xm4 is cheaper ($280) but is it outdated for 2024? i have a $350 budget and need to decide by monday. which one is actually better for being stuck on a plane for half a day...

EugeneJaf · Accepted Answer

Regarding what #1 said about "Grab the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones....", i agree foldability is key! But you should definitely check out the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise Cancelling Headphones.Bose: Folds tiny and the CustomTune tech is fantastic.Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless 60-Hour Battery Headphones: Massive battery life and aptX Adaptive! I used the Sennheisers on a 14-hour flight... the 42mm transducers sounded amazing and i didnt even have to charge them!

Henry ST · Answer

Grab the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. Over the years I've found the folding design way more practical for travel, plus you'll save cash without losing quality.

ManuelSpeet · Answer

@Reply #2 - good point! I'm quite satisfied with sticking to older tech to save money. Not sure if the latest noise cancelling is actually life-changing, but I think reliability matters more when you're 30,000 feet up.

Budget: Saving cash is always a win for me.

Durability: IIRC, older hinges felt more solid than the new ones I saw in store.

Satisfaction: My current pair works well so I'm happy staying put for now.