Sure, there's a battle for noise cancelling supremacy amongst Bose and Sony at the high end. But I don't want to spend $400. These Sonys are pretty darn great at the $150 price point. I use them for air travel, which means I prioritize long-term comfort, a wired connection (to the plane entertainment system), and noise cancellation.I used them on a couple cross country flights, and they performed well. The noise cancellation is not perfect. It does effectively reduce most of the rumble and roar of the plane, but it's not a remarkable silence like the top-of-the-line products. Music quality is good, the bass is as loud and deep and feely as you want it to be, you can overboost the bass, and movies sound clear and full.Bottom line: these are a great choice if you don't want to spend $400, and they do the job well. Impressive value.