I have owned my pair for more than 3 years. I've been an owner of the Boise noise cancelling head sets since the first generation. Unfortunately the recent generations don't do as well with noise canceling. I use them all the time on my flights.

It is really hard to find any good headphones that offer such high noise cancellation and yet provide rich sound in such a small form factor and for these facts, the price of ￡259 appears to be justified for the Bose QuietComfort 20i.

Ultimate Noise cancellation Punchy bass Crisp highs Very sensitive speakers Spare earphone tips

Expensive Mid tones can become muddy Not entirely flat response

Whenever I'm on an airplane, as soon as passengers are allowed to use electronics, at least a half-dozen pairs of Bose's Quiet Comfort headphones pop out of carry-on bags. Despite increased competition, Bose's noise-canceling headphones are pretty much the standard for air travel.

Excellent noise-canceling; Aware Mode lets you hear some outside sounds at the touch of a button; Comfortable to wear.

Noise-cancelation can bother some sensitive users

Just like how Sennheiser downsized the Momentum's experience with the Momentum On-Ear, Bose has done the same with the noise cancellation products - bringing the same feature into an in-ear form factor.

Excellent noise cancellation; In-line battery & circuit compartment is fairly sleek; Adequate bass response; Vocals are handled well; Comfortable tips suit long listening sessions

Not meant for bass addicts; Expensive

Noise-cancelling in-canal earphones have been far less popular and common than the on-ear and over-ear ear noise cancelling full-size headphones, like Bose's QuietComfort 15 . With the QuietComfort 20, Bose aims to change this.

The best noise cancellation circuitry on the market; Rich bass response and crisp highs; Comfortable, secure fit; Works in passive mode

Sound signature is very sculpted, and not for purists; Light on accessories like extra eartips

Until recently, noise-cancelling headphones were quite bulky and relied on covering your entire ear in order to insulate you from ambient noise. Earbuds struggled to properly block sound out – until now.

comfort; sound quality

a little cumbersome

Noise cancelling without the big size and requirement of keeping batteries in your luggage? Sign us up.

Excellent sound; Earpieces that truly stay in place; Noise cancellation can be easily switched on and off without affecting sound quality; Flat noise cancellation box means it's very portable and easy to stow away; Rechargeable

Short cable from the noise cancelling box is very; very short; Expensive

The Bose QC20 headphones make for an impressive set of in-ears which you're unlikely to regret if you travel a lot. Although sound performance isn't the best, the sensational noise cancelling, comfortable design and handy aware mode make these a great buy.

Noise-cancelling in-canal earphones have been far less popular and common than the on-ear and over-ear ear noise cancelling full-size headphones, like Bose's QuietComfort 15($599.99 at Amazon). With the QuietComfort 20, Bose aims to change this. The $299.95 (direct) in-ear pair is offered in two varieties—the QuietComfort 20, intended for use with Android, BlackBerry, and Windows phones, and the QuietComfort 20i, intended for iPhone, iPads, and iPods. Bose hasn't eliminated the inline battery and circuitry compartment that is essential to an in-ear noise cancelling pair, but it is now quite thin and far less cumbersome. The real victory here, though, is the noise cancellation itself—it's by the far the most advanced, flexible noise cancellation we've ever experienced, and that alone would earn it our Editors' Choice award. The audio performance isn't for audiophiles seeking flat response, but the QC20 packs a full, rich low-end and crisp highs that work well with pop, rock, and mo...

The Bose QuietComfort 20 is a giant leap forward for noise cancellation earphones, and easily the most effective pair we have tested thus far.

The best noise cancellation circuitry on the market; Rich bass response and crisp highs; Comfortable, secure fit; Works in passive mode

Sound signature is very sculpted, and not for purists; Light on accessories like extra eartips

Bose is known for their noise canceling headphones but the QC20 is their first attempt to incorporate noise reduction in a pair of earbuds. And

Super effective noise reduction

Pricey