From pilot to passenger: A history of the noise-cancelling headphone

By Caleb Denison Published October 2, 2014

Looking back, it seems as if noise-cancelling headphones went from a technological novelty to a de rigueur accessory for frequent fliers in the blink of a red eye. But developing these noise-cancelling cans wasn’t nearly so swift. The brainchild of Dr. Amare Bose, noise-cancelling technology took well over a decade to go from concept to product, and even then, it wasn’t for consumers.

At an event held in New York celebrating Bose’s 50th anniversary, we got to witness the evolution of the active noise-cancelling headphone, narrated through accounts told by Bose employees. In our video, we take you through the timeline, from the first-ever noise-cancelers made for pilots flying around the world, right up to Bose’s just-released Q25.

Today, active noise-cancelling is a science employed by many headphone companies, but in our experience, none of them work quite like Bose’s. After all, the company wrote the book on the technology.

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Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…

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Best Bose headphone deals: Save on QuietComfort 45 and Earbuds II

A woman wearing the Bose QuietComfort 45 around her neck.

Bose makes some of the most sought after audio devices, as it often places models among the best headphones and best Bluetooth speakers. Bose also offers some great chances to save, particularly if it’s Bose headphones you have your eye on. You’ll often find something from Bose among the best headphone deals, with both in-ear headphones and over-ear headphones among the available options. There are several Bose headphone models seeing discounts right now, and we’ve organized them below for your shopping convenience. Read onward for those details, and if you’d like to consider some other headphone brands there are a lot of Sony headphone deals, Beats headphone deals, Samsung Galaxy Buds deals, and AirPods deals available, the latter of which include AirPods Pro deals and AirPods Max deals.
Today’s best Bose headphone deals
Today you’ll find a discount on the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones, which are an incredibly popular all-around choice. They compare well with many of the best wireless headphones, and they’re currently seeing a clearance price at Best Buy. The Bose 700 Headphones are discounted at Amazon right now, and you’ll find the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II with an impressive price drop as well. Whichever model you prefer, Bose headphones offer amazing sound quality and amazing savings with these deals.

When is the best time to shop Bose headphone deals?
There’s generally no better time than the holidays to land a great deal, with sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday often offering the largest discounts of the year. Prime Day is another great opportunity to land a deal, though the July event has now come and gone. That leaves us currently sandwiched between major shopping opportunities, and with a good amount of time before the next event arrives.

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Anker’s Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds are next-level sleep aids to block out noise

Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds worn while sleeping on side

If you had asked me years ago what kind of earbuds I'd be wearing while I sleep, I would have called you crazy. To sleep, I need silence, and anytime someone has a TV or tablet on or makes any noise, it makes me restless. With two kids and a wife who are all loud sleepers, it's safe to say I often have trouble sleeping. Believe it or not, there are earbuds for that. Anker's Soundcore Sleep A20 TWS earbuds, for example, are the second generation of its sleep-aid product. They're specifically designed to be worn while you sleep, thanks to a sleek form factor that doesn't protrude out of your ears or create discomfort while resting your pretty little head -- they're meant for side sleepers.

They also purportedly offer much more substantial snoring reduction than the previous generation via soft ear tips and ear wings that help block out ambient noise. If you like a little background audio, they pair with a mobile device that’s using the Soundcore app and allow you to play sound effects to serenade your slumber. A 4-point noise masking system uses not just the twin-seal ear tips and wings but also masking sounds and smart volume controls to drown out distracting noises. If you snore or your partner snores, it won't wake you up anymore as long as you're wearing these.

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Sony WH-1000XM6: the design and features we want Sony’s next headphones to deliver

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony's 1000X series of wireless, noise-canceling headphones have consistently topped our headphone recommendation lists, and with good reason. With every generation, Sony finds ways to deliver a better experience, whether it's improved active noise cancellation (ANC), better sound quality, a more comfortable fit -- or all three at once.

Sony's fifth-gen cans, the WH-1000XM5, released in 2022, even earned the company its second perfect 10 rating in a row -- despite the $50 price increase over their predecessors -- thanks to their overall superb performance.