When it comes to in-ear headphones, nothing will match the noise-blocking capabilities of custom-molded monitors that have been sized and shaped exactly to your ear’s contours.  The Audio Technica QuietPoint, though, manages to come close, muting any ongoing background noise by up to 90 percent.
Designed for use in high-noise environments, it’s exactly the kind of earphones you’ll want to pop in when you’re in a busy airport to tune out all the distractions, whether you want to actually listen to music, finish an audiobook, or simply enjoy some silence. To do that, it employs an active noise-cancelling tech that picks up ambient noise using mics in each earpiece, then kills it, allowing you to be in the same place while hearing so much less (up to 20db noise reduction) of the ongoing ruckus.
The Audio Technica QuietPoint is a wireless headphone that can connect two Bluetooth music sources simultaneously, while remembering up to eight previously-paired devices. A pair of 13.5 mm drivers handle the sound reproduction, with a condenser mic and integrated controls allowing hands-free calls. Designed for use during travel, it weighs just 1.2 ounces, with a design that loops the connecting cable around your neck, so you can keep it there when not in use. Features include four pairs of silicone ear tips, a battery that’s rated for up to 8 hours of use (with both Bluetooth and noise-cancellation running), a 3.9-foot cable as a backup when the battery runs out, and an airline adapter plug.
Available now, the Audio Technica QuietPoint is priced at $180.