We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a bulk set of passive hearing-protection earmuffs that covers a whole classroom, family or event in one purchase, choose Amylove 12; if you need a single pair of wired over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation and a USB-C connection for your next flight, choose ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling.
• Amylove 12 biggest strength: Twelve pairs of kid-friendly, sensory-friendly earmuffs in one box, each rated for up to 27dB of noise reduction — ideal for schools, large families, donations and group events.
• Amylove 12 biggest trade-off: It's passive sound isolation, not electronics. No mic, no audio, no cable — just hearing protection, and the multi-pack only makes sense if you actually need several pairs.
• ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling biggest strength: Active noise cancellation (around 20dB) plus real audio — a 40mm dynamic driver, Hi-Fi stereo sound, big bass and a built-in mic over a wired USB-C connection.
• ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling biggest trade-off: It's a single pair, it's wired only, and with a 0.1kg plastic build it's clearly aimed at portability rather than premium heft.
• Who Amylove 12 is for: Parents, teachers, event organizers and anyone buying hearing protection for multiple kids at once.
• Who ApilWave is for: One adult traveler, student or office user who wants to listen to audio and cut cabin or office noise on a wired USB-C device.
Amylove 12 is a hearing-protection product first and a "headphone" only in the loosest sense. Each pair delivers up to 27dB of noise reduction through sound isolation — a passive design, meaning no battery, no electronics and nothing to charge. You put them on and the world gets quieter. That matters in genuinely loud places: fireworks, truck shows, concerts, sporting events, yard work, the shooting range, and yes, airplane travel. The brand specifically lists airplane travel among the intended uses, and the design keeps some environmental awareness so the wearer can still hear what's going on around them rather than being sealed off entirely.
The real story here is the quantity. You get 12 pairs in one box, with an adjustable headband that fits toddlers through teens and smaller adults, soft padded ear cushions, and rotating ear cups for a secure fit. The outer shell is ABS plastic, which is a sensible choice for gear that gets tossed in backpacks and passed around classrooms. Amylove frames it around a 2–16 age range, and the sensory-friendly angle is a big part of the pitch: for kids with autism or sensory processing needs, these help take the edge off crowded assemblies, school testing, field trips and travel, and can support focus during reading and studying.
So who should buy it? Teachers, schools, event organizers, large families, and community or charity programs — anyone who needs dependable protection for several children at the same time. The vibrant color options make them easy to hand out and keep track of. Who should skip it? Anyone shopping for one person who wants to actually listen to music, take a call, or plug into a phone. Amylove 12 has no audio path at all, and buying twelve pairs to use one is simply wasteful. If that's your situation, this isn't the product — the ApilWave is.
ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling is the opposite kind of product: one pair, built for one person, designed to be used with sound. The headline feature is active noise cancellation — roughly 20dB of it — which means electronics inside the ear cups actively fight steady background noise rather than just blocking it with padding. On a plane, that's the difference between muffling a drone and actually reducing it. ApilWave clearly knows its audience too: airplane travel is named right in the product title, alongside office, gaming and school use.
The audio side is more serious than you'd expect from a lightweight headphone. There's a 40mm dynamic driver, 32 ohm impedance, Hi-Fi stereo sound and big bass — a combination that plays nicely with phones, laptops and tablets that can drive low-impedance headphones without a separate amp. Connectivity is wired over USB-C, and there's a built-in microphone for calls and voice chat. Controls are button-based with touch input as well, so you can manage playback and noise cancellation without reaching for your device.
Physically, it's a foldable, portable over-ear design in black plastic with oval ear cups, weighing in at just 0.1kg. That's genuinely light, which is exactly what you want when you're stuffing it into a carry-on or a laptop bag. It ships boxed with ear cushions and carries a 2-year warranty, which is a meaningful signal of confidence for a budget-tier wired headphone. The trade-offs are honest ones: it's wired only, so there's no Bluetooth freedom; it's a single pair, so it can't outfit a group; and the plastic, featherweight build prioritizes portability over luxury materials. If you want one pair of travel headphones that cancel noise and play your audio, this is the one. If you're buying for a classroom, keep looking.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for airplane travel with audio → ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling. It's the only one of the two that combines noise reduction with a 40mm driver, mic and USB-C wired connection — exactly what you want on a flight.
• Best for noise reduction depth → Amylove 12 on paper. 27dB of sound isolation versus roughly 20dB of active cancellation, though the two work in completely different ways.
• Best for audio quality → ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling. Dynamic 40mm drivers, Hi-Fi stereo and big bass versus, well, silence.
• Best for classrooms, schools and group events → Amylove 12. Twelve pairs per box, adjustable fit, tough ABS shell, built for repeated hand-off between kids.
• Best for sensory needs and autism support → Amylove 12. It's designed specifically for sensory relief in crowded, noisy settings.
• Best for portability → ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling. Foldable, 0.1kg, and it slips into a bag without a second thought.
• Best for one adult who wants calls and music → ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling. Built-in mic, button and touch controls, wired USB-C.
• Best for charity donations or community programs → Amylove 12. That's literally what the multi-pack is designed for.
If I were buying for myself and a flight was on the calendar, I'd take the ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling. It's the only one of the two that actually does the headphone job — active cancellation around 20dB, a 40mm dynamic driver, a mic, USB-C wired audio and a foldable 0.1kg frame you can forget about in a carry-on. The 2-year warranty is the cherry on top. I'd only reach for the Amylove 12 instead if my real need was protecting several kids from loud environments, in which case twelve certified pairs with up to 27dB of isolation is a far smarter buy than one pair of electronics. Match the product to the job and you won't regret either.
what headphones for airplane
For an adult who wants to listen to audio on a flight, a wired over-ear pair with active noise cancellation is the practical answer — the ApilWave Active Noise Cancelling fits that with ~20dB ANC, a 40mm driver and USB-C. For a child who just needs the cabin quieter, passive earmuffs like the Amylove 12 (up to 27dB, sized for ages 2–16) do the job without any electronics.
what is the best headphones for airplanes
In my opinion, the best pick depends on who's wearing them. For one traveler, I'd recommend the ApilWave: active cancellation, Hi-Fi stereo, a mic and a foldable 0.1kg build that travels easily. For a family or group, the Amylove 12's twelve-pair pack with 27dB isolation is the more useful buy.
what earphones for airplane
Neither of these is an in-ear earphone — both are over-ear designs. The ApilWave is the audio-capable option with ANC and a USB-C wired connection, while the Amylove 12 is purely hearing protection with sound isolation and no audio path at all.
what kind of headphones for airplane
You want either active noise cancelling over-ears for audio (ApilWave, ~20dB ANC, 40mm dynamic driver) or passive sound-isolation earmuffs for pure quiet (Amylove 12, up to 27dB, adjustable and sensory-friendly). Choose based on whether you need to hear music and calls or just need the noise gone.
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