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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
These two products look like they belong in the same shopping cart, but they solve completely different airplane problems. One is a connector. The other is a set of earphones. If you don't notice that distinction before you buy, you'll end up disappointed. So let me walk through what each one actually is, who it fits, and which one — in my opinion — makes more sense for most people getting on a plane.
• Asobilor QC15 — biggest strength: A gold-plated, foldable 3.5mm airplane adapter that works with a long list of Bose models and, per the specs, any device with a standard single or dual 3.5mm output.
• Asobilor QC15 — biggest trade-off: It is not a headphone. It's an adapter. If you don't already own a compatible pair of headphones, it does nothing for you.
• VPB 5 — biggest strength: Five wired in-ear earphones in one pack, each with an inline mic and call button, a 1.1 m cable, and 16 ohm dynamic drivers covering 20Hz–20,000Hz.
• VPB 5 — biggest trade-off: They're basic wired earbuds in plastic housings, and the manufacturer itself flags a choking hazard for children under three.
• Who Asobilor QC15 is for: Travelers who already own Bose QuietComfort-style headphones and want to plug into the seat-back entertainment system.
• Who VPB 5 is for: Anyone who wants several inexpensive wired earbuds for flights, school, commuting, or as spares.
The Asobilor QC15 is one of those small accessories that solves an annoying, specific problem. Airplane seat-back entertainment systems typically use a dual-plug socket, while most personal headphones use a single 3.5mm jack. This adapter bridges the two. It's a black, foldable 3.5mm plug with gold plating, and the listing says it works with a wide range of Bose models — 700, QuietComfort 2, QC3, QC15, QC20, QC20i, QC25, QC35, QC35II, QC45, NC700, SoundLink, SoundLinkII, AE2, AE2i, and AE2W among them.
What I like about the design is the fold feature. A rigid adapter sticking out of your headphone jack is a great way to snap something or bang your knee on the armrest. A folding plug tucks away in a pocket or a seat-back pouch, which is exactly where you want a travel accessory to live. Asobilor also lists a two-year warranty, which is unusually generous for a part this small.
The spec sheet is also careful to point out it isn't only for Bose. It's described as workable with any device that has a standard single or dual 3.5mm output. That matters, because it means the adapter isn't locked to one brand ecosystem — it's a general-purpose bridge between your headphones and the plane's audio socket.
Who should buy it? If you already own a pair of Bose QuietComfort headphones and you fly more than once in a while, this is a genuinely useful thing to keep in your carry-on. It's also a sensible replacement if you lost the adapter that came with your headphones. Who should skip it? Anyone who doesn't own compatible headphones, and anyone expecting this to be a listening device on its own. It isn't. It's a connector — that's the whole job.
The VPB 5 is a five-pack of wired in-ear earphones. Each pair uses a 3.5mm jack, a roughly 1.1-meter cable, and an inline microphone with a call button, so you can take calls without pulling your phone out of your pocket. The audio side is a 16 ohm dynamic driver with a rated frequency range of 20Hz to 20,000Hz, which is the standard full-range window you'd expect from basic consumer earphones. VPB describes the tuning as deep bass with a heavy tone.
The color story is part of the pitch here: the five pairs come in white, pink, red, green, and black. That's clearly aimed at households, classrooms, and anyone who wants to color-code whose earbuds are whose. Each pair weighs about 0.08 kg — light enough to forget you're carrying them.
On a plane, these do one thing reasonably well: they block some outside sound through physical sound isolation, which is what the spec sheet lists as the noise control method. That's passive isolation from the in-ear fit, not active noise cancellation. On a loud cabin, that's a meaningful difference, and I'll come back to it.
Who should buy it? Anyone who wants a handful of cheap wired earphones for travel, school, or as backups. Five pairs means you can keep one in your bag, one at your desk, and one in the car without thinking about it. The inline mic is genuinely handy on a flight if you need to take a call at the gate. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants real noise cancellation, premium build materials, or a single pair they'll baby for years. The housings are plastic, the warranty is listed as none, and VPB explicitly warns that small parts make these unsuitable for children under three. If you have a toddler who grabs at everything, that warning matters.
• Best for using your own Bose headphones on a plane → Asobilor QC15. That's precisely what it's built for.
• Best for plugging into a seat-back entertainment system → Asobilor QC15. The dual-to-single 3.5mm bridge is the entire point.
• Best for having multiple pairs on hand → VPB 5. Five earphones in five colors beats one adapter for sheer quantity.
• Best for taking calls → VPB 5. It has an inline mic and call button; the QC15 has no electronics at all.
• Best for passive noise blocking out of the box → VPB 5. In-ear fit gives you sound isolation without any extra gear.
• Best if you already own noise-cancelling headphones → Asobilor QC15. Pair it with what you own rather than replacing it.
• Best for storing in a pocket → Asobilor QC15. The foldable plug is tiny; the earbuds have a 1.1 m cable to manage.
• Best for sharing with family or a classroom → VPB 5. The multi-pack and color variety are made for exactly that.
In my opinion, the Asobilor QC15 is the smarter buy for the person the keyword actually describes — someone looking for headphones for airplane use who already owns a decent pair. It's a small, foldable, gold-plated fix that turns the headphones you trust into something that works with the plane's socket, and the two-year warranty is a nice touch for a part this tiny.
I'd only reach for the VPB 5 if I wanted several cheap wired earbuds for mixed everyday use and wasn't counting on noise cancellation. If that's you, the five-pack is a lot of utility for the money. But if the goal is a better flight with the headphones you already love, the adapter wins. Check the current price on Amazon before you decide — both are inexpensive enough that the difference probably won't be the deciding factor.
what headphones for airplane
There isn't one universal answer, because it depends on what you already own. If you have Bose QuietComfort-style headphones, the Asobilor QC15 adapter lets them connect to the plane's dual-plug socket. If you just want something simple and wired, the VPB 5 earbuds plug straight into a standard 3.5mm jack.
what is the best headphones for airplanes
For most travelers, the best setup is a pair of over-ear headphones you already like, plus an adapter like the Asobilor QC15 so they work with in-flight entertainment. The VPB 5 is a reasonable low-cost alternative if you want in-ears with passive sound isolation and an inline mic, though it doesn't offer active noise cancellation.
what earphones for airplane
The VPB 5 fits this question directly: it's a set of wired in-ear earphones with a 3.5mm jack, a 1.1 m cable, and a 16 ohm dynamic driver rated from 20Hz to 20,000Hz. The in-ear design provides passive sound isolation, which helps take the edge off cabin noise without any batteries or charging.
what kind of headphones for airplane
You generally want either over-ear headphones paired with a dual-plug adapter, or in-ear models with good physical isolation. The Asobilor QC15 covers the adapter side for Bose and other 3.5mm devices, while the VPB 5 covers the in-ear side with five pairs and an inline mic for calls.
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