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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-19 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B biggest strength: Wired, dependable QuietPoint noise cancellation that claims to cut environmental noise by 90%, with a long 40-hour battery life and a fold-flat travel design.
• Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B biggest trade-off: It's a wired headphone, so you're tethered to your device — no Bluetooth streaming, no touch gestures, no app.
• Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones biggest strength: True wireless Bluetooth 4.1 with NFC pairing, adaptive Smart Listening, touch control on the right ear cup and up to 30 hours of cordless noise cancelling.
• Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones biggest trade-off: No 3.5 mm jack on this model, so wired listening isn't an option, and the 4-hour charge time is slow compared to its own 10-minute quick-charge top-up.
• Who each is for: Pick Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B for flights, long wired sessions and simple plug-and-play noise cancelling. Pick Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones for commuting, calls and app-driven, cable-free listening.
The ATH-ANC7B is the no-fuss option. Its QuietPoint circuitry is designed to reduce environmental noise by around 90%, which is exactly the kind of droning engine, air-conditioning and traffic hum that wears you down on a long trip. The 40 mm drivers use neodymium magnets, and Audio-Technica tunes them for impactful bass and extended treble — so the sound is meant to feel full rather than thin. Everything is wired, and the electronics are fully integrated, meaning no external module dangling off the cable.
Where it really earns its keep is travel. It's lightweight and folds flat, and it ships with a carrying case plus adapters: a full-size 1/4-inch adapter and a specialized airline adapter for in-flight entertainment systems. That last one matters. If you've ever been handed a plane seat with a strange two-prong socket, you'll appreciate that the right plug is already in the box. The earcups are generously cushioned and shaped to sit over the ear comfortably, and the battery is rated for up to 40 hours of noise cancelling — enough for several long-haul flights before you think about a fresh AAA battery.
Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones: Who It's For
The Sony WH1000XM2 is the modern, connected take on noise cancelling. It's an over-ear wireless headphone with Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC, so you tap to pair and then move around freely within roughly 10 meters of your phone. Sony calls its noise cancellation industry-leading, and the headline feature is Smart Listening by Adaptive Sound Control: it detects your activity and environment and adjusts how much ambient sound it lets through, all customisable through the Sony | Headphones Connect app. There's also Quick Attention — cover the right ear cup and the music dips instantly so you can talk to someone without taking the headphones off.
The controls are the other half of the story. Touch Control lets you skip tracks, change volume and take or make calls with a tap or swipe on the right ear cup, and a touch can trigger your phone's voice assistant. A 40 mm driver is paired with Sony's DSEE HX processing for hi-res audio, and the frequency range extends up to 40,000 Hz — far beyond what most listeners can hear, but a clear signal that this is aimed at people who care about detail. Battery life is up to 30 hours of cordless noise cancelling, and a 10-minute quick charge buys about 70 more minutes when you're caught short.
Who should buy it: commuters, remote workers and travellers who live on their phone, want wireless audio, and value app-based tuning and touch gestures. Who should skip it: anyone who needs a wired connection, because this model has no 3.5 mm jack. If your setup is analogue-only — an older in-flight system, a desktop amp, a wired instrument — the Sony simply can't plug in. And if you dislike charging routines, note that a full charge takes around 4 hours.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for long-haul flights → Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B. The included airline adapter, fold-flat shape and 40-hour battery are built for travel days.
• Best for wireless freedom → Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones. Bluetooth 4.1 plus NFC means no cable and quick pairing.
• Best for the simplest setup → Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B. Plug in the 3.5 mm jack and go; no pairing, no app, no charging decisions beyond the AAA battery.
• Best for adaptive, situational listening → Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones. Smart Listening adjusts ambient sound to what you're doing, and Quick Attention lets you talk without removing the headphones.
• Best for hi-res audio curiosity → Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones. DSEE HX processing and a frequency range up to 40,000 Hz point at detail-focused listening.
• Best for wired-only gear → Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B. It's the only one of the two with a physical 3.5 mm jack and a 1/4-inch adapter in the box.
• Best for people who hate charging → Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B. 40 hours on a user-replaceable AAA versus a 4-hour recharge cycle.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: wired or wireless? If you want a dependable, fold-flat travel headphone with a long battery and every adapter you need already included, I'd buy the Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B. If you want touch controls, app-tuned adaptive noise cancelling and cable-free convenience for commuting and calls, I'd buy the Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones. For most everyday phone-centric listeners, I lean Sony — the wireless freedom and smart features are simply more useful day to day. But if your listening happens on planes with analogue seat-back screens, the ATH-ANC7B is the more practical companion.
Audio-Technica states its QuietPoint circuitry reduces environmental noise by about 90%. Sony describes its cancellation as industry-leading and adds adaptive Smart Listening. Both are active noise cancelling; Sony's is the more automated of the two, while Audio-Technica's is a straightforward always-on wired system.
Yes. The WH1000XM2 uses Bluetooth 4.1 with NFC pairing and has no 3.5 mm jack, so it's a wireless-only headphone. The Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B is the opposite — it's wired with a 3.5 mm jack.
Audio-Technica rates the ATH-ANC7B at up to 40 hours of noise cancelling on an AAA battery. Sony rates the WH1000XM2 at up to 30 hours of cordless noise cancelling, with a 10-minute quick charge giving roughly 70 more minutes.
If you use seat-back entertainment, the Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B is the easier fit thanks to its airline adapter, fold-flat design and long battery. If you'd rather stream wirelessly from your own phone or tablet, the Sony's 30-hour wireless battery and Quick Attention mode suit flights well too. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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