We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to share one in-flight movie with a travel partner and connect two pairs of Bluetooth headphones to a single airplane screen, choose Avantree Relay Airplane; if you need active noise cancellation to quiet the cabin around you and a long-lasting set of over-ear headphones, choose TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise.
• Avantree Relay Airplane — biggest strength: Turns any 3.5 mm airplane jack into a Bluetooth transmitter and links two pairs of headphones at once, with up to 25 hours of playtime and onboard volume controls.
• Avantree Relay Airplane — biggest trade-off: It is a transmitter only. No microphone, no phone calls, and it cannot receive audio, so it is useless as a normal headphone or for TV listening at home.
• TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise — biggest strength: Hybrid ANC rated to cut up to 35–38 dB of low-frequency drone, 40 mm drivers, six EQ modes, and up to 70 hours of playback in standard mode.
• TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise — biggest trade-off: It is a full headphone, not a sharing device — you get one listener, and ANC on drops battery life to roughly 40 hours.
• Who each pick is for: Pick the Avantree Relay if you travel with a companion and already own Bluetooth headphones or earbuds. Pick the TECKNET if you travel solo and want the noise of the cabin to disappear.
The Avantree Relay is not a headphone. It is a small ABS transmitter that plugs into a 3.5 mm audio jack — including the dual-prong airplane socket, thanks to the included adapter — and rebroadcasts that audio over Bluetooth. The headline trick is Dual Link: two pairs of Bluetooth headphones or earbuds can connect to one Relay, so you and a travel partner can watch the same seatback screen without splitting a cheap wired headset or fighting over one earbud each.
Audio quality is handled by Qualcomm technology with aptX Adaptive and aptX HD support, which means stable, detailed sound when your headphones support those codecs. Pairing is a three-step process: plug it in, put your headphones in pairing mode, connect. There are onboard volume controls and a battery indicator, and the 2-hour charge gives up to 25 hours of playtime — comfortably enough for a long-haul route plus a layover. The battery itself weighs just 4.4 g, so this is a pocketable accessory, not a bulky gadget.
Buy it if you already own Bluetooth headphones you love and want them to work on a plane, or if you regularly fly with a partner, a kid, or a friend. Skip it if you need a microphone for calls, if you want to listen to a TV or instrument, or if you want the device to receive audio — the Relay only transmits. It is also not a hearing-aid solution. Before buying, check that your use case is "3.5 mm source to Bluetooth headphones," because that is the only thing it does. It carries a 12-month warranty that extends to 24 months with product registration, and Avantree offers chat, email, phone and video-tutorial support.
The TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise is a proper pair of over-ear headphones, and it is built around one job: making a noisy environment quieter. The hybrid ANC system is rated for a noise reduction depth of up to 35–38 dB, specifically targeting the steady low-frequency rumble you get from car engines and aircraft motors. That is exactly the drone that makes a red-eye flight exhausting, and it is the reason this model belongs on a travel shortlist.
Sound comes from oversized 40 mm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range, extended high-frequency reproduction up to 40 kHz, and six EQ modes — Dance, Rock, Classical, Vocal, Bass and Soft — so you can tilt the tuning toward whatever you are listening to. Bluetooth 6.0 handles the wireless link, and dual-device connection lets you stay paired to a phone and a laptop at the same time and switch between them. There is no headphone jack on the unit itself, but the package includes a 3.5 mm audio cable for TVs, consoles and in-flight entertainment systems, so you can still go wired on a plane when you want to.
Battery life is the other headline: up to 40 hours with ANC on at 60% volume, and up to 70 hours in standard music mode. A full charge takes 5 hours. Comfort comes from memory foam wrapped in skin-friendly protein leather, which is the combination you want if you plan to wear these for a full flight rather than twenty minutes. Buy it if you fly alone and want the cabin noise gone, or if you want one headphone that covers travel, work and calls — there are four ENC microphones for voice pickup. Skip it if your priority is sharing audio with a companion, or if you specifically want a compact accessory rather than a full-size headphone. It is backed by a 36-month warranty when registered.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for traveling with a partner → Avantree Relay Airplane. Dual Link connects two pairs of Bluetooth headphones to one seatback screen, which no single headphone can do.
• Best for using the headphones you already own → Avantree Relay Airplane. It converts your existing Bluetooth headphones into a wireless airplane setup instead of replacing them.
• Best for battery life → TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise. Up to 70 hours in standard mode and up to 40 hours with ANC on beats the Relay's 25 hours.
• Best for a self-contained listening device → TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise. It is a headphone with drivers, EQ modes and mics; the Relay has none of those.
• Best for a pocket-sized travel accessory → Avantree Relay Airplane. A 4.4 g battery in an ABS shell that plugs in and disappears into a bag.
• Best for hands-free calls → TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise. Four ENC microphones; the Relay has no microphone at all.
• Best for long-haul comfort → TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise. Memory foam and protein leather over-ear cushions are built for extended wear.
In my opinion, most travelers should buy the TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise. It is the more complete product: it cancels the exact noise that ruins flights, plays for up to 70 hours, includes a cable for in-flight systems, and doubles as a work and call headphone. I would only choose the Avantree Relay Airplane if sharing audio is the whole point of the purchase — if you fly with a partner or a child and want two sets of Bluetooth headphones on one screen, nothing else here solves that problem. The two are not really competitors so much as different jobs. Decide which job is yours, then check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
For most solo travelers, I recommend the TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise. Hybrid ANC rated to 35–38 dB targets aircraft motor and engine drone, and up to 70 hours of standard-mode playback covers multiple long flights. If you travel with a partner, the Avantree Relay Airplane is the better travel tool because it shares one screen with two Bluetooth headphones.
What are good headphones for travel?
Good travel headphones need noise reduction, battery life and comfort. The TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise has all three: hybrid ANC, up to 40 hours with ANC on, and memory foam over-ear cushions with protein leather. The Avantree Relay Airplane takes a different route — it is a compact transmitter that makes your existing Bluetooth headphones work wirelessly on a plane.
Pack over-ear headphones like the TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise flat in your carry-on rather than a checked bag, and keep them in a case so the ear cups and headband are not compressed. The Avantree Relay Airplane is far easier — at roughly 4.4 g of battery weight it is a small accessory that fits in any pocket or tech pouch alongside its dual-prong airplane adapter.
Avoid wrapping the cable tightly around the ear cups, because that stresses the joints over time. If you use the TECKNET Hybrid Active Noise wired with the included 3.5 mm cable, coil the cable loosely and secure it with a soft tie. For the Avantree Relay Airplane, there is nothing to wrap — store it with the adapter so you are not hunting for it at your seat.
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