For headphones akihabara, I recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x for flights: its over-ear, closed-back design and long cable suit focused listening.
The Sony ZX Series is the runner-up; choose it instead if you want a lighter wired option with 30 mm drivers.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M20x — best for focused listening and monitoring; pick this if you want circumaural ear cups, sound isolation, and a single-side cable exit.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M20x — best for the same wired listening setup in white; pick this if you want its 40 mm drivers and over-ear design with a different listed color.
• Sony Sony mdrzx110 — best for straightforward wired listening; pick this if you want 30 mm drivers, a 3.5 mm jack, and a design that lists media and call controls.
• Sony ZX Series — best for a lighter wired option; pick this if the listed 120 g weight and 30 mm dome drivers fit your priorities.
The black ATH-M20x is a wired, over-ear headphone designed for studio tracking and monitoring. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers use rare-earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, and the sound is tuned to emphasize low-frequency performance. That makes it a sensible choice for someone who wants a full-size listening setup for music, audio work, or video rather than a wireless travel headset.
Its circumaural cups sit around the ears, and the closed-back construction is designed to provide sound isolation in louder environments. On a flight, that style may help make listening feel more contained than with an open design. It is not listed as active noise cancelling, though, so I would not buy it expecting electronic cancellation of cabin noise. The distinction matters if your main aim is to reduce the steady background sound of an aircraft.
The cable is a straight 3.0 m lead with a left-side exit, and the package includes a snap-on 6.3 mm adapter. The long cable can be useful at a desk or studio setup, where there is room to move around; it is less convenient to manage in a cramped seat. It connects through a 3.5 mm jack, so it suits compatible wired sources rather than someone seeking Bluetooth pairing. The listed weight without cable and connector is 190 g.
For flights, this is my pick among these four when the priority is an over-ear, wired design with sound-isolating cups. Its main trade-off is the cable: it is notably long for travel, and the provided information does not describe wireless use or active noise cancellation. Skip this if you need Bluetooth or want to avoid managing a long cable in a narrow seat.
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
This white ATH-M20x has the same core model name and the same main audio and design features as the black version. It is a wired, over-ear headphone with 40 mm dynamic drivers, low-frequency tuning, and closed-back circumaural cups. The listed color is white, making this the straightforward choice for someone who prefers that finish while wanting the same general listening setup.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-16 · 9 min read · Independent comparison
The around-ear shape is intended to provide sound isolation in loud environments. That can be relevant on a flight, but it should not be confused with active noise cancellation: the listed noise-control feature is sound isolation, and no electronic cancellation system is specified. Its studio-monitoring orientation also makes it a natural fit for listening at home or working with audio, where a wired connection and full-size ear cups are welcome.
Like the black model, it uses a 3.5 mm jack and has a single-side cable exit. The product description specifies a 3.0 m straight cable and a 6.3 mm snap-on adapter, which can be handy for compatible studio equipment. That cable length offers room at a desk, but it may be cumbersome when packed alongside a travel bag or used in a tight airline seat.
The practical difference between this entry and the black ATH-M20x is the listed color, not a distinct feature set. I would choose the white version when that finish is the deciding factor and the wired, closed-back design already suits the way you listen. The same travel limitations apply: it is not presented as a compact wireless choice, and no active noise cancellation is listed. Skip this if you want a clearly different feature set from the black ATH-M20x or need a short, travel-friendly cable.
The Sony MDRZX110 is a wired over-ear headphone with 30 mm dynamic drivers, a 3.5 mm jack, and a listed frequency range of 12 Hz to 22 kHz. Its design is more straightforward than a studio-oriented monitor: it is for someone who wants a conventional wired pair for music and everyday listening, without needing to choose a Bluetooth setup.
The listed impedance is 24 ohms, and the product information includes sound isolation as its noise-control feature. As with the Audio-Technica models, that wording does not establish active noise cancellation. For a flight, the wired connection can work with a compatible headphone jack, but whether it suits a particular seat or device depends on that device’s connection. I would check compatibility before packing it rather than assume every source has a 3.5 mm port.
This model is listed in white, with rounded earpieces and plastic construction. Its information also names media control and call control, though the listed control method is an app controller; the details do not explain how those controls work in every setup. That uncertainty makes the feature less decisive than the basic wired connection and driver size. The listed weight is 4.2 ounces.
I see this as an uncomplicated option for listeners who want a wired Sony headphone and value the stated control features. It does not have the Audio-Technica’s stated 40 mm drivers or its specified long cable and included 6.3 mm adapter. The trade-off is that fewer construction and cable details are provided here, so it is harder to judge how it will fit a specific travel routine. Skip this if you want a clearly described long cable, an included 6.3 mm adapter, or wireless listening.
Sony ZX Series
The product details describe padded ear cups and neodymium magnets, with the feature list presenting the drivers as designed for balanced sound. Those are useful points for a buyer comparing basic listening headphones, but the sheet does not specify a cable length or describe sound isolation. Its noise-control field says none, so I would not choose it for noise reduction on a flight. The color listed for this model is rose.
There is a wording difference in the listed fit details: one field describes the ear placement as over-ear, while another calls the earpiece shape on-ear. That makes it difficult to say exactly how the cups will sit for every listener based on the available description alone. The model is also listed as “No Mic,” so I would not select it when a microphone is a required part of the setup. Its controls are described as media controls with touch control, but the details do not give a fuller explanation of those controls.
I would consider this Sony for someone who prioritizes a light listed weight, a wired 3.5 mm connection, and 30 mm drivers over isolation or detailed cable specifications. It is not a Bluetooth headphone, despite unrelated connectivity language appearing in the description; the product information identifies its connectivity as wired. Skip this if you need a microphone, specified sound isolation, or a well-documented fit and cable length.
I compared the published specifications and features for all four entries, focusing on wired connections, fit, drivers, isolation, and stated weight.
The order is my independent editorial opinion, based on how clearly each model’s listed design fits focused listening and travel use.
No brand paid for placement.
For flights, first decide whether you want over-ear coverage, a wired connection, or wireless convenience. All four products here are listed as wired, so none is a fit if Bluetooth is a requirement. Someone searching for the best bluetooth earbuds for flights will need a different category of product; these are headband headphones for flights, not wireless earbuds.
Next, separate physical sound isolation from active noise cancellation. The ATH-M20x models list sound isolation and closed-back, circumaural cups. The Sony MDRZX110 also lists sound isolation, while the Sony ZX Series lists no noise control. None of these sheets specifies active noise cancellation. If cutting cabin noise is your main goal, do not treat a closed or padded cup as proof of electronic noise cancelling.
Cable length is another practical detail for air travel. The ATH-M20x descriptions specify a 3.0 m cable, which offers flexibility at a desk but may require more careful handling in an airline seat. The Sony entries specify a 3.5 mm jack but do not give a cable length. Check that your intended device has a compatible socket; the product details do not establish compatibility with every phone, tablet, or aircraft entertainment system.
Finally, think about where else you will use the headphones. The ATH-M20x models include a 6.3 mm adapter and are described for tracking and monitoring, which may be useful at a compatible desk or studio setup. The Sony models are simpler wired listening options in the details provided. My overall recommendation for flights is the black Audio-Technica ATH-M20x, because its over-ear closed-back design and clearly specified connection details make its intended use easier to assess.
FAQ
No. Each product’s listed connectivity is wired, with a 3.5 mm jack. The provided specifications do not describe Bluetooth operation.
Both Audio-Technica ATH-M20x entries are described as over-ear and circumaural. The Sony MDRZX110 is listed as over-ear; the Sony ZX Series has conflicting over-ear and on-ear wording in its fit details.
Active noise cancellation is not specified. The ATH-M20x entries are described as closed-back, circumaural headphones with sound isolation, which is a different claim.
The Sony ZX Series has a listed weight of 120 g. The black ATH-M20x is listed at 190 g without cable and connector, while the Sony MDRZX110 is listed at 4.2 ounces; the white ATH-M20x sheet gives a different weight figure.
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