If you want a wired gaming headset with a microphone for PC play and flights, choose SADES SA902; if you need passive hearing protection for noisy events and travel, choose iClever EM01. These are not really two versions of the same kind of headphone: one plays audio, while the other is an unpowered pair of earmuffs designed to reduce incoming sound.
For anyone searching for headphones dt 990 pro, neither model is a like-for-like alternative to a studio headphone. But between these two, the SADES is the only one for listening to music, games, or calls. The iClever makes more sense when the goal is to soften loud surroundings, not hear entertainment.
• SADES SA902’s biggest strength: wired USB audio, a microphone, and virtual 7.1 surround sound for compatible Windows PCs. Trade-off: it has no listed noise-control feature, and the 7.1 effect is not supported on Mac.
• iClever EM01’s biggest strength: passive sound reduction, with an SNR of 29 dB and foldable construction for travel. Trade-off: it has no audio playback or microphone features.
• Choose SADES if you need headphones for gaming, voice chat, or wired listening.
• Choose iClever if you want earmuffs to reduce distracting or loud environmental sound, including at events or while traveling.
The SA902 is an over-ear, wired USB headset built around PC gaming and communication. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers cover a listed frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and its virtual 7.1 processing is intended to create a more spatial game sound. The adjustable headband and synthetic-leather-covered ear cushions make it a conventional headset format, while the attached wired connection keeps the setup simple: plug it into a compatible device rather than managing a wireless connection.
The microphone is the main practical advantage over ordinary listening headphones. It is described as an omnidirectional, swappable microphone intended to focus on your voice and reduce background noise. That makes the SA902 a sensible option for PC players who need to talk to teammates, as well as for someone who wants one wired headset for gaming and general media. The listed compatibility includes Windows 7, 8, 10, and Vista computers. The product details also describe PS4 USB use, while Mac can play media and use the microphone but does not support the 7.1 effect.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
For flights, there is a real distinction between having headphones and having noise cancellation. The SA902 can play audio, which the iClever cannot, but its listed noise control is “None.” I would not choose it expecting active noise cancellation or strong isolation from cabin sound. It could suit a traveler who specifically wants a wired headset for entertainment and accepts that it is not designed to silence the plane. Skip it if you want compact earbuds, wireless listening, or purpose-built noise reduction.
The EM01 is an earmuff-style hearing protector, not an audio headset. It has no listed speaker, microphone, cable, or playback function. Instead, its sound-absorbing foam construction is designed to reduce external noise. The listed SNR is 29 dB, with reductions up to 46 dB in certain scenarios; those figures do not mean it eliminates sound completely. The product information explicitly notes that earmuffs cannot block all noise.
That makes the EM01 a better match for people who want less sound reaching their ears at fireworks, concerts, sporting events, or other loud settings. It is also described for children with sensory sensitivities, and its age range includes children, teens, and adults. The padded earcups and snug-fit headband are intended for extended wear. Foldable construction is useful when packing them for outings or travel, and telescopic arms extend up to 38 mm on each side to accommodate different head sizes.
For a flight, the EM01 may help soften surrounding noise, but it cannot play a movie or music. That is an important limitation if you expect headphones to provide entertainment as well as isolation. It is also not a neckband headphone or an in-ear headphone: it covers the ears with a headband. Choose it for passive sound reduction, not audio quality, calls, or a microphone. If you need to hear announcements clearly or listen to in-flight entertainment through your own device, you will need a separate audio solution.
• Best for gaming on a compatible Windows PC → SADES SA902. It connects over USB and includes virtual 7.1 sound and a microphone.
• Best for voice chat → SADES SA902. Its microphone is designed for speech and can be swapped.
• Best for reducing loud environmental noise → iClever EM01. It is a passive hearing protector, with a listed SNR of 29 dB.
• Best for fireworks, concerts, or sporting events → iClever EM01. Its purpose is to reduce incoming sound; it does not produce entertainment audio.
• Best for listening to music or game audio → SADES SA902. The EM01 has no listed audio playback capability.
• Best for a flight when you want to reduce cabin noise without playback → iClever EM01. Its foldable earmuff design is intended for travel, but it will not connect to the seat’s entertainment system.
• Best for a flight when you want wired listening → SADES SA902. It can play audio, but it has no listed noise-control feature and its USB connection may not suit every onboard system.
• Best for Mac users who want virtual 7.1 → neither. The SA902’s 7.1 effect is not supported on Mac, and the EM01 is not an audio headset.
The phrase “best noise cancelling headband headphones for flights” can lead to products that do very different things. Neither of these models is described as active noise-cancelling. The SADES plays sound through a wired headset; the iClever reduces outside sound passively. If your priority is cabin noise rather than listening, the EM01 is the more relevant of the two, but it should not be mistaken for powered noise cancellation.
I would choose the SADES SA902 if I wanted one of these for flights and needed audio playback, because the iClever is an earmuff rather than a listening headset. That is a narrow recommendation, not a claim that the SADES blocks cabin noise: its listed noise control is none. If my main goal were reducing loud environmental sound, I would pick the iClever instead. For gaming and voice chat at home, I’d also favor the SADES for its USB connection and microphone.
FAQ
No. The SA902 is a wired USB headset for audio playback and communication. The EM01 is a passive hearing protector; its listed function is sound isolation, not playing music or other audio.
It depends on whether listening or sound reduction matters more. The SA902 can play audio, but it has no listed noise-control feature. The EM01 is designed to reduce outside sound and folds for travel, but it cannot connect to an entertainment system or play music.
They are passive noise-reduction earmuffs, not active noise-cancelling headphones. Their listed SNR is 29 dB, and they do not eliminate all sound. They also have no audio playback or microphone features.
The product information says it supports media playback and the microphone on Mac, but not the virtual 7.1 sound effect. Its listed Windows compatibility includes Windows 7, 8, 10, and Vista.
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