How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Silensys Million Sold 10 — biggest strength: It's a complete pair of active noise cancelling over-ear headphones with 30 hours of playtime and 45 mm dynamic drivers, so it works as your only audio device for the whole trip, not just the flight.
• Silensys Million Sold 10 — biggest trade-off: It's a headphone, not a transmitter. It pairs over Bluetooth 5, so it can't plug into an airplane's 3.5 mm seat jack without a separate adapter.
• Avantree Relay Airplane — biggest strength: It turns a wired airplane entertainment screen into a Bluetooth signal for two pairs of headphones at once, with aptX Adaptive support and up to 25 hours of battery.
• Avantree Relay Airplane — biggest trade-off: It is a transmitter only. No microphone, no phone calls, and nothing to listen to on its own — it needs headphones (yours) to be useful.
• Who each pick is for: Silensys for the traveler who wants one set of ANC headphones for the flight, the office and the couch. Avantree for the traveler who already owns good Bluetooth headphones and wants to use them with an in-flight screen.
The E7 is built around three things: noise cancelling, sound and battery. The active noise cancellation is the headline feature, and Silensys positions it for exactly the places travelers care about — flights, trains, commutes and open offices. Pair that with a 45 mm dynamic driver covering a 20Hz–20kHz range and a low 16-ohm impedance, and you're looking at a headphone that's voiced for punchy, full-bodied sound rather than a thin, analytical signature. In my opinion that's the right call for travel, where you want music to fill in the noise the ANC doesn't fully erase.
The physical design matters just as much on a long trip. These are over-ear headphones with a metal-and-soft-leather build, pillow-like padding on the headband and ear cushions, and earcups that rotate for a finer fit. At 9.92 ounces they're light enough to wear through a movie and a nap. They charge in 3 hours and run about 30 hours per charge in Bluetooth or ANC mode, which comfortably covers a long-haul round trip. Controls are touch-based — call, voice, volume and noise control — and there's a 3.5 mm jack plus a cable in the box for wired listening when you want it. A note from Silensys itself: in hot weather, take them off every 1–2 hours to let your ears breathe.
Buy them if you want one device that does noise cancelling, wireless audio and wired backup, and you're fine with Bluetooth 5 as your connection. Skip them if your main goal is getting audio out of an airplane's seat-back screen — that's a transmitter job, and this is not one.
The Relay solves a very specific, very real travel problem: the airline hands you a screen with a 3.5 mm jack, and your nice Bluetooth headphones can't talk to it. Plug the Relay into that jack, put your headphones in pairing mode, connect, and the audio is wireless. It ships with a dual-prong airplane adapter in the box, so the awkward two-pin seat sockets are covered too.
Its standout trick is dual link. Two pairs of Bluetooth headphones or earbuds can connect to one screen, so you and a travel partner watch the same movie without splitting a cable or passing earbuds back and forth. On the audio side it uses Qualcomm technology with aptX Adaptive and aptX Low Latency support — with compatible headphones that means a stable, detailed signal and better lip-sync than plain Bluetooth. Battery is 25 hours with a 2-hour charge time, which is enough for most long-haul routes, and there are onboard volume controls plus a battery indicator so you're not guessing mid-flight. The housing is ABS plastic, and pairing is a simple three-step routine.
Now the honest limits, straight from Avantree: this is a transmitter only. There is no microphone, and it's not meant for phone calls, TVs, hearing aids, musical instruments or receiving audio. It also has no drivers of its own — without a pair of Bluetooth headphones, it does nothing. Buy it if you already own headphones you love and want them to work with in-flight entertainment, especially if you're traveling with someone. Skip it if you need a headphone, or if you want something to make calls with.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for using your existing Bluetooth headphones on a plane → Avantree Relay Airplane. It's the bridge between a seat jack and your headphones.
• Best for battery life → Silensys Million Sold 10. About 30 hours per charge versus 25 hours for the Relay, and the Silensys charges in 3 hours versus 2.
• Best for watching with a travel partner → Avantree Relay Airplane. Dual link streams one screen to two pairs of headphones.
• Best for low-latency, codec-aware audio from a wired source → Avantree Relay Airplane. aptX Adaptive and aptX Low Latency support on compatible headphones.
• Best for noise reduction without a separate device → Silensys Million Sold 10. Active noise cancellation is built in; the Relay has none.
• Best for calls → Silensys Million Sold 10. It has a built-in microphone and call control. The Relay has no mic at all.
• Best for wired backup when a battery dies → Silensys Million Sold 10. The included cable and 3.5 mm jack let you keep listening passively.
• Best for minimal packing → Avantree Relay Airplane. At roughly 4.4 g of battery weight in an ABS shell, it's a tiny accessory, not a second device to carry.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Silensys Million Sold 10. It's the more versatile purchase: a full ANC headphone with 30-hour battery, a 45 mm driver, touch controls, a wired fallback and an 18-month warranty. It earns its place in your bag on the flight, at the office and at home. I'd only choose the Avantree Relay Airplane instead if I already owned good Bluetooth headphones and specifically wanted them to work with airplane seat-back screens — ideally while sharing the audio with someone sitting next to me. That's a narrow but genuinely useful job, and the Relay does it well. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever fits your trip.
what is the best headphones for traveling
There's no single answer, because it depends on what you're plugging into. For all-around travel with active noise cancelling, a 30-hour battery and wired backup, the Silensys Million Sold 10 fits well. If your priority is using your own Bluetooth headphones with in-flight entertainment, the Avantree Relay Airplane is the better fit.
what are good headphones for travel
Look for active noise cancelling, long battery life, comfortable over-ear padding and a wired option as a backup. The Silensys Million Sold 10 checks all four: ANC, about 30 hours per charge, rotating earcups with soft leather cushions, and a 3.5 mm jack with a cable included.
how to pack headphones for travel
For over-ear models like the Silensys Million Sold 10, rotate the earcups flat, coil the cable loosely rather than wrapping it tight around the cups, and put them in a padded pouch near the center of your bag. Small accessories like the Avantree Relay Airplane are light enough to tuck into a side pocket with your charging cable.
how to wrap headphones for travel
Wrap the cable in a loose loop around your fingers and secure it with a soft tie — never pull it tight against the earcup hinges, since that's where strain damage starts. Keep the 3.5 mm plug and any adapter, like the dual-prong one included with the Avantree Relay Airplane, in the same pouch so nothing goes missing in transit.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: YYTSGG White vs AUNMAS Retro Over Ear: Non in Ear Headphones, SIMOLIO Kids vs awatrue Kids Headphones, SOULWIT Earpads vs Yoley Classroom Headphones Bulk, LIGHTIMETUNNEL Sleep Headphones vs Mixiba 3D