Headphones

These battery-powered headphones use electronic circuitry to eliminate or at least reduce unwanted noise. Some models let you turn off noise reduction and will work without batteries; others work only with noise cancellation activated, which requires battery power.

You can spend as little as $10 on a pair of in-ear headphones or up to $500 for an audiophile headset. Look for a pair of headphones with a higher sound-quality rating if you're a more discerning listener, and consider comfort if you expect to be wearing the headphones for extended listening times.