Targus Travel-Ease Active Noise Cancellation Headphones

Targus, better known for laptop cases and accessories than for audio, now offers a quiet working environment with the Travel-Ease Active Noise Cancellation headphones. No, it's not the most elegant name, but it fits the product. Although these headphones are a bit clunky and underpowered, they get the job done.
 
Styled after Bose's Quiet Comfort 2 series, these relatively light headphones sport large comfortable cups that fit over the entire ear. They're also foldable. On the other hand, the Travel-Ease headphones have a chunky feel; the cable is quite thick, with an in-line module for the unit's AA battery compartment and volume and "talk through"controls. Also, the skin over the foam ear padding tears easily.
 
The headphones performed similarly to other products in this price range; noise reduction was moderate. You'll be able to dampen loud sounds, like airplane engines and traffic hum, but not eliminate them completely. Because of this and the headphones' relatively low volume, we never felt isolated from the outside world. We liked the talk through option, however, which allows the headphones to be used without the battery or active noise blocking.
 
Frequent flyers will appreciate the rated 80-plus hours of battery life, as well as the dual-airline audio jack for in-flight use. On our tests, we used these headphones every day for more than two weeks without the batteries dying.
 
The talk through feature relies on a microphone to pick up external sound and to enable conversations without removing the headphones. It's an appreciated bonus typically more common in far more expensive products, like Shure's SE line. But the microphone, found on the in-line module, should really be on the headset itself. If the module is dangling in your lap or elsewhere, you'll have to reposition it.
 
The talk through controls and long battery life are strong selling points in the crowded budget-headphone market. Slightly more money will net better sound quality and noise reduction, but for $69, the total feature set of the Targus Travel-Ease headphones make them worth considering.

 

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