Hearphones page says: "Directional microphones help you focus on conversations in noisy places. Focus, amplify or reduce real-world sounds to the level you want

Hearphones page says: "Directional microphones help you focus on conversations in noisy places. Focus, amplify or reduce real-world sounds to the level you want." So the hearphones don't just do cancelation of repetitive-signal type noise, in addition they will amplify sound from the direction you're facing to help carry on a conversation. The Bose QC series don't have that. Nor does the PocketTalker product mentioned in another comment here.