There are also Etymotic earbuds. I swear by them for listening to music in noisy environments such as the subway or airplanes. They cost less than ANC They do a

There are also Etymotic earbuds. I swear by them for listening to music in noisy environments such as the subway or airplanes. They cost less than ANC They do a much better job of reducing ambient noise -- I can keep the volume to a whisper even in environments where having a conversation is uncomfortable. And there aren't any batteries to worry about keeping charged.