ANR headsets tend to have selective noise reduction. Most will reduce
objectionable ambient noise, such as crying babies. My first exposure to
these was in 1998, when a friend demonstrated some Lightspeed Aviation Headsets. These things would
"turn off" a Whirlpool dryer in a small laundry room.
More recently I bought some refurbished Sennheisers. Now compact
ANR headsets can be found in most discount stores, and are the toy
du jour at airport shops (for good reason), but at the time
Sennheiser was one of the few compact type available.
They almost universally have a mini-stereo plug for audio listening.
There are some configured for use with cellphones (intended for
conversations in noisy environments rather than general ambient quiet)
and of course aviation comm headsets.
Price is $40 to $100 for a base model compact or earbud type, depending
on quality. Full ear cover type are probably slightly higher. It
should be possible to get good ANR functionality from at least some of
the better quality brands.
There are models that cost more (e.g., $450 for the high end
Sennheiser), but the extra cost is related to audio quality (for music
audiophiles), with no significant difference in ANR performance. I
personally question the advantage of a high end headset on a public
transportation vehicle, but perhaps I'd feel differently if I listened
to a lot of music on long commutes. But for me, the lower cost ones
were a luxury.
The first time I was able to switch off a crying baby on an airline
flight, my refurb'd Sennheisers paid for themselves.
