At first, it seemed like wireless headphones were doomed to the same fate as wireless phone chargers: cool in theory, but, uh, a little ahead of their time. A couple years ago, they were cobbled together for working out. Losing the wire was nice, but they sounded like you were listening to music on a conference call, connectivity problems and all. Then, the Bluetooth connections got better, the best audio companies got involved, and now "wireless hi-fi" (as fun as it is, don't call it "wifi hi-fi") is finally getting just about as good as their wired counterparts.

With the PXC 550, Sennhesier takes the next step. First, they made the Bluetooth part a breeze (it passed my estimable "Could my dad set this up?" test). Auto-connecting is seamless after the first setup, and a nice Siri-esque voice lets you know which device you just connected to.

Then, they added quality noise canceling; no revelation on its own, but a game-changer when working in conjunction with the touch-sensitive pad on the right earcup. Tap once to pause the music (and noise canceling), and swipe right and left to change tracks without digging into your pocket on a crowded subway. I originally overlooked the pad as a gimmick, but it soon became my favorite feature while on the move.

Feature-wise it's a monster, but the basics aren't too shabby: clear, powerful sound—this is Sennheiser, after all—and a battery that'll keep those features going for a couple days (with an optional wire in case you ever get caught without a charge). The new travel king has arrived, and I'm starting to wish my commute was just a little longer.

Sennhesier PXC 550 Wireless Headphones, $399, available at sennheiser.com