Expensive headphones are not automatically a better purchase. The premium becomes rational when the features you pay for are used often enough to improve your daily experience.
Comfort compounds over time
For long flights and work sessions, clamp pressure, ear-pad heat and weight distribution can matter more than a small difference in sound tuning.
ANC is a use-case feature
Strong noise cancellation is valuable for frequent travel, shared offices and commuting. In a quiet room, it may not justify a major price jump.
