noise-isolating

Having used both noise-canceling and noise-isolating headphones, I'd recommend going for noise-isolating headphones, at least if you expect office chatter to be your major irritant.

Having the drives in a noise-isolating case is helpful too, but only as a secondary improvement.

Sounds like you just need some better noise-isolating headphones.

I could even be watching a movie with noise-isolating headphones on and it would still register if I were in range of somebody else's radio.

Also, quality noise-isolating headphones can get pricey.

The sound of a gas powered leaf blower is at just the right frequency to penetrate the double-pane windows, my noise-isolating earbuds, and it somehow overcomes all background noise.

I recently converted my standard headphones into industrial noise-isolating headphones.

Some good noise-isolating headphones (I had a loud bike), relaxing music, and some nice breaks at cheap gas stations for a drink here & there --- that's just perfect.

For radio advertisements, that's what the 'over-priced in ear headphones' are for (admittedly a luxury and not a necessity as I could achieve the same effect with earplugs or cheap, noise-isolating earphones, but I enjoy the high-quality music).

It is possible to mitigate most annoyances by bringing along extra supplies: power splitters + long power cords for limited access to plugs, your own data card for the unreliable wifi, laptop locks for when using the bathroom, and noise-isolating/canceling headphones for the occasional bad music, and an spare sweatshirt for when the coffeeshop leaves their door open.