I've been using the Bose models for years and currently have the AE2 model, and normally use them while traveling which I haven't done much of lately.

I recently won a pair of Microsoft's Surface 2 headphones and they have replaced the Bose for regular use.
They seem to equal the Bose in cancellation, but do a better job in isolation and are far more comfortable for long periods of time. They work better with conference calls in my experience as well.

Just one note if you aren't used to noise cancellation, after a while (several hours) the cancellation itself can get a little tiring or irritating.

If it wasn't for the fact that want to use them for calls as well, I'd suggest you look for a nice set of in-ear headphones with good foam cups. I just got a new set of Westone's (B50) last week to replace a 10 year old set and with the foam it's a great setup. But i don't use them for calls.