Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

[mgoblue]

A co-worker has the Bose QC 15's, but at 300 (maybe 230ish if I risk a Craigslist purchase) they're a little expensive.

Anyone here have some noise cancelling headphones? Any advice?

I'm flying to Miami and Europe this year, along with using them at work for other times. I used to have a cheap pair of Panasonics but they broke.

Just thought I'd see if anyone here had any input while I'm searching online...I'd obviously prefer to be cheaper than expensive, but don't want crap either.

[daflyboys]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

WHAT !?!!!

[p_rushing]

I use in ear noise isolation ones. Shure is the brand I have. They don't add the noise to cancel out other noise and work just as well. I use they every week on a plane and can't hear anything.

I don't like the over the ear type, plus they need batteries to power them.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk

[mgoblue]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

I use in ear noise isolation ones. Shure is the brand I have. They don't add the noise to cancel out other noise and work just as well. I use they every week on a plane and can't hear anything.

I don't like the over the ear type, plus they need batteries to power them.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk

Yeah, I'm not as big a fan of ones that go in my ear, they never feel comfortable to me.

I may have to look into those, but just always feel like there's pressure in my ear when I wear them. Maybe I just had crappy ones, I don't know.

[p_rushing]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

Shure come with a ton of different ends. The foam ones fill like that to me and if you use ones that are too big it also creates pressure. Once you get used to them, they are great.

I've also had q-Jays (made by a Swedish company), which are the smallest ones I know of and I could sleep in those without them coming out.

[mgoblue]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

Shure come with a ton of different ends. The foam ones fill like that to me and if you use ones that are too big it also creates pressure. Once you get used to them, they are great.

I've also had q-Jays (made by a Swedish company), which are the smallest ones I know of and I could sleep in those without them coming out.

Interesting...I'll look into those more as well. Did a test of the Bose QC15 at lunch (Best Buy has a demo) and they do sound amazing with the cancellation on. Just not sure it's 300 bucks amazing lol

[Burns11]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

Bose has by far the best active noise canceling tech, the headphones aren't the best, but they are OK.

Non-active noise, best bet would be a pair of in ears, especially ones that isolate well. Can't recommend Shure personally, although I personally really love the Shure sound signature and still use a pair (I have an 8 year old pair that I use when doing yardwork), they are too expensive and the newer designs are hard to fit. A good one to try might be these Klipsch X10 that are $90 on amazon ( http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Image-...ds=klipsch+x10 ), kind of hard to suggest you run out and buy them though. Can you wear earplugs? If you can wear earplugs you can wear IEMs, and if you've never tried buy a couple pair at walmart or something and see if you can stand them.

Other options would be just a closed, full sized headphone. While not the most ideal in high noise environments, some actually do isolate a fair amount, it might be good enough for a plane. I would probably try some earplugs and see if you can tolerate an in ear first though.

[rsnomar05]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

Interesting...I'll look into those more as well. Did a test of the Bose QC15 at lunch (Best Buy has a demo) and they do sound amazing with the cancellation on. Just not sure it's 300 bucks amazing lol

Sound quality wise, Bose headphones are terrible (and the frequency response graphs show they can't produce a large portion of the audible spectrum. OUCH).

Non-vented in-ear monitors with triple-flanged or foam tips in general produce the best sound isolation and are great on planes. However, each headphone, regardless of type, is going to be different. Some non-vented in-ear monitors only offer average isolation because they are designed for shallow tip-insertion. Likewise, some full-sized noise canceling headphones barely keep out any noise, or they hiss or have terrible battery life.

The closest I've come to total silence outside of what I am listening to are custom in-ear monitors. They are what musicians use on stage for hearing protection. They are custom-fitted to the shape of your ear, which provides superior comfort and isolation, but they are also quite costly. The average triple-driver custom would run you around $400 dollars.

My recommendation would be to peruse this thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/mult...added-02-06-13

That thread has 271 (and counting!) in-ear monitors reviewed and compared on issues of sound quality, build quality, comfort, isolation, and microphonics, with a handy comparison chart at the bottom. If you're looking for the best isolation/sound quality bang for buck, the Etymotic Research h5 is widely regarded as providing the best isolation of any in-ear monitor, and though I've never tried it, its sound quality gets good reviews. It costs ~$120 though.

[mgoblue]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

Sound quality wise, Bose headphones are terrible (and the frequency response graphs show they can't produce a large portion of the audible spectrum. OUCH).

Non-vented in-ear monitors with triple-flanged or foam tips in general produce the best sound isolation and are great on planes. However, each headphone, regardless of type, is going to be different. Some non-vented in-ear monitors only offer average isolation because they are designed for shallow tip-insertion. Likewise, some full-sized noise canceling headphones barely keep out any noise, or they hiss or have terrible battery life.

The closest I've come to total silence outside of what I am listening to are custom in-ear monitors. They are what musicians use on stage for hearing protection. They are custom-fitted to the shape of your ear, which provides superior comfort and isolation, but they are also quite costly. The average triple-driver custom would run you around $400 dollars.

My recommendation would be to peruse this thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/478568/mult...added-02-06-13

That thread has 271 (and counting!) in-ear monitors reviewed and compared on issues of sound quality, build quality, comfort, isolation, and microphonics, with a handy comparison chart at the bottom. If you're looking for the best isolation/sound quality bang for buck, the Etymotic Research h5 is widely regarded as providing the best isolation of any in-ear monitor, and though I've never tried it, its sound quality gets good reviews. It costs ~$120 though.

I'll try some of them and see how comfortable I like the in ear monitors...

[mgoblue]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

http://tech.woot.com/offers/klipsch-m40-noise-cancelling-headphones-2

Got these for 150 refurb (normally 350ish). Klipsch M40. Seemed worth it to me for the quality vs anything else I'd get for 150 new.

[chilli311]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

A good one to try might be these Klipsch X10 that are $90 on amazon ( http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Image-...=operasport-20 ), kind of hard to suggest you run out and buy them though.

I've been using the Klipsch S4's for a year and a half now, and absolutely love them. I usually wear them when walking to work, and even at a moderate volume, I hear very little ambient noise.

http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-IMAGE-.../dp/B001V9LPT4

[mgoblue]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

Woot had an issue with inventory and refunded my order.

I'm pissed at Woot, but kinda glad cause I realized those Klipschs were super heavy. I knew they were heavy, but didn't totally realize how much heavier than most headphones.

Probably looking into some Audio Technica noise canceling ones (normally 200, 146 on Amazon) now...

[mgoblue]

Re: Noise cancelling headphones - any experiences?

Woot had an issue with inventory and refunded my order.

I'm pissed at Woot, but kinda glad cause I realized those Klipschs were super heavy. I knew they were heavy, but didn't totally realize how much heavier than most headphones.

Probably looking into some Audio Technica noise canceling ones (normally 200, 146 on Amazon) now...

Got the Audio Technica headphones and they're awesome. Really cut outside talking to a minimum (but can still hear murmur, which is ok)...Worth it for work use, and will be nice on plane.