Travel Technology - Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

Hi everyone...

Considering giving the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones as a gift. Any opinons on them???

they work well, but are very expensive.

Love 'em. Didn't cost me any cash, since I racked up way more Marriott Rewards points than I'd be using any time soon and could spend them at SkyMall.

for noise cancellation and comfort, they really can't be beat. There are other 'phones that attenuate noise more effectively and sound better (canalphones from Etymotics and Shure, for example), but I don't find them comfortable.

I do like the fact that I can still hear the FAs and cockpit announcements; the canalphones need to be removed to hear properly.

Hi everyone...

Considering giving the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones as a gift. Any opinons on them???
I wouldn't fly without them. I started with Sony MDR-20NC cancellers, moved to the Bose QC 1 when I got an MP3 player that was incompatible with the Sonys. After a couple of years of the QC 1s, I gave them to my wife and bought the newer the Bose Quiet Comfort 2.

They are wonderful -- comfortable, effective at noise cancelling, with good sound quality. If someone gave me a pair as a gift I'd be thrilled.

I'm addicted to mine. Just can't imagine flying without them. I started with the QC1 then gave them to my mom and bought the QC2.

Hi everyone...

Considering giving the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones as a gift. Any opinons on them???

The person you give them to will love you for it.

Gave the wife a set of those and an Ipod a few years ago for Christmas, one of the best appreciated gifts ever. I now have her hand me down Bose, she got a set of the new ones.

If the person has any use for them, they can't be beat.

Ecost has them at discount on occasion (very few and far between occasions) so check there before buying, though most of the time they are at full price.

I’ve only had mine for a couple months and a few flights, LOVE THEM. I also use them at the office when the office din is closing in. Thread below deals with breakage but Bose customer service seems to have picked up in quality/responsiveness. (I have not had any problems w/mine)
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=314288&highlight=Bose

Can't fly without them, now. I used to think they were too expensive, but the solid NC performance is great. Far easier to take a nap, and not have to crank up the audio volume to some obnoxious level.

I never travel without them. They would be a most welcome gift. Sure not the cheapest nor the best but overall a worthwhile product.

I bought them, loved them, and now think I have something better:
Shure E2's. They don't have noise cancelling circuitry but block noise just as well. The sound is - IMO - better. More direct and clear. They were $99.00. I am going the get the next up in the series E3's for $179.00 or perhaps even the very best: the E5's for $499.00.

Still a lot less than my Bose QC2's, which I am getting ready to sell.

The Shure's are very small, too. The only complaints I had with about the Shures was the bulk and the sound quality. They do take up a lot of room in the carryon and at the seat. The E series are just about the size of earbuds and come with a case smaller than a hockey puck.

As to sound, the Bose are certainly good enough for an airplane where ambient noise makes the very best sound quality superfluous. But for use in hotel room or at home, the Bose are merely very good compared to the Shure's excellent.

The downside to the Shure's is that they do fit deeply into the in order both to be "sound isolating" and to deliver the sound with best clarity. I don't mind that, but some folks do.

http://www.shure.com/psm/earphones/default.asp#e3

Best wishes,

Teacher49

They are incredible but a little bit bulky for constant travel. I am looking into the Shure.

I have the sure E4's. Absolutely unbelievable. Expensive, but small and completely noise isolating. Best of all they are reference quality audio.

The downside to the Shure's is that they do fit deeply into the in order both to be "sound isolating" and to deliver the sound with best clarity. I don't mind that, but some folks do.

That's the reason I prefer the Bose. That "Wet willy" feeling is just gross. The Bose are simply more comfortable.

I got mine as a Christmas gift and love them. At DFW now after a 9 hour flight from LGW. Wore them the entire flight, it makes a huge difference in my opinion.

This just in: today I just made my first transcontinental-transoceanic (SFO-ZRH) trip with the Shure's instead of the Bose. Again, given that I just don't mind the things in my ears they surely do outperform the Bose for both sound isolation and sound quality. And I have only the cheap E2's!

I am glad that others like the Bose - not only are they a fine product and an understandable preference - but it means there's a market for my QC2's!!

Best wishes,

Teacher49

I keep reading about how great the Bose are, but I have never seen them, and picture typical "headphone" looking things.

How do you sleep with these on? You can't sleep with your head to one side can you? Having a hard time visualizing them.

I keep reading about how great the Bose are, but I have never seen them, and picture typical "headphone" looking things.

How do you sleep with these on? You can't sleep with your head to one side can you? Having a hard time visualizing them.

You can see them here:

http://www.bose.com/controller;jsessionid=BRSMBDJSlmdJh0LLkJPjRCnzZJ8f QyT3BLGK9dT1jnGQ00JTSVd0!-986177367!-1446776023?event=VIEW_PRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=may_we_recommend&linksource=avb_txt_fpqc2cdfy05&pageName=/home_entertainment/headphones_headsets/index.jsp

You can't easily sleep with your head to the side. I put a germ-infested pillow behind my neck, which gives me a little bit of swivel room.

On a related note, Hammacher Schlemmer (http://www.hammacher.com/publish/71122.asp?sourceid=0039869722&AFID=BEFREE01) is giving away a free CD player with a QC2 purchase.

Another alternative similar to the Shure headphones are the Etymotic headphones. These have been around a little longer than the Shure headphones, and are popular with many iPod users.

I would recommend the ER-6i or the ER-4s as they don't need an external amplifier for best sound. Thier website is http://www.etymotic.com/

I have the Bose QC1 and the ER-6 phones, and i find that it is a lot easier to sleep with the Etymotics, but I can't keep them in for more than 4 hours at a time. The noise supression is much better on the Etymotic, as it suppresses high frequency sounds better (e.g. conversations). I often carry the ER-6 headphone case inside the QC1 case (in the main compartment!).

The in-ear sensation is not appealing to some, be forewarned. I got used to it pretty quickly.

Ordered the QC2's and iPOD last night from bose.com, they will be here tomorrow. Hoping the QC2's will be as good as advertised. If not I intend to look at the Shures.

You can't easily sleep with your head to the side. I put a germ-infested pillow behind my neck, which gives me a little bit of swivel room.

The situation gets much worse when you have those adjustable head rests wings. The wings get in the way of the earphones and makes it very difficult to sleep. Now, being in F is a different story, especially on a full recline seat.

aloha

The situation gets much worse when you have those adjustable head rests wings. The wings get in the way of the earphones and makes it very difficult to sleep. Now, being in F is a different story, especially on a full recline seat.

aloha
I find the biggest problem with the wings is that, if they contact the headphones, they cover up the little microphones which "listen" to the ambient noise and the cancelling effect is ruined, but only in one ear. Still, though, I've used my Bose (QC 1s and then QC 2s) for quite a few years, and have never much problem finding a comfortable position, in both Y and F.

I'll add two recommendations for any FTers who, like me, are on the other side of 50 and whose hearing isn't quite as good, or as even, as it used to be. Because the Bose aren't the most efficient cans in the world, I always use them on my MP3 player with a headphone amplifier. I use the older version of this: http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=27&productID=0000010006. It works great! Lots of volume, full fidelity and no tonal coloration or noise.

Also, the hearing in one of my ears isn't as good as the other, so the stereo field always sounds shifted slightly to the side. To my knowledge, no one makes a hard-drive-based MP3 player with a balance control. However, the same company distributes this Senheisser product: http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=31&productID=0050080006 which adds in-line balance control. It solves the problem for me, but has far too long a cord. I'm going to fix it by cutting it short and soldering on a new jack.

(snip) To my knowledge, no one makes a hard-drive-based MP3 player with a balance control. (snip)
The iRiver H series of HD-based players has a balance control. I have the H120 (20GB).

Also, with my QC2s, I can't really set the volume above 25 (it goes to 40) if the souce material's been normalized. I'm in my mid 40's, so I ain't deef yet, though . . . :)

The iRiver H series of HD-based players has a balance control. I have the H120 (20GB).
Thanks, I'll have to check out iRiver (I need at least 40 gig, though).

Also, with my QC2s, I can't really set the volume above 25 (it goes to 40) if the souce material's been normalized. I'm in my mid 40's, so I ain't deef yet, though . . . :)
I have a Creative JukeBox 3. At max volume, it will drive the Bose loud enough for normal listening, but I like the extra headroom and minimized distortion by not driving it all the way (it's also easier on the Jukebox' batteries).

On a related note, Hammacher Schlemmer (http://www.hammacher.com/publish/71122.asp?sourceid=0039869722&AFID=BEFREE01) is giving away a free CD player with a QC2 purchase.

Bose.com has the same offer.

I wonder if you get the cd player if you purchase the headphones from Skymall? The headphones are offered on Skymall through Hammacher Schlemmer. If you purchase anything from Skymall within 48 hours of a CO flight, you get 15 miles/$ (i.e. 4500 miles for the headphones).

If you had a choice of purchasing an QC1 (new) or a QC2, which would you choose? I was told the only difference in the battery pack is on the cord of the QC1 and cannot be disconnected versus the QC2 having the battery in the headset itself. Thanks.

If you had a choice of purchasing an QC1 (new) or a QC2, which would you choose? I was told the only difference in the battery pack is on the cord of the QC1 and cannot be disconnected versus the QC2 having the battery in the headset itself. Thanks.

QC2s, hands down.

Does anyone know if the Etymotic or Shure earphones have the ability to cancel noise without being plugged into a piece of electronics like the Bose? I have been thinking of getting a pair for quite some time now and am getting close...the reason I haven't bought the Bose is quite simply the price tag...I have a hard time justifying $300 for a pair of headphones.

Does anyone know if the Etymotic or Shure earphones have the ability to cancel noise without being plugged into a piece of electronics like the Bose?
Yes, but the Etymotic and Shure earphones don't cancel noise, they simply keep it out much like how fitted earplugs work (and with the right fit, they do so very effectively). No special noise cancelling circuitry required.

I wouldn't fly without them. I started with Sony MDR-20NC cancellers, moved to the Bose QC 1 when I got an MP3 player that was incompatible with the Sonys. After a couple of years of the QC 1s, I gave them to my wife and bought the newer the Bose Quiet Comfort 2.

They are wonderful -- comfortable, effective at noise cancelling, with good sound quality. If someone gave me a pair as a gift I'd be thrilled.

Hi,

I have the Sonys right now and have been thinking about getting the Bose, how do they compare?

Hi,

I have the Sonys right now and have been thinking about getting the Bose, how do they compare?
I've always thought the Sonys had a slightly better high-end, as well as better definition than the QC 1s. They probably still edge out the QC 2s for high-end, but the definition is the same, and the QC 2s have wonderful bass. I also think the QC 2s are more comfortable -- at then end of 10-hour flight with the Sonys, my ears would feel flattened and painful. This doesn't happen with the QC2s.

I puchased a set of the QC2's three weeks ago and have used them on 4 west coast flights (from IAH)--very disappointed. What I was hoping for was a set that can drown out conversations and noise (which they do if you have music on). But for pure noise cancelation they don't work at all (of course better than nothing, but I can hear people talking and coughing in the background). I'm returning them today and going with the E6's. While I know they will not drown out the talking either (without music) I can continue to use my .50 cent earplugs for that, and use the $95 (at discount) E6's. Will report back, but $200 savings is key here, and I can sleep with the E6's.

Sorry to hear that you selected the wrong headphones for your use. A little research on the Bose would have told you they dont block conversations. They arent designed to do that and dont claim that they do to the best of my knowledge. They block various relatively constant frequency background noise, which is what they are designed to do, quite effectively; while letting you still hear conversations. Earplugs of course block everything. My wife has some midrange Shures which she likes a lot but I have trouble with something set that deeply in my ear,. First time I tried I ended up at the doctors a couple days later and was on various meds for my ears for a week, although I may give it one more chance. Its possible it just irritated a preexisting condition.

Sorry to hear about your doc visit--it's key to read the instructions before using the ER6's. But MUCH better drowning of sound than the QC2's. I did research QC2's, but you really have to try them to understand that they are worthless in drowning out conversations (at least as compared to .50 cent earplugs. Best of luck.

I think I used them correctly. It was one ear that was a problem. The doctor said there was a lot of scar tissue deep in the ear and around that drum, probably from a childhood infection/injury. It might be that due to that and the resulting shape of the ear canal I just cant wear them in that ear, which of course means not at all. I will give them another shot though. The main issue I have with the Bose is the size. I would like something that I can fit in my shirt pocket, at least for longer trips. I think you will enjoy the Shures or Etymotics, my wifes Shures do sound wonderful.

I think I used them correctly. It was one ear that was a problem. The doctor said there was a lot of scar tissue deep in the ear and around that drum, probably from a childhood infection/injury. It might be that due to that and the resulting shape of the ear canal I just cant wear them in that ear, which of course means not at all. I will give them another shot though. The main issue I have with the Bose is the size. I would like something that I can fit in my shirt pocket, at least for longer trips. I think you will enjoy the Shures or Etymotics, my wifes Shures do sound wonderful.You might want to go to your local audiologist and have custom molds done of your ears that will fit on the Shure earphones. During my teenage years I had frostbite disfigure one of my ear canals a bit, and the standard foam inserts never worked properly in that ear, only custom ones. The price is not that bad, and you get a perfect fit and the ultimate in sound isolation.

I puchased a set of the QC2's three weeks ago and have used them on 4 west coast flights (from IAH)--very disappointed. What I was hoping for was a set that can drown out conversations and noise (which they do if you have music on). But for pure noise cancelation they don't work at all (of course better than nothing, but I can hear people talking and coughing in the background). I'm returning them today and going with the E6's. While I know they will not drown out the talking either (without music) I can continue to use my .50 cent earplugs for that, and use the $95 (at discount) E6's. Will report back, but $200 savings is key here, and I can sleep with the E6's.


UPDATE -

Got the Etymotic ER6's--they are terrible. Returning them ASAP and going to try the Shures. There is almost zero bass in these things and the others are right--very uncomfortable :mad:

UPDATE -

Got the Etymotic ER6's--they are terrible. Returning them ASAP and going to try the Shures. There is almost zero bass in these things and the others are right--very uncomfortable :mad:


i have now both the new sony nc 11A and the bigger one .

both working excellent.

UPDATE -

Got the Etymotic ER6's--they are terrible. Returning them ASAP and going to try the Shures. There is almost zero bass in these things and the others are right--very uncomfortable :mad:


You might be happier with the fit, but you probably won't be happier with the bass. My e5s reproduce bass just fine, it just doesn't "feel" like bass the way it does with a pair of cans. You either get used to it or you don't. If you don't you probably will not be happy with any in-the-ear phone.

All decided on buying some Bose headphones I checked out Bose.com
To find out that they cost £170 in the US and £270 in the UK (that's a $180 difference folks!).
Bose won't seem to let me buy the cans from their website at the US price, does anybody have a suggestion as to a trustworthy vendor who will? I'm hoping to get them at the $299 price plus any shipping costs.
The free CD player would be a nice bonus.
Cheers!

All decided on buying some Bose headphones I checked out Bose.com
To find out that they cost £170 in the US and £270 in the UK (that's a $180 difference folks!).
Bose won't seem to let me buy the cans from their website at the US price, does anybody have a suggestion as to a trustworthy vendor who will? I'm hoping to get them at the $299 price plus any shipping costs.
The free CD player would be a nice bonus.
Cheers!


try crutchfield.com, they also give a 20$ off first order, and I have had stuff deliverd to Germany before, don't know why UK is differant

I just wanted to say a quick thanks to all who posted about the Bose QC2s. I used to use the Sony noise cancelling ear bud set-up. I just didn't like the earbuds.

I finally got off my a** and bought the Bose QC2s and used them on my recent HNL-EWR-HNL trip. I was skeptical and not expecting anything. I was definitely wrong. I loved listening to channel 9 without the awful humming background noise. I felt rested and less jet lagged after using the headphones. They are GREAT!!

Thanks so much!! TF :cool:

You might be happier with the fit, but you probably won't be happier with the bass. My e5s reproduce bass just fine, it just doesn't "feel" like bass the way it does with a pair of cans. You either get used to it or you don't. If you don't you probably will not be happy with any in-the-ear phone.

I agree with that. Also, it takes a while to get used to wearing the in-the-ear type of phone and to learn how to insert and position it in the ear and that makes a big difference in the sound quality you get from them. When you get a good seal, the bass is greatly enhanced and there are some tricks to that.

I have the Shure E3c's and I was pretty disappointed with the sound when I first tried them and found them to be somewhat uncomfortable as well. Took me a couple of days to figure out how to insert (and remove) them and once I got that right it made a big difference in the sound quality. Still not sure how comfortable they would be for many hours as I haven't worn them yet for more than 2 hours at a crack, but I do seem to be getting more and more used to how they feel. Will be trying them out on a flight next week.

I went to crutchfield, got the QC2 for 299, free ship overseas, and free cd player. Happy with the QC2, happy with the free cd player, but happiest with the no hassel free shipping overseas.

I've tried a few in the past and for me the QC2 are the best. The absolute cheapest place to get these (from what I hear) are from the US military shops on bases. So if you are overseas near a military base see if you can't find someone to pick them up for you.

I kept thinking the money was too expensive for headphones but after only two trans pacific flights with them I did feel more relaxed and rested then before and to me, is already worth the money spent. It was just initially getting over the money issue and buying them that took me a while.

Thanks!
I'll give them a whirl today.

"Thank you for your recent correspondence. Unfortunately this order has cancelled....we do not offer international shipping.

Please let us know if you have a permanent and verifiable US address and we will be more than happy to advise how you can proceed to replace your order."

Does anybody else know oF a company who WILL ship internationally?

I can afford $299 for Bose headphones, but $538 is REALLY pushing it and I have a few 12 hour flights coming up in Y.

Incidentally, my partner will be flying LHR-JFK on AA, then JFK-NRT on NW in the next couple of days, but he won't be in the US long enough to make the purchase. Is there access to Skymall on either of these routes?