Travel Technology - NC Headphone Recommendation Wanted

So, I had a senior moment and left my Bose QC2 phones on NW 868 last Friday night :(

So my question is do I buy another pair of QC2 (which I loved) or is there something out there in the same price range that you all think is better?

I don't think I'm interested in the QC3 because they have their own battery and that means *another* charges on those long trips. I mostly fly LAX-Europe so I need something I can wear for long hours (as I could with the QC2's) and something that takes a somewhat standard battery.

Thanks in advance...

There is some useful information out there already.

Check out these threads:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=581295
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=620809

I tried the QC2's and ended up deciding on the QC3s instead. Like you I prefer a nonrechargeable battery. But the QC3 were lighter and much more comfortable on my head.

In addition, you might want to consider the in the ear canal earphones, such as the Shure earphones. They are very small and block out ambient noise because they act as earplugs. However for some people they can get uncomfortable when work for long periods. I am stil experimenting with different sleeves for my Shure e4c, but they've been excellent so far.

Hope that helps.

Thanks. What sort of battery life do you get with the QC3's? I specs I ready (IIRC) said 20 hours which is not enough for me (11-15 hours there, same back plus some usage on the train, etc.)

I used to have a pair of Sony NC10 (I think) that were in ear and I like the over the ear much better. Maybe I can find a pair of Shure's to borrow for my next trip.

I have not tested the battery all the way. I recharge after 3 crosscountry flights (16-17 hours use), and the indicator did not show a need to recharge. However my battery is new, so I would expect a decline over time. One solution would be to buy an extra battery (another $50) which can be stored in the charger inside the case. If you use the case, the charger doesn't add any more bulk and is overall slightly smaller than the one for the QC2.

If you can find a store with a 14 or 30 day return policy on the Shures, I would recommend trying that out.

And you can try out the QC3 for 30 days. If you don't notice a difference in comfort, then go with the QC2.