MilesBuzz! - What's the best deal on noise cancelling headphones

Went to crutchfield.com and they offer three or four different options (sony and bose). Found a coupon for $25 off $250 or more, so that would bring down the Bose headphones to $285 after shipping. Kinda steep, so was wondering if there was a better deal somewhere else. Thanks.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fallinasleep:
Went to crutchfield.com and they offer three or four different options (sony and bose). Found a coupon for $25 off $250 or more, so that would bring down the Bose headphones to $285 after shipping. Kinda steep, so was wondering if there was a better deal somewhere else. Thanks.</font>

That's the best deal I've heard of for the Bose. I know that they are the most expensive, but they are definately worth it, in my opinion. I own a pair, and am extremely satisfied with them. I originally balked at the $299 price, but then I considered that this is less than one average airline ticket, and it definately makes my journeys more comfortable/enjoyable, even when it's only a 2 hour flight. On overseas and/or overnight flights, I don't know how I got along without them. In addition to making it easier to hear the audio during the movie, even with no audio source they make sleeping easier, and daytime travel much less fatiguing.

I know people that have two different competing brands of NC headphones, and both say that the Bose are better than what they have.

I have both the Sony NC-11 and the Bose NC headsets. While the Sony's are well worth the money, the Bose are head and shoulders above.

If you have access to the Bose at anything less than $299, you're getting an outstanding deal, even at full sticker price they're a bargain.

mpc1

Y'all might want to check out this head to head review: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1101/headphones.htm

If you still want Bose after that...

Here's the Crutchfield deal: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-fM9hw8QOTqk/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=018025675&s=0

[This message has been edited by emaij (edited 06-04-2002).]

Sony NC-11 $107 at www.minidisct.com/shopping/hyper_accessories.html# (http://www.minidisct.com/shopping/hyper_accessories.html#)

I love my Bose... and I see them on skymall for 99K HHonors points:

http://www.skymall.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Store.woa/wa/gotoPage?sid=88393144%400&page=detail&pid=79723646&dept=5014

SteveH

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by emaij:
Y'all might want to check out this head to head review: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1101/headphones.htm

If you still want Bose after that...
</font>

Great review. I own a couple of noise reduction headsets, the Senheisers and the Discwashers, and although I do appreciate the noise reduction, I find them to bulky to want to travel with them. I find the decompression effect of noise reduction headsets uncomfortable and it often leads to earaches for me. I have been curious about the etymotics for a while. They are doing a road tour, and the tour stops about one mile from my house in Foster City, CA on July 14. I plan to check these puppies out in person. Etymotic has a new headphone, the ER-6 that supposedly gives 85% of the reviewed ER4P headphones for $129.

[This message has been edited by mikel51 (edited 06-05-2002).]

I just bought the new, mini Sony MD11's from www.aaaprice.com (http://www.aaaprice.com) for $119 (replaces the MD10's).

I think for traveling, the Sony size advantage is huge...I couldn't see carrying around the Bose when there are other good options like the Sony's available.

They also have the advantage that you can fall asleep on your side while listenting to a movie or music with one piece in your ear -- something which you can't do with over the head sets like the Bose.

I do think the Bose are slightly more comfortable when in an upright position for extended periods, and if they are given out on board, I would use them, until I go horizontal...but for portability + functionality, there's no match for the Sony's.

[This message has been edited by nologic (edited 06-05-2002).]

I bought the Sennheiser HDC 451 set at Fry's for $149. They dance circles around the Sony's, are standard equipment on AF A330 F and BE, and are close but not quite the Bose set.

Sony's were $89 at Fry's, I believe, and they didn't have the Bose (or were out).

I've flown close to 100 hours with the 451's so far this year, and do not second guess my purchase.

I did see a new in-ear N/C headset that Sony has - but for $199 at Fry's they're just a bit too pricey for a set you can't test first.

GMF

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by goldmedallionflyer:
I bought the Sennheiser HDC 451 set, ... and do not second guess my purchase.
</font>

I agree, the Sennheiser headphones have a great sound, they are lighter and much smaller than Bose, and easier to carry. I first noticed them in Lufthansa First Class.

From my experience I can definetely recommend them. For details, see Sennheiser HD 451 (http://www.sennheiserusa.com/pages/products/aviation/hdc451.htm)

They are $150 on the Sennheiser web page.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mikel51:
[B] They are doing a road tour, and the tour stops about one mile from my house in Foster City, CA on July 14. [B]</font>

Do you know where we can find a schedule? I'd like to try them when they're in San Diego.


[This message has been edited by emaij (edited 06-05-2002).]

You can get a better deal on Sennheiser HDC-541: I bought a pair about a month ago from etronics.com for $95 shipping included. Use http://www.pricegrabber.com/ and look at the prices.

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Regards,

V3

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by emaij:
Do you know where we can find a schedule? I'd like to try them when they're in San Diego. </font>

Headphones.com is running the tour and have a truck full of different headphones and amps. The schedule is at:

http://headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=138

The "Best Deal" is by far the Aiwa noise cancelling headphones (they used to be $40, but now Amazon.com is showing them as $60, maybe they're a newer model than what I have ...). I have the Sony NC-10's and the Aiwa headphones, and the Sony's are better, but not twice as good and I have a very hard time imagining anything is three or four times better than them, thereby justifying their price ...

The Aiwa's are comfortable and they fold to be relatively compact (nothing can really compare to the Sony NC-10's as far as compactness though ...).