Travel Technology - Reasonably priced noise-cancelling headphones? (not BOSE)

BOSE aside, anyone else have suggestions for good noise cancelling headphones at a decent price in the $100-200 range? I'm looking for first hand experience on a noisy flight.

Thanks!

You'd be much better off with a pair of Shure SE210 or SE310. They've much smaller than any canceling headphone and the reduction in noise level, but blocking the noise instead of trying to cancel it, is much better. Easier to carry, easier to sleep with, more effective, less complex so more reliables, etc. I've had both types (Bose, PLaneQuiets, Sony NC-10/11, Sennheiser, Etymotics, Shure E3c and now Shure SE310s), and noise-blocking is clearly superior to me.

For $150, or $130 with the $20 coupon often found in the in-flight magazines, the Sharper Image Quiet Place headphones aren't bad.

You'll find a wealth of info by typing:
noise canceling (only one "l" in canceling) headphones
in the "search" bar at the top of this screen.

The Sennheiser PXC-250 is about $150. I have this set and QC2. QC2 is better while one's awake and PXC-250 is better when one wants to sleep.

You'll find a wealth of info by typing:
noise canceling (only one "l" in canceling) headphones
in the "search" bar at the top of this screen.

Not in Canada, cancelling has 2 L's, not 1.

Not in Canada, cancelling has 2 L's, not 1.

I'm used to it... I get the same comments when I write 'behaviour'. Microsoft spellchecker always asks me if I want to correct it! :)

I'm a QC2 owner, but didn't (and wouldn't) pay anywhere near full price. I picked mine up on eBay for $80 w/out the case. For around $125 new (amazon) I've heard (no pun) some great reviews of the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7. I'm tempted to give them a try as my QC2s create a sense of pressure on inner-ear after about 2 hours of use, but this may be a byproduct of all active noise cancelling systems.

I also did tried a co-worker's Logitech 980409-0403 and was pretty impressed with their noise-cancelling abilities, though they were a bit on the large side. He paid $130 in the airport but they are available as low as $49 from TigerDirect. For this price, they are really a great value if the size (similar to QC1) isn't an issue.

The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 are fantastic NR headphones. IMHO, every bit as good as Bose for less than 1/2 the cost. They come with a nice carrying case too. I got mine from Amazon and take them with me every time I fly.

I have read in many places that the in-ear plugs cancel noise better, but I can barely stand using earbuds, so I can't imagine actually sticking things inside my ear drums.

What are your objectives with the headphones? Do you want to talk to people and be able to listen to music? The only real reason to have noise canceling headphones is the ability to talk to people while using them. If this is not a big deal to you, then in ear buds work MUCH better. Noise canceling headphones are not going to quiet the screaming baby sitting next to you. In fact, they will just make the screaming more clear.

Unless you're in the category above, get something from Etymotic Research or Shure. Both are highly regarded.

I have the shure e3c and they do indeed block out about 90% of all noise (with the foam inserts). But since they're in-ear, I can only wear them for a couple of hours at a time.

I also just got the Sennheisen PXC250 on-ear for $99 at J&R. They block out about the same (90% or so), but mostly the background (low) noise, not higher speaking noises as well as Shure. But, they're more comfortable and I can wear them for longer periods.

It seems they all have pros and cons...but the Shure and Sennheisen, for the quality and price...are both excellent options.

I'm used to it... I get the same comments when I write 'behaviour'.
Pardon my insensitivity. Anyway, it turns out I was wrong. There are only 29 existing threads with the title "noise canceling headphones" and 74 threads with the title "noise cancelling headphones"

For in-the-ear earphones (apologies for the redundancy), besides Shure and Etymotic, you should take a look at the Altec Lansing inMotion (made by Shure) and Ultimate Ears.

I recently bought a pair of Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pros from Costco (not sure if they're in stock anymore) and have been pretty happy with them. I've previously owned the Etymotic ER-4P, the Shure E2c, E3c, and E5c's, and the Altec Lansing IM-716's. Oh, and way back when I used to own a set of Sennheiser active noise cancelling headphones (can't remember the model number).

What are your objectives with the headphones? Do you want to talk to people and be able to listen to music? The only real reason to have noise canceling headphones is the ability to talk to people while using them. If this is not a big deal to you, then in ear buds work MUCH better. Noise canceling headphones are not going to quiet the screaming baby sitting next to you. In fact, they will just make the screaming more clear.

Unless you're in the category above, get something from Etymotic Research or Shure. Both are highly regarded.

I will be taking several TATL and one TPAC (IAH-PER) flights this year, and so I am looking for something I can listen to my ipod, or AVOD on without having to crank up the volume to overcome the jet noise. Also, I want to be able to fall asleep with them on and not wake up with earaches.

Screaming/crying children, no poblem. I've three of my own (4,2,1), I've learned to tune them out automatically. :D 'Must be some neanderthalistic trait for men.

Pardon my insensitivity. Anyway, it turns out I was wrong. There are only 29 existing threads with the title "noise canceling headphones" and 74 threads with the title "noise cancelling headphones"


No problem at all. I was not bothered, nor even thought about it one bit. I was only replying to MapleLeaf and in no way was making a point. :)

While I am at it, thank you for the suggestions. I initially did this, but had to dig through many of the posts to get to the meat, and so I figured I would just ask what I wanted to know.

Regards.

The Sennheiser PXC-250 is about $150. I have this set and QC2. QC2 is better while one's awake and PXC-250 is better when one wants to sleep.

Got these on Amazon for under $100 including shipping. Very impressed with them as compared to my wife's QC3.

Bose are the way to go and you can get them used on ebay for 100 dollars and live ghetto fabulous.

Bose are the way to go and you can get them used on ebay for 100 dollars and live ghetto fabulous.

OP clearly doesn't want Bose. Not all of us fall for their marketing skills.

I've always been very happy with Shure and Etymotic, and in my experience they perform better than most active noise canceling headphones.