Travel Technology - headphones-Noise Cancelling

Tons of threads out there, but nothing really current, 2008. What are you guys using now. Lots of options on the market. I am looking to purchase in the next few weeks. Products change so fast, so I thought I would ask what people are using today. Not opposed to the Bose system, however if there is something just as good for half the price, that's great.

Nothing's changed, those threads are still valid.
Some people love Bose, others hate them.
Some people love the Shure/Etymotics canal phones, others hate them.

If you don't mind music and can play it from a notebook or something...I've just bought a Logitech USB headset and it's loud enough to drown out any background or other noise (and with fantastic sound quality, too). :D

Canal phones of any brand are nicer than stock earphones for near-soundproofing. If you cannot afford Bose/Shure/Etymotics, not the end of the world; get the 20-dollar Philips instead.

If you don't mind music and can play it from a notebook or something...I've just bought a Logitech USB headset and it's loud enough to drown out any background or other noise (and with fantastic sound quality, too). :D

And best of all: after a few years of that you won't need to block noise at all. :D

I trying to decide between the QC2 and QC3. I am getting them with Priority Club points and can't decide which to go with.... Any help?

If price is not too much of an issue, the Sennheiser PXC 450 is one of the best. One AAA last beyond BOS-LAX-HKG. Fold up nicely in a flat case too.

I trying to decide between the QC2 and QC3. I am getting them with Priority Club points and can't decide which to go with.... Any help?
Piglet,
I prefer the QC2, as I get better sound blocking with the over the ear style. I fly a lot of Brasilias, a very noisy environment.
Enjoy! One of the best things about dealing with Bose is their customer service. My husband and I have had our QC2s replaced twice, for problems with the headband/earpiece and the electronics.
Kate

I purchased the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 for some recent flights--comfortable, cut noise well, good audio, single AAA battery.

I trying to decide between the QC2 and QC3. I am getting them with Priority Club points and can't decide which to go with.... Any help?

QC2 also uses AAA batteries vs. QC3's proprietary one

(I am an avid user of my QC2's...:D)

However when I got the "cell phone adapter" I was dismayed to learn the QC3 has a bluetooth option, whereas QC2 is wired only...

Nowadays I use the QC3, I don't much care for the feeling of over-the-ear models for long periods of time but I find the QC3 is comfortable enough and the battery lasts long enough that I can wear mine the entire time on transpacs.

Additional/spare rechargable batteries are available but they run about $50.

I purchased the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 for some recent flights--comfortable, cut noise well, good audio, single AAA battery.

I am thinking about picking these up...the price ($120) seems quite competitive. A couple questions though...are they really bad with leakage, and must they really only be used with the noise cancelling turned on for decent sound quality? Thanks.

"Nothing's changed, those threads are still valid.
Some people love Bose, others hate them.
Some people love the Shure/Etymotics canal phones, others hate them."

True, nothing has changed, but apart from people's preferences, there ARE real differences and more or less agreed upon ideals for those who have used all of the different options.

I currently own QC2's, Shure's and a Etymotics ER-6i. Your best options are:

Just want quiet:

Foam in ear plugs. They cost under $1 and when inserted properly into your ear, they will block more noise than anything else. They won't make you feel all yuppie important like the QC's will, but they block WAY more sound.

Just want quiet and want to watch movies/listen to music:

Etymotic ER6i/better Ety model:

They block a ton of noise when you use them properly with the foam inserts. You bunch it up, put it in your ear and let it expand. Some people 'don't like them', but basically are not willing to give them a chance or use the adaptors that fit their ears. They are, hands down, the best. The Shure's are nice, but don't seal off nearly as much noise.

Want some quiet and want to be able to talk:

This is where the QC's and the higher end over ear things like Sennheiser come in. Keep in mind, these don't block all sound, just some of it. You can still carry on a conversation. Unlike the Sony poster you see in airports, however, you will hear that baby in 8D screaming even more clearly with these headphones.

My overall preference is the Etys. They overall effect is that it blocks the most noise of any of the headphones, have great sound, are a good option whether sleeping or listening and have a reasonable price. They also block noise when your QC's et all have the canceling turned off for approach. The only drawback is having to take them off when ordering your food.

"I am thinking about picking these up...the price ($120) seems quite competitive. A couple questions though...are they really bad with leakage, and must they really only be used with the noise cancelling turned on for decent sound quality? Thanks."

I'd rethink and spend $75 on a set of Etymotic ER-6i's.

I am thinking about picking these up...the price ($120) seems quite competitive. A couple questions though...are they really bad with leakage, and must they really only be used with the noise cancelling turned on for decent sound quality? Thanks.i swear by the brookstone SoundShield 250 (http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=490292&wid=19&cid=1906&sid=190604&search_type=subcategory&prodtemp=t2). very lightweight, will work as regular headphones without (or with dead) batteries and has a very thin hard case. very comfortable if you wear glasses (i do ;)) and if you use a travel pillow as i do, the headphones are small enough that they fit perfectly without interfering with (or being interfered with by) the travel pillow

I purchased the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 for some recent flights--comfortable, cut noise well, good audio, single AAA battery.

I bought these based on David Pogue's NY Times review. He said, and I don't remember the exact wording, but basically they are Bose headphones without the cost of Bose.

I LOVE mine! They are great, and they fold pretty flat and have a nice hard carrying case. I lent them to my mother during our trip overseas and at first she said she didn't want them, but after trying them she loved them and was able to sleep on the plane.

However when I got the "cell phone adapter" I was dismayed to learn the QC3 has a bluetooth option, whereas QC2 is wired only...

Think of it this way, the wired adapter will be usable for MORE tha 6 months. ;)

I've had both Sennheiser 250PCX over the ears and Etymotic 6 in-canals. Sennheiser is nice, blocks quite an amount of background noise, Ety is nicer, blocks practically all of it. SQ is better on Ety, Sennnheiser (as all active NC phones) adds a humming sound (try it - put it on, turn on the NC but don't play anything) and extra bass when NC is on. Also active NC cancels only "monotone" sounds, mostly at the deeper end (think plane engines) but not others (think chatty neighbor, screaming kid). Ety blocks everything, (ca 32 dB) - I wouldn't suggest using them when e.g. biking in a city - can't hear the surrounding traffic!

If Ety is out of yr price range (ca 100 bucks or less) Sennheiser has a similar model too (sorry, can't recall the number), with half a pricetag and gets also nice review from users

as a career sound engineer, sound quality is the utmost concern for me when selecting stuff to travel with.

i believe highly in passive noise cancellation rather than active. a good fit and good seal will do better for you than anything.

if you've got the coin, check into custom molded phones.

i go back and forth between ACS T2 ($1000, hearingprotection.co.uk) and the UE-11 from Ultimate Ears ($1200, ultimateears.com).

I just bought my first pair of noise cancelling ear phones. I got the Shure SE210's. I really like them, but they don't block out as much noise as I thought they would. Maybe my expectations were too high?
What can you typically still hear well when you use them on a plane?

In fact several things have changed in NC headphones since, well, mid 2007:

Panasonic RP-HC500

Sennheiser PXC-450

Sony MDR-NC500D - the first digital NC headphones apparently

My favorite for sound quality are the Audio Technica ATH-ACN7 set while for plain old NC it is the (now discontinued) Logitech NC headphones (I put this set on while standing next to a 2 stroke lawn mower and all I could hear was a slight rumble - outstanding!)

I just bought my first pair of noise cancelling ear phones. I got the Shure SE210's. I really like them, but they don't block out as much noise as I thought they would. Maybe my expectations were too high?
What can you typically still hear well when you use them on a plane?

spend the $100 to get custom sleeves from sensaphonics:

http://sensaphonics.com/prod_shure_sleeve.html

you'll be REALLY happy. the isolation will be much improved (~25db) as will sound quality.

spend the $100 to get custom sleeves from sensaphonics:

http://sensaphonics.com/prod_shure_sleeve.html

you'll be REALLY happy. the isolation will be much improved (~25db) as will sound quality.

If your going for customs you should just get Live Wires (http://www.livewiresforyou.com/)
Custom IEM for $250.

for the guy with the shures maybe you should try some different foams.
I use shure tips on my Ultimate Ears I got 10's btw.... soundilicous.

Shure
ETY
Live Wires
Ultimate Ears.

Those are some good IEM IMO

spend the $100 to get custom sleeves from sensaphonics:

http://sensaphonics.com/prod_shure_sleeve.html

you'll be REALLY happy. the isolation will be much improved (~25db) as will sound quality.

Thanks for the link. I will be contacting an audiologist to get some imprints taken pretty soon.

I just bought my first pair of noise cancelling ear phones. I got the Shure SE210's. I really like them, but they don't block out as much noise as I thought they would. Maybe my expectations were too high?
What can you typically still hear well when you use them on a plane?

With the etymotic, I typically hear music :D and some far away engine hum. But with 32 db noise reduction it's no wonder.

If you are new to IEMs, make sure you use/insert them properly. For some the foamies work better for some the 2-/3-flange tops.

Thanks for the link. I will be contacting an audiologist to get some imprints taken pretty soon.


I am looking for an idea of the cost to have imprints taken. Is it possibly covered by insurance if a hearing test is administered?

I am looking for an idea of the cost to have imprints taken. Is it possibly covered by insurance if a hearing test is administered?

Good question, anybody get an answer?