willyroo

QCs V Shure E4s:

Shures sound better. Just plug them into any high quality audio gear (which an iPod is not) and you'll hear real music. Noise cancelling headphones add additional signal which affects the ability to play "just music".

Shures are cheaper.

Shures are smaller, and you can leave them in when you fall asleep. With QCs, I would take them off, insert the foam ear inserts from the nice QF amenity kit, then go to sleep. The Shures isolate noise even when no sound coming through, and better yet, you can leave your ambient music running while you're asleep.

Shures are harder to get working properly - you'll have to fiddle with the various in-ear attachments until you get a good fit.

Shure spends money on construction and sound quality, Bose spends money on advertising. Put any Bose product against equivalently priced competitors, especially in speakers, and they're left wanting. Bose delivers a huge soundstage, but it's the depth of a coat of paint.

Oh and edited to add: Shures are quieter - too quiet in many instances. But on a long flight that's not a bad thing.