Of course this hasn't a thing to do with miles, but it certainly involves buzzing. I'm going crazy on CO's humming 777s. I like the Bose model noise-reducing headphones, but (1) they're big, and carry-on allowances from LGW are strict, and (2) they're expensive. Does anyone have experience with the Sony earbud-model that sells for between $150 and $200? I'd appreciate help from someone who can compare these to the Bose set. In particular, do the earbuds fall out easily, or are they snug? What's the size of the unit and battery life like? Any info is appreciated.

i have the big sonys, like the bose, and i can vouch for their effectiveness. to bluky though.

with a purchase like this, i highly recommend finding a store with a forgiving return policy. purchase the buds on a credit card, try em out, and if within 30 days you arent happy, take em back for a full refund.

we all have different ears and different standards for "effective."

I use the sony NC10 model. The earbuds stay in well and are pretty comfortable for my 4-5 hour flights every week. I got them in November and have yet to replace the AAA battery. They are compact and cancel out the noise well. I relly like 'em. They help reduce the jet lag some too.

<Edited model number - Mine are NC10's>



[This message has been edited by FlyinMike (edited 01-30-2002).]

I have the Sony NC-10 earbuds you're talking about. I've tried the Bose, and they are very similar, but some things you should know about the NC-10's. I chose them because of the size, they are so small that I leave them in a small pocket of my bag and therefore always have them wherever I go. I like that, never remembering to pack them. They fit very snuggly in your ear canal due to their design, which fits like a very good pair of earplugs. After a number of hours, your ear canals can begin to sweat and some people find them uncomfortable, although I don't. My favorite feature is the Flight Attendant button, inline with the cord is the power switch, battery, and this button. Pressing the button mutes your music, and turns on two little microphones on the earbuds that amplify the outside noise. So when the flight attendant comes over, or your companion wants to talk to you, you press the button and have the conversation without removing your headphones. Great feature, and it doesn't come on any other pair of Sony's, only the NC-10's.

As for the price, in the Asian airports, NRT, SIN, you can pick them up for $90. If you aren't going to be in that area, then check the website www.pricescan.com under Electronics > Audio > Headphones. Someone is selling them for $125.

Edited to add, they fit very snug, are very small, and battery life is about 60 hours on one AAA battery.

[This message has been edited by phatteus (edited 01-30-2002).]

Based on advice I received on this board I bought the Aiwa noise reducing headphones. Only $45 and I am very happy with them. They also fold to make for a smaller carryon.

I also bought the Aiwa model because they were really cheap. The noise reduction is decent, and they do seem slightly smaller than the Bose (in addition to the fact that they fold up). They bend my ears back and start to hurt after about 3-4 hours though, so I may consider getting the Sony. I think sweaty ear canals may be more comfortable than sore ears.

I wrote one of the recommendations for the Aiwa's. I'm extremely pleased with mine. But since they are fairly rigid, they won't fit everyone's head. I find that opening up the top an extra click reduces the pressure on my ears. And the fold up is just great.

Charles

I have a pair from the Sharper Image that are allright. They were cheap (around $40) and somewhat compact. They are not the best but get the job done on flights where I need to watch my DVD's.

I have the Sony NC-10's and after the first movie they start to hurt my ears and after the second they really hurt, so I bought a pair of the Aiwas now too and they work fine, and if you consider the price they are great.

This is a useful topic even though it gets asked about every 2 months.

I have Bose and the much cheaper Noisebuster Extreme ($39-$69). The Noisebuster Extreme doesn't do as good a job, but if one adds earplugs, it's about the same as the Bose. The Bose is very big and, according to some, obstructs sleep. The Bose is also bigger.

I use the Bose except for redeyes.

An interesting trend among some international airlines is to ban the carriage of noise cancelling headphones aboard aircraft because their battery packs can easily be modified for more lethal purposes. I know that NCH are already illegal to carry aboard Indian registered carriers and that more than a couple of European and Middle Eastern airlines are considering this policy as well.

B747 this is interesting. Didn't know that some airlines are banning these things!

I use the NC-10s and while it is comfortable in the first few hours...my ears do tend to hurt a little after wearing them too long.

I might give Bose a try

I have been using the Sony NC-10 for the past 3 years on flights and while working out. I did experience the pain in the ear the first few months of use. But since then I've had no problem.

I don't think they were designed to be used for such prolonged periods.

I normally take them out every 2 hours and think that they're great!

Isn't that so the Indian ground staff can confiscate the headphones and use them themselves?

Just kidding!