Best Noise Cancelling Headphones
 

Hi everyone,
My wife and I are going to be traveling extensively over the next few years and I want to buy a couple of noise canceling headphones.
I like the Bose QC2 (covering the whole ear) and my wife likes the QC3 (over the ear type), and we have tried both of them in a store.
However being in a store and flying with them are totally different, so I wanted to ask flyers who have noise canceling headphones for advice.
I'm open to any brand and price, just as long as they work well.
Also if you have any suggestions on where to buy them (I was planning on getting them as a Bose outlet at Wrenthem outlet in MA), please let me know.

Thanks for all your help in advance.

This thread will be merged with the 8000 other such threads and/or locked in 3...2...1...

Thought someone would say that...
 

I actually looked through the forums first (last 6 months anyway), but they all seem to be very specific:

Best In Ear Headphones
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...earphones.html

Is the Bose QuietComfort 15 good:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...mfort-2-a.html

Sennheiser PXC 450 discussion:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ight=headphone

A discussion of interference with noise-canceling headphones:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ight=headphone

etc,etc


But I couldn't find any threads about recommendation about the best ones to purchase. However if you know of any, please let me know.

Personally, I prefer in-ear headphones. I think the issue every has though is finding comfortable ones ... myself included.

That said, I find they do the best of blocking any noise as they seal the ear.

I've been using these for the past year: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...qid=1261506638 and have been happy. For $30, and nothing special; I couldn't complain.

A few weeks ago, these were on uber-sale from Amazon (lasted about an hour) http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Ears-.../dp/B0019RBJOE @ $99 so I scooped up a pair and love them. I don't feel like they isolate the noise any differently (slightly better with the included isolating adapter I guess), however the audio range is what makes me happy with them.

I've had a pair of Sennheiser HD600's for about 10 years (http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD6.../dp/B00004SY4H) and find myself using the UE 10's at home now instead of them; to me the overall sound quality is better.

I've all but given up on big clunky headphones; especially when travelling. I used to travel with headphones that did active noise cancelling / had power packs / required batteries, but they were all too big for me. My under seat / floor storage is precious space and I don't want headphones taking up the space.

Whenever I test out a pair of Bose QC2 or QC3 (since they are made available in business class on American Airlines transcons and international flights), I always go "ugh" at the boomy, muffled sound they provide. I much prefer my Etymotic ER-4P in-ear headphones: better noise isolation, better sound quality. But of course some people are really bothered by the in-ear headphones. Still, I think Bose is better at marketing than on making nice-sounding headphones; you might try out some Sennheisers.

You don't buy the QC's for the sound quality, or really any noise canceling headphone for the sound quality.

I found these (Audio Technica ATHANC7) on Par with the QC2's as far as noise reduction and I thought they sounded better. But, IMHO the QC1.5's are better then either one for noise isolation and is an improvement over the QC2's for sound quality.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...49H4J7CSXZP7ZJ

Has onyone tried the Sony Headphones?
 

Exactly my opinion (as regards the Bose) and what I use (the Ety ER4Ps). I listen primarily to vocal classical music, and the detail is amazing. They usually retail on Amazon for about USD 170, and come with different size ear pieces.

deleted

+1

Exactly my opinion as well. I much prefer the in-ear headphones, and I find the Ety ER-4P's to be absolutely amazing. I can't believe I used to travel without them. What a difference.

Best is in the eye of the beholder & every behold has different budget. :) :D

See if this thread helps: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html

See these posts:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/10629436-post111.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/9594183-post20.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/12283036-post18.html

Audio Technica makes a great over-the-ear type headphone (ATH-ANC7B) (which I think is really important to block some of the non-background noise: In my experience the on-ear type electronically canceled jet noise pretty well, but didn't do nearly as much for a screaming baby as the physical barrier provided by over-the-ear 'phones).

One common complaint re: the A-T's is they leak sound out when listening to music, so best to avoid if that's a concern.