Noise Canceling Headphones
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR
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Posts: 25
Noise Canceling Headphones
I've been scrounging the forums looking to see if this topic has been asked (and I'm sure it has) and the only topic I could find with some relevance was about in-ear headphones.
I currently have a pair of Sony MDR NC7/BLK. They're good headphones, but I've noticed that after having them on me for a while, they start to hurt my ears (could be due to me wearing my glasses). Also when I was in NRT waiting to board, I went into the duty free and was trying on some other noise canceling headphones (Bose QC15 and 3) and found that the noise canceling part of it was amazing. Even while standing in a crowded duty free, it got rid of most of the noise there.
So I'm just curious what headphones you guys have, and what you recommend as a good brand?
It isn't something I really plan on going out and purchasing right this second, but it is a probability in the not so distant future.
thanks!
I currently have a pair of Sony MDR NC7/BLK. They're good headphones, but I've noticed that after having them on me for a while, they start to hurt my ears (could be due to me wearing my glasses). Also when I was in NRT waiting to board, I went into the duty free and was trying on some other noise canceling headphones (Bose QC15 and 3) and found that the noise canceling part of it was amazing. Even while standing in a crowded duty free, it got rid of most of the noise there.
So I'm just curious what headphones you guys have, and what you recommend as a good brand?
It isn't something I really plan on going out and purchasing right this second, but it is a probability in the not so distant future.
thanks!
#2
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I did a quick search just on the word "headphones" and came up with these threads (granted some are a bit old but there is some useful information in them. Also, I wear glasses as well and I do prefer the on-ear vs over the ear style as the over the ear styles press against my glasses and do make it a bit uncomfortable. I use these from Brookstone. Very comfortable, good n/c, nice compact case and great battery life (but as with everything here on F/t, ymmv)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...mendation.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ancelling.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...mendation.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ancelling.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...eadphones.html
#4
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Nah, it happens to all of us and if I may, If had the money/could justify the cost, I would have gone for the Bose QC3 (or whatever the version is for the over the ear style as they fit great)
#5
Join Date: Jul 2006
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I have the QC-15 which are great except when you get on a flight and realize that you left them on the last time your wore them and there is no play-through ability and you used your backup battery this last time this happened .
With that said the QC-15 really do a tremendous job of NC though my only other complain besides the battery mentioned above is that they don't work so well if you want to sleep as they are too bulky. I think I will buy some in-ear alternatives before my next big flight.
With that said the QC-15 really do a tremendous job of NC though my only other complain besides the battery mentioned above is that they don't work so well if you want to sleep as they are too bulky. I think I will buy some in-ear alternatives before my next big flight.
#6
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Yeah, Based on those topics, I've kind of gathered that Bose QC15's have among the best noise canceling (which I can confirm since I tried them on in Japan). But that there are other headphones out there which have better sound quality. Of course there will always be pro's and con's to everything. So just have to weigh them out. Although as of right now, I am leaning towards the QC15's.
Thanks again!
**Edit**
Yeah, I hear ya on the whole "realizing your left your headphones are on and the battery died and don't have a replacement" issue. Although, with my Sony's now, they still play despite having a battery or not. So I suppose it may be wise to pack a few batteries and just leave them in a carry on in instances like that.
I was also thinking about picking up a pair of in ear headphones (which I'm not a huge fan of) for those longer flights where I want to get some rest without having to worry about the bulk. I found a few in-ear headphones for $50-$75 which claim they're good for noise canceling. Won't be as good as QC 15's, but may be good enough to get a half decent rest.
Thanks again!
**Edit**
Yeah, I hear ya on the whole "realizing your left your headphones are on and the battery died and don't have a replacement" issue. Although, with my Sony's now, they still play despite having a battery or not. So I suppose it may be wise to pack a few batteries and just leave them in a carry on in instances like that.
I was also thinking about picking up a pair of in ear headphones (which I'm not a huge fan of) for those longer flights where I want to get some rest without having to worry about the bulk. I found a few in-ear headphones for $50-$75 which claim they're good for noise canceling. Won't be as good as QC 15's, but may be good enough to get a half decent rest.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2008
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I have some qc15's, actually lost them in Munich airport sometime last year but someone handed them in, but that's another story.
Anyway, I find that if I angle my head, and sone pillows, I'm quite comfortable sleeping with them on.
And about the batteries, I always have 3 or 4 extras in the case (as well as an iPod Incase the airline won't let me use my iPhone inflight)
Anyway, I find that if I angle my head, and sone pillows, I'm quite comfortable sleeping with them on.
And about the batteries, I always have 3 or 4 extras in the case (as well as an iPod Incase the airline won't let me use my iPhone inflight)
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3G: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)
I bought a pair of Sennheiser MM450s a few weeks back. They have all the features I was looking for: Bluetooth, mobile phone capable, noise cancelling, on ear (much less bulky than over ear). There's no doubt the noise cancelling isn't as good as the Bose, but the other features more than make up IMO. Really neat folding design also.
I bought a pair of Sennheiser MM450s a few weeks back. They have all the features I was looking for: Bluetooth, mobile phone capable, noise cancelling, on ear (much less bulky than over ear). There's no doubt the noise cancelling isn't as good as the Bose, but the other features more than make up IMO. Really neat folding design also.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2010
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A couple years ago, I tried a bunch of the ones that have already been mentioned. I ended up going with the Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B. They cancel around 90% of ambient noise and have made what otherwise would have been flights from hell bearable, downright peaceful. These headphones go with me everywhere I travel now.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 30
Ableplanet Promo
Just an fyi - I was in the tech store in ATL (t-term) and Ableplanet has a promo on NC headphones - low end ($149) get an Ipod shuffle, mid ($269) Ipod Nano, and high-end ($349) get an 8gb Ipod touch (I think the ipod is around $250 retail). Pretty good deal if you want a spare Ipod or a gift. Headphones have good sound quality & comfortable, also have a separate cord, so you can replace. The only downfall of the high-end was the cord only has volume - the low end has forward/reverse and a mic.
I don't know if it's only a promo at the ATL location or elsewhere, but if you're going to buy some headphones, it's not a bad deal.
I don't know if it's only a promo at the ATL location or elsewhere, but if you're going to buy some headphones, it's not a bad deal.
#14
Join Date: Jul 2003
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I've just upgraded from my six year old QC2's to QC15's - my old ones simply broke one day on the reputed weak point from first generation (champagne coloured) QC2s. However, when I went into my local Bose store they simply took my broken ones and handed over a refurb pair of QC2s. So I sold those on ebay and bought the 15's.
Some real cynics hate Bose - I've seen some smart a**e comment ''better sound through marketing" - a slant on the official strapline but personally, for me, they work and backed up by great service.
Some real cynics hate Bose - I've seen some smart a**e comment ''better sound through marketing" - a slant on the official strapline but personally, for me, they work and backed up by great service.
#15
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: TIP,PDX
Programs: UA 1p, GF Gold, EK
Posts: 397
I've just upgraded from my six year old QC2's to QC15's - my old ones simply broke one day on the reputed weak point from first generation (champagne coloured) QC2s. However, when I went into my local Bose store they simply took my broken ones and handed over a refurb pair of QC2s. So I sold those on ebay and bought the 15's.
Some real cynics hate Bose - I've seen some smart a**e comment ''better sound through marketing" - a slant on the official strapline but personally, for me, they work and backed up by great service.
Some real cynics hate Bose - I've seen some smart a**e comment ''better sound through marketing" - a slant on the official strapline but personally, for me, they work and backed up by great service.
I just wish they offered that kind of service here in the UAE, unfortunately here I have to pay for any repairs.