QuietComfort® 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones vs B&O earphones
#212
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1
Hey everyone
So after thinking about it for a few weeks now and spending yesterday reading all types of reviews and this entire thread i thought i would try them out.
The store i went to was out of stock unfortunately Take about 3-4 days to get them in
But while i was there i was able to sample the QC3's & QF15's
A few things i noted with these ones. With no music or anything playing all the background noise was gone but i could clearly hear conversations going on around me (some sales guy telling some dude to buy a lenovo tablet rather than a samsung).
Another thing i noted was that the sound wasnt that great. I plugged them into my phone and turned the volume right up but it wasnt all that loud.
What are peoples experiences with the above with the QC20's?
ie sound volume and still hearing conversations clear as day.
So after thinking about it for a few weeks now and spending yesterday reading all types of reviews and this entire thread i thought i would try them out.
The store i went to was out of stock unfortunately Take about 3-4 days to get them in
But while i was there i was able to sample the QC3's & QF15's
A few things i noted with these ones. With no music or anything playing all the background noise was gone but i could clearly hear conversations going on around me (some sales guy telling some dude to buy a lenovo tablet rather than a samsung).
Another thing i noted was that the sound wasnt that great. I plugged them into my phone and turned the volume right up but it wasnt all that loud.
What are peoples experiences with the above with the QC20's?
ie sound volume and still hearing conversations clear as day.
#213
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,110
Hey everyone
So after thinking about it for a few weeks now and spending yesterday reading all types of reviews and this entire thread i thought i would try them out.
The store i went to was out of stock unfortunately Take about 3-4 days to get them in
But while i was there i was able to sample the QC3's & QF15's
A few things i noted with these ones. With no music or anything playing all the background noise was gone but i could clearly hear conversations going on around me (some sales guy telling some dude to buy a lenovo tablet rather than a samsung).
Another thing i noted was that the sound wasnt that great. I plugged them into my phone and turned the volume right up but it wasnt all that loud.
What are peoples experiences with the above with the QC20's?
ie sound volume and still hearing conversations clear as day.
So after thinking about it for a few weeks now and spending yesterday reading all types of reviews and this entire thread i thought i would try them out.
The store i went to was out of stock unfortunately Take about 3-4 days to get them in
But while i was there i was able to sample the QC3's & QF15's
A few things i noted with these ones. With no music or anything playing all the background noise was gone but i could clearly hear conversations going on around me (some sales guy telling some dude to buy a lenovo tablet rather than a samsung).
Another thing i noted was that the sound wasnt that great. I plugged them into my phone and turned the volume right up but it wasnt all that loud.
What are peoples experiences with the above with the QC20's?
ie sound volume and still hearing conversations clear as day.
#214
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
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Posts: 10,745
For me, the QC20's suppress steady-state background noise but transient noise (things like voice, etc) come through pretty clearly. They are noise cancelling but not noise blocking (YMMV depending on fit for the ear pieces). I have a pair of Audio Technica ANC-23's and I will say that they are better noise blocking than the Bose. Their sound quality is good but not on par with the Bose.
I know that ANCs aren't magic, but for the price and brand reputation, they were a bit of a letdown. The noise cancellation wasn't much better than an old pair of Panasonic over-the-ears I got for $50 at an airport several years ago, and certainly not worth the price difference, IME. I just stopped travelling with the Panasonics because of the bulk.
My current travel set, which I'll probably now just keep, is this non-ANC, noise-isolating set (http://www.amazon.com/PureGear-PureB...regear+earbuds). They aren't fancy, they don't have audiophile sound, and the cord is a bit noisy when it bumps against your chest. But it has a tangle-free cord, comes with a carrying case about the size of a post-it pad, and the earbuds fit comfortably and for me they block out more of the annoying noises than the QC20s were cancelling. I still hear the rush/hum of an airplane and other low-level noise, but I'd rather listen to nondescript white noise than Chatty Cathy in the row behind me.
They are also cheap as dirt, so you can buy 5 pairs and not worry about replacement/warranty/losing them.
#215
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 150
Hey everyone
So after thinking about it for a few weeks now and spending yesterday reading all types of reviews and this entire thread i thought i would try them out.
The store i went to was out of stock unfortunately Take about 3-4 days to get them in
But while i was there i was able to sample the QC3's & QF15's
A few things i noted with these ones. With no music or anything playing all the background noise was gone but i could clearly hear conversations going on around me (some sales guy telling some dude to buy a lenovo tablet rather than a samsung).
Another thing i noted was that the sound wasnt that great. I plugged them into my phone and turned the volume right up but it wasnt all that loud.
What are peoples experiences with the above with the QC20's?
ie sound volume and still hearing conversations clear as day.
So after thinking about it for a few weeks now and spending yesterday reading all types of reviews and this entire thread i thought i would try them out.
The store i went to was out of stock unfortunately Take about 3-4 days to get them in
But while i was there i was able to sample the QC3's & QF15's
A few things i noted with these ones. With no music or anything playing all the background noise was gone but i could clearly hear conversations going on around me (some sales guy telling some dude to buy a lenovo tablet rather than a samsung).
Another thing i noted was that the sound wasnt that great. I plugged them into my phone and turned the volume right up but it wasnt all that loud.
What are peoples experiences with the above with the QC20's?
ie sound volume and still hearing conversations clear as day.
As for the audio sound, IF you just plug them into any device and listen to music, they are alright but not perfect. I have a music app called Neutron player on my phone which I purchased. It has a million settings and EQ that can be set. NOW with this app, the headphones sound amazing and dare I say will be comparable and acceptable to many audio enthusiasts.
So bottom line, these headsets are great for NC
Couple them with an app that allows for EQ and music settings and you will have a mobile concert hall.
Peace!
#216
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PHL / NYC / PSA-BLQ
Programs: AA PPRO, Marriott/Hilton Gold, AMX-Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 3,110
As a current owner of both QC3 and QC20i, I can say both are equally good at cutting out airplane and noises which are constant. Neither are good at cutting out voices or conversations to 100% YMMV. It's impossible as these are not designed for that. They may mute them a bit or slightly more (YMMV) but don't expect insane asylum quiet. I am curious to load some flac onto my phone now.
As for the audio sound, IF you just plug them into any device and listen to music, they are alright but not perfect. I have a music app called Neutron player on my phone which I purchased. It has a million settings and EQ that can be set. NOW with this app, the headphones sound amazing and dare I say will be comparable and acceptable to many audio enthusiasts.
So bottom line, these headsets are great for NC
Couple them with an app that allows for EQ and music settings and you will have a mobile concert hall.
Peace!
As for the audio sound, IF you just plug them into any device and listen to music, they are alright but not perfect. I have a music app called Neutron player on my phone which I purchased. It has a million settings and EQ that can be set. NOW with this app, the headphones sound amazing and dare I say will be comparable and acceptable to many audio enthusiasts.
So bottom line, these headsets are great for NC
Couple them with an app that allows for EQ and music settings and you will have a mobile concert hall.
Peace!
The problem with the QC20's is that they really aren't designed to be noise isolating (in addition to noise suppressing). If your ears fit the buds well, then you probably get better noise isolation. If not, you get some bleed through. Ironically, on an airplane, it does cancel out the ambient white noise but then allows conversations to penetrate through. The white noise blocks out a lot of audio signal. Once that is cancelled, it is amazing the conversations/talk that one can hear (people rows away, FA's in the galley...). That same effect does make it easier to hear AVOD, mp3/4 player... The boosted gain on with Neutron can help mask that bleed through.
#217
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 150
Thanks for the tip on Neutron. I tried the Eval and then bought it. I have pretty much been using Poweramp (which is very good) but I did feel that Neutron had some good features. In particular, with the QC20's, if the gain on the original is a little low, it is hard to get to a good volume. Neutron allows some pretty good ability to boost the gain and get a proper volume (which might go a good way towards drowning out background chatter).
The problem with the QC20's is that they really aren't designed to be noise isolating (in addition to noise suppressing). If your ears fit the buds well, then you probably get better noise isolation. If not, you get some bleed through. Ironically, on an airplane, it does cancel out the ambient white noise but then allows conversations to penetrate through. The white noise blocks out a lot of audio signal. Once that is cancelled, it is amazing the conversations/talk that one can hear (people rows away, FA's in the galley...). That same effect does make it easier to hear AVOD, mp3/4 player... The boosted gain on with Neutron can help mask that bleed through.
The problem with the QC20's is that they really aren't designed to be noise isolating (in addition to noise suppressing). If your ears fit the buds well, then you probably get better noise isolation. If not, you get some bleed through. Ironically, on an airplane, it does cancel out the ambient white noise but then allows conversations to penetrate through. The white noise blocks out a lot of audio signal. Once that is cancelled, it is amazing the conversations/talk that one can hear (people rows away, FA's in the galley...). That same effect does make it easier to hear AVOD, mp3/4 player... The boosted gain on with Neutron can help mask that bleed through.
I'm a relative newbie and simply slide the bars up and down til I hear what I want to hear. I know.... not the right way to do it. I need to google up how to set it up properly.
FYI and the others our there. I just did a non scientific but seat of the pants test comparison of noise cancellation effectiveness between the QC3 and QC20.
In a room where one can hear only computer fans going, both 'kill' that sound really easily BUT I noticed the QC20's leave you with a white noise 'hiss' where as the QC3 do not! QC3 does not seem to have that white noise hiss effect.
In essence, the QC3's are quieter as the silence is more...well... silent.
Hope that makes sense.
#218
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Chicago...MDW & ORD
Programs: Iberia Platino,15x Southwest Companion Pass/ Hilton LT Diamond/ Hertz PC, OWEmerald; Marriott Gold
Posts: 427
Anyone experiencing a HISS??
i really like my QC 20 but what is bothering me about them is a hiss. If i am in a quiet room i can hear the hiss and it really bothers me. i have the 15 and it is DEAD quiet.
for the money i spent on these i would have thought the engineers would have solved this.
anyone else experience the hiss?
for the money i spent on these i would have thought the engineers would have solved this.
anyone else experience the hiss?
#219
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Amex Centurion
Posts: 150
i really like my QC 20 but what is bothering me about them is a hiss. If i am in a quiet room i can hear the hiss and it really bothers me. i have the 15 and it is DEAD quiet.
for the money i spent on these i would have thought the engineers would have solved this.
anyone else experience the hiss?
for the money i spent on these i would have thought the engineers would have solved this.
anyone else experience the hiss?
They call it white noise and say its normal.
WEIRD if you ask me for a next gen version.
#220
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Santa Clara County, CA, USA
Programs: UA Premier Plat, Marco Polo Club Green , HH Blue, Marriott Plat
Posts: 169
but i could clearly hear conversations
Hey everyone
But while i was there i was able to sample the QC3's & QF15's
A few things i noted with these ones. With no music or anything playing all the background noise was gone but i could clearly hear conversations going on around me (some sales guy telling some dude to buy a lenovo tablet rather than a samsung).
But while i was there i was able to sample the QC3's & QF15's
A few things i noted with these ones. With no music or anything playing all the background noise was gone but i could clearly hear conversations going on around me (some sales guy telling some dude to buy a lenovo tablet rather than a samsung).
However, I would claim that with the 20i's I have often had trouble hearing direct conversation. When I use the 20i's, and a flight attendant verbally offers me something, my response is "WHAT?!".
EW
#221
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: BIL
Programs: Delta FO
Posts: 786
Stumbled upon a good price on 20is. $259 is the best I have seen them.
http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi...=sku&sku=28013
http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi...=sku&sku=28013
#222
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Saigon/Hanoi/San Francisco
Posts: 1,779
Just traded my broken MIE2i for QC20i. Paid $200 + tax.
Called Bose, at first the agent offered to trade in for $249 + tax & shipping. I asked if he could do better for a loyal customer . He agreed to $200 + tax and free shipping.
I used to have the QC15. Sold it because I wanted something less bulky. I can't wait to try the QC20i on my next trip.
Called Bose, at first the agent offered to trade in for $249 + tax & shipping. I asked if he could do better for a loyal customer . He agreed to $200 + tax and free shipping.
I used to have the QC15. Sold it because I wanted something less bulky. I can't wait to try the QC20i on my next trip.
#223
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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SO I do very much like the 20i, but I find the NC to be too much NC. The problem with that is, they're the most comfortable earbuds I've ever used. I'm going to return them and get the non NC version.
#224
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 7_1_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/537.51.2 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.0 Mobile/11D201 Safari/9537.53)
How do these compare to comparably priced non-NC earphones from say Shure or Etymotic? Thanks.
How do these compare to comparably priced non-NC earphones from say Shure or Etymotic? Thanks.
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Long wearing comfort (I sleep on my side)and NC is where the BOSE excel.
I use the QC20i for flights.