Best noise cancelling headphones for flying?
Aug 20, 2019, 11:43 am
#121
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,641
The case is a little on the big size, but it works for me.
Aug 20, 2019, 12:08 pm
#122
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: DL, SPG, UA.
Posts: 230
How is the NC on the new Sony's during flight? I have the QC35 and QC30's. The over the ear 35's are generally better, but the QC30's are not that bad. I would love to get an even smaller kit and ditch the neck band if the Sony NC is on par for air travel.
Aug 20, 2019, 1:31 pm
#123
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,360
The ability to connect to two devices is nice. Be working on the computer or ipad and then be able to take a call is convenient. Siri works, but I don't do the other assistants.
The call taking is really nice. I think the multiple speakers isolate the speech really well. There is a youtube video of a comparo with the Sony and it isn't close. Plus it gives you a little feedback so you can hear yourself- definitely a plus for phone and webmeetings.
Not cheap, but worth it.
Aug 21, 2019, 9:27 am
#124
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: FLL
Posts: 370
No, they aren't (IMO) For example turboprop planes produce most noise in the 50-300 Hz range - if you look at the chart, the Sony runs circles around Bose in that range. The Bose peaks at 15dB, but mostly stays around 10dB, whereas the Sony goes over 25dB and doesn't go below 15dB once it goes over the 100Hz threshold.
At higher frequencies the difference is even larger all the way to 10kHz
At higher frequencies the difference is even larger all the way to 10kHz
So the question remains... is the QC35 II superior to the WH-1000XM3 in regards to noise cancellation on jet planes?
Aug 21, 2019, 1:18 pm
#125
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,306
How is the call/mic quality on the Sony WF-1000xm3? The wearer's call & audio conference voice quality is muffled in the WH-1000xm3 over-ears compared to Bose QC's.
I might also save myself some money for now and get a good bluetooth receiver like Radsone ES100 or Fiio BTR3 to use with my existing wired headphones. My ear canals are small and hard to fit.
I might also save myself some money for now and get a good bluetooth receiver like Radsone ES100 or Fiio BTR3 to use with my existing wired headphones. My ear canals are small and hard to fit.
Aug 21, 2019, 6:52 pm
#127
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: SAS -TG
Posts: 39
How is the call/mic quality on the Sony WF-1000xm3? The wearer's call & audio conference voice quality is muffled in the WH-1000xm3 over-ears compared to Bose QC's.
I might also save myself some money for now and get a good bluetooth receiver like Radsone ES100 or Fiio BTR3 to use with my existing wired headphones. My ear canals are small and hard to fit.
I might also save myself some money for now and get a good bluetooth receiver like Radsone ES100 or Fiio BTR3 to use with my existing wired headphones. My ear canals are small and hard to fit.
Aug 22, 2019, 4:35 am
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,112
I could only compare the QC15 vs 1000XM1 and there the Sony wins slightly on NC and "bigly" on SQ. Obviously both cans are now 2--3 generations ahead of these so my experience is already obsolete.
Aug 22, 2019, 10:49 am
#130
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: La Jolla, California
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, SWA CP
Posts: 1,125
- Best noise cancellation and overall headphone for listening is the Sony WH-1000XM3. Microphone still sucks. I use the QC35 II when I need to use the microphone, typically during Skype and WebEX conference calls.
- Never got the Sony WH-1000XM2 to work over Bluetooth. My unit goes completely haywire after a few minutes. And I mean *completely* haywire. These work fine in wired mode and are quite nice. ANC is very good. The microphone is poor.
- When I need to listen to a video sitting at my work computer, I've tended toward the Microsoft Surface headphones, but I can't explain why. I'll grab the pair of QC35 II's if I need to talk. The Surface headphones have a better microphone than the Sony's.
- I have two pairs of QC35 series I that I use as beaters when I'm working out. They do that quite well.
- Really, really hate the Sony app for the headphones - hard to imagine how it could be done worse. And my Sony WH-1000XM3/2's strangely ping at odd intervals. And they change modes, sometimes going out of ANC ... And the capacitive touch controls on the right earcup are just a joke. In my XM2s I opened up the cup and disabled the controls. I only use the right cup control on the XM3's for volume control, and even that is iffy.
- The Surface controls on the right cup might be worse. To change volume, you need to make a weird twisting motion. Never have figured it out ...
- I probably lean towards the QC35 Series II as the best of the lot, but I don't own a pair of the new 700's from Bose yet. As far as ANC goes, all of these units knock out most of the background sound.
Last edited by mike_la_jolla; Aug 22, 2019 at 10:55 am
Aug 22, 2019, 11:57 am
#131
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: SAS -TG
Posts: 39
I got a little out of control and bought all versions of these things. So, at the moment, I have Bose QC35 I (2 pairs), Bose QC35 II, Sony WH-1000XM3, Sony WH-1000XM2, Microsoft Surface Headphones. Also, sitting in a drawer is a pair of Bose QuietComfort 3. I AM NOT an audiophile, just a computer HW guy that hordes gadgets. And don't talk to me about gold-plated cables from Monster that aren't any better than lamp cord.
- Best noise cancellation and overall headphone for listening is the Sony WH-1000XM3. Microphone still sucks. I use the QC35 II when I need to use the microphone, typically during Skype and WebEX conference calls.
- Never got the Sony WH-1000XM2 to work over Bluetooth. My unit goes completely haywire after a few minutes. And I mean *completely* haywire. These work fine in wired mode and are quite nice. ANC is very good. The microphone is poor.
- When I need to listen to a video sitting at my work computer, I've tended toward the Microsoft Surface headphones, but I can't explain why. I'll grab the pair of QC35 II's if I need to talk. The Surface headphones have a better microphone than the Sony's.
- I have two pairs of QC35 series I that I use as beaters when I'm working out. They do that quite well.
- Really, really hate the Sony app for the headphones - hard to imagine how it could be done worse. And my Sony WH-1000XM3/2's strangely ping at odd intervals. And they change modes, sometimes going out of ANC ... And the capacitive touch controls on the right earcup are just a joke. In my XM2s I opened up the cup and disabled the controls. I only use the right cup control on the XM3's for volume control, and even that is iffy.
- The Surface controls on the right cup might be worse. To change volume, you need to make a weird twisting motion. Never have figured it out ...
- I probably lean towards the QC35 Series II as the best of the lot, but I don't own a pair of the new 700's from Bose yet. As far as ANC goes, all of these units knock out most of the background sound.
- Best noise cancellation and overall headphone for listening is the Sony WH-1000XM3. Microphone still sucks. I use the QC35 II when I need to use the microphone, typically during Skype and WebEX conference calls.
- Never got the Sony WH-1000XM2 to work over Bluetooth. My unit goes completely haywire after a few minutes. And I mean *completely* haywire. These work fine in wired mode and are quite nice. ANC is very good. The microphone is poor.
- When I need to listen to a video sitting at my work computer, I've tended toward the Microsoft Surface headphones, but I can't explain why. I'll grab the pair of QC35 II's if I need to talk. The Surface headphones have a better microphone than the Sony's.
- I have two pairs of QC35 series I that I use as beaters when I'm working out. They do that quite well.
- Really, really hate the Sony app for the headphones - hard to imagine how it could be done worse. And my Sony WH-1000XM3/2's strangely ping at odd intervals. And they change modes, sometimes going out of ANC ... And the capacitive touch controls on the right earcup are just a joke. In my XM2s I opened up the cup and disabled the controls. I only use the right cup control on the XM3's for volume control, and even that is iffy.
- The Surface controls on the right cup might be worse. To change volume, you need to make a weird twisting motion. Never have figured it out ...
- I probably lean towards the QC35 Series II as the best of the lot, but I don't own a pair of the new 700's from Bose yet. As far as ANC goes, all of these units knock out most of the background sound.
I got Bose 35 and Sony WH 1000 XM3 (also i have WF1000XM3) i never had a problem with WH 1000 XM3, never drop NC never drop bluetooth, my touch controls works perfect, maybe yours Sony WH 1000 xm3 are defect ??
Aug 23, 2019, 10:02 pm
#132
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Colorado (anywhere between DEN DMM BAH)
Programs: United MileagePlus, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, NEXUS
Posts: 3,035
Today I had a short flight and watched a movie on my tablet but I could barely hear the music in the background and had to constantly change the volume since the dialogue was ok but the music and effects were stupid loud. Any suggestions for something I can use to isolate the plane noise and won't break my back too much financially?
Aug 23, 2019, 10:48 pm
#133
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,306
Today I had a short flight and watched a movie on my tablet but I could barely hear the music in the background and had to constantly change the volume since the dialogue was ok but the music and effects were stupid loud. Any suggestions for something I can use to isolate the plane noise and won't break my back too much financially?
Are you looking for over ear or in ear?
Xiaomi's ANC earphones with 3.5mm plug (not usb-c) gets some decent reviews and ~ $45. Noise cancellation doesn't seem to be as effective as the QC20 but also a lot less money.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Xiaomi/comm...phones_review/
https://www.thephonograph.net/xiaomi...phones-review/
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xia...dphones.23073/
The Taotronics TT-BH060 ANC over-ear Bluetooth 5.0 $70 also get decent reviews
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/..._cancellation/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV5T6XWT1dw
Last edited by freecia; Aug 23, 2019 at 11:37 pm Reason: ETA: over-ear
Aug 23, 2019, 11:23 pm
#134
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,306
Similar Bose 700 vs Sony WH-1000XM3 audio test https://youtu.be/G7l8MU8Em5I?t=661
Aug 24, 2019, 6:24 am
#135
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE100K MM
Posts: 588
Today I had a short flight and watched a movie on my tablet but I could barely hear the music in the background and had to constantly change the volume since the dialogue was ok but the music and effects were stupid loud. Any suggestions for something I can use to isolate the plane noise and won't break my back too much financially?