Too cheap for Bose
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
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Posts: 10,677
I also advocate moving this to the Travel Technology forum, as it doesn't seem specific to the AAdvantage forum.
#17


Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,657
I went through a similar decision. I have always thought Bose products to be overpriced for what you get. Not that they are a bad product, just not deserving of the price. After trying a couple of different cheaper brands that didn't fully cup the ear, and hating them, I finally bucked up and bought the Bose. I'm really glad I did. I had a chance to try them many times in International Business, and really liked them.
What made it easy to swallow, at the time, was Bose spreading the cost over 12 months of automatic credit card billings, with no interest. They unfortunately do not offer this anymore, or I'd buy some QC2's and keep the QC1's for my travelling lady friend.
What made it easy to swallow, at the time, was Bose spreading the cost over 12 months of automatic credit card billings, with no interest. They unfortunately do not offer this anymore, or I'd buy some QC2's and keep the QC1's for my travelling lady friend.
#18
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Join Date: Dec 2002
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This is an easy one for me: I'd go with the Sennheiser PXC-250 headphones in a heartbeat. Amazon had them on sale for $81, but now they're are $100. Regardless, the PXC-250 headphones offer the best combination of price, performance, and portability.
#20
Join Date: Aug 2001
Programs: AA Plat & LTG; QF LTG
Posts: 9,837
Originally Posted by dkerr
Check out Shure E2c or Etymotic ER-6 noise isolating earphones. Each around $99. They go "inside" your ear canal much like the foam earplugs in the business/first class amenity kits and do a really good job of cutting out aircraft noise.
#21
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Exclusively OMNI/PR, for Reasons
Posts: 4,186
For those that really want the QC2s but are reluctant to part with cold, hard cash . . .
You can get these phones through SkyMall, using FF miles or Hotel rewards points (I spent 83,500 Marriott Rewards points for mine).
Just a thought . . .
You can get these phones through SkyMall, using FF miles or Hotel rewards points (I spent 83,500 Marriott Rewards points for mine).
Just a thought . . .
#22


Join Date: May 2003
Location: Eurozone
Programs: LH SEN, HH Gold
Posts: 3,017
The AIWA HP-CN6 noise-cancelers work fine for me. List price is around $60.00 but you can find them new for between $29 and $49.
They fold up well, use a single AA battery (integrated into the headset, not in a separate box) and they included the adapter for in-flight. I wear glasses and never noticed any extra pressure that ricktoronto reports; maybe it depends on the eyeglass frames. True, they aren't the most comfortable headphones I've ever had, but none of the noise-cancelers have been. For the price, I think they're great.
They fold up well, use a single AA battery (integrated into the headset, not in a separate box) and they included the adapter for in-flight. I wear glasses and never noticed any extra pressure that ricktoronto reports; maybe it depends on the eyeglass frames. True, they aren't the most comfortable headphones I've ever had, but none of the noise-cancelers have been. For the price, I think they're great.
#23
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Join Date: Jul 2003
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Originally Posted by PorkRind
For those that really want the QC2s but are reluctant to part with cold, hard cash . . .
You can get these phones through SkyMall, using FF miles or Hotel rewards points (I spent 83,500 Marriott Rewards points for mine).
Just a thought . . .
You can get these phones through SkyMall, using FF miles or Hotel rewards points (I spent 83,500 Marriott Rewards points for mine).
Just a thought . . .
#24
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Exclusively OMNI/PR, for Reasons
Posts: 4,186
Originally Posted by BOS-NWA
Are you sure about this? I looked at SkyMall but couldn't find how one can use FF miles to order things...
I've since checked AA, USAir, Continental and NWA and none of them offer direct miles for merchandise redemption (although Continental does offer token discounts with miles redemption towards merchandise through Brainstorm Logistics . . . but no Bose products).
It's possible that other airlines provide additional options.
#25




Join Date: Oct 1999
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I used to have a pair of Sony NC11 (I think that is the model number) but changed to Shure E3 and find them much better! Even though they don't have a noise cancelling module, they seem to block out noise a lot better!
#26
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Upstate New York
Programs: UA MP, Marriot R
Posts: 480
Are noise cancelling headphones really worth the big price tag? I would imagine a good ol' plan set would suffice but I am a bit of an audiophil and plus, being a Dave Matthews Band fan, i'd like to hear all the intruments -- every detail and not have the engines providing a unpleasant background sound and disrupting my listening enjoyment.
#27
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Commuting around the mid-atlantic and rust-belt on any number of RJs
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Posts: 9,255
NC headphones have the added plus of somewhat muting screaming children, drunk sales executives, etc...
#28
Join Date: Aug 2001
Programs: AA Plat & LTG; QF LTG
Posts: 9,837
Originally Posted by ClueByFour
NC headphones have the added plus of somewhat muting screaming children, drunk sales executives, etc...
This is why I prefer the Shure E3's as their isolation is considerably more than any over-the-ear headphones, and the isolate the whole audio spectrum, not just the constant low frequency sounds.
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]
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I've owned both the AIWA's and the Bose's QC-2s and after a 10 hour flight (HNL-EWR), the Bose is MUCH more comfortable than the AIWA's.
The Bose headphones are especially great on red-eyes. Slip them on and I'm out like a light.
aloha
The Bose headphones are especially great on red-eyes. Slip them on and I'm out like a light.
aloha
#30


Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,941
I've become a big fan of the Shure line of earphones. As others have mentioned, they fit into your ear canal and block external noise through physical isolation like earplugs.
I haven't tried the E2c, but have a friend at work who likes them. I've tried both the E3c and the E5c. The E5c is fantastic - in some ways one of the best headphones I've ever tried. The E3c is perfectly respectable and I would wholeheartedly recommend them.
One note is that these earphones have switchable flanges - the rubber part that goes into your ear. I've read that the tri-flange gives you more isolation than the stock flange.
I haven't tried the E2c, but have a friend at work who likes them. I've tried both the E3c and the E5c. The E5c is fantastic - in some ways one of the best headphones I've ever tried. The E3c is perfectly respectable and I would wholeheartedly recommend them.
One note is that these earphones have switchable flanges - the rubber part that goes into your ear. I've read that the tri-flange gives you more isolation than the stock flange.

