Too cheap for Bose
 

IF I don't want to spring the $300 for the Bose headphones, but am sick of the sound quality on the giveaway headphones, what's a good in-between option. I'd also like something that will work with my laptop, using the AA headphones I can barely hear even at full volume.

If you do a search here, you will find several threads discussing the pros and cons of Bose and several competitors, as well as links to off-site reports and comparisons. Some of the discussions have been fairly recent.

check out the http://www.planequiet.com headphones.

Buy Two Things
 

1. The lower cost Sony NC Headphones less than $100 and
2. Boostaroo (from Radio Shack and online) which is a tiny hadphones amp about the size of the 2 AA batteries that powers it. Has 3 stereo headphones jacks , handy for sharing but even solo it amplifies nicely and saves the laptop juice and headphone pbattery juice as well.

That's what I use with both a Powerbook and an iPod.

A couple of days ago, i took my first flight with my AIWA noise cancelling headphones. What an improvement!!!!

If price matters, check out ebay. I got my headphones for $11.99 plus shipping, and these list at $59.

Bose it's not, but the person sitting next to me wearing Bose headphones checked mine out and said "you got the better deal".

You'll get a much better response if you post your query in the Travel Technology forum. This is discussed regularly there and I think you'll find that some good research has been done for appropriate alternatives at several price points.

I own the Sony's and couldn't be more pleased when it comes to portability, sound quality and comfort level.

On an unrelated note, Bose makes a VERY expensive product for aviation headets...they run most private pilots around $1,000. I own a pair of trusty David Clark's that ran me about $200, and when I switch it up and put on my friends Bose headset, I ask him why he spent $800 more. I think purchasing the Bose option, whether it be for traveling or piloting, you're paying for the name. Period.

One thread is http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...2&page=1&pp=15

I love my QCIIs. Pricey, yes. But spraed over te many miles, and thinking of how I feel after the flights, a good investment. (And AA's QCIIs have the cable hardwired into the headphones, set on high volume, meaning you can't turn the volume way down without losing audio. :p )

Planet Quiet
 

I guess those Plane Quiet headphones are not good, rated by another ft member cAAL

Así es. I've seen several reports of easy breakage or not working. Too bad, because they have a very nice price compared to the Bose.

Maybe
 

I had the Aiwa phones and if you wear glasses they dig into your head by pressing on the arms of the glasses. Sony don't.

I'm not sure what this thread has to do with AAdvantage, but I appreciate the information nevertheless.

ecost.com has had several recent sales on the Sony earbud and over-ear NC headphones. Check the Travel Tech. forum for more discussion on the +/- of the Bose, Sony, Aiwa, etc.

Consider noise isolating earphones
 

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.

I own ER-6 and Bose NC-2's (thanks to recent AA promo). I continue to use the ER-6's because the sound quality and clarity is astonishing and they are a whole lot smaller and lighter.

DAK

Have had the Sony NC-20 for 5 years and totally love it. No problems ever and great sound quality. MSRP $150