I recommend you do a search in this forum using topics like "noise cancel", "BOSE" and "QC2" to start with, for information on what people think of this product and what the noise cancelling headphones are used for.

As you can see from this thread, the BOSE are either loved or there is a preferred alternative. I am a BOSE QC2 user and use them religiously during long flights. They do not cancel out voices/conversation just the background drone of the engine noise.

I was traveling ord-fll in fc and there were at least 5 add'l pax that were using them. Talk about a great restimonial.

Worth every penny for the nc feature and excellent audio quality.

The QC2 are great, but I've gone through two pairs of them where there is a clicking sound every now and then. It is annoying when the clicking sounds are more frequent because I often just wear the QCs without listening to music.

Bose should just sell these things at the gates or rent them. Paint them Green and Orange and rent them for $25. ....Now there's an idea.

Are the in-ear Shure NC headphones comfortable for long periods of time? Other ear-bud headphones I've had for my cd player, etc hurt my ears after a whiel and weren't comfortable to sleep in, but I always had pretty cheap ones. Since I like to sleep with my head to the side sometimes, I can't imagine being comfortable with big over-ear QC2s on.. Anyone?

Right now what I do if I want to sleep is inflate my neck pillow, put in fifty cent foam earplugs, and take two benadryl. That system works great, but since I've been thinking of getting new headphones for general use anyway, I might as well get NCs.

peace,
~Ben~

It's hard to sleep with the QC2s if you want to lean against the side of the plane. You really have to just keep your head back. One improvement the QCs could go in is to make them like the Sony headphones that wrap around the back of the neck. But then again, Sony should probably work on making their noise-cancelling algorithm work better than the QCs!

I find the ones that wrap around the back of the head aren't as comfortable for me. Maybe because I wear glasses.

Never mind listening to music, the drowning of baby sounds is worthwhile enough!

Seriously, I'm travelling to the US in January from UK..can anyone give me a rough price for these headphones when bought in an electronics store etc.

$299 a pair unless you can find a special at ecost.com -- also there are sometimes discounts when you buy 2 sets at once.

I haven't seen them in an "electronics" store, per se. The headphones are available from Bose booths in most major airports, Bose stores in a lot of malls in major areas via the web.

No NC headphone is going to help with crying babies. They are only effective for constant low-frequency sounds like the drone of jet engines and air conditioning.

This week I have my first opportunity to do a side-by-side test in-flight between Bose QC2 and Shure E3. This was on an AA 777 flight ORD to NRT, so plenty of time to test and compare. I have been using my Shure E3's for some time now and have only used the Bose on a few AA international J flights. This was my first with the QC2's.

The bose certainly work well for descreasing the low-frequency sounds. But they do add a significant amount of higher frequency noise (hiss). They are comfortable when sitting, but don't try to lie with your head sideways on a pillow. The 30dB noise reduction claim in a previous post is an exageration. They can be worn while holding a conversation with the FA or a seat partner.

The Shure E3's are a lot more sensitive (at least 6dB if not more like 10-12dB), so the audio source can be operated a lower level reducing the noise of the amplifier itself. The isolation from the E3's cuts out the low frequency drones (engines, air conditioning etc) at least as well as the Bose, without the addition of the hiss. They are also easier for sleeping. They most definately must be removed to hold a conversation with the FA or a seat partner.

However, some poeple find wearing in-ear phones uncomfortable, even with the fit-kit provided with the Shures (various size and flexibility sleeves).

For the price (US$137 delivered, less than half the Bose QC2), and the very small package to carry around, I will be sticking with my E3's.

As an owner of the Bose QC2s (and having used canalphones in the past), I'd agree with the above with the caveat that they don't really add hiss . . . they just don't attenuate it as much as the lower frequencies. Eliminating higher frequency background noise with noise cancellation technology is nearly impossible outside of a carefully controlled environment.

The actual attenuation at the lower frequencies is more like 15-17dB.

I'm one of those that find canalphones uncomfortable, and dislike having to remove them to talk to a seat-mate or FA. Getting them reseated properly and quickly takes practice, too.

normally, I would say true. But, if the baby does indeed screen with such constancy and verocity - then the headphones will work.

This is also known as the COMPLETE TERROR BABY syndrome, it doesn't happen too often, but when it does - you'll be covered.

For the poster above from the UK who wanted to know how much they would cost them?

They will cost you about 50% on a $ for $ basis compared to an american buying them in the us. My advice would be to buy three pair, one for you and two to sell on ebay in the UK.

I was just wondering if anyone knows if there is a big difference between these and the Bose Triport?

I agree, and I must be the only person in America who RETURNED mine to Bose. I didn't think they were all they advertised, especially for the price. They didn't block noise like I expected and I found them uncomfortable after about an hour.

One FTer who seems to post pretty reputably says that NC headsets DON'T eliminate the sound of a crying baby - just the ambient noise like jet engines. Others of you have said that NC headsets DO block out the sound of a crying baby. Which is correct?

they don't black out the baby, unless the baby screens constantly at the same tone and pitch.

this does happen sometimes,