Noise Cancelling Headphones Recommendations

[riverdees05]

Would like some recommendations for Noise Cancelling Headphones for use on Airplanes, etc.

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

The originator: BOSE QC15. No one compares AT ALL! Sony and others make noice-cancelling headphones, but they don't cancel out ALL sounds. Not only do the Bose headphones cancel out noice, they ALSO have speakers inside the headphones that deliver PERFECT sound!

TS

 

[Passepartout]

How much do you want to spend? Great ones (Bose) can be bought for $300ish. But quite good ones can be found- often on sale- for under $100.

I like my Able Planet ones. Here: http://shop.ableplanet.com/noise-cancellation-headphones/travelers-choice.html And 25% off online. Under a C note. I know it's hard to beat the advertising that Bose does, but here: http://www.ableplanet.com/technology/able-planet-vs-bose/ are the hard numbers from a nose-to-nose test against Bose QC's. Able Planet are quieter than Bose. Period.

I bought the DW some Sony N.C. headphones. The noise cancellation was negligible. They went to charity and I got her the Able Planet ones.

I also have some Plane Quiet 'phones that do a good job of quieting the engine noise frequencies. http://www.solitudeheadphones.com/p...atinum-Featuring-New-Solitude-Technology.html Google any of those brands for sales prices.

Jim

 

[thheath]

Bose are the best and I would recommend the over the ear type vs: the sit on your ear style. Do too effectiveness and comfort.

I've owned 2 other less expensive brands and they were ok.

I guess if all boils down to how much you want to spend vs: how often you'll be flying.

Ted

 

[x3 skier]

Use my Bose QC's for both flying my airplane (with a UFly mike ) and when I am riding in the back. Great sound and comfortable.

Cheers

 

[Sandy VDH]

+1 for Bose over the ear. Not cheap, but good.

 

[DebBrown]

The Bose are great if you are sitting on an airplane. You cannot, however, walk around with them. I found that they echo my heartbeat and foot steps in my ears and are incredibly annoying.

I settled on a much cheaper and smaller set, the Sennheiser PXC150. (Just pulled them out of my backpack to check the model.) They block out most ambient noise and work well for airplane movies.

Deb

 

[buzglyd]

The other route is to go with headphones and custom ear molds. They are a lot less bulky and don't require batteries and can be used in a lot of other situations.

I've got a set of Shure headphones and I had an audiologist make some impressions.

I also picked up a set of Plantronics stereo Bluetooth headphones and had the custom molds made for them.

I love the Bluetooth set especially for working out and both sets handle music and phone calls perfectly and still come in cheaper than a Bose set.

 

[SMHarman]

The Bose are great if you are sitting on an airplane. You cannot, however, walk around with them. I found that they echo my heartbeat and foot steps in my ears and are incredibly annoying.

I settled on a much cheaper and smaller set, the Sennheiser PXC150. (Just pulled them out of my backpack to check the model.) They block out most ambient noise and work well for airplane movies.

Deb

Isn't the 250 the noise cancelling one. I own these they are great. Many user serviceable parts too.

Back 10 years plus ago when I started using these wearing oversize headphones on trains and the subway was less acceptable. Now everyone does you can probably wear the QC everywhere.

At $300 I would get the KEF M500 though. Not noise cancelling but great noise suppression. Comfortable ans the sound quality is divine. HiFi on a budget.

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk

 

[joewillie12]

Bose QC15 hands down. Never have to worry about screaming babies or loud neighbors again. I never travel without them.

 

[Chrispee]

Another vote for Bose qc15. I was unsure about dropping $300 on headphones for the sole purpose of flying a few times per year, but couldn't imagine flying without them now. I should add that I am usually not a big bose fan, but they seem to have nc headphone technology down, probably because they have a solid history of producing aviation headsets.

 

[SpikeMauler]

If you don't mind spending $299 Bose QuietComfort 15 is the way to go. They're outstanding. I'm a bit of a nervous flyer but after buying these a couple years ago flying for me became easier. They have a pacifying effect on me. I'll fly with them always.

 

[Luanne]

I got a set of Bose (not the most expensive but still nice) as an anniversary gift from the company I worked for. We had a choice of items and this seemed like the best one.

 

[Passepartout]

Have you Bose fans tried any others?

There is no question that Bose are fine headphones/speakers/radios/ etc. But how much of it is the power of advertising? By charging close to triple whatever other high-end makers of audio gear do, they have a helluva lot of advertising money to throw around.

Have you noticed that they don't seem to join in many head-to-head blind, or instrumented comparisons? No. And you won't, either.

As I said at the top, they are great. Quiet and comfortable 'phones. But they got there by marketing, not because they are the best FOR THE MONEY. If you are buying them for a couple, that $600-$700 oughtta buy something head and shoulders better than the competition.

 

[SpikeMauler]

As I said at the top, they are great. Quiet and comfortable 'phones. But they got there by marketing, not because they are the best FOR THE MONEY. If you are buying them for a couple, that $600-$700 oughtta buy something head and shoulders better than the competition.

I agree Bose products for the most part are over hyped and over priced. I'm definitely no fan boy of Bose but the their "noise canceling" products are exceptional. I did a lot of research before dropping $300 on a pair of headphones. I was looking for the the best "noise canceling" headphones. All roads kept leading back to Bose QC15. Almost every product/user review or comparison of the Bose QC15 that I read had it as best in class for noise canceling capability. The knock on these headphones are that the sound quality isn't as good as some other like or less priced headphones. If I were in the market for the best sounding headphones for $300 or less I don't think Bose would be in the conversation. Are the noise canceling QC15's best for the money? I don't know, but they're still considered one of the best noise canceling headphones on the market.

 

[Chrispee]

I wouldn't say Bose is really a high-end audio company. When I think high-end, I think Bowers & Wilkins, Paradigm, MartinLogan etc.

Like I said, I have not appreciated the hype of previous Bose products that I've owned, but the qc15 are really very good. I don't necessarily think the sound quality is outstanding, but Bose does noise-cancellation well IMO. When you're flying, comfort and noise-cancellation are almost more important than audio quality.

 

[stmartinfan]

['ve got the Bose QC3, which are the ones with the smaller ear covers. They were more comfortable for me, and I find they still do an excellent job if cutting out the noise.

 

[artringwald]

Jvc hanc250

Yes the Bose are excellent, but I couldn't see spending $600 for headphones (DW wanted some too). We ended up getting the JVC HANC250 for $100 each, and have been very happy with the noise cancelling and the audio quality.

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HANC250-Noise-Cancelling-Headphones/dp/B000U07C1U/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=00B75NZ4D309PB0X99PC

After listening to them, my audiophile brother was so impressed, he bought a pair of his own.

 

[lynne]

I have the Bose QC-15 and love them, my spouse, not so much. He recently ordered the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7B QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Closed-Back Headphones and absolutely loves them. For the price, they are a great headset and does rival the Bose.

 

[gnorth16]

['ve got the Bose QC3, which are the ones with the smaller ear covers. They were more comfortable for me, and I find they still do an excellent job if cutting out the noise.

Agreed. The QC15 were too bulky and my ears got very warm, very fast. The QC3's, while still over the ear (and warm), were much easier to adjust to. They also have a rechargeable battery which lasts up to 25 hours and takes less than 2 hours to charge (vs AAA's)

I found a new pair on ebay for about $175 delivered, new never warn. I fly Allegiant Air and the MD80's are some of the noisiest jets for passenger comfort (especially at the back of the plane) and they work great. The sound quality is very good as well.

 

[PigsDad]

I like my Able Planet ones. Here: http://shop.ableplanet.com/noise-cancellation-headphones/travelers-choice.html And 25% off online. Under a C note. I know it's hard to beat the advertising that Bose does, but here: http://www.ableplanet.com/technology/able-planet-vs-bose/ are the hard numbers from a nose-to-nose test against Bose QC's. Able Planet are quieter than Bose. Period.

As someone who owns both the Able Planet and the Bose QC15, I can honestly say there is really no comparison: the Bose headset wins hands down.

We frequently take both sets when we travel and the Bose set does a far better job of providing a quiet environment on a plane vs. the Able Planet. (I usually let my daughter have the Able Planet set! )

The reason I have both? The Able Planet sets are one of the few noise-cancelling headsets that have an optional microphone available. I use that at work as it can be a noisy environment at times, and most of our teleconferences are via Microsoft Lync which can use a headset connected to the laptop. For music listening and travel, it is the Bose set all the way.

Kurt

 

[Passepartout]

That's good to know, Kurt. I have the boom mic too. I find the Able Planet 'phones work fine. I like the removable cable too, so if you only want a quieter airplane environment without a cord dangling around, you can just unplug it and put it in the bag/case with the other accessories.

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

The QC15's are generally used as the reference headphones for professional reviewers. When I was searching for my pair, tons of review articles I read would state something like, "these brand X headphones are great, but compared to the unbeatable Bose QC15 reference headphones, they fall short on x, y, z."

I've had the QC15's for a few years now and they are awesome. I put them on right after sitting down in my seat on the plane and I don't take them off until the door opens to depart. Since doing this, I have not had any ear popping issues either. I don't know if this is mental or not, but whatever it is, I'll take it.

I also gave a pair of QC15's to my nephew to replace his broken Beats by Dre Studio headphones. He loves the QC15, and says they are much better than what his Beats were.

 

[Beaglemom3]

The originator: BOSE QC15. No one compares AT ALL! Sony and others make noice-cancelling headphones, but they don't cancel out ALL sounds. Not only do the Bose headphones cancel out noice, they ALSO have speakers inside the headphones that deliver PERFECT sound!

TS

Having worked for Bose, I totally agree.

The late Dr. Amar Bose so supported his R&D staff and give them enough free reign & respect that what they developed is truly remarkable. He was a wonderful man, brilliant, humble, generous and gracious.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business...his-company/ARdTMG37pvKAWHqhr7yu2O/story.html

 

["Roger"]

Based upon reviews by technicians at the time that I bought, I went with Audio Technica. (In essence, the technical reviews said that there was little difference in quality between Bose and Audio Technica, just a fairly large difference in price.) Two caveats,

I never tried the two side by side, so I cannot personally, based upon my own experience, say that the two are equivalent.

The QC 15 model came out just after I bought my headphones, so I don't know if this was a significant upgrade over what Bose was selling prior to the QC 15 or not. The reviews I saw were comparing the Audio Technica with Bose's prior model.​

In any case, just another name to throw in the bucket if you want to do more research.

(PS - I have tried Sony and they are definitely inferior.)