Noise Cancellation headphones: Advice?
Its my bday soon and the only thing I can think of (economical) to ask for is a pair of headphones.
I travel a lot (train and plane) and have heard of the "miracles" of using noise cancellation headphones to relax (even not for listening to music).
so... lets say I want a good quality, hopefully stowable/retractable noise cancellation headphone, what do you guys advise?
I hear sanheiser (sp?) being thrown around a lot, etc.
I travel a lot (train and plane) and have heard of the "miracles" of using noise cancellation headphones to relax (even not for listening to music).
so... lets say I want a good quality, hopefully stowable/retractable noise cancellation headphone, what do you guys advise?
I hear sanheiser (sp?) being thrown around a lot, etc.
Comments
I've got a pair of Shure e2 myself, and I'm very happy with them, though some people just don't find them comfortable. (note that the only difference between the e2 and e2c is the packaging, and you can get the e2 cheaper (the c stands for consumer)
http://www.shure.com/earphones/eseries_e2c.asp
I've also got a pair of Bang & Olufsen A80 which are nice, light, stylish and comfortable though not considered audiophile and not noise-cancelling but with a similar price to the others.
http://www.bang-olufsen.com/sw1612.asp
I havent found a pair of buds that doesnt hurt after a few hours..
thanx for info so far
The earplug kind are tricky to get in correctly but it is still an entirely different kind of uncomfortable compared with buds.
The thing with earphones is it's tricky to try them out properly without buying them.
Noise cancelling headphones have an effect on a fairly large number of people that use them. It can make you nauseous, (which is ironic since the word noise is derived from the Vulgar Latin word "nausea").
It has something to do with pressure in the inner ear.
Anyway, I personally haven't experienced this using them. But my coworker just did and luckily he could return his.
Originally posted by ZO
hmmm, anything that covers the easr rather than buds? That is still 'portable'?
I havent found a pair of buds that doesnt hurt after a few hours..
thanx for info so far
Perhaps the Sennheiser PXC250? These are mid-sized headphones, still portable, with noise canceling. They're also not THAT expensive and they got a good value rating at Headphone.com. But like any noise canceling headphone that artificially cancels sound, they require a battery pack.
Also they need a little gadget that houses the noise canceling circuitry.
Last time I was there, they had a display for their 300 (?) dollar noise cancelling headphones. They mimicked the low rumble of a jet plane, and had you take them on and off. The difference was remarkable. I was amazed. I don't know the model number, but they were big headphones, not buds.
If you travel enough, it could save numerous headaches... assuming you don't suffer from that inner ear pressure thing johnq mentioned.
Originally posted by bauman
Last time I was there, they had a display for their 300 (?) dollar noise cancelling headphones. They mimicked the low rumble of a jet plane, and had you take them on and off. The difference was remarkable.
I've tried that demo too, you have to remember that they can muck about with their fake airplane noise so that their headphones can cancel it perfectly. Reality is never as predictable.
Another thing to remember is that you feel, as well as hear, the engine on a plane.
The sony earbuds seem interesting. Is a battery pack needed as well?
Originally posted by ZO
hmmm, anything that covers the easr rather than buds? That is still 'portable'?
I havent found a pair of buds that doesnt hurt after a few hours..
thanx for info so far
I got these Sony's (MDR-NC5) awhile ago. They worked great on my flight across counrty and they fold up nicely.
Lacking a bit of low end, but not bad sounding at all and the noise canceling works great.
These any good? They have a separate battery pack though
I have a pair of Etymotic Er-4Ps that drop external noise by about 25db... think being on the bus and not hearing anyone, and the bus is a faint rumble. And all this is without batteries or anti-phase sound generation. Lo-tek but it works.
I'd go with the Shures for $99 if I were you. Read reviews on the web of the boses, Shures, Sony's and Ety's, see what other people's experiences are.
Then again, I'm sure the Boses are decent headphones. But for $400, I'd rather spend the coin on audiophile grade headphones (which the noise cancelling phones are not). Either way, I'm sure you'll be happy with your present.
I do like the in ear noise cancelling headphones such as Bose QC20, AKG K391 NC, Sony MDRNC13, Bose is very expensive but it's very comfortable and effective for cancelling out the ambient sounds.
Bose QC20, an active noise cancelling headphones, sounds good and very comfortable. It has built-in battery, which can lasts up to 16 hours.