Bose noise cancelling headphones

Hi Ross, somehow I manged to get on boses mailing list and every month or so they send my gumph. I am pleased with this as it costs them money!

BUt yes they are not cheap, I believe they are around £250

However I did have a listen to a pair in the apple store on an ipod, and they did the trick. Sound quality is not breaking new ground but background noise was significantly less than with other headphones I tried.

But its a high price TBH, they look and feel cheap.

Being noise-cancelling 'phones, they don't work with Bose kit.

Ross

Help may be at hand.

Sennheiser market the PXC250, which includes an "active noise-cancelling system". I've never heard them, but do have a pair of their PX200 (claimed to be the same, but without the ANCS), which are bloody good for use with my CD Walkman.

What's more, the PXC250 come in at the £100 mark.

Hope this helps.

G

Ross,

I have a pair of Sennheiser PXC 250 noise cancelling headphones. They do work and I now regard them an essential for flying (along with flight socks). The Sennheisers are open backed and so don't do as good a job at isolating you from the likes of speech however they really cut the fatiguing jet roar. They also work passibly well with the lawnmower. Several companies do these now. The ones most highly recommended when I last looked were called Plane Quiet 2, at around $80.


Willy.

I have the Sennheisers too and they are fantastic for those long trips across the Atlantic. You can actually enjoy the films and hear the sound effects.
Buy them.
Simon

Reasonable prices here for the Sennheisers:

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/sound-and-vision/sound/headphones/150354/prices

Tony

Actually pretty much everyman and his dog has a pair of noise cancelling headphones ranging from really cheap in bubble pack wrapping (Philips) thru'foldable full size earmuff types (Sony & Panasonic) thru to the Sennheiser's. The airport shops usually have em all over the place. I have tried a few in my travels and personally found the following:

Philps - were cheap but crap
Sony - First out & I bought them when I lived in the states. I stiil have them, very comfortable but a bit heavy footed on bass, but make a good job of the terrible sound on airline movies / music channels
Panasonic - Less comfortable & tend to sound a bit bright but with good resolution
Sennheiser - best music reproduction qulaity especilly on your personal CD or MP3 etc.,but less comfortable if you lean into the side of the headrest on the plane seat to have a kip with them on, also bit of a spider's web of wiring with teh seperate battery pack / electronics.

General effectiveness at cnacelling noise - all very much the same remaining background jet noise and close proximity conversation comes through a bit.

regards
GEOFF

"Just trying to make a NAIM for myself"

I use Sony MDR NC11 noise cancelling headphones for long distance flights and have found them to be really good. I bought them at Gatwick airport for about GBP90, as I recall.

They are not conventional headphones, but small plugs that fit in your ear. the difference between having them in your ear switched off and switched on is significant!

David

I have to admit that I'm the owner of a set of the Bose 'phones.
I can't listen to the other Bose stuff, but they do a fine job of noise cancelling.
I was taking a short hop from NYC to Baltimore and I noticed the plane was a turbo prop. I had just passed a Bose retail outlet in the airport, so I promply turned around and bought a set thinking I'd just send them back for a refund if I didn't like them.
Well, the noise cancelling is almost worth the price if you travel on airplanes much at all. You can disconnect the audio cable and just let them keep it quiet for you.
I was all smiles on that trip!
As to the audio performance, they seem a bit tubby in the bass, but otherwise seem OK. Nothing like my Stax, but I wasn't expecting that.
They run off of a single AAA battery and they claim 35 hours of use between batteries. Seems optimistic, but since they are just sipping the power they may not have enough ass in the amp to really drive the 'phones. Just a theory.
I've not yet done any extended listening with my iPod, so once I do that I'll report back.
Didn't even know about the Senheisers when I bought the Bose, so I can't comment on any differences.
I know, I know, I should be kicked off this board for owning anything Bose. I can hardly believe it myself...
David

In my experience the use of Etymotic earphones makes all the noise-cancelling nonsense obsolete, because the noise doesn't get to your ears in the first place.. I always use Etymotics for aitravel and have yet to be disturbed by even the noisiest engines or converations. The sound quality fron Etymotics obviously excedes any noise-cancelling phones.

Ross, I totally agree with Rockingdoc -- Etymotics are the way to go!

Every time I have tried the Bose headphones, there is a sensation of pressure as the noise cancellation is turned on and a slightly queasy feeling during the silence between (or within) tracks.

I have a pair of ER-4Ps (bought on trip to NY -- I do not know if you are in the UK, but they are a lot cheaper in the US) and cannot recommend them more highly. In addition to the cutting out the vast majority of ambient noise (I spend a lot of time on planes, and find them a real sanity saver) there actual sound performance is IMHO unparalleled. I mostly use them with my IPOD, but find them superior with my system than my Grado SR-125s. They are phenomenally revealing. Etymotics take on the whole thing is interesting as there core business is hearing aids. They also focus heavily on noise dampening products for musicians where fidelity is of paramount concern.

The ER-4Ps are set up to be used with portable audio equipment, but with a small lead available seperately, can be used with hifi equipment.

The only downside as they are in-ear, they can get a little gooey!

The more I listen to these Bose things the less I like them... The bass is so tubby. And they are not particularly comfortable. And they do look and feel cheap for the $300+ US I spent.
I actually like the effect you get when you switch them on, it's like stepping into (semi) anechoic chamber but I know what you mean by the "pressure" Willito. Maybe I like it because I know its working. Hmm.
Maybe I can still return them (I'm just past my 30 day trial) and get some of the Etymotic, but then I'd have to learn how to pronounce that strange name...
David

They're history. Took them back to a Bose store and they gave no static even though I was past my 30 day trial period. I appreciate their customer service even though their products don't fit my taste. Nice, friendly folks.
But I do NOT recommend these things for anyone on this forum.

Now... Its on to the Etymotics.

Should I buy the ER4P (boosted bass performance, said to be best with portable electronics -- and that is putting me off that model) or the ER4S (said to be more like the response of monitor speakers in a room but perhaps a bit less sensitive overall).
The most likely use for me will be on airplanes with my iPod and use as monitors for performance (I'm a bass player and would love to get the cymbals out of my ears when I play).
I normally use earplugs when I play with louder bands, no need to lose my hearing while entertaining a bunch of drunks. It would be all the better to plug them into my own monitoring channel and get the overall volume under control.
Anyway, which would be best?
Willito likes his 4Ps, Rockingdoc has not stated a model.
Opinions? Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and most everyone is off work stuffing themselves with turkey. I'll probably order on Friday.
Thanks!
David