Noise Cancelling Headphones

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1112 posts

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#2899410 10-Apr-2022 13:39

alasta:
Instead of spending $100 on a cheap ineffective pair of noise cancelling headphones, you would be much better off just spending $10 on some foam earplugs from the chemist.

That’s actually a great idea! Thanks.

everettpsycho

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#2899590 10-Apr-2022 19:35

alasta:
Instead of spending $100 on a cheap ineffective pair of noise cancelling headphones, you would be much better off just spending $10 on some foam earplugs from the chemist.

Paired with bone conduction headphones you'd have great noise canceling. Shame the sound quality on them isn't great either, still it is better with plugged ears, but that defeats most of the point of them existing.

danepak

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#2900437 12-Apr-2022 15:38

Managed to find a 2nd hand Bose QC25. He wanted $60, as they came without the cable.
I offered $30 as I couldn’t test if they actually worked. He accepted. Just picked up a cable for 13 bucks and it’s working! Great sound and noise cancellation.

Only thing is that I find them a little bit on the lower side reg the volume, when the ANC is switched off.

mrgsm021

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#2900446 12-Apr-2022 15:44

networkn:

If you have the budget I can highly recommend the Panasonic Technics A800. They are Brilliant with the exception of the controls, for which the Sony is far superior. Sound quality is the best I've come across, ANC is as good as any flagship and comfort is excellent. Not cheap, but a worth while investment.

Sound quality from the Microphone is the best of recent flagships I've tried though I haven't tried the very latest Bose.

Handles multiple device pairing fine as best I have been able to test.

Hoping PB will have Easter promo so I can pick up a pair of these

stu28

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#2902665 15-Apr-2022 14:40

I saw these Noise Cancelling Headphones on special on PB Tech:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/HSTSNY691165/Sony-MDR-ZX110NC-Wired-Noise-Cancelling-Headphones

Would they be ok??

insane

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#2902775 15-Apr-2022 20:57

networkn:
If you have the budget I can highly recommend the Panasonic Technics A800. They are Brilliant with the exception of the controls, for which the Sony is far superior. Sound quality is the best I've come across, ANC is as good as any flagship and comfort is excellent. Not cheap, but a worth while investment.

Sound quality from the Microphone is the best of recent flagships I've tried though I haven't tried the very latest Bose.

Handles multiple device pairing fine as best I have been able to test.

In case someone with a slightly different use case to the OP finds this thread...

I fully agree with you, the A800's are ridiculously good. Finally got to compare the ones I won here in the GZ Technics giveaway to my Sony XM2, and the A800's sound better, and the ANC is in another league, not just a little better.

Tested them against all sorts of noises and voices around the house and a building site that included a concrete cutter and jack hammer in the room next door.

I still rate the XM2's overall, but they are showing their age compared to something released this year. Would like to test the A800 against the XM4s and N700 but suspect they will still be as good or better.

mrgsm021

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#2906232 24-Apr-2022 21:22

Just saw this on GSMArena about the upcoming Sony WH-1000XM5, looks very slick and love the new hinge design if the leaked renders turn out to be true.

Sharesies kids

Free kids accounts - trade shares and funds (NZ, US) with Sharesies (affiliate link).

jonathan18

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#2916407 20-May-2022 11:25

Best over-ear ANC headphones for walking?

With having had to return to the office for a few days each week recently I've realised how used I've got to working in silence (and no $@#$@# commercial radio going in the background); while the ANC of my in-ear buds does help somewhat, I'd still like much more of a 'cone of silence' that only over-ear headphones will be able to provide.

I had been thinking of getting either the XM4s (ideally s/h when one of you guys infected with upgradeitis purchase the XM5s!) or possibly wait and stump up for the XM5s myself; or now I'm thinking about the Technics A800 ($377 at PB Tech if one doesn't mind silver [I'm not too keen] or $397 and $40 gift card at HN's).

I also am looking to use them when walking, so a bottom line is that they need to not transmit the sound of footsteps, which other over-ears I've tried walking with have done (it's like the clamping of the phones on the side of the head does a great job of amplifying the sound of one's feet hitting the pavement into a 'doof doof doof').

How do owners/users of the XM4s and/or A800s find these when walking? For those who own both (eg @networkn), do you find one model does better at not transmitting footsteps than the other? In the end, this will be more of a deciding factor as to which I buy than the relative quality of their ANC or even sound quality (most listening is podcasts). I'll pop into some shops to have a listen, but I doubt any will let me test them out in the real world!

Thanks for any advice/feedback.

networkn

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#2916410 20-May-2022 11:31

Hi.

Both will be fine for that. The A800's are in my opinion more comfortable and have better sound quality and ANC is comparable in my opinion. The XM4's may edge the A800's by a hair, but to be honest, unless you compare them side to side you'll just get used to what you have.

If I could only buy 1 today, I'd probably take A800's as I value the sound quality and comfort more than what *may* be a relatively small difference in ANC.

jonathan18

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#2916412 20-May-2022 11:37

networkn:

Hi.

Both will be fine for that. The A800's are in my opinion more comfortable and have better sound quality and ANC is comparable in my opinion. The XM4's may edge the A800's by a hair, but to be honest, unless you compare them side to side you'll just get used to what you have.

If I could only buy 1 today, I'd probably take A800's as I value the sound quality and comfort more than what *may* be a relatively small difference in ANC.

Thanks for that - so you don't really hear your own footsteps at all when walking on the footpath with either pair? If so, that's good to know.

From an aesthetics point of view, I do prefer the Technics - the Sony design is a bit dated I reckon, having held onto that look for a few years; I do prefer the look of the XM5s, but that lack of foldability could be annoying.

XM4s and A800s are a very similar price at the moment - $379 for the XM4s at PB Tech. I'll take a listen to/fiddle with both. Guess I could still save a bit by waiting to pick up a pair s/h...

everettpsycho

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#2916413 20-May-2022 11:40

So I find the bigger issues with anc walking is not the footsteps but the wind. If there's a breeze the mics tend to pick up the whistle and try to cancel it out. I've had the sennheiser pxc550 and the xm4 and both suffered from this issue. Personally I just turn anc off on both sets when out and about as it's not worth the horrible noise and they work better with the mode off completely.

mudguard

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#2916421 20-May-2022 11:52

everettpsycho: So I find the bigger issues with anc walking is not the footsteps but the wind. If there's a breeze the mics tend to pick up the whistle and try to cancel it out. I've had the sennheiser pxc550 and the xm4 and both suffered from this issue.

That's interesting. That's a complaint I have with my PX550II, but only when on a call. I guess it's something to do with allowing external sounds whilst on a call? Which I don't like. I keep meaning to see if there is a setting or something but don't want to thread jack.

networkn

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#2916423 20-May-2022 11:54

jonathan18:

XM4s and A800s are a very similar price at the moment - $379 for the XM4s at PB Tech. I'll take a listen to/fiddle with both. Guess I could still save a bit by waiting to pick up a pair s/h...

Sorry, I haven't tested the walking footsteps myself personally, I don't do a lot of walking with headphones on, but I have both pairs and could try it tonight and let you know tomorrow, though honestly, if you have access to try it, I'd just try it yourself as my tolerance might be different to you.

jonathan18

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#2916429 20-May-2022 12:16

networkn:

jonathan18:

XM4s and A800s are a very similar price at the moment - $379 for the XM4s at PB Tech. I'll take a listen to/fiddle with both. Guess I could still save a bit by waiting to pick up a pair s/h...

Sorry, I haven't tested the walking footsteps myself personally, I don't do a lot of walking with headphones on, but I have both pairs and could try it tonight and let you know tomorrow, though honestly, if you have access to try it, I'd just try it yourself as my tolerance might be different to you.

Thanks for the offer; I get your point re trying myself, and I'll see if I can test them out in a real-world setting. The problem, speaking from experience, is different ground surfaces have a significant impact on this - I may well be able to test them on the lino of the shop, but asphalt has way more effect than lino.

If I don't have any luck trying them outside the showroom I may come back to you to at least get your own perception of any transmission when on concrete/asphalt, if that's ok!

networkn

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#2916433 20-May-2022 12:33

jonathan18:

Thanks for the offer; I get your point re trying myself, and I'll see if I can test them out in a real-world setting. The problem, speaking from experience, is different ground surfaces have a significant impact on this - I may well be able to test them on the lino of the shop, but asphalt has way more effect than lino.

If I don't have any luck trying them outside the showroom I may come back to you to at least get your own perception of any transmission when on concrete/asphalt, if that's ok!

Sure, honestly I might just test it tonight and send you the results. I'll wear a pair of ascics runners.

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