Noise Cancelling headphones

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knoydart

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#25473 22-Aug-2008 11:42

Hi,

just having a look around geekzone and the rest of web on noise cancelling headphones - ideally I'm looking for around the ear headphones and good build quality. Anybody have some recommendations/suggestions. The M14's seem to have a good write up in some circles but feel as though I should join the Bose blue led club as that's what all those frequent flyer types use in anger!

If anyone needs some product testing, I'm sure I could help out...!

cheers

knoydart

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#158928 22-Aug-2008 12:00

I have sennheiser and love them. cant remember the modal (i'm at work) but they usualy review up with the Bose modals. I think Sony just a release a new set as well or for high end I'm pretty sure there is a NZ company called pritek?? that makes them.

nutcase

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#158929 22-Aug-2008 12:03

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro

alasta

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#158935 22-Aug-2008 12:37

I'm in the same position as you and having looked around I think I'll probably go with the Sennheiser PXC-250, mainly because I have had three years of excellent service out of my PX-200s.

The Bose alternative is tempting but it seems to be a lot more expensive and from all accounts the sound quality doesn't justify the price.

kiwitrc

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#158938 22-Aug-2008 12:40

I have Bose QC2 for about 4 years now, they are fine. I recently had a small plastic clip on the side of them break and tried to get parts, but Bose just said send them to their service agent in Auckland and they would replace the entire headphones free of charge, which they did, so I have to say you cant fault the service (oh and I bought them in the USA).

I have also read good reviews on the Sennheiser and the NZ company is called Phitek.

nate

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#158951 22-Aug-2008 13:33

kiwitrc: I have Bose QC2 for about 4 years now, they are fine. I recently had a small plastic clip on the side of them break and tried to get parts, but Bose just said send them to their service agent in Auckland and they would replace the entire headphones free of charge, which they did, so I have to say you cant fault the service (oh and I bought them in the USA).

Similar to kiwitrc, I bought some Bose headphones in the States and I vouch that the Bose QC2s are really good.

sarg

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#158960 22-Aug-2008 14:26

I have used blackbox m14 headphones for more than two years now Recommend them both when flying and when at F1 racing. This month purchased C14 earphones They seem better to wear when sleeping on long haul flights but still getting accoustomed to ear canal fitting.

that would be an ecumenical matter

mckenndk

911 posts

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#452227 26-Mar-2011 22:44

I am after some new noise cancelling
headphones.

I currently have some Phillips SHN9500 headphones which are good at what they
do and even work when the battery is flat.

I have been looking for something that is at least the next level and preferable
bigger ear cups.

The main model I have been looking at are the Sennheiser PXC450 which fold up
to around the same size as the Phillips SHN9500, they can be expensive but you
can get them for a reasonable price of ebay.

The must haves

Good noise cancelling
Airplane Compatible (adapter plug)
AAA battery (not a proprietary one)
Around the ear fit

Things I would like

A cord that just unplugs out of the headphones for easy replacement if it gets broken
Talk through

Any Recommendations?

Dion

Equinox IT

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kiwitrc

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#452274 27-Mar-2011 07:54

Dion, the Bose mentioned above do all those things you mention. The cord that unplugs is a Bose part rather than a say 3.5 to 3.5 mm and it also has a switch built in for 2 volume levels to compensate for the source level. The battery seems to last forever.

alasta

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#452290 27-Mar-2011 09:52

I spent some time using a pair of Bose Quietcomfort 15 headphones when I was regularly commuting to and from Australia last year. I found them to be typical of Bose products - they sound very pleasing at first but they're a bit too colourful and they just can't match the silky smooth vocal reproduction that I get out of my substantially cheaper Sennheiser PXC-250s. Admittedly the sound quality is very good but not good enough to justify the enormous price tag, especially if you're an audio purist.

However in fairness the noise cancelling on the QC15s is excellent, especially on aircraft. Most other noise cancelling headphones that I have used have struggled to achieve anything close to the claims on the packaging in respect of the percentage of outside noise that they can zap.

mckenndk

911 posts

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#452411 27-Mar-2011 14:50

Does the Quiet Comfort 15 work without batteries?

alasta: I spent some time using a pair of Bose Quietcomfort 15 headphones when I was regularly commuting to and from Australia last year. I found them to be typical of Bose products - they sound very pleasing at first but they're a bit too colourful and they just can't match the silky smooth vocal reproduction that I get out of my substantially cheaper Sennheiser PXC-250s. Admittedly the sound quality is very good but not good enough to justify the enormous price tag, especially if you're an audio purist.

However in fairness the noise cancelling on the QC15s is excellent, especially on aircraft. Most other noise cancelling headphones that I have used have struggled to achieve anything close to the claims on the packaging in respect of the percentage of outside noise that they can zap.

alasta

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#452738 28-Mar-2011 13:11

mckenndk: Does the Quiet Comfort 15 work without batteries?

No, they don't. This is a very common criticism of them.

My Sennheiser PXC-250s and Panasonic RP-HC700s, on the other hand, both operate fine without batteries and both are sonically excellent despite being much cheaper than the Bose alternative.

tigercorp

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#452744 28-Mar-2011 13:37

I dig my Nokia BH-905s.

Bluetooth or wired, comes with loads of adaptors and a great case, long battery life, can be used without battery, and incredibly comfortable.

Very accurate sounds reproduction and great noise cancellation.

Last year I was sitting next to a guy on a flight who had a set of Bose QuiteComforts (don't know the model) and we did a comparison. Very similar for both NC and audio quality. I suspect you'd only pick out the differences in a completely quiet environment.

geekiegeek

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#452784 28-Mar-2011 15:02

alasta:
mckenndk: Does the Quiet Comfort 15 work without batteries?

No, they don't. This is a very common criticism of them.

My Sennheiser PXC-250s and Panasonic RP-HC700s, on the other hand, both operate fine without batteries and both are sonically excellent despite being much cheaper than the Bose alternative.

The PXC-250 is what I have. Very nice sound, they are based on the PX-200 which are the closed version of arguably one of the best portable headphones around, the PX-100. Thats why the PXC-250s have such a good sound.

mckenndk

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#452790 28-Mar-2011 15:17

Nokia ones look ok but they are on the ears, I am going to go by the Bose shop and have a look at the quiet comfort 15's and see what they are like.

The main thing I have against them is that they won't run without batteries.

The Sennheiser PXC450 is what I am leaning towards.

I use hearing aids so I would perfer ones that cover the ear and not have to carry anymore batteries with me than I currently do.

Dion

kiwitrc

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#452798 28-Mar-2011 15:44

There is a review here http://www.amazon.com/QuietComfort%C2%AE-15-Acoustic-Noise-Cancelling%C2%AE/dp/B002M38I2U comparing 3 of them for what its worth.

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