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.

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.

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

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??

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. 

 

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.

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.

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. 

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: 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. 

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.

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!

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.