Headphones for office

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xpd

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#317420 14-Oct-2024 11:53

Few of us at work are looking for half decent noise cancelling (passive) over ear headphones preferably USB, to help block out some of the office noise so we can concentrate on our tasks while having some tunes.

Any suggestions under $120 ? ;)

Or do we just buy standard over ears and crank up the volume ? ;)

XPD / Gavin

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noroad

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#3297211 14-Oct-2024 12:44

I use these, they are excellent value for what you get.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005274285591.html

davidcole

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#3297214 14-Oct-2024 12:54

I use gaming headphones and (if needed) just crank the volume.

I'd doubt noise cancelling would do much with chopping out gossip

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#3297222 14-Oct-2024 13:44

I have found that noise cancelling headphones usually leads to louder conversations, as the speaker has no reference. I see a lot of people end up taking one ear off so they can sense their speaking volume correctly and aren't shouting.

Tried some Sony XM4's for a while but ended up going back to the standard on ear call centre/mic set up.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

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#3297224 14-Oct-2024 13:56

davidcole: I'd doubt noise cancelling would do much with chopping out gossip

Given the OP has mentioned passive noise cancelling, I’d agree with you there; there’ll be few non-ANC headphones that do much to mask voices in an office environment. I do find, though, my ANC earbuds (Bose Ultras) do a pretty decent job of blocking much of the sound of talking, even with no music playing. (But Technics A800s - over-ear ANC headphones) are pretty rubbish in exactly the same environment.)

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#3297247 14-Oct-2024 15:09

if the op and his workmates do listen to music, having one good set might be an option vs a set for work and another for listening at home. i also appreciate the convenience of wireless (bluetooth), connected to both the work laptop and my mobile. alas, it'll blow past your $120 target price.

jonathan18:

Given the OP has mentioned passive noise cancelling, I’d agree with you there; there’ll be few non-ANC headphones that do much to mask voices in an office environment. I do find, though, my ANC earbuds (Bose Ultras) do a pretty decent job of blocking much of the sound of talking, even with no music playing. (But Technics A800s - over-ear ANC headphones) are pretty rubbish in exactly the same environment.)

good ANC headphones also provide good noise isolation, so will handle passive noise 'cancellation' very well.

curious about your experience with the A800, as they work very well for me (not bose-level for voice!). sure you're not in ambient mode? nevertheless, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the bose just fit you better - the A800 foam pads are not quite the same as bose's.

how is the background noise isolation for the mic on the bose ultras? the QC 35s are terrible in this regard - pretty much have to mute (in a teams meeting) if someone nearby is speaking.

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#3297269 14-Oct-2024 16:01

davidcole:

I use gaming headphones and (if needed) just crank the volume.

I'd doubt noise cancelling would do much with chopping out gossip

It does

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Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

noroad

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#3297270 14-Oct-2024 16:09

noroad:

I use these, they are excellent value for what you get.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005274285591.html

PBtech has the entry level WH700NB and the really quite good (look at the reviews on Youtube) W830NB's for $129. I've used various Edifer headphones for years and had a good run from them. I tend to get spare earpads from Ali in anticipation of changing the earpads every year or two.

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/category/headphones-audio/headphones/shop-by-use/noise-cancelling?fs=33018385