NOISE Cancelling Headphones- best quality?

[Rebekkap]

Sennheiser PXCs are great for those who value decent sound and want the abiltiy to play music without needing a battery in the cans. I am bad at remembering to charge or replace things and I already had a few sennheiser products.

Sennheiser also rate better than Bose on actual sound quality, both according to my ears (I tried both before buying them), my friend who works in high-end audio (who says BOSE is an acronym for "Buy Other Sound Equipment") and according to Choice Magazine, who reviewed NC headphones earlier this year.

Plus they work even if the batteries go flat, which Bose don't.

 

[jetlagger]

Sennheiser also rate better than Bose on actual sound quality, both according to my ears (I tried both before buying them), my friend who works in high-end audio (who says BOSE is an acronym for "Buy Other Sound Equipment") and according to Choice Magazine, who reviewed NC headphones earlier this year.

Plus they work even if the batteries go flat, which Bose don't.

Firstly agreed that Sennheiser are good quality, as I also have several headphone products, though IMO I truly believe that in the case of NCH inflight the BOSE perform better overall, even with the case of having to operate with an easily obtainable AAA battery.
I guess we are all different, & certainly for appreciating sound from different branded sources, though the personalisation of any BYO NCH can somehow make the journey - inflight, on trains, buses, noisy trains etc etc just that much more enjoyable & at times bearable.

 

[Rebekkap]

Firstly agreed that Sennheiser are good quality, as I also have several headphone products, though IMO I truly believe that in the case of NCH inflight the BOSE perform better overall, even with the case of having to operate with an easily obtainable AAA battery.
I guess we are all different, & certainly for appreciating sound from different branded sources, though the personalisation of any BYO NCH can somehow make the journey - inflight, on trains, buses, noisy trains etc etc just that much more enjoyable & at times bearable.

Choice agreed that the noise cancelling function works (very slightly) better on Bose - but that doesn't change the fact that the objective sound quality, according to Choice, is quite a lot better from Sennheiser!

 

[simongr]

Another advantage of this unit is the disposable batteries. I previously had a pair of rechargeable Bose NC headphones until they were stolen, however I can recall several flights where I would run out of batteries mid flight. The Sennheiser case also has a holder for two spare AAA batteries.

I have actually hooked up my headphones in flight to inseat power and charged the cans whilst watching the iPad. Not an elegant look but effective.

 

[PLANT]

Do the bose or others actually increase the VOLUME?
The infinity tablet on its maiden plane trip was terrible listening to anything via earplugs...movie\video

 

[DeKa]

Do the bose or others actually increase the VOLUME?
The infinity tablet on its maiden plane trip was terrible listening to anything via earplugs...movie\video

Bose, no. The volume is whatever you set from the output device.

 

[Cynicor]

Headphone amps are the best device for this. I connect my iDevice to a Fiio dock connector, then through a headphone amp and into the PXC 450s. Very acceptable maximum volume and preserved sound quality.

 

[PLANT]

Recommended headphone amp?

 

[NM]

The usual shop price in USA right now is US$299. That is the same from a Bose shop and other retain establishments such as Frys. So the only way someone can be selling new ones for significantly less is if they received them as a prize/gift and want to off-load them (quite legitimate and reasonably common). But if the seller has had multiple listings of similar items, then I would be very concerned that they may not be genuine.

 

[Maca44]

I have the Shure SE315 in ear. They are great, confortable, and the battery never runs out

 

[Cynicor]

Recommended headphone amp?

Don't know enough about them in general, but I use the Fiio series. Whole shebang from amazon, forwarded by MyUS. I have the E11 amp with an L9 cable.

Probably depends on your budget but I just wanted something to improve volume without distortion and maintain a minimum of sound quality.

 

[NM]

I have the Shure SE315 in ear. They are great, confortable, and the battery never runs out

And they fit in your pocket too!

 

[Ewing]

And they fit in your pocket too!

My Bose MIE2i earphones used to fit in my pocket so well that I didn't even notice when they fell out.

I believe I uttered a few swear words

 

[tomlikesbeetroot]

I have Sony MDR-ND100C managed to leave them in my pocket and they went through the washer and dryer.
Must be very well built, as the noise cancelling still works 100%.

 

[Rebekkap]

I have Sony MDR-ND100C managed to leave them in my pocket and they went through the washer and dryer.
Must be very well built, as the noise cancelling still works 100%.

Impressive!

 

[NM]

I have Sony MDR-ND100C managed to leave them in my pocket and they went through the washer and dryer.
Must be very well built, as the noise cancelling still works 100%.

A friends accidentally washed his Shure E5s, and says they sound better now. Perhaps the process cleaned out a few layers of ear wax.