Noise Cancelling Headphones

[JessicaTam]

I was at a function last night where the band was good but unnecessarily loud.
I have always hated excessively loud music particularly coming from a family where deafness in old age is common, and I need my hearing for my work, so I have become less willing to tolerate it. I also have a friend who works in OHS at factory worksites, who points out that those noise levels would not be legal at her workplace.
Which means you sit outside with the smokers (ugh) or go home.
So, I was wondering, would a discreet pair of noise cancelling earphones do the trick?
Has anybody tried this?

I think that NC works best where there is a constant noise - such as aircraft engines. A band may just cut through them. Next time I am home, I will crank up the stereo and try my headphones to hear the effect. In the interest of science of course.

 

[Cynicor]

I suggest a better pair of earplug, even noise reduction earplugs. They are made for musicians and this sort of environment. NC headphones are best used with their own music/sound source which would kind of defeat the purpose!

 

[dontwanttoregister]

I suggest a better pair of earplug, even noise reduction earplugs. They are made for musicians and this sort of environment. NC headphones are best used with their own music/sound source which would kind of defeat the purpose!

Agreed, even just the cheap construction type (usually in an attractive flouro colour) foam plugs will do the trick. Cheap, disposable, easily obtainable and very effective. Throw a bunch in the glove box, a couple in the handbag/breifcase, etc.

 

[significance]

I took earplugs to the last concert I went to at a venue that I know tends to have the volume at hearing-damaging levels. It was actually easier to follow the lyrics with the ear-plugs in that without (otherwise, the volume was just overwhelming). Unfortunately, it somehow changed the quality of the music as well as the volume, so I didn't enjoy the concert much.

 

[Rox]

Thanks for that
Off to get some earplugs (hopefully won't need them)
I suspect some bands use volume as a substitute for quality.

 

[irv]

Call me tight or frugal, I purchased TDK In-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones from Office Works for $50, really wanted them for when I mow the lawn so I can listen to music. I was surprised at the low frequency noise suppression, can barely hear the mower. Tried them a little while ago whilst on a Dash 8, again good noise suppression that surprised me. Think I will stay tight and use them on USA flight in August 2015.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Call me tight or frugal, I purchased TDK In-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones from Office Works for $50, really wanted them for when I mow the lawn so I can listen to music. I was surprised at the low frequency noise suppression, can barely hear the mower. Tried them a little while ago whilst on a Dash 8, again good noise suppression that surprised me. Think I will stay tight and use them on USA flight in August 2015.

Funny you say that, I bought my kids some Bluetooth NC Sony headphones from Officeworks, just before Christmas. They were cheap (packaged up in lots of 2) but the NC is barely noticeable and one thing I neglected to pick up on was the fact they are only Bluetooth......you can't plug them in, which is a real pain. I bought a Bluetooth TX/RX device from Jaycar but to be very honest, it's not worth the hassle. OK for listening to iPhone or computer with onboard Bluetooth but no good for non-Bluetooth sources.

Also bought my +1 a set of the new Parrot Ziks (2.0) and she likes them. I haven't got to try them out yet so I can't comment.

 

[jetlagger]

Funny you say that, I bought my kids some Bluetooth NC Sony headphones from Officeworks, just before Christmas. They were cheap (packaged up in lots of 2) but the NC is barely noticeable and one thing I neglected to pick up on was the fact they are only Bluetooth......you can't plug them in, which is a real pain. I bought a Bluetooth TX/RX device from Jaycar but to be very honest, it's not worth the hassle. OK for listening to iPhone or computer with onboard Bluetooth but no good for non-Bluetooth sources.

Also bought my +1 a set of the new Parrot Ziks (2.0) and she likes them. I haven't got to try them out yet so I can't comment.

I bought a cheap set of Sony Bluetooth NC headphones $100 from the Sony store in BNE couple of months ago. Tried them out on a few flights & would rate them at best 6/10 for NC & sound quality. The only redeeming positive factor was the battery life.

 

[Yoz]

Addicted to Audio in Melbourne has a good range of headphones to listen to. Give them a call or visit their website.

Grabbed my PSB M4U-2s from their store based off online reviews and a comfort test to see how they felt on my head.

At this stage the sound quality is great and while the passive noise isolation isn't amazing the active noise cancellation works great with low frequencies - although I'm yet to take a flight with them. It did work pretty well on the low drones (and even some whines) around the house.

Only thing I would mention is that these things are comfortable on the ear but also quite heavy. It's not something I noticed initially but they make me look a little like the Nova FM mascot

Might post more once I've had the chance to take these on a flight.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

these things are comfortable on the ear......

Just to pick up on this comment, my Sennheiser MM 550-X over ears are now about 18months old and done a heap of work. When I first bought them, possibly the only negative I had was the ear cushions could have been a bit larger diameter to sit fully around the ears rather than on them (I find placing the backs of the ears in the cushion and let the fronts rest on the ear is the most comfortable), but of late I am noticing the cushions have deflated slightly.......only very marginally mind you, but it does tend to accentuate this small shortcoming of the original design. I still rave about these though, they were a great investment and the various 'toys' which came with them, like talk-through, have become almost indispensable. I tried on the Parrot Zik originals at an airport somewhere and the ear cushions were perfect, so I was a bit disappointed when the 2.0s arrived in the post, to find that the cushions are smaller and very similar now to the MM550s.

I think the comfort of wearing any headphone has shot to No.1 in my book. For flights of many hours duration, it is a very important consideration.

 

[Cynicor]

Just to pick up on this comment, my Sennheiser MM 550-X over ears are now about 18months old and done a heap of work. When I first bought them, possibly the only negative I had was the ear cushions could have been a bit larger diameter to sit fully around the ears rather than on them (I find placing the backs of the ears in the cushion and let the fronts rest on the ear is the most comfortable), but of late I am noticing the cushions have deflated slightly.......only very marginally mind you, but it does tend to accentuate this small shortcoming of the original design. I still rave about these though, they were a great investment and the various 'toys' which came with them, like talk-through, have become almost indispensable. I tried on the Parrot Zik originals at an airport somewhere and the ear cushions were perfect, so I was a bit disappointed when the 2.0s arrived in the post, to find that the cushions are smaller and very similar now to the MM550s.

I think the comfort of wearing any headphone has shot to No.1 in my book. For flights of many hours duration, it is a very important consideration.

The 550s are not over ear headphones, they are on ears cans, so the smaller padding is not a design flaw. If you want over ears, grab the pxc 450s which, in my opinion, offer superior comfort for long haul. The drawback is no Bluetooth.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

The drawback is no Bluetooth.

Which is why I don't have a pair ....I agree totally though, they are more comfortable. The 550s seem to be in between to be honest, but when worn as on ear, they do become a bit tedious after a while which arguably means it is a design flaw. They are very nearly suited to over ear wearing and can be done fairly well as described in my post above, but it is important to realise my comments are being a bit picky....they are comfortable, just could be better!

 

[JohnM]

I bought a cheap set of Sony Bluetooth NC headphones $100 from the Sony store in BNE couple of months ago. Tried them out on a few flights & would rate them at best 6/10 for NC & sound quality. The only redeeming positive factor was the battery life.

Is it permissible to use Bluetooth on aircraft? I thought it came under the 'radio transmitter'-type restriction.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Is it permissible to use Bluetooth on aircraft? I thought it came under the 'radio transmitter'-type restriction.

Allowed by VA and QF. I've also used it on PX, SQ, EY, UL and IU without any hassle although I'm not entirely sure if they were "allowed" officially or whether a blind eye was turned. If any airline asked me not to use them, I'd just plug them in, but once you start using Bluetooth, it's hard to go back.

 

[dodgeyhack]

The 550s are not over ear headphones, they are on ears cans, so the smaller padding is not a design flaw. If you want over ears, grab the pxc 450s which, in my opinion, offer superior comfort for long haul. The drawback is no Bluetooth.

Are you thinking of the 450s? The 550s are circumaural so should be over ear.
http://www.minidisc.com.au/headphon...o-bluetooth-headset-free-trave-p-1100003.html
http://www.minidisc.com.au/headphon...etooth-headset-free-travel-set-p-1100002.html

I'm planning on getting a new set of something before next trip.
Going to do a listening test Monday week.
The PSB M4U2s were top of my list (after reading reviews), but now I'm thinking of getting some in ear monitors.
Tried the Bose QC25 and thought they sounded awful - though the NC works well.

 

[Cynicor]

Are you thinking of the 450s? The 550s are circumaural so should be over ear.
http://www.minidisc.com.au/headphon...o-bluetooth-headset-free-trave-p-1100003.html
http://www.minidisc.com.au/headphon...etooth-headset-free-travel-set-p-1100002.html

I'm planning on getting a new set of something before next trip.
Going to do a listening test Monday week.
The PSB M4U2s were top of my list (after reading reviews), but now I'm thinking of getting some in ear monitors.
Tried the Bose QC25 and thought they sounded awful - though the NC works well.

Nope, tried all of them before.
I'd like to see someone whose ears are small enough to fit in 550s.

 

[whatmeworry]

Seems that Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre headphones are cheaply made. Makes me wonder about other headphones.

The New York Times reports that Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre headphones are inexpensive to make, with headphone designers estimating “the cost of making a fancy headset is as low as $14.” A pair of Beats by Dre can cost upwards of $450, however the quality of the headphones has always been a concern. TIME Magazine ranked Beats by Dre as the second to worst headphone brand out of 18 in terms of sound performance last month.

 

[Cynicor]

Seems that Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre headphones are cheaply made. Makes me wonder about other headphones.

Didn't everyone know that they were terrible and overpriced?

I assumed people knew they were paying for a look!

 

[Foreigner]

The July Qantas inflight magazine has 4 brands/models:

Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless $799.95

Beats Studio Wireless $479.95

Sony MDR-1R Noise Cancelling MK2 $569.95

Bose QuietComfort 25 $399

Bose the cheapest.

 

[UP4014]

A couple of months back I was up to replace 2 pairs of Bose and went for the Noisehush after reading the review here on AFF.

They are much cheaper and I felt I was paying for the logo on the side with the Bose and others I looked at.

Overall I am pleased with the Noisehush for the price. I give them a relatively hard time and over breakages and leaving them behind.......like sun glasses. I recommend Noisehush, can't be beat for the $$$s.

Matt