Noise cancelling headphones

il_principe

Earlier this year I contrived to leave my in-ear 'phones on a plane. I have 4 flights coming up in the next few months and would like to replace them. However, I don't really want another pair of in-ear ones:
1: Because they could get a little uncomfy after a few hours
2: Because with a baby knocking about I'd like something that allows me to deactivate noise cancelling - no good to be listening to music at home when I'm on baby duty if I can't hear him cry (although I'm sure many will disagree). Only way to do this with the in-ears was to take one of them out.

Does anyone have any recommendations? My preferences are:

1: Sound quality is more important than noise cancelling effectiveness
2: Both Active and Passive options
3: USB charging ability would be nice
4: Portable
5: iPad/Phone compatible - so volume, skip and mic on the cable
6: No proprietary nonsense
7: Nothing in the ridiculous 'Beats' range

Cheers!

sketchley

First noise cancelling circuits themselves are not going to stop a screaming baby, they are more for hiss and rumble. What would get rid of screaming baby noise is top set of closed cup headphones (with orwithout noise cancelling) + turning it up. Second point the noise cancelling ciruits work by inverting phase then inverting back again so with the circuit off the phasing is wrong and they can sound rubbish.

I have a pair of these, they do not block out everything but quality is excellent http://www.whathifi.com/review/sennheis ... cancelling) had them 5 years now had to replace the ear cups earlier this year for less than £10. However home use is pair of non noise cancelling closed cup technics which do sound much better but need a good amp to drive them.

I also run with one of these since getting a galaxy s3 as the s3 output was rubbish if not used with in ear phones http://www.whathifi.com/review/sennheis ... cancelling)

mountainpenguin

I have a set of sure e3 in ear phones and often leave them in with nothing playing ona flight to block noise

rick_chasey

http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-buying-guide


This is an excellent guide to buying headphones.


What I would say re active noise cancelling headphones is that they're the worst of all worlds bar noise cancelling where it's only marginally better.

They need a real seal around the ear so therefore are very big and bulky. In my experience with proper over ear cans is that they are just as uncomfortable after 3-4 hrs as in-ear-buds. You get a few on-ear headphones now, but I wonder what the point is at that point, since you'll still get bleeding.

They usually require a separate battery source to power the microphone and the noise cancelling aspect, and often won't work without that - so if you phones run out of battery you're screwed.

That all adds weight and impracticality - and in my experience a well fitted in-ear-bud get's 90% there, but will offer you far superior sound quality for the same price.

I'm a bit of a nerd about this. Ended up going for the bower & wilkins C5.



Excellent quality. Not hyper precise, near enough, but it warms it up a bit and keeps it lively which i prefer - I'm not in a studio.
The fit is excellent, it's weighted towards the ear (unusual), and the loop you can see fixes it into your ear for a very secure fit.

Everyone's got different taste in what they like everything to sound like, so give it some effort. After all, it's the filter through which you ear all your music.

The Rookie

I have some sony flat type noise canceling and they lasted me really well until the foam pads fell apart (after 6 years).
NC only works on consistent noise, in fact when sat in a car with them on (no music playing) I could then really clear the music coming from one of the other occupants in-ear buds.
Great for flights were the bulk of the noise is the engine rumble and the 'whoosh' from airflow over the skin.

il_principe

I really don't want in ear ones again. I had some very expensive Shure ones. Like I said, they got uncomforatble after a while and they basically blocked out too much sound (if that makes sense). Walking around with them on was very disconcerting.

I came across the http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/headphones/M4U-2-Headphones during my Googling. Seem to be very well reviewed and crucially the passive mode is supposed to be good. Any one experienced these?

wandsworth

Rick Chasey wrote:

You get a few on-ear headphones now, but I wonder what the point is at that point, since you'll still get bleeding.

Only if you turn the music up really, really loud.

iPete

If feeling flush, the gadget show (and seemingly lots of other people) rated the Parrot Zik wireless headphones..

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/H9557 ... -by-starck

Paul E

I have some Bose (I know some audiophiles hate them) quiet comfort 3's and use them on trains and planes and they work great for me and sound fine to my ears, you can get different leads too with phone/tablet controls

the_fuggler

I use these guys - http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/

If you can make it down to Lancing they can usually set up demos of your shortlist for you.

jedster

I used to have expensive shure in-ears too. Agree - sound good but can be uncomfortable and its a mission to take them out when you want to hear someone.
I now have these
http://www.bowers-wilkins.co.uk/Headpho ... plore.html
Foldable on-ear design with ipod/ipad control cable. Not noise cancelling but sound good. I dont find the noise on aeroplanes intrudes on them.
Pretty good

il_principe

I plumped for a pair of PSB M4U 2's in the end. They arrived yesterday, and so far I'm very impressed. They have both active, passive and NC modes, and sound fantastic with the NC turned off. In fact with NC off they're some of the best headphones I've ever used. Ran them through my Rotel Amp at home last night and was pleasantly surprised.

The NC itself seems pretty good. Not as good as the Bose ones I tried, but the sound quality is miles better, they are closed cup as well. They also seem well built, but time will tell. Fold up neatly too.

My only gripe is that whilst they are iPhone compatible in regards to having a mic, track skip etc, there is no volume control function on the cable. A minor irritant I suppose, but an oversight.

daviesee

Try them on your phone before judging.
Last time I tried getting quality earphones for work I failed miserably.
I got a set of Grados which I found out not only need an amp to drive them properly but anyone in a 10 feet radius can hear the music almost as clear as me. :oops:
A major disappointment at work but supremely happy when plugged into the HiFi at home. :P

il_principe

daviesee wrote:

Try them on your phone before judging.
Last time I tried getting quality earphones for work I failed miserably.
I got a set of Grados which I found out not only need an amp to drive them properly but anyone in a 10 feet radius can hear the music almost as clear as me. :oops:
A major disappointment at work but supremely happy when plugged into the HiFi at home. :P

I'm sat using them through my phone at the mo. No probs at all, although most of my music is in 'lossless' format which helps I guess.

daviesee

Il Principe wrote:

I'm sat using them through my phone at the mo. No probs at all, although most of my music is in 'lossless' format which helps I guess.

I was addressing the power output of the phone v amp. Glad you got a result! :P

sketchley

daviesee wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

I'm sat using them through my phone at the mo. No probs at all, although most of my music is in 'lossless' format which helps I guess.

I was addressing the power output of the phone v amp. Glad you got a result! :P

Galaxy s3 by any chance? Try a FiiO in line amp....

sketchley

Il Principe wrote:

I plumped for a pair of PSB M4U 2's in the end. They arrived yesterday, and so far I'm very impressed. They have both active, passive and NC modes, and sound fantastic with the NC turned off. In fact with NC off they're some of the best headphones I've ever used. Ran them through my Rotel Amp at home last night and was pleasantly surprised.

The NC itself seems pretty good. Not as good as the Bose ones I tried, but the sound quality is miles better, they are closed cup as well. They also seem well built, but time will tell. Fold up neatly too.

My only gripe is that whilst they are iPhone compatible in regards to having a mic, track skip etc, there is no volume control function on the cable. A minor irritant I suppose, but an oversight.

So would you recommend? Upgrade is an option....

daviesee

Sketchley wrote:

daviesee wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

I'm sat using them through my phone at the mo. No probs at all, although most of my music is in 'lossless' format which helps I guess.

I was addressing the power output of the phone v amp. Glad you got a result! :P

Galaxy s3 by any chance? Try a FiiO in line amp....

Nope.
iPhone. The Grados are good but need a bit of power pushing them.
As they are open back, they are not suitable for office use. :oops: Great for at home plugged into the amp though. :P
Using a set of Sennheiser (HD200 maybe? Edit - PX 200) in the office which work well. :P
But we digress......

il_principe

Sketchley wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

I plumped for a pair of PSB M4U 2's in the end. They arrived yesterday, and so far I'm very impressed. They have both active, passive and NC modes, and sound fantastic with the NC turned off. In fact with NC off they're some of the best headphones I've ever used. Ran them through my Rotel Amp at home last night and was pleasantly surprised.

The NC itself seems pretty good. Not as good as the Bose ones I tried, but the sound quality is miles better, they are closed cup as well. They also seem well built, but time will tell. Fold up neatly too.

My only gripe is that whilst they are iPhone compatible in regards to having a mic, track skip etc, there is no volume control function on the cable. A minor irritant I suppose, but an oversight.

So would you recommend? Upgrade is an option....

Too early. Only had them a few days. Am flying next week so we'll see what they are like to travel with. They are a little on the heavy side. Worked from home yesterday and used them for a few hours on the trot. Still impressed with the sound - was playing lossless via my Macbook.

Paul E

Just leave them overnight with normal volume music on, I find all ear/headphones sound better with a few hours put through them.

spasypaddy

are lossless a good band?

yes i know its a file format

sketchley

Il Principe wrote:

Sketchley wrote:

So would you recommend? Upgrade is an option....

Too early. Only had them a few days. Am flying next week so we'll see what they are like to travel with. They are a little on the heavy side. Worked from home yesterday and used them for a few hours on the trot. Still impressed with the sound - was playing lossless via my Macbook.

How about now?

Mikey23

He can't hear you...

Initialised

I use ASUS RoG Vulcan ANC headphones to block out he wife and kids while gaming. They work so well she's able to sneak up behind me and unplug them. TBH I don't use the ANC too much, it works well enough to drown out background noise but kind of deadens the sound.