OT: Headphones

essex-commuter

I need some headphones for use when flying.

I’m not a big user of headphones, hardly ever use them at home. I bought a cheapish pair of Sony last year but when I use them on a plane with my Nexus tablet I struggle to hear it, in fact I couldn’t use them on my last flight.

Now because I only use them maybe twice a year, is it possible to get a pair that will cancel out aircraft noise without paying a lot of money? Would say £60 or less get me something I could make use of? I’m not bothered about amazing sound quality, I just want to be able to watch a film with ease.

Any ideas?

Wheelspinner

Send BR forum member Joelsim a PM. His business is headphones, does discounts for forum members. Mostly posts in Pro Race and Cake Stop

j_mcd

I've got a pair of these:

http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/72681-sony-nc-13-noise-cancelling-headphones-review/gallery

No idea how much they were but they won't have been too expensive as I don't listen to enough music to justify the real pricy stuff.

meanredspider

It's slightly OT to the OT topic but I've got the Bose QuietComfort headphones which are good but comes with a cable about 6' long - it gets caught on everything - especially plane armrests and seat belts - drives me insane. I have no idea what Bose were thinking - that people carry their phones in their socks?

The Rookie

I use Sony, but yes the peak volume on the newer ones isn't good, I have to have my iPad on max volume, my older ones were much better in that respect, as was the noise cancelling (purchased around 2007 and lasted for 6 years), Sennheiser get good reviews and come in at your price point, Bose are the best (my son has some) but you pay for it!

lostboysaint

Great value, constantly winning awards, very good product very close to what you want to pay - if you shop about. Oh, and Bose aren't even close to the best!!

http://www.richersounds.com/product/all-headphones/goldring/ns1000-expedition/gold-ns1000-exp

jds_1981

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19671374#p19671374]lostboysaint[/url] wrote:

Great value, constantly winning awards, very good product very close to what you want to pay - if you shop about. Oh, and Bose aren't even close to the best!!

http://www.richersounds.com/product/all-headphones/goldring/ns1000-expedition/gold-ns1000-exp

I've used these. They were okay. Did use on planes occasionally. Eventually broke can't remember how.

pblakeney

The Goldrings aren't the best, but they might be in this price bracket.

I have them, and next time round I will be extending my budget but for your requirements and bracket, perfect.

veronese68

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19671317#p19671317]Wheelspinner[/url] wrote:

Send BR forum member Joelsim a PM. His business is headphones, does discounts for forum members. Mostly posts in Pro Race and Cake Stop

Give Joelsim a shout. Nice guy and is happy to off advice.

iPete

Any reason that in-ear are not being recommended?

I've some cheap skull candy titans that block out pretty much everything without having to crank up the volume.

UndercoverElephant

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19671815#p19671815]iPete[/url] wrote:

Any reason that in-ear are not being recommended?

I've some cheap skull candy titans that block out pretty much everything without having to crank up the volume.

Because proper active noise-cancelling headphones are the closest I've seen technology get to magic.

I've had excellent in-the-ear ones that I've worn on flights and they still need turning up to an uncomfortable volume to drown out four jet engines. Certainly very uncomfortable after 12 hours in the air.

My noise-cancelling ones are the Panasonic HC-700 which I bought off eBay for about £45. Put them on and they block a lot of noise from the engines, flick the switch and after about 1 second and there's a slight pop, then almost silence. Sound pretty good too when you play music.

iPete

Concur on the magic front, I tried on some Bose QC25 whilst in Westfield last week, it's hell and I hate the place, and for a few minutes I was in a peaceful place!

I was just under the impression that in terms of bang for your buck you won't get anything that good for that budget with noise cancelling(?).

UndercoverElephant

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19672107#p19672107]iPete[/url] wrote:

Concur on the magic front, I tried on some Bose QC25 whilst in Westfield last week, it's hell and I hate the place, and for a few minutes I was in a peaceful place!

I was just under the impression that in terms of bang for your buck you won't get anything that good for that budget with noise cancelling(?).

I don't know. The only ones I've tried are the ones I have and some Bose in an Apple store in San Jose a few years back.

On the cheaper front, the Lindy ones did well in What Hi-Fi (five years ago, though):

http://www.whathifi.com/lindy/active-24025/review

http://www.lindy.co.uk/audio-video-c2/headphones-c188/nc-40-active-noise-cancelling-headphones-p2139

Also, my Father-in-Law has a pair of the 7dayshop.com ones:

https://www.7dayshop.com/products/7dayshop-headphones-active-noise-cancelling-headphones-with-aeroplane-kit-and-travel-case-7DAYADHF

Which he's very happy with. I've never tried them, he's never tried mine, though.

iPete

Thanks, that's a handy list to take a look at!
Contemplating some Sony EX650s and had ruled out over the ear on VFM.

The Rookie

I recall one display of the value of noise cancelling (flat ear pieces), was in a car travelling with a colleague, he had normal ear buds, I flipped on the noise cancelling before the music and I didn't need to bother using my MP3 as I could hear his music quite clearly once the car noise was eliminated.

essex-commuter

Thanks for all the comments / advice.

I was going to get the Goldrings but have just taken a punt on the Aero 7's from 7-day...they get great reviews....and for a few hours a year they may just be exactly what I need.

I'll provide feedback once I've tried them.

The Rookie

Please do, especially on volume levels as my Sony's are disappointing after the previous excellent pair.

il_principe

I have a pair of boise cancelling PSB's. Very effective on trains/planes

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/headphones/M4U-2-Headphones

navt

TBH I have a pair of on-the-ear NC headphones (Sennheiser PXC-300s) but they hardly get used anymore. About the only time I used NC is when I am on a plane. I find less need to use them aboard the A380s compared with the old 747s.

I really like the Sony MDR-1A over-the-ear.

essex-commuter

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19673152#p19673152]navt[/url] wrote:

TBH I have a pair of on-the-ear NC headphones (Sennheiser PXC-300s) but they hardly get used anymore. About the only time I used NC is when I am on a plane. I find less need to use them aboard the A380s compared with the old 747s.

Was lucky (?) enough to fly on the first Thomson Dreamliner flight a couple of years ago, after it was reintroduced following the fire issues it had. Any headphones would of done on that...uber quiet.

rick_chasey

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19671757#p19671757]Veronese68[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19671317#p19671317]Wheelspinner[/url] wrote:

Send BR forum member Joelsim a PM. His business is headphones, does discounts for forum members. Mostly posts in Pro Race and Cake Stop

Give Joelsim a shout. Nice guy and is happy to off advice.

Do be warned though. He likes Carlton Kirby, so chances are he's probably a bit deaf .

essex-commuter

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19673012#p19673012]essex-commuter[/url] wrote:

I'll provide feedback once I've tried them.

So I ended up buying the Aero 7 Actives’s from 7 Day Shop, total price including postage was £31.64. Item arrived 4 days after purchase.

Headphones come with all jacks necessary for connections, including the double 3.5mm plane.
Headphone cable is detachable.
The case supplied is very good, it reminded me of the case my Exposure light came in. It will protect the headphones well. The ear cups swivel 90 degrees to fit in the case.
Battery requirement is 2AAA’s which fit in the left hand side. The right hand side cup has the noise cancelling on/off switch and a volume control.

The headphones do not fit completely over the ears, they cover the ears but sit on top…I’m not sure if this is the same with other headphones?

I have yet to fly with the headphones which is what they were purchased for. The only way I could really test them was out in the garden when the next door neighbour was cutting his lawn! With the noise cancelling off and the volume set fairly low I could hear the mower, however the noise was reduced somewhat compared to other headphones I have tried. When I switched the noise cancelling on the volume increased a bit and the outside noise completely disappeared. Now I know this is only a basic trial but I was suitably impressed.

The volume of films on my tablet is louder than with my previous earphones.

Build quality seems very good for the price. If these were £80 to £100 I would still think the quality for price was good.

I’ll update as I use them more, but very happy so far.

The Rookie

Sounds like they will be my next pair!

essex-commuter

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19677047#p19677047]essex-commuter[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19673012#p19673012]essex-commuter[/url] wrote:

I’ll update as I use them more, but very happy so far.

Well I've tried them on the plane, just returned from 2 weeks in Mallorca.

Bloody brilliant. Only a 2.5 hour flight or so but I watched my downloaded film with ease, loved them. Once I watched my film I unplugged the lead at the headphone end and use them to drift off for half an hour or so. The way they blank out the noise when you flick the switch is amazing.

I had another film to watch coming home. Ended up seated away from my family (hate paying extra for specific seats - and ended up getting extra leg room row for nothing anyway)...and sat next to a London cabbie. As to be expected he had plenty to say and we ended up talking for the whole flight - typical!

veronese68

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19697361#p19697361]essex-commuter[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19677047#p19677047]essex-commuter[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19673012#p19673012]essex-commuter[/url] wrote:

I’ll update as I use them more, but very happy so far.

Well I've tried them on the plane, just returned from 2 weeks in Mallorca.

Bloody brilliant. Only a 2.5 hour flight or so but I watched my downloaded film with ease, loved them. Once I watched my film I unplugged the lead at the headphone end and use them to drift off for half an hour or so. The way they blank out the noise when you flick the switch is amazing.

I had another film to watch coming home. Ended up seated away from my family (hate paying extra for specific seats - and ended up getting extra leg room row for nothing anyway)...and sat next to a London cabbie. As to be expected he had plenty to say and we ended up talking for the whole flight - typical!

Did you not have a go at him for being too close?

essex-commuter

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19697362#p19697362]Veronese68[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19697361#p19697361]essex-commuter[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19677047#p19677047]essex-commuter[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19673012#p19673012]essex-commuter[/url] wrote:

I’ll update as I use them more, but very happy so far.

Well I've tried them on the plane, just returned from 2 weeks in Mallorca.

Bloody brilliant. Only a 2.5 hour flight or so but I watched my downloaded film with ease, loved them. Once I watched my film I unplugged the lead at the headphone end and use them to drift off for half an hour or so. The way they blank out the noise when you flick the switch is amazing.

I had another film to watch coming home. Ended up seated away from my family (hate paying extra for specific seats - and ended up getting extra leg room row for nothing anyway)...and sat next to a London cabbie. As to be expected he had plenty to say and we ended up talking for the whole flight - typical!

Did you not have a go at him for being too close?

I didn't mention cycling at all. My Father-in-law is a black cab driver so we spent most of the time discussing Uber, Halo, TX4 versus Mercedes...and the tax man

UndercoverElephant

So, I managed to leave my lovely Panasonics in a California hotel room. I had a 3am check-out to catch an early flight. Luckily a mate has picked them up for me, so I'll get them back, but I bought a cheap pair of Sony On-the-Ear type for the flight home. Anyone interested before I pop them on eBay? They're good at low-frequencies, but I think I'll stick with the Panasonics.

rick_chasey

I am on the look for some new head/ear phones.

I currently use the B&W C5s, which I have really enjoyed in terms of comfort, fit, and sound. Warm sound, fairly accurate (within the bounds of a 'warm' sound, so obviously not perfect), and a fantastic range.



I tend to have a fairly broad range of music, so I don't like anything that's too orientated to one thing (e.g. beats which are great if you listen to pop, rap or dance).

I have however had some big problems with my C5s. I'm on my 3rd set, having had 2 replaced (for free, in fairness) because either an earphone has suddenly stopped working, or a loose connection within a few months.

The same has happened, a loose connection - that rustle and earphones dropping in and out - again, but i'm outside of the warranty.

I seem to get this problem a lot - after 18 months or so, I get loose connections and rustling.

I'm happy to spend money on them (as you can tell, B&Ws are £150), but I'm getting fed up with having to replace any headphones I get every 2 years.

So - what do I want?

Earphones which are good in terms of sound (as described above), are comfortable, block out external noise (passively) and that I can use a lot in public.

I'm not so keen on cans, since they're a faff to have around when you're walking about a lot, but I can be persuaded if someone can convince me - though they'd have to look good too.

Finally, they need to be able to last! I use them a lot, but I'm not particularly rough with them!

So...with all of that.....any recommendations?

asprilla

I'm doing a lot of flying the the moment (and not much riding) and I just got a pair of Digital Silence DS101as. Very cheap and the noise reduction isn't perfect but for £30 they do the job. I'm going to get some Q tips which should improve things.

I was thinking about full headphones (the Goldrings are cheap but highly rated) but then I remembered that I wear glasses and so ear cups tend to get pretty uncomfortable after an hour. The arms on my glasses also tend to mean the seal isn't great.

I've used them on four flights in the last couple of weeks and I've been glad I had them. Whilst I was disappointed at first, the they don't block everything and produce a slight hiss themselves, i realise that I'd be hard pushed to justify spending more.

imatfaal

Joel who spends his time in Pro Race sells head-phones - he might be worth PMing