noise cancellation headphones

[semiotica]

Anyone have any good recommendations for a set of noise cancellation headphones? I alreeady ruled out Bose and Sennheiser as too expensive, and Sony as just a piece of crap (I bought and returned a pair, you could hear artifacting). Looking at these right now, anyone know if they're any good: http://www.hearotto.com/Products_OT5.aspx ?

[DaveN]

I have found that the Shure in-ear phones and the Senn HD-280pros do a pretty good job of noise cancellation without having any of that circuitry. The noise cancellation happens via a very good surround or by establishing a good seal in the ear. If external noise can't get in, then you don't need to cancel it.

David

[DJ WILBUR]

I have found that the Shure in-ear phones and the Senn HD-280pros do a pretty good job of noise cancellation without having any of that circuitry. The noise cancellation happens via a very good surround or by establishing a good seal in the ear. If external noise can't get in, then you don't need to cancel it.

David

I have the Sennheiser HD-280s and they sound pretty great and block out 32dbs or so of noise without the circuitry that alters the music. They are my new headphones to fly with. You can score them for about $80 at amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-280-Dynamic-Collapsible-Headphones/dp/B000065BPB/ref=pd_bbs_5/102-2665415-2744965?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1173229826&sr=8-5

[Dennis Metz]

I like my Shure 4C in ear much better than the Sennheiser NR phones I bought a couple of years ago.

[DaveN]

I have the Sennheiser HD-280s and they sound pretty great and block out 32dbs or so of noise without the circuitry that alters the music. They are my new headphones to fly with. You can score them for about $80 at amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-280-Dynamic-Collapsible-Headphones/dp/B000065BPB/ref=pd_bbs_5/102-2665415-2744965?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1173229826&sr=8-5

The best part is that your ipod can drive them. You'd do better with a dedicated portable amp, but the player can work well in a pinch.

David

[visprashyana]

I would certainly recommend the Shure earbuds because they actually lower the outside noise by much more than a noise cancelling unit. The noise cancelling actually injects noise into the unit instead of just isolating your ear. If you have the Shure earbuds properly inserted (this is key because very few people actually read the instructions), you will be surprised as to how little you can hear. If you had them on without music and I was a couple of feet away from you and talking in a normal tone of voice, you wouldn't hear me. They've been making equipment for longer than most of the other companies listed.

[semiotica]

So no one has any experience with Otto headphones? I might go for those Sennheiser HD-280s because they are the closest to my price range. I am still excited about the prospect of a decent set of noise cancellation headphones for less than $50, maybe I'll buy the Otto ones and just send them back if they suck.

[kaneman]

No experience with the OTTO Headphones. They list Microcenter as a dealer, if you have one near you you can check 'em out in person. My 2 cents? I fly a lot... 100k miles in a year some years.

IMO, circumaural 'phones provide better isolation but aren't as comfortable. If you primarily fly short hops, they're fine. If you're going international, big big no. My favorite for in-ear are Shure. The higher end models come with fit-kits, and you can try different eartips to find what feels best and what gives you the best seal. Those work far better than any active cancellation. No matter how good the active cancellation, it's not going to get rid of loud talkers or babies crying. The Shure's can, or at least get them down to a tolerable level. I even sleep in mine.

[visprashyana]

Absolutely, I use my Shure earbuds many times per week and always while flying. They reduce noise by many multitudes compared to the active noise cancellation headphones. I prefer a good fitting earbud to just about every headphone out there. I was listening to My Morning Jacket the other night at the gym and they have very deep bass on some of their songs and I was amazed at how low they go. Then, I started smiling and thinking about how several people on this forum said that they don't have enough bass. It so clear that if you don't have them in correctly, you won't hear bass, but if you have them in correctly there is plenty for everyone.

[DaveN]

Absolutely, I use my Shure earbuds many times per week and always while flying. They reduce noise by many multitudes compared to the active noise cancellation headphones. I prefer a good fitting earbud to just about every headphone out there. I was listening to My Morning Jacket the other night at the gym and they have very deep bass on some of their songs and I was amazed at how low they go. Then, I started smiling and thinking about how several people on this forum said that they don't have enough bass. It so clear that if you don't have them in correctly, you won't hear bass, but if you have them in correctly there is plenty for everyone.

But let's be clear here. This is not disco bass. It is not exaggerated in any way. With a good fit, you get accurate, balanced bass response. If you want you brain to wiggle, then move on to the Senns 212s with a very annoying mid-bass hump.

My wife loves the 212s. :help: :help: :help:

[semiotica]

No experience with the OTTO Headphones. They list Microcenter as a dealer, if you have one near you you can check 'em out in person. My 2 cents? I fly a lot... 100k miles in a year some years.


I did just that, actually, was pretty impressed, picked up a pair even though they were a little more expensive than they would have been if I'd ordered them online. The salesguy told me they were designed for racecar drivers. I haven't tested them on any engine noise yet though, but they're certainly better than the Sony pair.

[grbl]

Hear's another vote for the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro's. They sound great. They isolate really well (because they're closed back, over the ear, and they seal really well), they're cheap ($80), and they're easily driven by an iPod. The downside: they're ugly as sin and the build quality is a little suspect. But IMO they do the job better than noise cancelling phones which to me always alter the sound of the music.

[semiotica]

Now that I've had the Ottos for almost a month I've tried them in a variety of places, definitely a great buy. Mostly I use them to drown out my neighbors ongoing renovation project (lived here for four years... still just as much construction now as when I moved in).

[coopmv]

I have a pair of AKG K28 NC, which has a pretty effective active NC system. AKG ia also a leading headphones manufacturer. IMHO, its headphones should beat anything Bose has to offer.

[guitarguy]

I did just that, actually, was pretty impressed, picked up a pair even though they were a little more expensive than they would have been if I'd ordered them online. The salesguy told me they were designed for racecar drivers. I haven't tested them on any engine noise yet though, but they're certainly better than the Sony pair.

I can't see how a race car drive could wear noise cancelling headphones under his helmet.....:sigh:

Most CART drivers wear some type of In the ear phone such as shure, westone, sensaphonic and have custom molds made to boot.

I use Shure E5c with Sensaphonics molds for travel and could not be happier! Best way to cancel noise is to not let it in....

[semiotica]

I can't see how a race car drive could wear noise cancelling headphones under his helmet.....:sigh:


lol - no, I think that the products that Otto makes for consumers are pretty different from the ones for industrial use. They make other headphones that aren't noise cancellation too. I know there's got to be some noise cancellation technology built into whatever racecar drivers wear under their helmets, because they have to hear their spotters over the sound of the engines.

[semiotica]

btw they just sent me a coupon - it's for free shipping and 10% off their bluetooth car kit: www.hearotto.com/Products_OT2.aspx or the headset/mp3 player they make: www.hearotto.com/Products_OT3.aspx, figured I'd pass it on: promo code FREESHIP.

[Jamie Tate]

I have Shure E3C earphones. Besides sending me to the emergency room (HERE (http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=2328434&postcount=41) and HERE (http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=2321378&postcount=9)) they tend to enhance internal body noises. I originally bought them to block out the horrible music played at my gym but all I heard while I was running was the thump of my feet and heavy breathing.

I recently bought a pair of Bose noise canceling headphones for a trip to England. They worked great! My ears were in great shape when I got off the plane. Nothing I'd ever experienced before. I'd never recommend phones with exaggerated low end but it was great during the flight since cabin pressurization tends to thin your hearing out a bit.

[Duggeh]

Another thumbs up for the Senn HD280 Pro. Better quality than the Bose active offerings with none of the high pricing, bloated sound and need for batteries. My personal choice for back of the car or aeroplane listening. As has been said, work well from the ipod headphone socket and shine really well with an extra portable amp too.

[semiotica]

I have Shure E3C earphones. Besides sending me to the emergency room...

Ok... that is truly frightening to me, the idea of anything stuck in my ear. Not willing to risk that for a little less background noise. I'll stick with my around-ear set, thanks.

[semiotica]

Hey this is a way to make your own really easily for like $20, http://www.metacafe.com/watch/548578/headp...nating_headset/ simple as that.... though they wouldn't be as good as the ones I have. Wish I'd seen this before I bought a pair, though I'm pretty happy with the ones I got (anyone seen this: http://www.wehatetrendystuff.com/? It's a funny video by the OTTO guys of them destroying a bunch of things in creative ways)

[Paul G]

Audio-Technia offers a set that have been well-received:

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/happenings/3a15e2fae51daf77/index.html

Paul

[slwiser]

Audio-Technia offers a set that have been well-received:

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/happenings/3a15e2fae51daf77/index.html

Paul

These I have and they sound very good.

[BeatleJWOL]

Showin HD-280 love here.

They're a mite bass-thin (at least compared to my Altec Lansings, with subwoofer :D), but they do keep sound out: not perfect like having dedicated circuitry, but they'll certainly keep you out of nearby concentration :p mind, though, that they're large, and earbuds might suit you better for portability.

(did I just sort-of recommend earbuds? shoot me. :p)

[Doug Sclar]

So far the Bose sounded the best to me. I just can't get myself to buy them becaue they're Bose, but I have a few flights coming up, so I may just bite.

Btw, Costco has some JBL 501's which are under $100.00. Has anybody heard them?