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Hi folks! What are you opinions regarding the following noise
cancellation headphones, in terms of sound quality, noise cancellation,
and comfort:

Bose Quiet Comfort 2
Sony MDR NC20
Sony MDR NC50

....or any of the other Bose noise cancellation headphones, or for that
matter, pretty much any other pair that costs less than the Bose Quiet
Comfort 2.

As you can probably guess, I'd like to get a decent pair of noise
cancellation headphones but I'd really like to avoid Bose, based on
what some people have said in here about them (namely, that they don't
publish specs and that they tend to be overpriced).

I know this is hard to quantify, but really, if I were to get a much,
much cheaper Sony pair instead of the Bose, how much quality would I
really be missing?

Brian

[Scott Dorsey]

wrote:
Hi folks! What are you opinions regarding the following noise
cancellation headphones, in terms of sound quality, noise cancellation,
and comfort:

Bose Quiet Comfort 2
Sony MDR NC20
Sony MDR NC50

None of them worth worth a damn, really. They all cancel low frequencies
pretty well, but they aren't built with enough acoustical damping to do
anything about higher frequencies.

...or any of the other Bose noise cancellation headphones, or for that
matter, pretty much any other pair that costs less than the Bose Quiet
Comfort 2.

The higher end Bose sets actually work. They cost a hell of a lot more
than they are worth, but that's typical Bose.

The $300 Sennheiser is okay but again does not have serious mechanical
isolation and does not surround the ear enough for good high frequency
rejection. The two more expensive models are much better, however.

As you can probably guess, I'd like to get a decent pair of noise
cancellation headphones but I'd really like to avoid Bose, based on
what some people have said in here about them (namely, that they don't
publish specs and that they tend to be overpriced).

They are horribly overpriced for what you get. When you audition these
things, first listen to how much noise they cut out when they are turned
off.

Any of these units, even the $20 Philips ones from K-Mart, are going to
be very effective (at least 6 dB) on repetitive low frequency noise. Only
the better ones are mechanically well-built enough to be very effective
at high frequencies where the electronic cancellation no longer works.
This means on a C-130 you won't have all that much of a difference
between headsets, but on T-33 it'll be painfully obvious.

I know this is hard to quantify, but really, if I were to get a much,
much cheaper Sony pair instead of the Bose, how much quality would I
really be missing?

In terms of what? Noise rejection? Listen to them with them turned off
and see how much more effective one unit is at acoustically blocking the
sound. You'll hear why the $20 units are $20 and the $800 ones are $800
for the most part (except you'll notice the $800 Bose isn't any better
than the $400 Sennheiser and David Clark sets).
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[PapaNate]

wrote:

I know this is hard to quantify, but really, if I were to get a much,
much cheaper Sony pair instead of the Bose, how much quality would I
really be missing?

You wouldn't miss anything...you would gain about $170.

That said...I fly all the time. One of my clients was nice enough to give a
Bose NC Headphone set (the top of the line $300+ phones...).

My conclusion...I have better success with foam earplugs that the
headphones. I have the best results using the headphones in combination
with the foam earplugs.

Also I dislike carrying the headphones around...between that and the
laptop, taking off my shoes, jacket, pants, belt and everything else at the
checkpoints, then not always flying first class every time where the coach
space is limited...I find carrying around one more item a PITA! Since the
foam earplugs can fit in my pocket, and go unnoticed by security...I love
using them.

That's my take.




--
Existential Garbageman of America.
"Did I really throw that out, or did I jump really far away from it?"

[Laurence Payne]

On 27 Jul 2006 19:09:31 -0700, wrote:

Hi folks! What are you opinions regarding the following noise
cancellation headphones, in terms of sound quality, noise cancellation,
and comfort:

Bose Quiet Comfort 2
Sony MDR NC20
Sony MDR NC50

I briefly tried a Sennheiser pair recently. I was quite impressed.
I'd use them for utility purposes, not for listening for enjoyment
though. I've never found processed sound anything but increasingly
irritating over long periods.

[Randy Yates]

wrote:
Hi folks! What are you opinions regarding the following noise
cancellation headphones, in terms of sound quality, noise cancellation,
and comfort:

Bose Quiet Comfort 2
Sony MDR NC20
Sony MDR NC50

...or any of the other Bose noise cancellation headphones, or for that
matter, pretty much any other pair that costs less than the Bose Quiet
Comfort 2.

As you can probably guess, I'd like to get a decent pair of noise
cancellation headphones but I'd really like to avoid Bose, based on
what some people have said in here about them (namely, that they don't
publish specs and that they tend to be overpriced).

I know this is hard to quantify, but really, if I were to get a much,
much cheaper Sony pair instead of the Bose, how much quality would I
really be missing?

Brian

Hi Brian,

I've been using the Sennheiser PXC250 (about $125) for about
a year now, and I'm very happy with them. I mainly use them for
tuning out office noise in the cubicle.

They are actually quite good for serious listening as I've been able
to easily detect phenomenom that are more subtle in other listening
environments (e.g., the singing in Glenn Gould's Bach recordings).

Battery life is pretty good if you can remember to turn them off
after use. I'd say that, with heavy use, a pair lasts about 3 weeks.

--Randy

[Richard Crowley]

"Randy Yates" wrote ...
They are actually quite good for serious listening as I've been able
to easily detect phenomenom that are more subtle in other listening
environments (e.g., the singing in Glenn Gould's Bach recordings).

Are you saying that the Sennheisers are able to remove
the Mr. Gould's vocal noise and just leave the piano?
That would be great! :-))

[Rafael Vanoni]

Never tried any of the ones you mentioned, but I work with a drummer
that has a Koss QZ99. I tried it a couple of times and it is pretty
impressive, much like those used on construction in terms of
cancellation.

Can't use if for any extended period of time though, but one you can
definetly use to record drums without going deaf or having leakage
problems later.

..02

Rafael

[Animix]

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi folks! What are you opinions regarding the following noise
cancellation headphones, in terms of sound quality, noise cancellation,
and comfort:

Bose Quiet Comfort 2
Sony MDR NC20
Sony MDR NC50

...or any of the other Bose noise cancellation headphones, or for that
matter, pretty much any other pair that costs less than the Bose Quiet
Comfort 2.

As you can probably guess, I'd like to get a decent pair of noise
cancellation headphones but I'd really like to avoid Bose, based on
what some people have said in here about them (namely, that they don't
publish specs and that they tend to be overpriced).

I know this is hard to quantify, but really, if I were to get a much,
much cheaper Sony pair instead of the Bose, how much quality would I
really be missing?

Brian


Lots of choices out there if you just want to lower your noise levels while
travelling or while inhabitings areas wherein explosions are happening,
etc.......;oP
..
http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/shootandhun.html

[Scott Dorsey]

Richard Crowley wrote:
"Randy Yates" wrote ...
They are actually quite good for serious listening as I've been able
to easily detect phenomenom that are more subtle in other listening
environments (e.g., the singing in Glenn Gould's Bach recordings).

Are you saying that the Sennheisers are able to remove
the Mr. Gould's vocal noise and just leave the piano?
That would be great! :-))

I think the Zenph guys have a process that does just that. No joke.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Randy Yates]

Richard Crowley wrote:
"Randy Yates" wrote ...
They are actually quite good for serious listening as I've been able
to easily detect phenomenom that are more subtle in other listening
environments (e.g., the singing in Glenn Gould's Bach recordings).

Are you saying that the Sennheisers are able to remove
the Mr. Gould's vocal noise and just leave the piano?
That would be great! :-))

If only!

--RY

[Ken Winokur]

I bought a pair of the original Bose phones (and then returned them).
Not only were they terrible phones (a poor balance of high and low
end), but in a test against my best closed ear phones, Beyer DT 100 and
Sony MCR V7506, there wasn't much difference in the amount of noise
they blocked out.

Then I tried a pair of foam earplugs ($.69) vs. the Bose (with no
sound), and the earplugs seemed better.

$300? I don't think so.

I do understsand that the new model of Bose at least sound better.

[Jaimo]

Drop the noise cancellation phones idea and go for a good pair of "in
the ear" phones.

Shure EC2 or 3
Etymotics
or even some of the low price Sony' s are a better bet.

Great for long distance airline commutes, drives & late night sessions
etc
light weight and easily portable
not good if you munch chips while you listen
not good if you listen while you jog

but always better than the attempted digital electronic wizardary from
companies like Bose etc.



Ken Winokur wrote:
I bought a pair of the original Bose phones (and then returned them).
Not only were they terrible phones (a poor balance of high and low
end), but in a test against my best closed ear phones, Beyer DT 100 and
Sony MCR V7506, there wasn't much difference in the amount of noise
they blocked out.

Then I tried a pair of foam earplugs ($.69) vs. the Bose (with no
sound), and the earplugs seemed better.

$300? I don't think so.

I do understsand that the new model of Bose at least sound better.

[Scott Dorsey]

Ken Winokur wrote:
I bought a pair of the original Bose phones (and then returned them).
Not only were they terrible phones (a poor balance of high and low
end), but in a test against my best closed ear phones, Beyer DT 100 and
Sony MCR V7506, there wasn't much difference in the amount of noise
they blocked out.

Which original Bose phones? Were they closed-ear or just sat on top of
the ear?

$300? I don't think so.

If they were only $300, I suspect they weren't the original ones but were
the cheap consumer model that does not completely cover the ear, and which
is much less effective at higher frequencies for obvious reasons.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Willie K. Yee, MD]

Yeeeah.

Ear protection is not the same as noise cancellation.

My instincts (totally unprofessional) tell me that in a high noise
environment, noise cancellation phone might actually be dangerous,
because you might be unaware of the high SPLs actually getting to you,
but I could be suffering cerebro-rectal insertion on this one.

On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 08:58:20 -0600, "Animix"
wrote:
Lots of choices out there if you just want to lower your noise levels while
travelling or while inhabitings areas wherein explosions are happening,
etc.......;oP
.
http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/shootandhun.html

[Michael Wozniak]

"Willie K. Yee, MD" wrote in message
...
Yeeeah.

Ear protection is not the same as noise cancellation.

My instincts (totally unprofessional) tell me that in a high noise
environment, noise cancellation phone might actually be dangerous,
because you might be unaware of the high SPLs actually getting to you,
but I could be suffering cerebro-rectal insertion on this one.



I thought it was called "cranio-rectal inversion"?

Mikey
Nova Music Productions

[rickymix]

...but I could be suffering cerebro-rectal insertion on this one.

I thought it was called "cranio-rectal inversion"?

ROTFL! Great phrases, either way! I'll have to remember those.
Thanks for the laugh!
Cheers, Rick.

[Ken Winokur]

Which original Bose phones? Were they closed-ear or just sat on top of
the ear?

$300? I don't think so.

If they were only $300, I suspect they weren't the original ones but were
the cheap consumer model that does not completely cover the ear, and which
is much less effective at higher frequencies for obvious reasons.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

They were regular closed ear phones. Somewhat smaller than the current
ones. I bought them at the Apple Store, and I think there were about
$300.