Noise Cancelling Headphones- fill me in nerds

[valve bouncer]

Got my eye on a pair of these bastards
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665089304
Anything I need to be aware of when buying, things to look for, things to avoid? I'm envisaging plane use for the most part and no, I don't need them, I want them because the more stuff I have the better. DON'T JUDGE ME.:twitch:

[Arkayne]

The in-ear style coupled with the noise canceling electromicals will do a great job at killing ambient noise. The only thing I can think of is long term comfort. Do you intend to wear these for hours at a time? If so, and this is personal preference, I like the over the ear kind.

[valve bouncer]

It'll be for flights from Japan to Australia, Europe and probably America at some point, so yeah I will have them on for long periods of time. The airlines I fly usually have AVOD and I'm sick of not being able to hear the movies properly. I take pills on planes to sleep so not too worried about having them in my lug-holes as consciousness ebbs.

[syadasti]

In-ear with a good fit (many come with a variety of canal fit pieces) does a good enough job passively canceling noise plus it doesn't taint the signal with processing and you'll get a cheaper headphone that price as you'll have to pay for the noise cancellation electronics. Go with a better brand like Shure or Superears instead Sony.

Check out this page for more info:

http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-headphone-type/in-ear-monitor-type/

[valve bouncer]

In-ear with a good fit (many come with a variety of canal fit pieces) does a good enough job passively canceling noise plus it doesn't taint the signal with processing and you'll get a cheaper headphone that price as you'll have to pay for the noise cancellation electronics. Go with a better brand like Shure or Superears instead Sony.

Check out this page for more info:

http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-headphone-type/in-ear-monitor-type/
Do you mean Ultimate Ears not Super Ears? I've heard Shure are probably the best but unfortunately a little more yen than I'm willing to pay, even for entry level. Interesting article though mate, cheers.

[syadasti]

Yeah Ultimate Ears, sorry.

Mixed up the superlatives, sorry :confused:

[syadasti]

Ask Narlus how he likes his, I sold him a pair with my 80GB iPod. Might keep you in budget...

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Super-fi-Studio-Earphones-Black/dp/B000B5XU06/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1204827975&sr=8-1

[H8R]

I just bought some Shure E2's for stage monitoring and I used them on a couple flights. They work amazingly well for the price and come with many different inserts and a 2 year warranty.

The E2's are recently discontinued, if you can find them you'll get a good deal. I got mine for $45.

Also known as Shure SCL2 (newer version).

Shure E2c and SCL2c are the consumer versions, same thing but no case is included.

[narlus]

Ask Narlus how he likes his, I sold him a pair with my 80GB iPod. Might keep you in budget...

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Super-fi-Studio-Earphones-Black/dp/B000B5XU06/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1204827975&sr=8-1

they are ok, but not as good as the Shure E2Cs. the cord in particular is super-flimsy, and the fit isn't as good.

[narlus]

you can sleep w/ the shure ear buds, but only if you keep yr head straight, and aren't laying on one ear.

[valve bouncer]

Ask Narlus how he likes his, I sold him a pair with my 80GB iPod. Might keep you in budget...

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Super-fi-Studio-Earphones-Black/dp/B000B5XU06/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1204827975&sr=8-1

Cheapest I could find them here was about double that price.:plthumbsdown: Oh well.

[H8R]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/105-1991766-7576404?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Shure+E2C&x=0&y=0

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/34/60/4aa4b220dca07232439a2010.L.jpg

[H8R]

Cheapest I could find them here was about double that price.:plthumbsdown: Oh well.

Will Amazon ship to you?

[valve bouncer]

I think so mate, although there is Japan Amazon so that might be a fly in the ointment. Just looked at all my usual Japanese gadgetry sites and couldn't see those ones anywhere although the Shure web-site for Japan suggests they're sold here.
Edit- finally found a pair, about $95 shipped I'd guess
And just for you mate, in case you ever wondered how much drums are in Japan.
http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/wax/a5c9a5e9a5.html
(in Japanese but easily navigable)

[valve bouncer]

All right nerds I've pulled the pin after my good friend Andrew Hitler (such a nice boy my mum says) recommended them.
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg160/kingcrab2008/Adolph_luvs_Sony.gif

[sperkins]

just be careful if you buy cheap ones, because they can be painful if you keep them in too long.

[syadasti]

just be careful if you buy cheap ones, because they can be painful if you keep them in too long.

In-ear with bad fit at any price can cause comfort problems. Some people are sensitive and refused to wear any...

[syadasti]

I got a pair of the Bose on ear headphones for xmas. Work awesome on flights. They eliminate the engine drone but don't cancel out voices so conversation is actually much clearer. Also sound great when playing music.

I'm sorry for you:busted:

Next time just buy some cheap headphones and burn your money, at least you'll keep warm :D

[syadasti]

Sorry I see red whenever I heard the name Bose;)

[Silver]

they are ok, but not as good as the Shure E2Cs. the cord in particular is super-flimsy, and the fit isn't as good.

I'm the other way around. I like the fit of the Ultimate Ears way better. No matter what I did with the Shure's they hurt like hell after about an hour...

[Toshi]

it's too late for vb, but here's a NYTimes article from 2007 in which noise cancelling headphones were reviewed:

http://download.yousendit.com/375DE25665287275

Cliffs Notes: Panasonic and Audio Technica models equalled the performance of the Bose for 1/3-1/2 the price. i have the Audio Technica ones and love 'em. about $125.

(i had noise cancelling Sony earbuds as well as Etymotic ER-6 non-i earbuds and didn't like the sound or feel of either.)

[valve bouncer]

it's too late for vb, but here's a NYTimes article from 2007 in which noise cancelling headphones were reviewed:

http://download.yousendit.com/375DE25665287275

Cliffs Notes: Panasonic and Audio Technica models equalled the performance of the Bose for 1/3-1/2 the price. i have the Audio Technica ones and love 'em. about $125.

(i had noise cancelling Sony earbuds as well as Etymotic ER-6 non-i earbuds and didn't like the sound or feel of either.)
Actually haven't bought anything yet Toshi, just needed an excuse to post that daft pic.:busted:

[Changleen]

I tried a whole bunch in a store before my recent round the world trip and was basically very disappointed with them all.

In the end I dropped a few bucks on some regular foam earplugs. Worked great.

I figure if I want quiet on a flight, I want quiet, not music. If I want music I just turn it up my regular headphones a little louder.

[Toshi]

Actually haven't bought anything yet Toshi, just needed an excuse to post that daft pic.:busted:

did you read the article to which i linked? it's quite good, and was what inspired me to jump back into the fray after having been so disappointed by the earbuds in the past.

[Five]

I have the Bose over the ear ones. Yeah, they're expensive, but I travel a lot for work and the company paid for half of it. Works great on the planes - especially when you're sitting there for 10-12 hours.

[binary visions]

I figure if I want quiet on a flight, I want quiet, not music. If I want music I just turn it up my regular headphones a little louder.
With the buds, though, you can listen to very quiet music and still have ambient noise blocked.

I've got a set of Shures that I'm very happy with after listening to probably half a dozen different sets of buds.