Comments on: Noise-canceling headphones put to the test http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:29:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Fred Smith http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15176 Fred Smith Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:43:56 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15176 I have found all of the Bose style headphones to be very uncomfortable after about an hour. My problem is I wear glasses and the headphones press against the arms. Rather than getting contact lenses I decided to opt for earplugs. Talk about quiet comfort on the cheap! Also, I've always been suspicious that although you don't hear the noise from noise-cancelling headphones they do create sound waves loud enough to drown out other noise. Logic tells me this should be bad for my hearing, but logic can be wrong... I have found all of the Bose style headphones to be very uncomfortable after about an hour. My problem is I wear glasses and the headphones press against the arms. Rather than getting contact lenses I decided to opt for earplugs. Talk about quiet comfort on the cheap!

Also, I’ve always been suspicious that although you don’t hear the noise from noise-cancelling headphones they do create sound waves loud enough to drown out other noise. Logic tells me this should be bad for my hearing, but logic can be wrong…

]]> By: RY http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15147 RY Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:56:27 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15147 I have a pair of Bose 2 which eventually got crushed after extensive use and the part of the plastic broke. Thinking this was acceptable considering the wear and tear I had given them, I enquired to Bose as to where to get them repaired for a fee. They checked out serial numbers and a few other things and then promptly sent me another pair, gratis.... impressive customer service! I have a pair of Bose 2 which eventually got crushed after extensive use and the part of the plastic broke.
Thinking this was acceptable considering the wear and tear I had given them, I enquired to Bose as to where to get them repaired for a fee. They checked out serial numbers and a few other things and then promptly sent me another pair, gratis…. impressive customer service!

]]> By: missdona http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15088 missdona Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:12:26 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15088 @ Tyler. It's my understanding that journalists get products for review and then return them or give them away. It's part of their code of ethics. I know that's the case with CNET, and David Pogue had an incidient last year with drivesavers. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5281529 After that, I'm confident that David Pogue follows the code to the letter. @ Tyler.

It’s my understanding that journalists get products for review and then return them or give them away. It’s part of their code of ethics.

I know that’s the case with CNET, and David Pogue had an incidient last year with drivesavers.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5281529

After that, I’m confident that David Pogue follows the code to the letter.

]]> By: David Ourisman http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15029 David Ourisman Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:14:07 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15029 Thanks for a very informative review! I have Bose 2 earphones and really like them. One thing I wish David had addressed: how well do the various over-the-ear models seal against the head? Thanks for a very informative review! I have Bose 2 earphones and really like them.

One thing I wish David had addressed: how well do the various over-the-ear models seal against the head?

]]> By: Terry http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15025 Terry Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:45:21 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15025 Thanks for the wrapup David. I bought a set of the Sonys about a year ago - used them a couple of times and tossed them back in the box. Bad feedback problems on the left ear resulting in a screeching noise when you move (apparently this is a common problem with the Sonys). Have used a set of the high-end Shure in-ear phones for a few years now - they sound pretty good & seal pretty well but do get uncomfortable after a few hours. Just bought a set of the Audio-Technicas last week and I'm hooked. Very comfortable,clean audio response (a little brighter than the Bose) and the noise cancellation is great. They do not have the high-pitched hissing common to lots of ANC headphones. Unless you're wedded to wearing that Bose logo buy the AT's and use the $200 you save to buy more of those delicious in-flight snack boxes or trailmix. Thanks for the wrapup David.

I bought a set of the Sonys about a year ago - used them a couple of times and tossed them back in the box. Bad feedback problems on the left ear resulting in a screeching noise when you move (apparently this is a common problem with the Sonys).

Have used a set of the high-end Shure in-ear phones for a few years now - they sound pretty good & seal pretty well but do get uncomfortable after a few hours.

Just bought a set of the Audio-Technicas last week and I’m hooked. Very comfortable,clean audio response (a little brighter than the Bose) and the noise cancellation is great. They do not have the high-pitched hissing common to lots of ANC headphones.

Unless you’re wedded to wearing that Bose logo buy the AT’s and use the $200 you save to buy more of those delicious in-flight snack boxes or trailmix.

]]> By: Tyler Colman (a.k.a. Dr. Vino) http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15024 Tyler Colman (a.k.a. Dr. Vino) Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:57:55 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15024 Hi David, I'm curious by your use of "participate" by which I take it you mean contribute a free set of their 'phone(s). I was under the impression that the NYT did not allow its journos to accept free product samples? That's how it works on the wine/food desk at least and I would imagine travel as well. I doubt that whether or not you got a free set of headphones or whether you paid for it would affect your commentary about the product. But it's too bad when, as Mark points out in his posting, prominent products such as the Shure and Sony are not involved in your roundup since they didn't want to "participate." Couldn't you just go to J&R Music or any Brookstone in a terminal and buy them to include in the name of being comprehensive? Best, Tyler Hi David,

I’m curious by your use of “participate” by which I take it you mean contribute a free set of their ‘phone(s). I was under the impression that the NYT did not allow its journos to accept free product samples? That’s how it works on the wine/food desk at least and I would imagine travel as well.

I doubt that whether or not you got a free set of headphones or whether you paid for it would affect your commentary about the product. But it’s too bad when, as Mark points out in his posting, prominent products such as the Shure and Sony are not involved in your roundup since they didn’t want to “participate.” Couldn’t you just go to J&R Music or any Brookstone in a terminal and buy them to include in the name of being comprehensive?

Best,

Tyler

]]> By: pam http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15023 pam Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:30:31 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15023 I have a pair of Shure earbuds (80 pounds at Heathrow airport, NOT a good place to buy them) and they do the trick nicely, but they're not comfortable for long wear. I have a pair of Shure earbuds (80 pounds at Heathrow airport, NOT a good place to buy them) and they do the trick nicely, but they’re not comfortable for long wear.

]]> By: Paul http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15022 Paul Thu, 14 Jun 2007 08:29:10 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15022 I have two pairs of the Panasonic's predecessor, the RP-HC300 and they are fantastic. I was lucky enough to pick them up from Panasonic directly for £50 and they did wonders on a trip from LHR to HKG. I could not hear anything other than the music (which is especially good considering we were sitting on the wing) and I didn't not have to pump them up, just listening to them at a comfortable level. From the price vs performance stand point, you just can't beat the Panasonics. I have two pairs of the Panasonic’s predecessor, the RP-HC300 and they are fantastic. I was lucky enough to pick them up from Panasonic directly for £50 and they did wonders on a trip from LHR to HKG. I could not hear anything other than the music (which is especially good considering we were sitting on the wing) and I didn’t not have to pump them up, just listening to them at a comfortable level.

From the price vs performance stand point, you just can’t beat the Panasonics.

]]> By: Jul http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15021 Jul Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:00:12 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15021 We have a pair of Bose which I totally adore on long flights. Nice to know there's a cheaper option out there if we want to get a second pair (I basically commandeered my husband's pair, so he could use some...). We have a pair of Bose which I totally adore on long flights. Nice to know there’s a cheaper option out there if we want to get a second pair (I basically commandeered my husband’s pair, so he could use some…).

]]> By: david pogue http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-15020 david pogue Thu, 14 Jun 2007 06:03:30 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2007/06/13/noise-canceling-headphones-put-to-the-test/#comment-15020 Yeah, it's weird--Sony was supposed to participate, but never did send a pair of their 'phones... --David Pogue Yeah, it’s weird–Sony was supposed to participate, but never did send a pair of their ‘phones…

–David Pogue

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