I am a cheapskate (noise cancelling headphones)

[jyl]

I fly commercially fairly often, and have often wanted a set of noise-cancelling headphones.

However, I find the Bose Quiet Comfort way expensive at $300-ish. I've tried another brand/model and they were terrible. With one thing or another, I've never gotten around to trying another set.

So I had to fly a redeye yesterday, and had a brainstorm. I grabbed the hearing protectors that I use for shooting. These are rated to reduce sound by -25dB, and cost all of $30.

Well, they worked great. I don't know how they compare with the Bose. I did find specs for other brands of noise-cancelling headphones, and they seem to be rated -10dB to -18dB. So based on that number, it seems like my cheapo hearing protectors should compare pretty well.

Now, I need to get some music in them. For this flight, I took apart the disposable headset that was handed out on the flight and stuck the earpieces inside the hearing protectors. Worked okay. Now I am going to buy some slightly decent headphones, take them apart, and permanently mount the earpieces.

[nosmo_king]

If you have a Sharper Image near you, check out:

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/sku__FJ453

They're on sale presently and work pretty well for my purposes. I sometimes just turn the noise cancelling feature on (without plugging into ipod etc) just for some quiet on those longer flights.

There's also a thread somewhere in the archives here about noise-cancelling headphones so you'll be able to get other's opinions on this as well.

Happy (near silent) flying!

- Nos

[JavaBrewer]

Active noise cancelling phones can be pricey and need batteries. Another option, though not a headphone, are the noise suppression ear buds. They rely on a soft rubber doughnut to seal your ear. I recently bought these @ $20 for my son's iPod after the stock ear buds died. The difference was unbelieveable - I had to dramatically lower volume limit on the iPod.

[Tim Walsh]

Check out: http://www.headphone.com/products/headphones/sealed-and-noise-canceling/

They have the graphs that show you what spectrum of noise that each set is cancelling.

[island911]

Cool link.

John, I did just what you are talking about doing ...worked for a few years, and yet now I have Bose QC2's

I could get better noise cancellation with the big (mod'd) headphones, but they were a hassle. They were so overt, that the FA's would allways give me crap ("take those off, you need to be able to hear my instructions..."). Also, they wouldn't pack away as well, would press hard around my ears, and didn't breath as well. --All in all, not great for the long trips.

What I've noticed in general about the passive noise blocking headphones is that they get there with mass and tight seal. (better attenuation propotional with weight) Whereas the Bose get there gently. ...other than the price.

Edit: I'm a cheapskate too. However, if my QC2's got lost or stolen, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another pair.

[island911]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

Active noise cancelling phones can be pricey and need batteries. Another option, though not a headphone, are the noise suppression ear buds. . ...

The AAA battery the QC2's use lasts plenty long. (and easy to get or carry a spare --not so for the QC3's)

The issue I have with the in-ear types come when you start eating. Those type will have you hearing every bite. -Weird.

[Moneyguy1]

Why is Bose stuff so expensive?

[island911]

Originally Posted by Moneyguy1

Why is Bose stuff so expensive?

Because it can be. (?)

Yeah, I don't know exactly. The soon to be new-guy (at work here) is coming from Bose. I plan on thoroughly debriefing him.

. . .and I won't give his breifs back until he gives me all the dirt on Bose.

[jyl]

Interesting website. It says the noise-cancelling (active) headphone can reduce frequencies below 1kHZ by -10dB, traditional sealed headphones can reduce a wider range of frequencies by -10dB, and ear phones can reduce by -20dB to even -37dB.

Websites from makers of noise-cancelling headphones claim up to -20dB reduction. For example, http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/headphones/f9450db308d97785/index.html

The website for the maker of my hearing protector (AO Safety) claims -33dB sound reduction for their best model. Another hearing protector maker's website, which gives considerably more detail, claims -29dB to -33dB reduction over a wide frequency range. http://www.elvex.com/HB-650.htm

So, even granting that measurements of sound reduction probably vary quite a bit depending on testing method, it does seem like the $30 (or less) hearing protectors are as good . . .

Well, one of these days I will buy a good set of noise-cancelling headphones with a 30-day return period, and compare them to the cheapos.

And maybe someday I will take apart a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and incorporate the pieces in the cheapos - will the sound reduction be additive? Woud be cool.

[island911]

Originally Posted by jyl

...And maybe someday I will take apart a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and incorporate the pieces in the cheapos - will the sound reduction be additive?

That is exactlly what I did. The thing is the active NC is dependent on the shape of the cup. Also, the mic (for the active NC) really should be listening to the outside of the cup.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I bought the Bose QC3's. Yes, they're spendy. Yes, they're worth every penny.

First flight after I bought them. FIRST flight - was a coast-to-coast from CA to FL. Two rows back was a screaming kid. Didn't hear a damn thing and slept quite comfortably for the entire flight. No regrets. Not to mention I don't have to make idle chit-chat with people sitting around me who I don't want to talk to anyway. I just pop 'em on and zone out. It's great.

If those are too much $$$ for you I think there are several less costly variations out there (Panasonic comes to mind) but personally I think I've recouped my investment.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by island911

That is exactlly what I did. The thing is the active NC is dependent on the shape of the cup. Also, the mic (for the active NC) really should be listening to the outside of the cup.

Details, please? Sounds like what I want to do.

[gr8fl4porsche]

I have been wanting a pair of headphones to wear while mowing my grass on a very loud rider. I turn the ipod all the way up and still can't hear it. Would noise canceling phones work for this? My research says that they will probably leave me disapointed.

[island911]

Originally Posted by jyl

Details, please? Sounds like what I want to do.

What I've been trying to say is, it doesn't really work so well to mod existing. The active noise cancellation part wasn't really helping. (it needs to be an integral part of the cup) I had the noise cancelling speakers stuffed in the very passively quiet ear protectors. .. but then the NR would work only so-so. (cut the noise further, but also had a subtle feed-back tone.)

I can tell you for certain Bose has things well figured out here. (You know how critical I am about products.) Anyway, $300 is offensive to the senses, so try some of those Sharper image headphones. 60day trial... ~$70 Likely they've knocked-off the Bose reasonably well. I did notice they take two AAA batteries. I imagine the Bose has better (more energy efficient) circuitry. --But maybe those last 2x longer. (I use mine ~60% of the day, one battery lasts a couple weeks)

[Joeaksa]

If you guys are not happy with the costs of the normal noise canceling headphones, you need to look into the ones us pilots wear. $999 and no discounts unless you were a previous NC owner and then you get a $300 discount for sending your old set in.

Have had a set of the new ones (was a Bose beta tester on the original version) for 4 months now and love them. Gone through exactly two sets of AA batteries so far. Well worth the cost.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by island911

What I've been trying to say is, it doesn't really work so well to mod existing. The active noise cancellation part wasn't really helping. (it needs to be an integral part of the cup) I had the noise cancelling speakers stuffed in the very passively quiet ear protectors. .. but then the NR would work only so-so. (cut the noise further, but also had a subtle feed-back tone.)

I can tell you for certain Bose has things well figured out here. (You know how critical I am about products.) Anyway, $300 is offensive to the senses, so try some of those Sharper image headphones. 60day trial... ~$70 Likely they've knocked-off the Bose reasonably well. I did notice they take two AAA batteries. I imagine the Bose has better (more energy efficient) circuitry. --But maybe those last 2x longer. (I use mine ~60% of the day, one battery lasts a couple weeks)

Thanks for the Sharper Image lead. I'll buy a set before the next flight and compare them vs the cheapo.

OK, makes sense the mods would be imperfect. The circuitry is presumably tuned for a certain amount of passive sound reduction, if the headphone has more passive sound reduction then the inverse wave would be too big. I found some plans online for a homebrew adjustable noise cancellation circuit, but am not that motivated.

[MRM]

Kinko's/FedEx has been advertising a sale of the Sony version of the noise cancelling headphones. I think they were in the $40 range, down from a lot more than that. I read a review over the summer that compared them favorably to the Bose. The review said that nothing can beat the Bose, but you more than pay for what you get. The Sony was supposed to be quite good, especially for the price. If the sale isn't over you might want to check them out.

I have heard that Bose is so expensive because all of their technology is proprietary and they protect their brand by keeping their technology unique to them. They won't license and they never open source. So if you want their cutting edge stuff, they charge a premium for it.

[Mo_Gearhead]

...and used at home, can save hours of back-breaking, hole digging (planting all those trees)!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by gr8fl4porsche

I have been wanting a pair of headphones to wear while mowing my grass on a very loud rider. I turn the ipod all the way up and still can't hear it. Would noise canceling phones work for this? My research says that they will probably leave me disapointed.

I've been using these (or ones like it) for over a decade...wouldn't ride the tractor without them.

AM/FM only, but my kids put them on over their iPod ear buds.

http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/category/peltor-radio-earmuffs-peltor-worktunes.html