Noise Cancelling headphones

[porsche4life]

Looking for some NC headphones to use with my Macbook. Primary use will be in library, coffee shop, etc to take the edge off. Would like it if they will cut down on road/flight noise as well.

Looking to spend under $100, would prefer to be under $50.

I've looked at the Sony that is 32.99 on amazon, what are the other options?

Ian?

[Embraer]

I got a pair of Able Planet NC headphones on Woot! All-around good, but I wish they had a little more bass.

Can you go to an audio store and sample?

[Scott R]

I have the Bose QC3, they are not great. Guy in my office has a set of Sony MDR's I think they are called, they are much better. Maybe you can get a set used for $100?

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Embraer

Can you go to an audio store and sample?

You've been to OK, what do you think the answer to that is?

[Embraer]

haha, i figured OKC might have something.

[porsche4life]

More than a best buy or ultimate electronics? Not that I am aware of...

[BeyGon]

I got my wife some Sony MDR NC7 headphones for her Looong trip to Israel, they cover the ears but she said she could still hear people's kids screaming. Otherwise they were ok on the plane. About $75 at Best Buy. The Bose for $300 would have been better. I would think the Sony would be great for what you want.

[jyl]

I've tried $100 on-the-ear noise canceling headphones, from Sony and from Pioneer. None have been impressive. So far the best cheap solution I've found is a pair of $20 over-the-ear hearing protectors (hardware stores, gun shops) rated 25dB, with regular music earbuds when I want music or foam earplugs when I want quiet. It is hard to hear much with that combo, and for the price, if I leave them on the plane it's not a big deal. I think I'd lose the $300 Bose.

[Hugh R]

Sony

[porsche4life]

These are the ones I am looking at...
Amazon.com: Sony MDRNC7/BLK Noise Canceling on-ear headphones (Black): Electronics

I HATE ear buds for reference..

[Tobra]

I think John has an excellent suggestion

[porsche4life]

Except I wouldn't wear earbuds for 3hrs straight...

[jyl]

Noise-canceling means the headphones generate a sound that is out of phase with the ambient noise, to cancel out that noise. It works, to some degree, on steady lower-frequency rumbling noises like airplane engines. It does not work on transient sounds (gun shots being an example) or on human speech or wailing babies. Because by the time the microphone in the headphones picks up the sound, so have your ears. The headphone can generate the out-of-phase cancellation sound, but it is too late. For those noises, you need mechanical isolation, meaning over the ear headphones. Go to a Best Buy that has a display of working noise-cxl headphones and compare the on the ear models with the over the ear models, using human talking and wailing (bring a noisy friend). You'll see, and you won't waste $100.

Or, read this
Review: Noise-canceling headphones Review | Default | Macworld

[jyl]

The other thing you can possibly do, depending on how inventive you are, is to get the hearing protectors and a cheap set of regular headphones with very slim, small earpieces, then do some surgery to fit those earpieces into the hearing protectors. You may well destroy the headphones so use cheap ones. This won't be hifi but if you don't like earbuds, worth a try.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Looking for some NC headphones to use with my Macbook. Primary use will be in library, coffee shop, etc to take the edge off. Would like it if they will cut down on road/flight noise as well.

Looking to spend under $100, would prefer to be under $50.

I've looked at the Sony that is 32.99 on amazon, what are the other options?

Ian?

Unless there is some kind of fan or steady, ambient sound you want to cancel out, they won't help much. They react to a sound and generate a similar frequency that is out of phase - hence canceling the offending sound. The sound has to be steady enough for the electronics to recognize it and generate the responding frequency. They do nothing but muffle transient sounds (speech, screaming babies etc), and you can get that effect with a set of ear protector muffs from Lowes.

[island911]

a set of ear protector muffs from Lowes . . . will feel like a vise on your head in no time. -ask me how I know.

Even wearing foam earplugs with a set ear protector muffs from Lowes, you will still hear any babys screams.

Buy some Bose QC 15's ... you can even finance them -you know, to help build credit.

[Zeke]

I have custom made inserts for the ears and I have worn them with over the ear muffs and still hear. Noise comes in through the nose and mouth as well as from the skull. I don't think you can get rid of screaming kids unless you open the door and throw them out.

[porsche4life]

If you guys read the OP, I am not looking for something that will silence the screaming kids...

And I'm not wearing muffs over earbuds, its simply out of the question.

[BeyGon]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

If you guys read the OP, I am not looking for something that will silence the screaming kids...

And I'm not wearing muffs over earbuds, its simply out of the question.

cmon, that would look cool in the library.

[rusnak]

When I really need to silence some noise, say while driving the tractor, I wear 3M tekk earmuffs over foam ear plugs. Can't hear a thing except for the noise that comes through my boots into my feet and legs. They are comfortable enough to wear 8hrs at a throw. I can, and do.

But you'd look like a total dufus wearing that getup indoors. For noise cancelling earphones, I wear Sennheiser PXC earphones. But they are a little over budget.