Noise cancelling headphones
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: UK
Noise cancelling headphones
Travelled with Ryanair on Saturday and was aurally assaulted by a cacophony of noise including the flight attendants' incessant upselling; a sniffer seated next to me and all topped off by a nearby ankle biter wailing nonononono for at least half the flight.
What I need is a good pair of noise cancelling headphones so I can read in peace.
Anyone got any recommendations, please?
What I need is a good pair of noise cancelling headphones so I can read in peace.
Anyone got any recommendations, please?
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
The FAQ is your friend: http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...slf-forum.html
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: South of France
If you feel you really must have a pair, Sennheiser PXC450's at about £250 are pretty good.
However, it would seem your requirement is not to cut-out background noise while watching a film but to have the ability to travel in silence.
NC headphones won't do that, even the best ones. They will replace some of the noise you don't like, with another type of noise - music,speech etc. but you will still hear the general hubbub and cabin announcements.
You also can't wear them for the take-off or landing phases or indeed sleep with them on - too lumpy if you have an over ear system .
To accomplish your particular requirement, I suggest either:
1. Earplugs (£1.50) or
2. A private G4 (£3-5,000 per hour)
However, it would seem your requirement is not to cut-out background noise while watching a film but to have the ability to travel in silence.
NC headphones won't do that, even the best ones. They will replace some of the noise you don't like, with another type of noise - music,speech etc. but you will still hear the general hubbub and cabin announcements.
You also can't wear them for the take-off or landing phases or indeed sleep with them on - too lumpy if you have an over ear system .
To accomplish your particular requirement, I suggest either:
1. Earplugs (£1.50) or
2. A private G4 (£3-5,000 per hour)
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: UK
Thanks PAXboy; that thread is 3.5 years old and technology moves on so I'll ask again nicely if anyone has up to date recommendations for noise cancelling headphones, reasonably priced so not Bose at $1500 
Thanks
Thanks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,369
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From: UK.
CAC,
I thought strake's answer was helpful and, in any case, sarcasm is the least of the insults one suffers on Prune 
I also have the Sennheiser PXC450 which is fine.
It has a 'talk through' button although it may be perceived as more polite to slip an earpiece off.
There is an integral volume control.
There is a 'bypass' switch so that, if you run out of batteries (one AAA), they work as ordinary noise excluding headphones.
As strake says, they will not cancel all noise. Mine seem to cancel the low freq rumble.
With hindsight, I think I'd have been happy just with a soft ear-covering noise excluder.
p.s. If you go for any length of time between flights don't forget to remove the battery. Just had to clean one of my contacts - just noticed it before incurring more serious damage to an expensive headset.
your sarcasm is not really appreciated
I also have the Sennheiser PXC450 which is fine.
It has a 'talk through' button although it may be perceived as more polite to slip an earpiece off.
There is an integral volume control.
There is a 'bypass' switch so that, if you run out of batteries (one AAA), they work as ordinary noise excluding headphones.
As strake says, they will not cancel all noise. Mine seem to cancel the low freq rumble.
With hindsight, I think I'd have been happy just with a soft ear-covering noise excluder.
p.s. If you go for any length of time between flights don't forget to remove the battery. Just had to clean one of my contacts - just noticed it before incurring more serious damage to an expensive headset.
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Aberfreeze or the Sandpit
Have sennheisers, not hugely impressed.
Mainly use digital silence in ear unit now.
Rechargeable built in battery, unit lasts 24+ hours on a charge.
Supplied cable is not quite long enough so I use a 1' extension.
Have tried Sony, great sound but proccesor / battery pack too bulky
Sennheiser, battery pack on the clunky side too, sound very good but the ANR is ropey and tiring.
in ear stuff is good as it has some passive and active noise cancellation.
also less bilky to lug around.
Mainly use digital silence in ear unit now.
Rechargeable built in battery, unit lasts 24+ hours on a charge.
Supplied cable is not quite long enough so I use a 1' extension.
Have tried Sony, great sound but proccesor / battery pack too bulky
Sennheiser, battery pack on the clunky side too, sound very good but the ANR is ropey and tiring.
in ear stuff is good as it has some passive and active noise cancellation.
also less bilky to lug around.
Last edited by airwave45; 8th October 2012 at 09:27. Reason: syntax error
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: West Wales and Zug, Switzerland
Myself and Mrs J both have Bose quietcomfort 15's. Very good for long haul.
About $350 here in the US.
Mrs J even sleeps with hers on!
Just remember to always carry a spare AAA battery.
About $350 here in the US.
Mrs J even sleeps with hers on!
Just remember to always carry a spare AAA battery.
Last edited by Jarvy; 8th October 2012 at 11:58.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
The thread might be old but the names of the companies supplying the equipment will be fairly consistent. particularly those with quality products. For n/c I use Phillips for silence I use a particular kind of ear plug from the USA that is more expensive.
The key problem is that each person's idea of noise is different. I have had tinnitus for as long as I can remember and that makes my needs different to others.
By the way, ChocksAwayChaps, no one was being sarcastic. Welcome to PPRuNe.
The key problem is that each person's idea of noise is different. I have had tinnitus for as long as I can remember and that makes my needs different to others.
By the way, ChocksAwayChaps, no one was being sarcastic. Welcome to PPRuNe.
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: England, UK
I have these little in ear ones: Hmv Dots: Value Purple Earphones (2011): technology: hmv.com
I was on a Jet2 flight recently, and used them then, I thought I heard an announcement, took them out, it was an upselling one, so I popped them back in and all I could hear was my music, and a little bit of engine noise. Lovely.
I was on a Jet2 flight recently, and used them then, I thought I heard an announcement, took them out, it was an upselling one, so I popped them back in and all I could hear was my music, and a little bit of engine noise. Lovely.
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Cape Town (FACT/CPT), Western Cape, South Africa
Is Ryanair really that bad?
Back to topic now... I personally can't stand noise cancelling head phones for the following two reasons:
1. I personally don't find it safe to have something that disables me from hearing Cabin Crew announcement as you never know when a emergency could happen.
2. I find it removes the best part of the flight, that being the sound of the engine throttle up for take-off, then throttle down for flight and finally throttle up again when put in reverse mode (love the sound of GE90 reversing).
Back to topic now... I personally can't stand noise cancelling head phones for the following two reasons:
1. I personally don't find it safe to have something that disables me from hearing Cabin Crew announcement as you never know when a emergency could happen.
2. I find it removes the best part of the flight, that being the sound of the engine throttle up for take-off, then throttle down for flight and finally throttle up again when put in reverse mode (love the sound of GE90 reversing
).
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: UK
Thanks Flying Goggles.
I'm going to have to get ear plugs as all the reasonably priced headphones recommended seem to be associated with an alternative sound eg music via an Ipod and I'm the only person left in the world not in possession of an Ipod.
Of course, I could just wear a crash helmet...would that work?
I'm going to have to get ear plugs as all the reasonably priced headphones recommended seem to be associated with an alternative sound eg music via an Ipod and I'm the only person left in the world not in possession of an Ipod.
Of course, I could just wear a crash helmet...would that work?
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: UK
Thanks Airwave 45
Nope, last person in the world without an IPad here!
Just want to sit on a plane, get from A-B and read in peace.
Do not want to listen to Ryanair staff trying to flog aftershave or scratch cards or J20 or people who don't know what a hankie is for or, still less, listen to the brat screaming whose parents have no idea how to soothe/comfort/distract it.
I understand that Ryanair needs to upsell to subsidise its cheap fares business model but I don't want to listen. It's like the mute button on my TV...when the Go Compare bloke appears on screen I mute him.
Nope, last person in the world without an IPad here!
Just want to sit on a plane, get from A-B and read in peace.
Do not want to listen to Ryanair staff trying to flog aftershave or scratch cards or J20 or people who don't know what a hankie is for or, still less, listen to the brat screaming whose parents have no idea how to soothe/comfort/distract it.
I understand that Ryanair needs to upsell to subsidise its cheap fares business model but I don't want to listen. It's like the mute button on my TV...when the Go Compare bloke appears on screen I mute him.
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Tamworth, UK / Nairobi, Kenya
what's an iPad? what's a smart phone?
My phone has numbers on it... I put my finger in the little hole and rotate it round to the stop, then it turns back to where it was, clicking all the way...
Can I get one that's smarter than that? How smart does a phone have to be?
Can I get one that sits? rolls over? plays dead? Will it meet me at the door when I come home? If so, is it smart enough to feed itself?
As for not having to listen to them trying to sell me stuff on Ryanair, I've just stopped flying with them.
But I wear ear plugs, even though I own noise cancelling headsets and a few other headsets, the ear plugs are the easiest to carry and work the best.
My phone has numbers on it... I put my finger in the little hole and rotate it round to the stop, then it turns back to where it was, clicking all the way...
Can I get one that's smarter than that? How smart does a phone have to be?
Can I get one that sits? rolls over? plays dead? Will it meet me at the door when I come home? If so, is it smart enough to feed itself?
As for not having to listen to them trying to sell me stuff on Ryanair, I've just stopped flying with them.
But I wear ear plugs, even though I own noise cancelling headsets and a few other headsets, the ear plugs are the easiest to carry and work the best.