Noise cancelling headphones - again
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Joined: Jan 2000
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From: UK and Italy
Noise cancelling headphones - again
We've talked about this before, and I was recommended Bowers & Wilkins headphones. I took the recommendation, and bought a pair of PX7 S2's. They turned up today.
The instructions are one page, use this app - it assumes that you have an apple (r) (tm) or google (r) (tm) phone. I have neither, I don't want my soul and my data to be up for sale. You can't use the phones without a smartphone, this wasn't advertised, I'm sending the phones back.
I have a desktop and a laptop and a dumbphone which work perfectly well with Bluetooth, but I can't even pair them to the phones without an app. How dumb is that?
I solicit suggestions for noise-cancelling headphones that don't require apple (r) (tm) or Google (r) (tm) to work.
The instructions are one page, use this app - it assumes that you have an apple (r) (tm) or google (r) (tm) phone. I have neither, I don't want my soul and my data to be up for sale. You can't use the phones without a smartphone, this wasn't advertised, I'm sending the phones back.
I have a desktop and a laptop and a dumbphone which work perfectly well with Bluetooth, but I can't even pair them to the phones without an app. How dumb is that?
I solicit suggestions for noise-cancelling headphones that don't require apple (r) (tm) or Google (r) (tm) to work.
Last edited by justapax; 3rd May 2025 at 21:49.
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Australia
We've talked about this before, and I was recommended Bowers & Wilkins headphones. I took the recommendation, and bought a pair of PX7 S2's. They turned up today.
The instructions are one page, use this app - it assumes that you have an apple (r) (tm) or google (r) (tm) phone. I have neither, I don't want my soul and my data to be up for sale. You can't use the phones without a smartphone, this wasn't advertised, I'm sending the phones back.
I have a desktop and a laptop and a dumbphone which work perfectly well with Bluetooth, but I can't even pair them to the phones without an app. How dumb is that?
I solicit suggestions for noise-cancelling headphones that don't require apple (r) (tm) or Google (r) (tm) to work.
The instructions are one page, use this app - it assumes that you have an apple (r) (tm) or google (r) (tm) phone. I have neither, I don't want my soul and my data to be up for sale. You can't use the phones without a smartphone, this wasn't advertised, I'm sending the phones back.
I have a desktop and a laptop and a dumbphone which work perfectly well with Bluetooth, but I can't even pair them to the phones without an app. How dumb is that?
I solicit suggestions for noise-cancelling headphones that don't require apple (r) (tm) or Google (r) (tm) to work.
I have the PX7 (not s2), and they connect fine to my desktop and laptop using bluetooth. I can't see why your s2 wouldn't connect to a dumbphone - it's just a Bluetooth device. Also (almost more important for flying) you can use the included cables to connect to the audio socket on the plane, or a USB socket on any device.
You don't need an app to use the headphones.
Son of Slot
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If you go to the B&W website. Under your listed device they have Specifications and you can download the full user manual. Ignore that it is 120 pages long as that is all languages - it starts with English. You can certainly pair it with all devices. I think what their app gives is some fine tuning or frequencies etc. I've used BlueTooth and direct cable connected headphones to my mobile phone and aircraft systems without any fancy tuning and it works for me. There are details of the supplied cables etc. So do try that option first.
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If you are listening only; i.e., you don't need a boom microphone too *, then I highly recommend the Bose QuietComfort 25 or 35. If you can find any.
Very good noise cancelling headphones. Not huge. They fold up into a compact hard case and run on a single AAA battery. If the battery runs out they still provide some noise reduction, because they go over the whole ear. They are not blue-tooth, (the 35 might be ?), but plug into your device with a wire the old fashioned way - no personal details or data required.
You can use them without the cable as stand-alone noise cancelling 'ear defenders' if you want, e.g. crying baby nearby.
* I did actually buy a specially made boom microphone to fit my 25s, and I used them for commercial airline flying.
.
Very good noise cancelling headphones. Not huge. They fold up into a compact hard case and run on a single AAA battery. If the battery runs out they still provide some noise reduction, because they go over the whole ear. They are not blue-tooth, (the 35 might be ?), but plug into your device with a wire the old fashioned way - no personal details or data required.
You can use them without the cable as stand-alone noise cancelling 'ear defenders' if you want, e.g. crying baby nearby.
* I did actually buy a specially made boom microphone to fit my 25s, and I used them for commercial airline flying.
.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: UK and Italy
If you go to the B&W website. Under your listed device they have Specifications and you can download the full user manual. Ignore that it is 120 pages long as that is all languages - it starts with English. You can certainly pair it with all devices. I think what their app gives is some fine tuning or frequencies etc. I've used BlueTooth and direct cable connected headphones to my mobile phone and aircraft systems without any fancy tuning and it works for me. There are details of the supplied cables etc. So do try that option first.
Last edited by justapax; 4th May 2025 at 17:26.
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From: Everett, WA
If you are listening only; i.e., you don't need a boom microphone too *, then I highly recommend the Bose QuietComfort 25 or 35. If you can find any.
Very good noise cancelling headphones. Not huge. They fold up into a compact hard case and run on a single AAA battery. If the battery runs out they still provide some noise reduction, because they go over the whole ear. They are not blue-tooth, (the 35 might be ?), but plug into your device with a wire the old fashioned way - no personal details or data required.
You can use them without the cable as stand-alone noise cancelling 'ear defenders' if you want, e.g. crying baby nearby.
* I did actually buy a specially made boom microphone to fit my 25s, and I used them for commercial airline flying.
.
Very good noise cancelling headphones. Not huge. They fold up into a compact hard case and run on a single AAA battery. If the battery runs out they still provide some noise reduction, because they go over the whole ear. They are not blue-tooth, (the 35 might be ?), but plug into your device with a wire the old fashioned way - no personal details or data required.
You can use them without the cable as stand-alone noise cancelling 'ear defenders' if you want, e.g. crying baby nearby.
* I did actually buy a specially made boom microphone to fit my 25s, and I used them for commercial airline flying.
.
The noise cancelling is so good that you need to pop them off if you want to talk to anyone (e.g telling the FA what you want to drink).
Paxing All Over The World
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
I have my short list now and will probably stay with the fulll over-ear style. I am interested to know if anyone has the earbud style of noise cancelling. I would have thought them not as efficient in blocking out sound. Not to mention their cost ...
To clarify: I do not need to use them for phone calls or gaming. Whilst flying, I usually listen to speech podcasts and some music. Only once in a while to watch a movie from the system.
To clarify: I do not need to use them for phone calls or gaming. Whilst flying, I usually listen to speech podcasts and some music. Only once in a while to watch a movie from the system.
Last edited by PAXboy; 1st August 2025 at 13:55.
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From: UK and Italy
I have my short list now and will probably stay with the fulll over-ear style. I am interested to know if anyone has the earbud style of noise cancelling. I would have thought them not as efficient in blocking out sound. Not to mention their cost ...
To clarify: I do not need to use them for phone calls or gaming. Whilst flying, I usually listen to speech podcasts and some music. Only once in a while to watch a movie from the system.
To clarify: I do not need to use them for phone calls or gaming. Whilst flying, I usually listen to speech podcasts and some music. Only once in a while to watch a movie from the system.
I went for over-the-ear headphones, B&W PX7 S2, as advised by other people in this thread. Good noise cancellation, good audio quality (I'm fussy about audio quality), comfortable, expensive. Lousy instructions until you get pointed in the right direction for the full instructions by PPRuNers.
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From: UK
The Bose QuietComfort 25 really are good and there is no App or smartphone required, just a single AAA battery - which lasts for ages. (The off switch is a real switch, not an electronic switch, so it does not run down the battery when turned off).
You can plug the supplied lead in to feed audio into the headphones, or you can remove the lead and just use them for noise cancelling only
They still seem to be available on Amazon for example, and come with a nice carry case.
You can plug the supplied lead in to feed audio into the headphones, or you can remove the lead and just use them for noise cancelling only
They still seem to be available on Amazon for example, and come with a nice carry case.
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Loving my folding noise-cancellers but after several hours they are painful across the top of my (bald) head. I adjust where they hit my pate two or three times but on long flights I finally lose any remaining comfortable position. Cushioning of the overhead arm/arch is a real concern.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: UK and Italy
Loving my folding noise-cancellers but after several hours they are painful across the top of my (bald) head. I adjust where they hit my pate two or three times but on long flights I finally lose any remaining comfortable position. Cushioning of the overhead arm/arch is a real concern.
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From: Somewhere in the 3rd world or possibly very occasionally at home.
Just stumbled across this thread...
I can highly recommend Bose Quiet Comfort 20s -However they're not easy to find! I tried to buy a set for Wifey but they now only come in cable-less varieties. I prefer the wired sort as I'm less likely to lose them down the side of the seat if I doze off. They're rechargeable with a USB cable and last a good 12+ hours. NC is excellent. Wifey has the wireless ones but complained she needed an adapter to get them to work with the aircraft system. I must check to see if she sorted that
Anyway, these are they: https://www.ebay.com/itm/39564356297...hoCtmMQAvD_BwE
I can highly recommend Bose Quiet Comfort 20s -However they're not easy to find! I tried to buy a set for Wifey but they now only come in cable-less varieties. I prefer the wired sort as I'm less likely to lose them down the side of the seat if I doze off. They're rechargeable with a USB cable and last a good 12+ hours. NC is excellent. Wifey has the wireless ones but complained she needed an adapter to get them to work with the aircraft system. I must check to see if she sorted that
Anyway, these are they: https://www.ebay.com/itm/39564356297...hoCtmMQAvD_BwE
PPRuNe Handmaiden
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From: Duit On Mon Dei
If I am going long haul I use my Bose QC25. They are both blue tooth and cable. They do have an airline type adapter. I charge them up before a trip and they last a long time. Quite comfortable and they don't take up too much space. When on a short haul trip, I use the Apple earpods. For me, they work well. I used to use Bose in ear earphones. They can get uncomfortable after a long time or no use for a while. When I got the Bose Proflights, it took a week to fully get used to them. After that, I never went back to the Bose A20 (work headphones).
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From: Beyond the Blue Horizon
Not a fan of Ear Buds, but colleague's use them and indeed lose them, on what seems to be an almost monthly basis !! Also noted the buds and or phones have fallen into the seats causing much consternation from passenger and CC. Also I should point out that certain carriers do provide noise cancelling head phones in their cabins, though I agree the cabins are closer to the front of the A/C.
Cheers
Mr Mac
Cheers
Mr Mac
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It seems the consensus is that over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones are preferred over earbuds, for a multiplicity of reasons.
I don't just use my headphones on planes, I use them at home as well. I have a little widget that converts SP/DIF Dolby 5.1 or dts digital audio into binaural sound for headphones; you only have two ears, so why do you need 5.1 speakers? For me, I want real audio quality, and, again my personal choice, I'd go for headphones made by a hi-fi audio manufacturer, such as Bowers & Wilkins, as recommended to me by fellow PPRuNers in this sub-forum. For those at the pointy end, comfort may be more of a priority on long flights. I've found the B&W perfectly comfortable, but then I don't have to wear them continuously for a 14 hour flight. They are quite heavy (big batteries!) and the noise cancellation requires a good seal over the ears, I imagine this latter is true for all over-the-ear headphones.
I don't just use my headphones on planes, I use them at home as well. I have a little widget that converts SP/DIF Dolby 5.1 or dts digital audio into binaural sound for headphones; you only have two ears, so why do you need 5.1 speakers? For me, I want real audio quality, and, again my personal choice, I'd go for headphones made by a hi-fi audio manufacturer, such as Bowers & Wilkins, as recommended to me by fellow PPRuNers in this sub-forum. For those at the pointy end, comfort may be more of a priority on long flights. I've found the B&W perfectly comfortable, but then I don't have to wear them continuously for a 14 hour flight. They are quite heavy (big batteries!) and the noise cancellation requires a good seal over the ears, I imagine this latter is true for all over-the-ear headphones.
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BOSE Airline adapter for QC3 QC25 QC35 Quiet Comfort - Brand New Genuine Bose
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