Buying Bose QC2 noise cancelling headphones - any suggestions for the best price?

[beardoc]

Although I know you probably have your heart set on the Bose, I strongly recommend the Audio Technica ATH-ANC7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones. I bought mine from Amazon, and they are outstanding. Here are some of the Amazon reviews:

Amazon.com: Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones: Electronics

I did a quick google, and found a quick price in Australia: A$215 with free shipping in Australia:

Audio Technica ANC7 [ATH-ANC7] - $215 AUD : Headsonic Australia, Higher Fidelity, Lower Prices!

Give them some thought - I love my pair. They don't use the rechargeable battery packs that the Bose uses, but a single AAA battery will last more than 20 hours.

 

[Flashback]

I ordered a pair of the ANC7's from Headsonic. 1 thing that can be said, is though the price may be good the service is terrible. Very hard to get a hold of the company, and delivery is very slow. So far 10 days, although according to the tracking info it has arrived in Perth today.

I would have happily paid an extra $10 for speedy shipping had I been given the option..

 

[nlagalle]

I've not seen them anywhere in Australia for less than $499.

I was lucky and snagged a pair unused off someone who didn't want them.

In regards to batteries, the QC2 uses 1 AAA battery (not a battery pack as specified in a post above. The 1 battery did 20 odd hours on my last trip... MEL-SYD-PEK-SYD-MEL.

Nick

 

[Febs]

As an alternative...the Bose on-ear headphones may be worth a look. $179USD/$199AUD (so get 'em in Australia), very similar look/design/feel to the QC3's, but even better - they fold up.

They're not noise-cancelling, but they do block out the noise quite well due to the memory foam ear cups (similar to the QC3's).

Sound quality is very good and IMO they're quiet enough to make the $300-$400 extra for a set of QC3's not worth it.

Personally I can appreciate the benefits of noise-cancelling technology, but I can do without it. I even use my iPod headphones mid-flight, and only sometimes find the noise slightly irritating. I figured I do enough travel now to justify a set of travel headphones. Actually ended up getting a set of used Bose on-ear's from eBay - $94 with a brand new case.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Flashback]

Happy to report my headphones have arrived today, and work very nicely

 

[NM]

Happy to report my headphones have arrived today, and work very nicely

Ahh, you obviously didn't procure your headphone through the right channels .

 

[Chucksta]

Bought a set of QC2s for my wife at the Bose Outlet store in the USA.

$249 when the AUD was 0.96

What a bargain. They are factory renewed and essentially brand new.

Chucksta

 

[Driver]

I've been following this thread with interest! I like to go to sleep with headphones - I can't normally sleep through any noise at all but recent experience with a relative staying and very noisy, I decided to try and found I could go to sleep to the music. I've wanted to buy better quality headphones and am interested in the 'in ear' style. Are they comfortable? Could I sleep in them? I have found shure E2c for a very good price. I can sleep on my back but prefer on my side - can you do that or would it be painful? I'd like sound isolating - Mr Driver is quite a loud snorer and we have 6 weeks of hotels coming up - Yikes! Normal soft silicon earplugs don't do the job! I'm thinking in ear headphones with white noise. Any thoughts? I can't really afford over $100 and the Shure E2cs are within that range.

Sorry for butting in on someone's thread - it's becoming a habit

 

[Febs]

and am interested in the 'in ear' style. Are they comfortable?

It might be a bit difficult, but I'd recommend trying a pair on first if you can. Or at least, try a good pair of ear plugs.

I had a pair of in-ear buds (also called "canalphones") and had to give them away after a week. I found that by blocking everything out, they amplified every noise inside my head. Swallowing, chewing, teeth grinding...couldn't stand it. I went back to my bog stock iPod headphones and was much happier.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Driver]

It might be a bit difficult, but I'd recommend trying a pair on first if you can. Or at least, try a good pair of ear plugs.

I had a pair of in-ear buds (also called "canalphones") and had to give them away after a week. I found that by blocking everything out, they amplified every noise inside my head. Swallowing, chewing, teeth grinding...couldn't stand it. I went back to my bog stock iPod headphones and was much happier.

Cheers,
- Febs.

I have the stock iPod earphones - I stripped them and put silicon earplugs around and wedge them in so they hold in place. So, I'm used to the 'isolated' feeling and I wear silicon earplugs every night so am used to the sounds of my own self and they don't seem to every have worried me. They are just not ideal - I'm forever fiddling with the silicon to keep the contact good. My main concern is just comfort. I need to be able to wear them all night to block out snoring - I'll just admit it, at home by 2am I'm in the spare room most nights! That's what time Mr Driver seems to rev the engine!

You're a pretty busy person at night with all that swallowing, chewing, teeth grinding etc :!::!::!: I just go to bed, lie down and don't move

 

[Febs]

You're a pretty busy person at night with all that swallowing, chewing, teeth grinding etc :!::!::!: I just go to bed, lie down and don't move

I was more talking about using them while awake (typically on the train)...but then again I do tend to fall asleep on the train most mornings, so I guess the same applies.

 

[Driver]

I was more talking about using them while awake (typically on the train)...but then again I do tend to fall asleep on the train most mornings, so I guess the same applies.

Oh, sorry about that :!: No offence intended!!

Does the music not reduce the sounds? This is all new to me - during the day I just use the el cheapo earphones provided with my el cheapo Sansa mp3 player! I'll still be using the Sansa, but hope to have better sound and little outside noise. At the moment I have to have the music up pretty loud to block out sound and the flattish earphones fall out often. I want to be able to tune in to the static on the radio and sleep with that on but not toooo loud or I can't sleep through it. Now, the headphones have to stay in my ear and not fall out or I'll be constantly waking and putting them back in. My main listening time is at night just before going to sleep. Then, it will be radio static tune in time to blot out the snoring.

 

[Febs]

Does the music not reduce the sounds?

It's hard to explain...but no, I can still hear everything that goes on "inside my head" over and above the music.

I guess I'm in the minority though. I gave the headphones to my mum and she finds them great. Plenty of other people I know swear by canalphones too (just don't use them while walking, jogging or cycling on public roads!)

 

[Driver]

Thanks Febs - I appreciate your input - and saying that you mum likes them helps too. I think I might take the risk and give them a go. I'm sure if they don't suit, someone in the family will like them!

 

[NM]

I find I can lie on my side with my Shure E3s in my ears, but cannot lie on my side with any headphones. Also note that I have found strange pops and splutters from NC headphones (including Bose QC2 and QC3 as provided by AA in their business class cabin) when lying on my side and hence the "microphone" being disrupted.

The comfort of in-ear earphones depends greatly in the shape of your ears and your personal sensitivity to sticking things into your ear canals. The lease intrusive option is to use the foam inserts that are just like foam ear plugs. The Shure earphones come with a "fit kit" that consists of three different sizes of each of two different materials, as well as a set of the foam inserts.

 

[Driver]

I find I can lie on my side with my Shure E3s in my ears, but cannot lie on my side with any headphones.

The comfort of in-ear earphones depends greatly in the shape of your ears and your personal sensitivity to sticking things into your ear canals.

Thanks NM for your advice - these are the reasons why I've headed towards the Shure in ear headphones - I have slept for 30 years with soft silicon earplugs wedged tightly into my ears so I'm quite used to that - since discovering that I can go to sleep to music I've been sleeping on my side with earbud earphones doctored with silicon earplugs so that they will 'stick' and not fall off. While that is sort of ok, they don't block out noise.

I'm optimistic that the Shures will suit my ears. It's a lot to spend on a whim but if they work I will be set for years and years and Mr Driver will be so happy that I don't wander the house in the night looking for somewhere to sleep where I can't hear (even through the silicon earplugs) the incredible snorer! It doesn't really matter at home but when we are away or when we have company it's not easy to escape.

I've often wondered what other people do to escape the snorer in the house - I'm sure there are women who snore just as loudly as men do! I don't find it works for me to spend the night nudging, kicking, or even saying politely "Please don't snore" as he invariable answers, "How could I be snoring, I'm not asleep!" Well, who would be with that noise in the room!!

Cheers