Noise Cancelling Headphones vs In Ear Earphones

[random111]

Hi All

So i've been doing some research on a decent pair of noise cancelling heaphones/earphones, but i'm all over the place and need your help.

I didn't know that in ear noise cancelling earphones existed until last week and, per reviews, some are quite decent e.g. sennheiser CXC700, sony MDRNC300D etc...but they have a big price tag and I am not comfortable spending that much on earphones I have not tried.

I went in to an apple store last week and they had the Bose QC15, which were awesome. I felt that pressure on the ear some reviewers talked about and couldnt help but think that i would find it uncomfortable attempting to sleep with them on as well as not tolerate them for 14 hours straight (MEL - LAX) on my trip.

I'm a very light sleeper so when you combine the roar of engines, air conditioning and 200 people with the being stuck in a small space = me not sleeping at all!

I've used earbuds before to sleep in hotels etc (will prob use them on the trip if i cant find what I am after) and as such have no problem with having something inside my ear for 7-8 hours straight.

Firstly I wanted to know if you knew of some in ear earphones that are just as if not more effective in terms of NC as the bose QC15's.

Secondly I wanted to know if it was possible to try in ear earphones anywhere, I understand for hygiene reasons this would be hard, but it would be great if you could try them somewhere.

Thirdly can you recommend headphones that arent as big as the bose QC15's but are just as effective and are comfortable and practical enough to use for sleep

I will be using the head/earphones both on long haul and short flights on my trip, with flights ranging from 1 to 14 hours, so comfort and NC performance are main priorities, followed by practicality and price. Sound performance is not really that important to me, just as long as it works and is clear im not fussed.

Thanks in advance guys!!

 

[TonyHancock]

There is some good info here. I have the Bose QC3's and they are very good, but not the best if you sleep on your side. I also have some Etymotic noise isolating in ear buds that are pretty good.

 

[futaris]

I would buy some Etymotic earplugs or earphones. The earplugs are only circa 20 AUD, and the earphones circa 100 AUD. If you're in business class, put the supplied headphones over the top of them.

 

[random111]

Hey Tony

Thanks for the reply

Yeah i've read that thread but didn't really quite get what I was after from it...

Was hoping to get more peoples views, thoughts, help etc on my issues...

 

[random111]

Forgot to mention that i also read the choice reviews on both the earphones and headphones

there were some audiotechnia and panasonic alternatives that they seemed to rate highly...

I would really love to try the in ear first though to compare to the bose qc15's!

 

[Clarkes]

The QC 1.5s are great. the Sennheiser PCX range are very good as well. I had a pair for about six years before I got the Bose ones. I still quite miss them because, even though they have a attachment for the batteries on the cord, they sat "on" my ears rather than over them.

If you sleep on your back, either of these would be great.

If money is no object, buy the Bose QC 3s.

 

[ludoh]

I have a pair of pcx250 sennheiser which have been around the world many times. Worth every cent and even comfy to sleep with. Can highly recommend and bit cheaper than bose (plus sit on ear rather than around).

 

[FlyboyAl]

I have a pair of "on ear" QC3's which I've used over the last 3 years and I love them, but I find by the end of a long flight (SYD-LAX), my ears are a little tender.
This week I borrowed my wife's QC15's "around ear" units and used them on the same flight.
Personally, I think they (QC15) are a little more effective, and my ears were nowhere near as tender.
The problem with both of them is that you cannot turn your head to the side to sleep - you need to to sleep "straight ahead".

If I was to buy again, it would be QC15's

 

[NM]

when it comes to in-ear devices, there are two different types:
1. Noise Cancelling
2. Noise Isolation

The best reduction of external noises (i.e. engines, lavs, crying babies, talking seat neighbours, cabin announcements) come from noise isolation types. But note that you won't hear cabin annoucements or cabin crew while you have them in your ears. They are passive devices (no batteries to replace or go flat) and generally very light weight and small. They isolate sound by making a good accoustic seal inside your ear. Examples are Etymotics and Shure.

Noise cancelling rely on active electronics to detect the noise around them and produce the oposite phase of the sound inside their drivers/speakers, cancelling the sound. They are less effective against higher pitched and random sounds like crying babies and allow you to hear conversation such as conversing with a seat mate or cabin crew asking if you want the chick or the beef. Bose are as good as they get (otehrs may be as good, bit none any better), and you have mentioned some of the in-ear noice cancelling products available. This type are good at reducing the constant background noise from air conditioning and engines. These will always require a power source - some may be rechargable, some use AAA or AA bateries. Most will still function as earphones without a battery/charge, but will not cancel noise without power.

So it comes down to what you want them to achieve. If you are hgappy with in-ear devices (they are not for everyone - some peole just find them irritating), the you need to decide between isolation or cancelling type. And that comes down to personal preference and what you are trying to achieve.

 

[SighMN]

I have a pair of Logitech Ultimate Ears 700 with Comply foam tips. I've had them for about a year now and paid about 120 AUD for them. In my mind they are the best earphones I've ever bought and are much better than the expensive BOSE noise cancelling headphones I used to own, until the cord frayed. I'd go with noise isolation rather than noise cancelling. Noise cancelling works best with noises like aircraft noise, but is hopeless with every other type of noise I've found. Noise isolation although rather low tech gets rid of all noise as it basically is just an earplug with speakers!

There are a few things I love about my Ultimate Ears 700 besides the sound quality:

a) The right earpiece is colour coded red so that I never have to try to look at the Right symbol on a dark airplane. Its amazing how easily you can make out which side is red even though its pretty sutble.

b) The Comply foam tips actually give the best sound and noise isolating properties compared to the silicone earbuds. They also last forever, they never fall off like silicone earbuds, and stay put in your ears better.

c) The retail price is 250 AUD but you can get them much cheaper in most places

d) The cord (which used to be a problem) seems to have been updated and more reliable. There is nothing worse than having earphone cords frey and you either have to put up with listening to things in mono or fiddle with the cord until it gives stereo.

In my mind BOSE products are generally overrated and expensive.

 

[markis10]

The UE700s are $129 at logitechshop.com.au! I purchased the UE400s for $40 recently at DSE when they had them for half price with the same tips, very happy.

 

[random111]

Thanks for the feedback guys, very helpful!!

With the in ear earphones, am I missing something? Won't all earphones provide you with noise isolation but the noise cancellation type will also provide an electronic NC on top of the isolation?

If thats the case, in my mind the NC earphones would be much better, or am I missing something?

I can get a pair of the Sennheiser CXC700 here for around $230, but not sure how much of an improvement they will be over a jvc, audio-technica, panasonic or pioneer pair that I could get for $80 or so.

Trying to compare atm.

 

[markis10]

Noise cancelling just counters the noise with anti-noise (opposite sine wave) while noise isolating stops it from coming in the first place! The problem with noise cancelling is the need for active components, so a flat battery can make them dead weight (QC15s for instance). In ear noise cancelling is IMHO a waste of time if you have good tips.

 

[random111]

Noise cancelling just counters the noise with anti-noise (opposite sine wave) while noise isolating stops it from coming in the first place! The problem with noise cancelling is the need for active components, so a flat battery can make them dead weight (QC15s for instance). In ear noise cancelling is IMHO a waste of time if you have good tips.

I get what you're saying, but wouldn't a pair of earphones that offers both isolation by having silicon buds in your ear and a noise cancelling mic be better than earphones that are offering just isolation?

 

[SighMN]

Thanks for the feedback guys, very helpful!!

With the in ear earphones, am I missing something? Won't all earphones provide you with noise isolation but the noise cancellation type will also provide an electronic NC on top of the isolation?

If thats the case, in my mind the NC earphones would be much better, or am I missing something?

I can get a pair of the Sennheiser CXC700 here for around $230, but not sure how much of an improvement they will be over a jvc, audio-technica, panasonic or pioneer pair that I could get for $80 or so.

Trying to compare atm.

Noise cancelling headphones used to be all the rage in the late 90's and 2000's, but as other posters have said they basically have very limited use. Noise cancelling get rid of the drone of the engines very effectively, but will not elimate a screaming baby, a snorer, a farter (yes I've been in aircraft where some people are farting up a storm when sleeping), or other noises like carts moving/tinkling or flight attendants socialising. A noise cancelling headphone is not noise isolating as they are generally not designed to block out noise as effectily as ones that are advertised as noise isolating.

The Sennheiser CXC700 look like a nice pair of earphones, but I find I don't need active noise cancellation when I wear my Ultimate Ears 700 on planes, it just gets rid of everything and the foam earbuds (which you probably can get for the Sennheiser CXC700 ) really are comfortable for extended wear. I'd be hopeless with batteries as I tend to plug in my earphone when I get on the plane and take them off when I leave, so I'd need to have a battery for nearly every flight.

 

[markis10]

I get what you're saying, but wouldn't a pair of earphones that offers both isolation by having silicon buds in your ear and a noise cancelling mic be better than earphones that are offering just isolation?

In practice I find my UE400s better than the QC15s with noise but the QC15s slightly better on the sound of what I am trying to listen to which is usually my iPAD.

 

[YQY]

I have had a pair of QC15's since Feb this year and I love it. I have done a dozen or so overnight trips in J and Y (LAX & SIN) and weekly trips to MEL/AKL and I haven't had any issues with sleeping with them, however I tend not to sleep on my side. The QC15's fit snugly around the ear and provide a degree of noise isolation. When sleeping on overnight flights i remove the cord and use the headset only.

The only issue i've had with them is that i tend to sweat around the ears when using for a extended period of time.

I used to have had Sony/ Shure earphones - but they were not comfortable (ie ear lobes hurt) when used over an extended period of time (anything over 3-4 hours).

In my mind they are the best earphones I've ever bought and are much better than the expensive BOSE noise cancelling headphones I used to own, until the cord frayed.

Note: the cords on the BOSE QC15's can be replaced.

 

[NM]

Thanks for the feedback guys, very helpful!!

With the in ear earphones, am I missing something? Won't all earphones provide you with noise isolation but the noise cancellation type will also provide an electronic NC on top of the isolation?

If thats the case, in my mind the NC earphones would be much better, or am I missing something?

I can get a pair of the Sennheiser CXC700 here for around $230, but not sure how much of an improvement they will be over a jvc, audio-technica, panasonic or pioneer pair that I could get for $80 or so.

Trying to compare atm.

Noise isolation is all about the seal made between the earphone and your ear. So "ear bud" type (i.e. like the ones that come with an iPod) don't isolate at all. The top quality in-ear devices have very good fitting options to make a good isolating seal. Cheaper devices often just have one size of tip which may fit some people but will not fit others. The Shure in-ear devices come with a "fit kit" that includes two different types of rubber, each in three diferent sizes. They also have the triple-sleeve tips and the compressible foam tips. So lots of options to ensure the best fit/seal possible.

According to Sennheiser, the CX700 provide passive noise attenuation of up to -25dB for frequency range above 3KHz. They mention that their active noise cancellation has three modes, each optimised for specific frequency ranges, interestingly all below 3KHz.

Compare with Shure who claim up to -37dB of isolation. Etymotics claim -35-42dB isolation. These two premium productions provide isolation acrosds the full audio frequency spectrum, not just above 3KHz. Sensitivity can also comes into play. Shure SE535 are 119dB SPL/mW, while Sennheiser CX700 are 108dB SPL/mW. Higher sensitivity means more audio volume for less power, so your audio source does not need to turned up as loud which generally reduces the hiss/noise from the device itself providing better signal/noise ratio for clearer quality sound.

Personally, I find the full range accoustic isolation of the Shure (I have SE530) and not having to worry about batteries suit me nicely. They easily fit into my pocket and produce great sound. Other people prefer the Etymotic ER-4 range, others prefer the active cancelling types. There is no one answer to which is best. I work regularly with a drummer who swears by his UE7s with custom ear molds, but with the standard tips they only claim -26dB isolation.

 

[random111]

Awesome thanks for your help

So then Sennheiser would be stronger in that 100 - 3000Hz range because of the combo of the isolation and cancellation but above the 3000 something like the Etymotics will be better.

I have a seperate question, can you purchase different kinds of tips for any in ear earphones e.g. will the shure foam tips fit on the sennheiser earphones?

 

[Craigie]

Another fan boi here for the shure earphones.

I've got a pair of SE215's. As far as sleeping with them I can't be happier. I'm also a real light sleeper and will wake up easily with just about any noise.. If I've got them in I find I sleep better and can comfortably leave them in all night and I sleep on my sides.

The audio quality is genuinely amazing, and incredible bass response for how big they are.

The only problem is that you need to get the right fit otherwise both of the above points I made are null.