Noise reducing headphones

I'm looking to buy a pair of noise reducing headphones. I have looked at the Bose ones (how expensive!) but have seen others offered by Sony and Panasonic. Does anyone have a pair (any make) and what do you think of them?

Thanks
Jon

[Decker]

My wife and I use the Quiet Comfort Bose (I an II respectively). We love them and find them very comfortable. The very early IIs had a slight design flaw that made the head band break easily but this was soon rectified and in an instance of customer service worthy of VS Bose just swapped out my broken set by sending me a new set. The IIs are better 'cos they have less wires!

[Pete]

Have some experience in this area

Started off by buying some cheap AWIA noise cancellers. Not that good, certainly not that comfortable.

Upgraded to the Sony brand ones, they were a little bit better, but still not perfect.

Then bit the bullet and bought the Bose. Should have done that at the start. Absolutely brilliant on aircraft, and pretty good at everyday use too!

My recommendation is save money in the long term and buy the Bose to start with.

Pix

[Decker]

Yeah we started with some of the Sony ones. In fact they're probably still in the office somewhere. They were OK but... of course the Bose are best for killing the rumbling - if you want total quiet it my be best to use earplugs AND Bose!

[RichardMannion]

The Sennheiser Noise-Cancelling range are meant to be good.

If you're looking at the Bose headphones - worth looking in the US as the prices work out much better.

Don't forget there are also the Bose factory outlets in Ashford, Bicester and Portsmouth.

Thanks,
Richard

[Pete]

Are they actually any cheaper at the Bose factory outlet stores? I bought mine from a factory outlet in the US, and I think I just paid standard retail (probably still cheaper than buying it in the UK). Don't Bose just use the factory outlet locations like any other location? Could be totally wrong on this...

Pix

An Absolute must, especially if flying overnight. I originally bought a cheap pair (£32) of Sony ones about nine months ago and the first flight I used them was the first time I've managed to get a decent sleep on an airliner.

I have since bought a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort 2s and they are outstanding. Expensive, but absolutely worth every penny.

I bought mine at a Bose shop in the US (Bridgewater NJ), inc taxes they were $302 which at 1.86 dollars per pound is £162 - which works out £112 cheaper than the Bose UK web site price!


You get adapters for pretty much every kind of interconnect, a well designed carry case and approx. 20 'Courtesy Cards' to hand out when fellow travellers ask you about your headphones!

Hope this helps,

Keith

[Bazz]

Bicester Village has them at £210 I think, in the US I checked in the Bose Outlet in LAS, they were $299 + tax, same price as full US retail, they were out of stock, pity, I would have bought a pair as it was a saving on the UK outlet price.

So next time I go to Bicester I must get a pair!

[Bazz]

quote:Originally posted by KeithAB
...You get ...approx. 20 'Courtesy Cards' to hand out when fellow travellers ask you about your headphones!

What an excellent piece of marketing! [^]

[Decker]

quote:Originally posted by Bazz

quote:Originally posted by KeithAB
...You get ...approx. 20 'Courtesy Cards' to hand out when fellow travellers ask you about your headphones!

What an excellent piece of marketing! [^]

and the cards are in a velcroed holder which attachs to the inside of the case. It's big enough to take some of your own business cards as well! Double Whammy! I suspect that in early days people were so sceptical about paying so much for headphones that the only way to increase sales was this kind of word of mouth recommendation! Owners normally become evangelists. I was bought my first set by an American friend as a birthday present. He liked his own so much that he was "spreading the word"!

Thanks everyone - looks like it's got to be the Bose ones.

Richard/Bazz - thanks for the info about the factory outlets - I didn't know they had any! Handy, as Bose are currently quoting 15 working days delivery due to high demand!

Thanks once again
Jon

[Decker]

Colleague just back from the US confirms the story here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3571401.stm - he was bringing in Mountain Dew and candy and so was below the limit .

[RichardMannion]

So basically remove all the price tags and lose the receipts?

Stupid C+E again - and we make them more powerful than the police.

On a separate note - if you are heading to the US, and are palnnign to visit Macy's or Bloomingdales - go to the visitors centre and show them your UK driving licence. They will hand you an International Visitors discoutn card - Macy's one is good for 12 months and takes another 11% off the price (even if its in the sale!). If you then walk back with receipts for a purchase over $50 they willg ive youa free gift - I have a nice Macy's rucksack and a set of Bloomingdales keyrings

Thanks,
Richard

ANR headphones are supplied to business class passengers on AA. Unfortunately they collect them back at the end of the flight!

[Decker]

quote:Originally posted by Goldenoldie
ANR headphones are supplied to business class passengers on AA. Unfortunately they collect them back at the end of the flight!

Never found the supplied NR headphones to be as good as Bose FWIW...

Has anyone else tried the E2c - Shure headphones?

I've just got a pair and they are bob on, they fit snug into your ears (I personally don't like ones that cover the whole of your ear) and they are reasonably priced too.

Shaz

quote:On a separate note - if you are heading to the US, and are palnnign to visit Macy's or Bloomingdales - go to the visitors centre and show them your UK driving licence. They will hand you an International Visitors discoutn card - Macy's one is good for 12 months and takes another 11% off the price (even if its in the sale!). If you then walk back with receipts for a purchase over $50 they willg ive youa free gift

Thanks for that Richard that will save me a few quid next week.

quote:Has anyone else tried the E2c - Shure headphones?

Tried something similar in HKG last month that fitted into the ear but owing to my rugby damaged cauliflower tabs I could not get them in had to go with Bose QC2s

[Decker]

Richard - NY Macys only or Mall ones too? Will probably be in NJ in a few weeks...

[Bazz]

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion
So basically remove all the price tags and lose the receipts?...

Or, if you want to keep them for warranty or other reasons, mail them to yourself, better than getting caught with them in Customs.

If anyone wants some bose at the US price, plus postage in the UK, I am sure that I might be able to keep "loosing" my pair and replacing them on each trip....... 4 pairs per month, plus my collegue. £145 customs allowance, means at the monemt a liability of £18 at 17.5 % so no real sweat

Bose outlet at Portsmouth yesterday £270 when in stock

let me know

Chris

[Decker]

If you bring something in worth more than the limit of £145, you will have to pay charges on the full value, not just on the value above £145

http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/notices/1.htm

[Decker]

oh yes and there's duty to pay as well - 8% or thereabouts

[ChuckC]

Just bought the QC2 phones on Bose website for US299. Not certain what the international shipping works out to be, but if purchased for US address, shipping is currently paid by Bose.

http://www.bose.com

Regards,
Chuck-

[Bazz]

Chuck, Bose won't ship them internationally, has to be to US (maybe incl Canada) address of where cc account is held, I tried it! [:(]

Ah yes but if you have a US address and Credit Card you can order to you apartment in the US and then just bring them to your other flat in the UK

Thanks for the heads up on the Duty, I did think you were only liable on the amount above the threshold.

Offer still stands