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[boethius]

I saw that there was a short thread on this over the summer, but it didn't address the specific models I am looking at.

For Christmas, I received a pair of Sony MDR-NC200D on-the-ear (I don't like in-ear headphones) noise-canceling headphones.  I used them on my holiday travels and found them to work decently, but they got to be a little uncomfortable.  I can still return them with the gift receipt and am contemplating other models.  After doing some research, the two most likely ones (in the same basic price range) seem to be the Sennheiser PXC 310s and the AKG K480NCs.  Is anyone familiar with these?  One possible down-side to the Sennheisers is that I've read that in noise-canceling mode they have annoying flashing red LEDs that cannot be turned off (the Bluetooth models can, but these can't and I don't want to shell out for the Bluetooths).

If anyone has other ones to suggest I am (ahem) all ears.  Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[shrek]

We use sennheiser headphones in our lab-- comfortable and they last long, excellent quality sound

http://www.sennheiserusa.com/around-the-ear-headphones

[southerntransplant]

I have a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort 2 headphones that I swear by.

[alleyoxenfree]

I'm also interested to know whether any of the recommended ones are comfortable enough to sleep in.  For my work, I take a lot of long-distance flights in quite uncomfortable planes.

[crowie]

I don't have experience with either of the models you mention but I am going to suggest two others to take a look at--apologies if you have already considered and rejected them.  Reviews I have read suggest that Bose is significantly better than Sennheiser (not sure about AKG) at noise reduction, but that the sound quality when playing back music is inferior to Sennheiser, so it depends on what is more important to you. The newest model of the Bose QuietComfort "on ear" model is the QuietComfort 3.  I would check those out, and the Audio Technica ATH-ANC1--they also make very good quality products with excellent noise reduction.

I prefer the "over the ear" style to "on ear" myself.  I feel like my ears are being squished by the "on ear" version, versus cradled by the "over the ear" version.  I also think it would stand to reason that the noise reduction would be more effective with an "over the ear" model.  For long haul sleeping I combine my over the ear noise canceling headphones (an older Audio Technica model, ANC7) with an inflatable neck pillow and eye mask.  I have no problems sleeping with the headphones on, but the neck pillow is key.

[boethius]

Thanks for the replies.

I did take a look at the Bose Quiet Comfort 3's.  They were quite nice, but quite expensive and they will not work if the battery dies, which is a potential problem.

I did see the Audio Technica ATH-ANC1 online, but the reviews I read indicated that they were made a little flimsily. 

I do prefer the on-ear as I find the over-the-ear uncomfortable.

I did see a good deal on some factory-refurbished AKGs, so perhaps I will give those a shot.

I wish I were less wishy-washy.  No, I don't.  Wait, yes...

[boethius]

I've decided to give the AKG K480NCs a try.  I tried getting the refurbished ones from Harmon, but their website never worked.  Instead, I ordered them from Amazon for $150 (the refurbished ones were $140, I think).  Less than 24 hours later, I saw that they had dropped to $113.  Fortunately, they hadn't shipped yet and Amazon adjusted the price for me!  Hopefully, they'll be here soon and I'll let you all know how they are.

[tee_bee]

David Pogue just did a review of a bunch of NCHs at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/technology/14pogue.html?pagewanted=all

The Bose seemed to win, although it's insanely expensive. I used to have a cheap set of sony over the ear NCHs that cost me about $75 5 years ago. Nowhere near as good as Bose, but good enough to drown out most of the really loud woooosh you get on little regional jets.

[crowie]

I've decided to give the AKG K480NCs a try.  I tried getting the refurbished ones from Harmon, but their website never worked.  Instead, I ordered them from Amazon for $150 (the refurbished ones were $140, I think).  Less than 24 hours later, I saw that they had dropped to $113.  Fortunately, they hadn't shipped yet and Amazon adjusted the price for me!  Hopefully, they'll be here soon and I'll let you all know how they are.

Nice one!  Hope they turn out great for you.

[lampard]

David Pogue just did a review of a bunch of NCHs at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/technology/14pogue.html?pagewanted=all

I'm also shopping for NCHs, but David Pogue's NYT review is 5 years old: not sure what's changed in the technology in that time.

[tee_bee]

David Pogue just did a review of a bunch of NCHs at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/technology/14pogue.html?pagewanted=all

I'm also shopping for NCHs, but David Pogue's NYT review is 5 years old: not sure what's changed in the technology in that time.

Yikes, you're right!! The NYT website does this strange thing of putting links to these things like they are recent stories, even if they are 5 years old. Of course, I could read the dateline too....

But the one thing he said five years ago still rings true: that just about any noise cancelling is better than none at all. I have found that even those soft ear-plug like ear buds (like the ones that cam with my Samsung phone) block out just enough ambient noise that I can hear my music well. And my old $50 NCHs were really pretty good. At some point (I am sure it's above $50!) there may be some diminishing marginal returns.

[galactic_hedgehog]

David Pogue just did a review of a bunch of NCHs at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/technology/14pogue.html?pagewanted=all

I'm also shopping for NCHs, but David Pogue's NYT review is 5 years old: not sure what's changed in the technology in that time.

Yikes, you're right!! The NYT website does this strange thing of putting links to these things like they are recent stories, even if they are 5 years old. Of course, I could read the dateline too....

No, you just linked to the wrong article.  Pogue's column this past week was on NCHs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/technology/personaltech/finding-headphones-to-shut-out-the-world-state-of-the-art.html

[larryc]

I have some Able Planet over-the-ear NCH that are super comfy and really do shut out the outside world. There were like $40 at Woot.com. I am sure that those of you who buy $300 headphones could tell the difference, just as I am sure that I could not.

The thing is, a set of headphones like these in their case take a lot of room in the bag when traveling. After a half-dozen trips I found myself reaching instead for a pair of Sony in-ear earbuds. They seem to shut out the world just as well and fit in the palm of my hand.

[tee_bee]

David Pogue just did a review of a bunch of NCHs at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/technology/14pogue.html?pagewanted=all

I'm also shopping for NCHs, but David Pogue's NYT review is 5 years old: not sure what's changed in the technology in that time.

Yikes, you're right!! The NYT website does this strange thing of putting links to these things like they are recent stories, even if they are 5 years old. Of course, I could read the dateline too....

No, you just linked to the wrong article.  Pogue's column this past week was on NCHs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/technology/personaltech/finding-headphones-to-shut-out-the-world-state-of-the-art.html

Thanks--I may still be losing my mind, but I am glad that I didn't completely imagine the new link.

Meanwhile....

The thing is, a set of headphones like [big oer the ear ones] in their case take a lot of room in the bag when traveling. After a half-dozen trips I found myself reaching instead for a pair of Sony in-ear earbuds. They seem to shut out the world just as well and fit in the palm of my hand.

So true--I have two decent sets of in-ear earbuds, one that came with my Samsung phone, and set of spares from Sony. They both block out just enough noise to make the music listenable, with decent range, and they block out just enough of the loud wooooosh on the little regional jets to make them work as noise-blocking phones. For $20, the Sony's were a bargain.