I am going to be flying cross continental in 3 weeks and I want to get some noise cancelling headphones for use with my IPOD.

WHich are the ones I should get?

I also want to get an adapter to upload photos from my digicam to the ipod so I can have mass storage. Anyone know of such devices?

Thanks,

Raj

 

2 approaches to noise cancellation - active circuitry where you get a device that tries to create sounds to mask the offending ambient sounds or noise blocking where you jam somethin ginto your ear that physically blocks the external noise pollution.

I have a set of the Sennheiser PXC-250 NoiseGard headphones and they do mask a considerable amount of background noise on planes, but in the long run I wasn't all that impressed. I made the jump to a set of Shure 3c Sound Isolating earphones and have found them to be far more effective at blocking loud background noise.

You do have to accept the notion of jamming something far enough into your ear to kill the external sounds with the latter option, but they are so effective that I can't use them at work at all. Someone who needs to get your attention will have to tap you on the shoulder in order for you to be aware of them. It's a little unnerving to see someone moving their lips 3 feet away from you and you haven't heard a single word they said.

 

Bose. that's the best.

 

The in-the-ear phones work very well for air travel. They block out everything, from engine noise to screaming children.

They are far more compact than the noise cancelling headphones, and you can still use them (to listen to in-flight entertainment or as plain old earplugs) when the flight attendants tell you to turn off all electronic items (including noise cancelling headphones).

I use the Etymotic Research ER-4p with the foam ear tips.

 

I've used both. Active noise cancelling 'phones blow- maybe 5dB attenuation at best and the sound quality goes to hell. Canal phones give >20dB attenuation and sound way better, you'll have to take them out to hear the flight attendant ask you what drink you want. Only question is whether they bother you from a comfort perspective. Generally if you can wear an earplug, you can use these because that's basically what they are.

Two product lines to look at are Etymotic Research and Shure. They start around $70 for a Shure E2C and go way beyond $200. The ones in the sub-$200 category have compromises in sound, but I'd still pick them any day over an ANC device. Street prices are considerably lower than retail. Sony makes a couple "Fontopia" in-ear designs for $50 or less, but I tried these and they hardly attenuate noise at all.

If you want to really confuse yourself, check out the definitive web resource for this kind of thing:

http://www.headfi.org

Peter

PS: Next time you are in a major airport, see if they have an "InMotion Pictures", one of those places that rents portable DVD players for flights. Those guys have all the Shure canal 'phones and will let you demo them, giving you a fresh pair of foam sleeves for cleanliness. This is about the only way I can think of to try them first. Locations here:

http://www.inmotionpictures.com/

 

Etymotic Er-4p's. No need for noise cancelling headphones.

 

i've got a set of mdr-ex81 sony inears. wore them for flight from VA to CA. not perfect, but blocked out a suprising amount of the engine noise, and had to be removed to hear anything from the flight attendants. would have been nice if they blocked more noise, but it was enough. I was just happy they don't make my ears hurt after an hour like my other earbuds. These were comfortable for 6+hrs.

 

I agree, while the Sonys block out less noise than Ety or Shure, they also feel the least like earplugs, if that bothers you. They just don't go very deep into the ear canal, which is good and bad I guess.

Peter

 

These are without question, the best earphones you can buy for portable devices. Remember, earphones need power from the source, and IPODs amp sucks. You wont get what in my opinion is good sound from the real deal headphones, because the amp just cant push them. On the other hand, I have used the Etymotic earphones, and they are stunning. They essentially "soundproof" your ear and the sound that comes out of them is simply unbelievable.

The ER-4 might be a little overkill, I think you would be happy with the 6i model.

Good luck!

 

I own both the Bose and the Shure E2C with my iPod. I like the E2C better then the bose at 1/3 the cost. I travel for a living, so I use them on the plane all the time. The E2C are smaller and fit in my computer case, where the bose had to be carried seperately. Sound wise, I like the E2C better too.