need new headphones?
 

A friend of mine turned me onto these noise cancellation headphones on Sunday while we were on our way back to NYC from LA, they work great and aren't big/bulky like the Bose. What works best for me about these headphones is that they come with different sized "ear plug" like sleeves to get a more custom feel, earbuds always fall out of my ears especially if i'm moving around ... just thought I'ld pass on a good deal on a great product (J&R lists them for $179 on their web site, but if you call and order them directly for $129 AND you get a $35 J&R Gift Card)

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4089333

I looked into those recently. They have "passive noise reduction", in other words, they block noise because of the "plug in the ear" effect. Sound quality is routinely reported as excellent, as you would expect from that brand.

I simply don't like ear bud style headphones. They irritate me after a short time. I have the Bose QCII headphones, and love them. I admit they are much larger, and you lose the ability to just slip them in your pocket, but I like them.

So, if you like ear plug style phones, go for it!

It's funny actually, the BOSE style headphones are uncomfortable for me and too big to carry around (but the quality/functionality is excellent), and normal ear buds fall out of my ears, these work great for me... it was a nice accidental find.

Those Sure's are supposed to be great. I tried the Bose Quiet Comfort II's last weekend and they are excellent. They don't make your ears feel like they are plugged or need to pop like some other active noise cancelling headphones I have tried (JVC, Aiwa, Sony). And they sounded fantastic. $300 is steep and they are a little bulky but they are worth it.

I've tried my friend's pair and was awed at the sound quality and isolation. I just can't get myself to dish out over $100 for headphones though...maybe this summer. Etymotic is another company that produces great in-ear headphones.

:iagree:

i wasn't going to either, but 2 round trips to LAX from JFK and 3 Delta shuttle trips from LAG to BOS in the last 7 weeks convinced me otherwise...

Shure makes good stuff:thumbup: I've used their mics and mixers for years with great satisfaction.

JV

That was exactly my initial opinion, but I bit the bullet and after having them (Shure E3s) for about 3 months, you can't pry these away from me! Like gresch, I compare the Sure and some active noise canceling headphones on my last round trip cross country flight, and these ear buds easily won hands down. The Shure do come with different size buds and the key is to find the right one that fit your ears properly, else, it will sound as crappy as a $10 buds. Best of all, these ear buds are so efficient that I barely have to turn up my mp3 player, which means extra playing time as well! Definitely worth it, IMO.

Agree on all counts. I can't keep ear bud headphones in. I have had the Bose QC II for two years, and love them. I only use them on planes, and since I am carrying a laptop, Blackberry, adaptor plugs for 3 continents, etc, the bulk doesn't matter much. They are comfortable enough to sleep on, and the detachable cord is handy.

65,000 airline miles so far this year, and I booked five more round trips this week. Wouldn't be without them.