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I looked at quite a few models, but ended up with Bose QC2. I know the QC3 are out now, but I prefer the over the ear style in any case, more comfortable sleeping on flights (up to 200,000 miles per year in my case). You need to decide what style works for you, apart from the brand question.

I didn't find the Sony and others that I tried were as effective. There may be better models out now.

Mine broke after a little more than a year (plastic edge on the headband cracked) and they wouldn't stay in position as well. I went in to the local Bose store (not the one I bought them from) to see if I could get parts. They took one look, and asked if they could replace them for me, full new set, at no charge, right there. Awesome customer service.

When I wear these out, I will buy another set. Yes, they are worth it.

Just to add to what my DH had to say. One of the big drawbacks, I think, of the QC3s is that you cannot just bring a few extra AAAs with you. The QC3s have rechargeable battery and an extra one costs another $50.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

I have tried and bought a few different brands of NC headphones and recently got the Bose QC2's for Christmas from my wife. I must say that while the Bose units are expensive as all hell, they are awesome. They cancel sound without making your ears feel like they are clogged up. Many other brands produce this feeling to varying degrees. The QC2's are very comfortable and sound very good too. They are simply great. I like them better than the QC3's because they are $50 cheaper and also because they are over-the-ear instead of on-the-ear like the QC3's. I think over-the-ear is more comfortable and also helps keep sounds out with an earmuff like effect. The downside: Price is a major one but the fact that they cannot be used in any way without battery power kind of sucks. I have a pair of NC headphones from Sharper Image and at least those can still be used to listen to music without batteries; you just lose the NC function. The Boses will not even play music without batteries. BUT... the batteries last about 20 hours and it's nothing to pack an extra AAA or two.

Also, I am not big on anything in-ear. They're compact and easy to pack but I get tired of the feeling of something in my ear.

Thanks all, I guess I will be visiting the Bose store soon. Like the over the ear option.

Shaper image makes noise cancellation headphones. They also have a great return service, and can return them after you try them out if you do not like them. Bose are probably the best choice, but these are a cheaper alternative.

I just replaced my sony with a QC2. I actually bought both since bose has a 30 day return policy. Note that I travel between 100K miles a year and spend more time on the plane than on the ground.. :)

Although slightly bigger than the QC3, the ear muff design is much better and much more comfortable. It doesn't feel like it's hanging off your ear. Also the QC2 IMO do cancel out noise a little better due to the design. The rechargeable battery on QC3 is nice though. My first full charge lasted about 17 hrs before draining. That's not bad. In the end of though, the comfort of the QC2 swayed me that way and I don't mind carrying AAA batteries. I just returned my QC3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SANguru

...Although slightly bigger than the QC3, the ear muff design is much better and much more comfortable...I don't mind carrying AAA batteries...

This raises two important points:

1. Comfort is in the eye (or rather ear) of the beholder. I own both QC2 and QC3, and I actually find the QC3 more comfortable, even though I don't generally like on-ear headphones. So I would HIGHLY recommend that you go to a Bose store (if you don't know of one locally, you'll find one in almost every major airport), and see which one YOU like best.

2. If you do choose the QC2, use lithium AAAs instead of alkaline or NiMH. They are lighter weight, and last FAR FAR longer.

Another vote for the QC2's. I hesitated on spending that much money, but finally got some, and love them! I actually bought some off eBay for slightly less than retail, but now that I have them, I would say they are worth every penny Bose charges for them!

agreed.:thumbup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleYates

Another QC2 owner here, albeit a former owner. I bought the QC2's during Christmas and ended up returning them on day 29. I chose QC2 over the QC3 because of I thought they were more confortable and did a better job of cancelling noise. But after carefully breaking them in, they never matched the sound quality of my old Grado SR225's.

Sound quality was not so much a factor as portability. I've always been earbud wearer and just couldn't get used to wearing a headset in public. The intention was to carry the QC2 in my backpack. It didn't work out for me. I'd rather carry earbuds in a pocket.

So now that I've returned the QC2's which I never intended on buying to begin with, I'm compelled to replace them with something else - either some canal earphones or a new reference headset and a headphone amp or perhaps all of the above.