[Paco500]

I fly a lot more than I'd like to, and I'm thinking about getting some noise cancelling headphones for my iPod and G3 (in flight DVD's). The Bose look great, but I don't have that kind of money.

Does anyone have exprience w/ the Aiwa version? Or have reccomendations for low cost systems (~$60).

Thanks,

Paco

[Paco500]

I'm answering my own question for the good of mankind.

I bought a pair of the Aiwa headphones, and I am going to return them.

They actually do a pretty good job of cancelling out constant, low-frequency noise, and were great sound-wise on the bus and subway. Unfortunately, due to some very unfortunate design choices, the are EXTREMELY uncomforatable. The top of the headphones is almost flat and there is no padding between it and the top of the head. Due to the extra circutry and AA battery, they are heavy- bad combo. After my 50 min. commute, my head was rather sore.

Paco

[tonton]

I have a pair of Sony Noise cancelling headphones.

I also have the sony in-the-ear buds.

I can honestly say that the earbuds block out more noise. They also have great frequency response, which the noise cancelling set doesn't.

Note: The iPod headphones have horrible treble response, and the iPod has been adjusted to offset this. Therefore if you use the iPod with a good set of headphones, you will have to reduce the treble using the iTunes EQ, otherwise, you'll screech your ears out.

[zac4mac]

If I was flying, I'd use my "big cans" - Koss Pro 4AAA's.
Sound is excellent and they're guaranteed to cover the sound of screaming kids or jet engines.

I am actually sitting here now listening to my iPod with the Bose noise cancelling hedphones - they are excellent especially in environments with background noise.

David

I just bought a pair of the Sony EX70 in-ear buds, and I'm quite impressed. They definitely block out most of the ambient noise, and the sound is comparable to my Sennheiser HD590s (though, much of the perceived quality is probably thanks to the absence of distracting ambient noise). Definitely impressive for a mere $50.

[r-0X#Zapchud]

zac4mac: does Koss have a web-site?
I'd like to check out the "big can" earphones, as I've realized my 3 year old Sony headphones actually suck big time!

[Oink]

Etymotic ER4 plugs or the cheaper ER6, forget noise cancelling, seal it out.

[Jerjerrod]

Originally posted by tonton:
<STRONG>Note: The iPod headphones have horrible treble response, and the iPod has been adjusted to offset this. Therefore if you use the iPod with a good set of headphones, you will have to reduce the treble using the iTunes EQ, otherwise, you'll screech your ears out.</STRONG>

And how, pray tell, do you get the iPod to recognize the iTunes EQ settings? Did Apple include that in the 1.0.2 update and no one told me?

[dav]

Originally posted by tonton:
<STRONG>and the iPod has been adjusted to offset this</STRONG>

i have a very hard time believing apple would adjust the frequency response of the iPod to match the headphones that came with the unit. where did you read this? a reference or a link please.

[ 12-21-2001: Message edited by: dav ]

I Think B&O Headphones are the biz..

now im not going to get into an argument over sound quality between B&O, Sony M-whatever and other high price sets....
its pointless splitting hair between very good products..

where the B&O units win me is the shape...
they are soo damn comfortable to wear. the back arch takes all the weight like a pair of glasses. so A you dont have to ram the bug down your ear cannal and B you dont have to worry about the things falling off all the time...

[zac4mac]

www.koss.com should get ya started.
They no longer make the Pro 4AAA's but are making the Pro4AA's again. Very good studio cans, fairly heavy and liquid filled cushions. That's what I had before I bought the Triple-A's back in '80.
Just checked the impedance(actually DC resistance) on mine and it's around 220? and Koss says the DoubleA's are 250? so I guess they ought to sound pretty close.
10-25kHz, 95db @1mW, $99.99

Zack

[Apple Pro Underwear]

i use the apple headphones becuase i don't care. they all sound exactly the same.

[zac4mac]

I use the OEM earbuds when moving around. They sound better than any other buds I've tried.
Usually, if I'm stationary, there's a pair of speakers nearby. But if my Mac's tied up, or if I'm travelling, I'll put on full-size headphones. The sound is so much fuller(more full?).

My all-time two pairs of headphones:

Koss PortaPro Jr.
Grado SR60

Oh yeah.

-Stephen

[mrtaber]

Originally posted by &lt;jetta_gt&gt;:
<STRONG>My all-time two pairs of headphones:

Koss PortaPro Jr.
Grado SR60

Oh yeah.

-Stephen</STRONG>

Bought Grado SR80's for my iPod. Oh, yeah

Mark

can anyone suggest ear buds that have the wire enclosed in a cold-weather resistant rubber. The plastic Apple uses becomes brittle at cold temps. I live in Alaska

[iMacfan]

Hi,

I agree with Joey2000 that the B&O Earphones are amazing. They work well, are comfortable and look great. My iPod will be connected to these for the forseeable future. - I walk around London wearing these babies, and they never fall out.

Dave