EX25 Extreme Isolation Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Headband is very tight, I had to wear it angled forward for comfort. Audiophiles may be dissapointed by the sound quality but I would rate it above average. My old Panasonic RP-HT240 had better sound quality but it's headphone cup cushion material was flimsy (disintegrating within 5 yrs) whereas these EX-25 headphone cups are high quality, functional & durable. This does not use sound circuitry which I considere a plus since those electronic gimicks add a bit of white noise. You must be cautious about wire connection at the headphone cups since it's not a very sturdy connection. Long cable length. Airplane headset adapter jack not included.

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Extreme Isolation Headphones are the only isolation headphones that do not leak sound into microphones during recording. No bleed of click tracks or recorded tracks. The only passive isolation headphones that can be worn for long periods of time without ear or head fatigue weighing only 9.5oz. The headband is stretchable over time and does not need to be tight on your head to block sound. These headphones have supurb fidelity for your studio and personal audio device. The choice of music college students from coast to coast for peace and quite in noisy dorms. NO BATTERIES REQUIRED.Outstanding fidelity for your project studio Light weight design only 9.5 oz. Ear cushions that do not bleed sound into live microphones while recording Comfortable headband that is adjustable and will stretch out for a perfect fit Professional gold screw-on 1/4" adaptor

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Philips SHN2500/37 Noise-Canceling Earbuds Review

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(More customer reviews)I got desparate just before taking a long flight, and purchased these for about $30. They did a good job of cancelling background noise on the plane, and for that purpose, I would highly recommend them. They even come with an adapter for jacks that require two plugs instead of one (like US Airways).
Overall, they sound pretty good. As with most earbuds, to get good bass, you need to make sure they are snug inside your ear.
When you turn on Noise cancelling, the volume increases, and this is typical because Noise Cancelling works by amplifying the sound and "subtracting" the outside noise that is being picked up. With a standard AA battery, you can get several hours of Noise Cancelling. When the battery begins to die, the volume actually drops, and it is much better to just turn Noise Cancelling off.
The earbuds fit well (there are 3 sizes included) and help to block a lot of external noise, so even without Noise Cancelling turned on you can block out of lot of unwanted noise.
And here is where Philips went wrong...They made the cable nearly 4' long (1.2 Meters), but in the middle, there is the bulky Noise Cancelling switch that holds the AA battery. Not a problem when you are sitting (eg. on and airplane, or at work) because you can just set it down. But for example, when you are walking, it hardly reaches your pants pocket, so you can't stand up straight, or it will pull the buds out of your ears. Leaving it hanging will do the same thing. In fact, this has been such an annoyance to me, that I never use these anytime I'm being active. And it's a shame, because they do a good job of cancelling lawnmower noise.
If you need a more general purpose solution and can spend a little more, I would suggest buying a set of Noise Isolation phones, which do not even require a battery. They are designed to completely block all external noises from getting into your ear canal.
However, if you plan to use them only for travelling, they are decent for the price. I have travelled with these for several months, and they still function well.

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Philips shn2500/37 active noise-canceling earbudsactive noise canceling eliminates unwanted external noise by 70% while enhancing listening pleasure; includes 3 sizes of interchangeable caps (s, m, l); neck strap enhances comfort & stability; freq resp: 40 hz20 khz; in-line volume control & noise control switch; cord length: 4 ft with 3.5mm mini-plug ; includes audio jack adapter.

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Maxell NC-IV Superior Noise Cancellation Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I had a pair of Maxell MAX190400 noise canceling headphones that broke. Instead of replacing them I thought I would try other noise canceling headphones. I bought (and returned) the following: Shure SE210, Sony MDR-NC60, and the Phillips NC headphones from Best Buy. I almost decided to get the Bose headphones, but after reading the reviews I wasn't impressed especially for the price. After much frustration I decided to try the Maxell's again only this time I would upgrade to the Maxell HP/NCIV. These are the best noise canceling headphones. I work in an office that plays music that I don't like. With these headphones I don't even hear the music plus they are comfortable. In my opinion they are much more comfortable and easier to maintain that the "in ear" designs. Great product, don't waste your money and time like I did on investigating other products.

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Reduce outside noise and enjoy your music more with Maxell HP/NCIV Noise Cancellation Headphones. Maxell's HP/NC-IV uses microphones in the headphones to detect ambient noise. That information from the microphone is analyzed and a precise active noise cancellation wave is generated. When this "anti-noise" wave meets the unwanted noise, the noise is reduced so your music comes through loud and clear. With a full 22dB of noise reduction, the HP/NC-IV offers more than 50 hours of battery life from AA cells housed in the right ear cup. It also comes with a hard-covered travel case. The gold-plated airline and 3/4-inch plugs with a single-entry cord make it easier for users to listen to their music while traveling. You can use Maxell's Noise cancellation headphones to enjoy your favorite music, or to simply block out unwanted noise while traveling. Road noise and airline engine noise can cause fatigue, and using Noise Cancellation headphones can help to reduce this fatigue. You arrive at your destination more energetic as a result. Or use noise cancellation headphones at home or in the office to block out ambient noise to help you concentrate and work more efficiently. The HP/NC-IV also will provide sound without battery power and comes with a 90 day warranty for parts and labor.

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Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5 Pro Noise Isolating Earphones (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a professional, classically trained musician and I have had these earphones for two weeks. I listen to mainly classical music, and have quite a collection of jazz and pop from various eras to which I listen as well. These earphones are wonderful. I did extensive research and returned several pairs of earphones (including Shure) before deciding on these.
These are canalphones, so you MUST have a good seal or you will not get proper sound. This means you have to choose the right fitting rubber inserts before they will work properly. The previous reviewer must have not fitted them properly because the sound is phenomenal when these are plugged in!
These phones have dual drivers for highs and lows. There is a lot of chatter on the internet about a weak high-end to these UE's, but I do not find that to be the case at all. The high-end is clear and defined. The strong low end, which is superb, may give many a scewed reference since most canalphones do not have good low ends, but the bass does not overpower the upper registers. Contrary to popular belief on the web, classical music sounds best when there is enough bass along with the highs. Just go to a live classical concert and listen for yourself! There is plenty of bass to go around! These phones are perfect for classical or for any type of music.
The other advantage to these phones is that you can change the wire and plugs yourself if they break or if you want a different cord of a different color. The earphones come with two nice cases, one all metal and the other in leather and the the accessorries all fit neatly together in the metal case.
Another nice feature is that there is little to no sound leakage. This means if you sleep with a significant-other, you won't disturb him or her at all. You should be careful when using them, because you won't hear much of anything other than the music.
The only downside is that these earphones will show you just how bad MP3 compression is on your player. I did a comparison with my CD player and discovered that even at 320 kbps, some of my MP3 files sound "distorted" compared to the CD. I did not notice this with my previous earphones.
If you're looking for great canalphones at a great price, then look no farther. I got mine at the Guitar Center and the sales person knocked $50 off the price, they are also the clear version. You can't go wrong with UE's proprietary monitor technology.


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For the last ten years, Ultimate Ears has been designing custom ear monitor products for your favorite professional musicians for use on stage and in the studio. Musicians put their hearts, their souls, their breakups, their memories and their passions into every song and they count on Ultimate Ears products to get the most of out of their music. Our super.fi products were developed so that you too can hear music the way it was meant to be heard. If professional studio quality sound is what you are after and only the best earphones will do, then you need the super.fi 5 Pro dual speaker professional quality earphones. The super.fi 5 Pro earphones offer the most accurate experience when listening to any style of music. The super.fi 5 Pro has the best quality in-ear, acoustic technology available making this our premiere dual speaker professional earphone product. These earphones also incorporate all the best features that super.fi products have to offer including pro-style ear loops that secure your earphones in place and a universal fit kit with 6 single flange silicone(2 small, 2 medium, 2 large), 2 dual flange silicone and 2 standard foam ear tips that maximize your comfort and increase noise isolation from the sounds around you. The super.fi 5 EB's come with a 46" cable, cable adjuster, and gold plated 1/8" input plug and ship with a metallic protective travel case, sound level attenuator, cleaning tool,1/4" adaptor jack, user guide and a 2 year warranty. Now your head is a concert hall. But don't take our word for it-hear the difference!

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Sony MDR-NC6 Noise Canceling Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Yeah, they feel cheap, they are cheap. But nonethless, and on the light of their price, this phones are quite good.
I've tested the Bose QC2 and owned the Sennheiser PXC300 noise-reducing headphones, both well beyond the $100 mark, and even more beyond this Sony's asking price, and that's what makes these a good offer. The Bose is tops, the Sennhaiser are just slightly behind. To tell you the truth, I like the Bose earcups quite a lot and that's what makes the difference for me between those two.
Contrary to several other opinions I've just read here, I found this unit's earpads quite comfortable, non-obtrusive and well designed. Maybe I have flat ears or something, but I don't suffer from them. Neither do I suffer from the pressure of the headphones over my head (I have a big head by the way). Granted, I struggled a little trying several adjustments before feeling really comfortable with the set on. What I find a little obtrusive however, is the location of the battery compartment, looks bad, feels bad, and makes you think they put it there as an aftertought. Construction seems adequate, for the price. Some materials seem higher quality than others though. The earpieces feel particularly fragile, but you get a set that's very light.
The sound, altough not great, is pleasantly good, specially when the NR circuit is on. I have an old pair of Sony Digital Reference headphones for this kind of tests, since they are some kind of a benchmark from the days when Sony made high quality products. So I put the NC6 through a series of good quality audio sources and the results were surprising. No audiophile, netiher digital reference studio headphones levels here, but a very good, satisfying experience. The bass is powerful but not overriding, the midrange is rich and well balanced, high frequencies just blend in.
Now on the NR feature. If you read the specs, the NR circuitry on this model works on the low part of the human hearing spectrum. They do NOT reduce high frecuency noises such as voices, TV, etc. What they do is reduce humming, vibrating, low frequency noises. And they do it well. I tested this on environments with some noisy A/C units, washing machines, seating on an airplane, and the results altough not on par with the costlier units aforementioned, are satisfactory considering what you pay. I could hear music from my iPod with a comfortable volume level on the plane, and enjoy it. This can't be said about most other alternatives in the price range.
With the NR circuit on, the source sound gets a little boost, this can hardly be annoying and otherwise can be quite positive since it allows you to lower the source volume level and in the case of battery-hungry hdd-based digital players this can give you a bit more from your battery charge.
As with others NR sets, white noise is mixed with the source to provide the "cancelling" part of the equation. Yes, this white noise can be heard on this set, and on any other NR set I've tried. A bit lower on more expensive models, but a perceptible compromise anyway. To some people, this can sound a bit artificial, and it somewhat does, but hey, consider the alternative withstanding a noisy plane cabin, A/C units, and other such environments preventing you from hearing and enjoying your music.
If you're evaluating NR for the first time, go with these. They are inexpensive, and will give you an idea of what to expect from better sets. For the price you won't regret it, since you can opt for something up on the model line later and keep these as some kind of an emergency replacement, or keep them at your office, shop, etc. Your non-audiophile kids will probably love them too and they won't be damaging their eardrums prematurely.
Accesories include an airplane adapter and a pouch, both standard quality items, no surprises there. The audio cable has what seems to me the correct length, unlike some other sets with miles of cables to worry about. Even better, the cord is single-sided so you don't get to struggle around untangling it. Battery life seems erratic, I got about 35 hrs with a mid volume level using alkalines. Rechargeables are challenging, lasting from 15 to 25 hrs, but when you are running out, the NR feature fades away fast, so keep replacements handy since it gets a bit hard to pinpoint your battery-life expectancy.
I give them four stars, they are very good for starters, and for evaluating the technology without making a big investment.

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pShut off the outside world with MDR-NC6 noise canceling headphones. Ambient sound can be reduced over 10dB at 300Hz, which means youll hear more music, and less plane/train/bus noise. Noise canceling headphones are great for work, traveling, or even when youre trying to sleep in a loud place. The MDR-NC6 have a slim swivel folding design, making them more compact for storage. Includes plug adaptor to connect directly to a stereo or dual jack of in-flight music services./p

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iLuv Noise-Canceling Headphones with Bluetooth Wireless Technology (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've tried out several pairs of noise canceling headphones and bluetooth headsets, and this one does its job well both in noise canceling (comparable to $100 pairs by audiotechnica, except it is not circumaural) and in bluetooth pairing (clearly excels over the Motorola S9)
Its bluetooth setting take a little getting used to, but once you know that you do not need to re-pair the headphones even if you switch between audio sources and that the play/pause button actually serves as a bluetooth-reconnect button if you wander out of range, they are really very intuitive.
The headphone's microchip sports two audio-modes instead of two audio streams for its Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (HQ music) and Hands Free Profile (mobile)... This surprised me at first, but it actually allows you to have a lot of freedom.
Battery life is great with a 10+ hours of continuous music streaming (experimentally) and a mere 1.5 hour (also experimental) charge time.
I can't say enough good things about this product. Asides from the mentioned items it also has great sound quality, and the fold-up ability is pretty handy for mobility.
The only two things I would've liked for it is to not look so cheap and to have came with a carrying pouch that is its size (and not like 3X larger)

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Free yourself from tangled wires and city noises The i913 frees you from the tangle and limitations of wires using Bluetooth wireless technology. Not only that, but outside sounds that interfere with pure music enjoyment or that create a distraction during an important phone call virtually disappear helping you focus on what you want to hear and not on what you have to hear. With i913 you can listen to music wirelessly in the way it was meant to be heard. Plus, this swivel-designed noise canceling headset has comfortable soft-cushioned ear pads, and with its mini-USB connection you can also connect to most audio devices using the included mini USB to 3.5 mm cable. Bluetooth wireless technology helps you connect to your phone without being physically attached to it, freeing you to walk around and use your hands the way you would if you were talking to a person in the room with you. What's more, you can talk and listen longer with the i913. With nine hours of talking time is available with 8 hours of listening time, the i913 helps you enjoy walking and talking more than you did before.

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Sony MDR-NC40 Noise Canceling Headphone (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I travel a great deal and have a drawer full of noise canceling headphones by Panasonic, Kensington, JVC and Sony. Each had limitations -- not enough high end, poor construction, poor noise reduction, or in the case of lesser Sony's I bought several months ago, pretty good sound, but rather inadequate ear cups and poor portability (they wouldn't fold up to occupy as little as possible space in my briefcase.)Always worried about losing or damaging something while traveling I did not go for the full kahuna and buy Bose.
So, having seen these around some local shops and taken a listen I bought the NC40 and immediately took them on a trip.
By and large they are fine. When turned on (don't even try to listen to them when off) the sound is rich and clean; lovely base and good high end, which is important to my tired ole ears. Plenty of mid-range. Nice volume. I'm not sure they are world beaters in terms of overall noise reduction, but they certainly take the edge off and from my same old seat near the rear of a Southwest jet, they provide a relaxing and easy to take listening experience. One WANTS to use this extremely comfortable headset, whether noise reduction is needed or not. I hear things I didn't know my MP3 decoder put in a file. Oh, I listen mainly to jazz and classical music.
Oh yes, they fold up neatly and I like the on-off switch/battery holder, which lives by itself on the connecting line and has an override button that works beautifully.


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Shut out up to 80% of the ambient noise around you with the MDR-NC40 noise canceling headphone. Great for work, traveling or just when you're trying to sleep in a loud place, they provide a calming atmosphere no matter where you are. The pressure-relieving cushion offers premium comfort, and the lightweight, folding design makes storing them a breeze. Includes a premium travel case and "AAA" batteries.

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Clear Harmony Active Noise Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones with 8G iPod touch® (Gift with Purchase) - Silver (NC1000CHA118) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)At the price of $300, I was looking forward to receiving a high-end product that would offer quality noise cancellation with the iPod Touch as a bonus. However, the headphone was very bulky. If it was comfortable, then it would be fine, but after I put it on for about 5 minutes, it gave me a headache. The quality of the noise cancellation was non-existent. It could not even be compared to my lesser expensive noise cancellation headphone Sennheiser PXC 250 and not as comfortable. Since I got it from Brookstone and not directly from Amazon, I had to pay for the return postage and now waiting for a refund. If you still wanted to give the headphone a try, make sure you DO NOT open the iPod Touch until you have tried the headphone.

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Clear Harmony Active Noise Cancelling Headphones: includes Apple 8GB iPod touch (4th generation) with purchase, no additional charge. Hear the difference that dynamic LINX AUDIO sound quality and superior noise cancellation technology can make and you'll receive an 8GB iPod touch player (4th generation) with your purchase at no additional charge!* Setting new standards for superior audio performance, award-winning Clear Harmony headphones feature advanced technology that dramatically enhances sound quality, improves speech clarity, filters outside noise and reduces distortion for a truly remarkable listening experience. Clear Harmony headphones recreate the live experience, providing full, rich sound and clear speech even at lower volumes. And its extra-plush, swiveling ear cushions let you enjoy it all in long-lasting comfort. Recognized worldwide for design and engineering excellence. With 26 prestigious awards and the highest headphone specs in the industry, Clear Harmony headphones provide sound reproduction and active noise cancellation unlike any other headphones on the market today. Use them anywhere to create your own personal space filled with full, dynamic sound from your stereo, computer or CD/DVD/MP3 player or simply enjoy total silence. Great for travel, Clear Harmony headphones fold down into a hard-shell protective carrying case, and come with a dual-pin airline adapter and 5-ft. removable cord with in-line volume control. Requires 2 AAA batteries (included). Purchase Clear Harmony Active Noise Cancelling Headphones and you'll receive an 8GB iPod touch device with your purchase at no additional charge. Order today! iPod touch is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion. All rights reserved. *In order to receive a refund or credit for returned Clear Harmony headphones, the iPod touch player must also be returned and be unopened.

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Sennheiser PXC 450 NoiseGard Active Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I compared these headphones side-by-side with five other noise cancelling headphones: Bose QC2 & 3, JVC NC250, Audio Technica ANC7, and Sennheiser PXC-250. I was in the market for a noise cancelling headphone because I travel a lot and I wanted to be able to watch movies or listen to music in relative isolation. With the ipod earbuds, you have to blast your ears in order to compete with the airplane's engines and I want to preserve my hearing. My main criteria were sound qualifty, noise cancelling, and comfort. All three were very important and I didn't really want to compromise on any of those categories. The only headphone that excelled at all three was the PXC-450. I disqualified all but the PXC-450 on the basis of out of the box testing.
The JVC was disqualified right away on the basis of its cheap build quality. It does not fit snugly on your head, it is very loose. The slightest movement of my head and the earphones would slide around on my ears. Because of that these headphones offered zero passive noise cancelling. Sound quality was okay but nothing special. These headphones never really merited serious consideration.
The Audio Techicas are one of the most popular headphones on Amazon. I read the reviews of this headphone extensively, and most people rave about these headphones. The only criticism of them I saw was sound leakage. People complained that when you listen to these headphones, people around you can hear what you're listening to. They were right. It really is a shame because other than that flaw, these are very good headphones. The sound and noise cancelling is amazing considering the price. However, as I was buying this for use in very close quarters (airplane travel), I didn't want to have to worry about bothering people around me.
The PXC-250 sounded amazing. I couldn't believe such small headphones could sound so good. However, the battery wand I felt got in the way a bit and I just didn't think the noise cancelling on these on ear headphones was as good as the other more expensive headphones. The 250s had another odd problem in that very slight movements would cause the earpads to rub slightly on your ear. This rubbing created a noise that would reverberate inside your ear that was very noticable if you were watching a movie or listening to softer music.
When I was testing the Bose and the PXC-450, comparing them to the other headphones I tested, it made me realize that noise cancelling technology must just be expensive which is why if you want a quality noise cancelling headphone, you have to be willing to shell out some cash. The Audio Technicas are by far the best of the cheaper NC headphones, but the Bose (particularly the QC3) and the 450 really stand out from the pack.
The Bose are very good headphones, but they have some issues that I just couldn't get over. First, I don't like the way Bose headphones sound. They push the bass into your face and the mids and highs sound muddy. Most of the reviews of these headphones mention these issues. The QC2 got very warm and I could feel the heat radiating inside on my ears and it was not comfortable.
The QC3s are really amazing. They are on ear headphones, yet they had the best noise cancelling of any of the other headphones I tried. The earpads are made of a material that just kill sound. Without even turning the earphones on, you are immediately immersed in silence. However, in addition to the sound quality issue, there is something about their noise cancelling function that creates a pressure on your eardrum. This pressure bothered me enough that it was hard to ignore. If the PXC-450 did not exist, I would have gone with the QC3 and just sucked it up, but I was glad that I didn't have to.
Finally, the PXC-450. For me, these were the perfect headphone and I just fell in love with them and didn't have to think very hard about which ones to keep.
Bass. I read a lot of reviews and a lot of people complained about a lack of bass on these headphones. When I first put these headphones on, I admit that I was a little let down because it seemed to me like they were very weak. Then I realized that I needed to adjust the volume control on the headphones. I basically turned the volume on the headphones all the way up and just adjust the volume on my ipod. With the volume issue fixed, my concerns about the bass went away. These headphones do not have as much bass as Bose. However, that's because Bose changes the sound from the way it was intended to push the bass forward. If you like a lot of bass, these headphones might not be for you. However, the bass is definitely there. Just listen to Pon de Replay (Rihanna) or Pass that Dutch (Missy Elliot) for a demonstration of how good the bass is on these headphones.
Sound Quality. Moving past the bass to sound quality as a whole, these headphones are in a different league. I mean, I am hearing details in songs I have heard dozens or even hundreds of times and never noticed. Background singers that before were lost with all of the other sounds can be heard clearly on these headphones.
Noise Cancelling. These headphones have a tight fit, which gives them a lot of passive noise cancelling. They are not so tight, however, to become uncomfortable. Combined with the active noise cancelling, and these headphones are *almost* as good as the QC3s. I feel like the QC3s were a little better at cancelling the higher frequencies, but I think that is why they have the pressure on the eardrum problem. I didn't feel any pressure with the 450. The slight advantage the QC3s have on noice cancelling is more than outweighed by the 450s superiority in sound quality and comfort.
Comfort. Despite being snug, the 450s are very comfortable. The material that the earpads are made of is very soft and I quickly forgot I was wearing them on my flight. The headphones are very big--much larger than the on ear QC3s. However, because they are snug they don't slide around and they really do melt into your head after a while. Also, they don't get hot like the QC2s did.
Portability. Because they are bigger, they are slightly more difficult to manage than the Bose. However, they fold up quite nicely and their case, though larger than both of the Bose cases, is still rather small (and light!).
In the end, once I tried the 450s, there was really no way I could settle for any of the other headphones I tried. All of the other headphones had too many flaws and the 450s were near perfect. Oh, I should mention that I listened for the "ticking sound" that other reviewers complained about in the right earpiece and there was absolutely nothing. Either those reviewers had defective units or Sennheiser has fixed the problem.
Update 3/31/11:
I can't believe it's been three years since I bought these headphones. They still work great and I have no plans to replace them. I only use them when I travel, so they're not getting wear and tear every day, but I was travelling A LOT when I first got these. I have not tried the Bose QC15s, so I can't compare the 450 to those.
Someone in the comments suggested that I work for Sennheiser -- I do not.
I didn't mention the Talkthrough feature in my review. After a lot of use, I have found this feature to be very handy. It's nice when the flight attendant comes by to be able to just press the button and talk to them without having to take the headphones off.

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The highest quality in noise cancellation coupled with outstanding sound and a talk through function that allows you to communicate undisturbed while still wearing the headphones. collapsible and very convenient to travel with. Get to your destination without the usual travel fatigue, refreshed and ready to go.

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Panasonic RP-HC500 Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just purchased the Audio-Technica Quiet Point ($124) and the Panasonic RPHC-500 earphones and compared them side-by side, using a CD run through Bose Speakers, with an earphone outlet on the speakers. I found that both earphones are equal in ear coverage; i.e., the earphones themselves are the same shape and size. Sound quality: virtually the same, with the exception that the Panasonics were a little "Bass-ier" than the Audio-Tehnicas, and might be better suited to use with an amplifier where the bass tones from the amplifier could be regulated. I found that the base tones on the Panasonic were somewhat greater as compared to the A-Ts, but if the listener likes a greater amount of bass tone, then the Panasonic would be the perfect choice.
I then compared both to the Bose $350 fit-over-the-ear model. The Bose displayed a clearer sound quality, but for $350, I would choose the Audio-Technica or Panasonics due to their far lower prices and better construction. The Bose earphone yokes are extremely fragile. I just fractured the yokes on my second pair of Boses and hopefully they can be repaired when I send them back to the company. It seems inconceivable that such an expensive pair of earphones can break so easily. The Panasonics seem to have the beefiest yokes. The Audio-Tehnicas have a similar physical appearance to the Boses. From the standpoint of yoke strength, it appears that the Panasonics win out over the other two. Also, the Audio-Technica yokes poke out about 1/2 inch more than either the Bose or Panasonics, possibly making wearing them less comfortable if the wearer's head is turned to the side while lying on a pillow, for instance.
Comfort-wise, the A-T and Panasonics seem to be virtually identical. The Panasonics have a bit more padding, so if the user has little hair on top, they might be slightly more comfortable. They appear to be equally easily adjustable for optimum fit. The Panasonics arrived with a dual-plug for use on airlines, while the A-Ts did not. I have no idea if dual plugs are a requirement for listening to airline music; the last time I flew, I used the single-plug Boses with no problem.
While wearing each pair, I clicked my fingers at arm's length to compare the noise-cancelling qualites. The Panasonics won hands-down. The Panasonics also seemed to be slightly more adept at cancelling out the broadcast from a nearby table radio tuned to a talk show. Interestingly, the Bose earphones displayed what appeared come in a poor third, allowing more radio sound to come through, even though the noise-cancelling button was on, and a new battery had just been placed in the unit. How each would compare on an airline with screaming children, I have no clue
I plan to purchase the Panasonics and send the Audio-Technicas back. The Panasonics have better noise cancellation, better construction around the yoke area (hopefully making them less apt to break), include a dual plug for airline use, have a flatter profile in case the wearer wants to listen in bed while his/her head is in a lateral position on a pillow (or while sitting in a reclining chair), has a slightly better cushion at the top cross-piece, and is $25 cheaper than the Audio-Technicas. Both have nice carrying cases that display about the same size and bulk as displayed by the Bose. The Panasonic boasts 92% noise-cancelling capability, while Audio-Technicas have 85% printed on their box.
As far as the Bose earphones are concerned, I would not buy another pair. After comparing the Boses to the above earphones, I feel the Boses are far overpriced and far more prone to breakage. I am on my second pair, the first pair having broken on both sides and may be unrepairable. After the first pair proved to be so flimsy, I babied the second pair, but the yoke broke in the same spot as that of the first pair. The Bose earphones appear to be riding on their previous good reputation; however, these earphones IIRC were the only pair of earphones on the market that really provided good fidelity---there was no other competition. Now, there is competition, both in quality and price. I feel Bose needs to rethink their pricing and design features, lest they become non-competitive.I

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Panasonic RP-HC500 Noise-Canceling Headphones

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JVC HANC100 Noise Cancelling Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)There are a few things about these earphones that need mention right up front, because they are so very well done.
1. Most noise cancelling headphones have a bulky battery pack in line on the headphone wire. These DO NOT, which means the wire is small and free of things to catch on airplane handrests and such. This is great.
2. Many noise cancelling headphones have a constantly connected cord, or allow the cord to be removed if you only want noise cancelling. With this, the cord rewinds into the left earpiece. This is again, extremely well thought out. If you just want noice cancelling, rewind the cord up. It's easy and since it's attached, you can't forget and leave the cord on the plane or at home. This is great.
3. It runs on a single AAA battery, which resides in the right earpiece, again nothing external to snag on anything.
4. They fold up nicely for travel.
5. Noise reduction works very well. I even use them at my office to block out the white noise and fans of my building.
6. Audio quality is fairly good, nice rich tones but a little lacking on bass. I enjoyed my videos and music with them very much. An audiophile might be dissappointed, but if you're using noise reduction in the first place, you probably are in a noisy environment where you can't appreciate perfect audio anyway. All in all, the sound is very good however.
All that is very good.
What's not so good. The headphones look like over the ear designs, and for the most part are. The earcups are actually very small and barely fit over your ear. I'm OK with that, and the padding is very soft. On the inside however, the cup where your ear sits is not very deep due to the electronics and such in them (battery on one side, retractable cord on the other). The top of my ear touches this inside panel and while not instantly uncomfortable, by the time I landed, both ears were a little sore from this. I flew from Chicago to Tokyo and by half way... both ears were sore. I continued to wear them because they worked so well and the noise reduction and audio with my computer was so good, but this is the only drawback I saw.

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JVC HA-NC100 Noise Canceling Headphone HANC100 Headphones & Earphones

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ABLE PLANET NC300B True Fidelity Around-the-Ear Active Noise Canceling Headphones (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these on a whim because my job requires air travel a few times a year and I've always been curious about the technology (and because the roar of the airplane cabin really bothers me). This is my first pair of NC headphones and I had no idea what to expect. I thought maybe total silence. I thought wrong. Without any music playing I could easily hear the TV, bathroom fan, etc. The NC300B's did eliminate much of the lower frequency noise, but I was mildly disappointed. I added my MP3 player to the mix and was happy to find that I could listen to music at reasonable levels and my kids voices were effectively muted. Later on I used them while reading and noticed that they did manage to cancel out traffic noise completely (no music required). Then I did a side-by-side comparison with an old pair of standard Sony headphones that I've had for 20 years while I pressure washed my driveway. There is really no comparison. I couldn't hear the music at all with the Sony's, the music came through loud and clear with the NC300B's. I'm still curious as to how these stack up against the top of the line Bose. I'm guessing not very well, but I would expect that given that I paid 1/6 of Bose's asking price for my NC300B's. Also, I'm not an audiophile, so the muddy sound at louder levels on some songs doesn't bother me. I like them at the sub $70 price and would recommend them to my cost conscious friends.

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Around-the-ear active noise-canceling headphones; award-winning sound quality with linx audio(tm) technology; maximum speech clarity; filters undesirable sound ; reduces distortion ; restricts electromagnetic interference ; in-line volume control for easy adjustment to safe listening levels; state-of-the-art active noise cancellation; superior comfort in a foldable design perfect for travel; freq resp: 20 hz - 20 khz ; sensitivity: 115 db/khz (off );121 db/khz (on); 3.5 mm plug; includes 1/4" home stereo adapter, 1 aaa battery, hard shell protective carrying case & airplane adapter; black.

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Philips HN060/37 Noise-Canceling Earbuds Review

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(More customer reviews)These are nice earplugs. They fit into my ears well, though they probably won't fit EVERYONE'S ears as well. Plus, some folks just won't like wearing plugs that fit so deeply into the ear canal; those people should avoid the HN060. The generic earpiece fits snugly enough for me, but it's not a custom earpiece, so one shouldn't expect it to be perfect for all ears--Philips should have provided multiple sizes with the HN060, like those provided with Koss ear buds.
Sound is decent enough, though it's certainly no Grado headphone, nor is it remotely close to the sound provided by an enclosed earpiece. No thumping bass, but a reasonably good frequency response in the mids and highs. The snugness of the earpiece does affect the sound quality; the better they fit, the better the sound will be, and the less ambient noise will sneak in. I listen predominantly to classical, swing, and horn-driven jazz, all of which sound rather nice with the HN060. I do not think those interested in heavy bass-driven music will be satisfied with these plugs.
The noise reduction features work well enough to reduce the fan noise of a close-by stack of servers. Airplane noise, air conditioner noise, and other steady amibients are reduced quite noticeably. Don't get these thinking you're going to be immersed in silence--you're kidding yourself. I'm satisfied, but feel that full enclosure headphones do almost as well at noise reduction.
The cloth-wrapped cord is very nice, as is the neck strap. This brings me to the only con I've found, the LENGTH of the cord is just not adequate except for use with wearable audio devices--a problem that most manufacturers seem to have developed.
Overall, a good buy for those inclined to like in-ear plugs. Others should avoid them solely for comfort issues.

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Philips Noise cancel earbuds active noise reduction cuts out the background noise that spoils the listening pleasure and delivers pure sound on the move.

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Beats Pro High Performance Professional Headphones From Monster? - Pro-tuned Over-Ear - White Review

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(More customer reviews)I had a good listen comparing these to the original Beats. In the end, I must agree with the many others who've tried these, they are MUCH better than the beats. Bass is still predominant, but highs and especially mids are much better represented. I think it's due to the lack of noise canceling, but these are much more lively than the original Beats
At 400$, you're really not paying for sound as much as durability. These are ROCK SOLID, the entire thing is really mostly metal, except the parts with the cushions. I must stress that there are much better offerings from Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Ultrasone (google them if you've never heard of them) IN TERMS OF SOUND. But if sound is not as important for you as durability, such that you're not an audiophile but just an average listener. I promise you these will last. Let me say again, ROCK SOLID.
My biggest warning for everyone who is reading this is the comfort factor. Unlike what you've been hearing from others from youtube (there are so many unboxing videos on these already), these are not necessarily comfortable. Let me explain why. Unlike the original Beats and other around ear headphones, these are ON EAR headphones. Usually, ON EAR headphones are built so they can swivel to how much you ears "stick out" if you know what I mean. Like how much you ears wedge out. A well known example of a comfortable ON EAR headphones would be Bose QC3, and they do swivel. NOTE THAT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW THE BEATS PRO ARE ABLE TO SPIN, WHICH DON'T HELP COMFORT IN ANY WAY. Since these headphones don't swivel, they hurt, and HURT ALOT, for me at least. If you still don't understand me, just imagine the fact that these headphones will flatten an elf's ears towards its head when worn. do you think the elf would be in pain?
I can't listen to these for more than one song, because they hurt so much for me. This is why I didn't give a more detail description of the sound. I would really suggest people interested and potential buyers of these headphones to TRY THEM ON AT BEST BUY. Trust me, it does no harm to take a look at the Best Buy nearest to you. But it's better than getting them and regretting, which almost happened to me.

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Beats\' Pro\' High Performance Professional Headphones From Monster - Pro-tuned Over-Ear - White

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Denon AH-NC732 Active Noise Cancelling Headphone Review

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(More customer reviews)The Denon AH-NC732K is a very nice pair of headphones. They are compact, comfortable, and sound very good. The noise canceling works very well taking care of engine noise and other low frequencies. The included carrying case is perfect to slip in your briefcase or carry on bag and it has enough room for all of your adapters and cables.
The headphones don't fit around the ears like the larger Bose QuietComforts. They rest on and cover the entire ear. I was surprised that they were comfortable to wear. It took a little fiddling around to get a secure fit but it was worth it. The headphones feel like they are creating a seal to achieve maximum noise reduction. In fact if you just put them on without creating this "seal" you might not think much of these headphones so proper fit is key.
My first test was for noise cancellation. A lot of people will use these just for that feature and not even play any music through them. I ran an airplane noise WAV file through my desktop stereo system to simulate being in a plane. After cranking up the volume on my JBL 2.1 system I put the headphones on. There is a small switch on the side on the headphones to turn noise canceling on and off. With it off you could clearly hear the humming of the engines, the beeps of the seat belt indicators, and the general noises of cramming a hundred people in a cabin. Turning the noise cancellation on reduced these noises by 80%. The engines were barely audible and the beeps sounded like they were further away. Overall I was pretty pleased with the noise cancellation. Hopefully they work as well on a real flight.
I tested these for music with an iPod Nano and my stereo system. Plugged into the headphone out of my Peachtree Audio Decco using Sonos as a source I was immediately disappointed with the sound coming out of the Denons. They were bright and harsh with one note bass. I made sure the noise canceling switch was on, it was, and turning it off made the sound worse. I decided to "break in" the headphones before doing any more listening. I plugged them into the Nano and put it on shuffle mode, turned up the volume and then put a towel over them to drown out the sound.
After 5 hours of non stop playing I decided to give them another listen. They definitely sounded better, the highs were smoother and the bass was more relaxed. They still weren't great and for $299 they should be better. I decided to play around with the EQ settings on the Nano. Listening to The Beatles, Norah Jones, The Doobie Brothers, Daft Punk, etc. I checked every single EQ setting on the iPod. Surprisingly the Classical EQ setting sounded the best followed by Electronic , Rock, and Latin. With the Classical setting engaged these headphones sound fantastic. The volume was turned up 90% of the way to get the amount of sound I am used to, which is to say as loud as the real thing.
On my Shure E5C headphones the volume at half way is more than enough.
Comfort 4/5 They are very comfortable but it takes time to get them to fit correctly.
Convenience 5/5 I love the detachable cords, the case, and in a pinch you can listen to music if the battery dies.
Sound 5/5 They sound great once they break in but remember to try the EQ settings on your MP3 player to get the best sound.
Value 5/5 If you can try these at a local dealer and buy them for less than $299 (most dealers will discount) then they are a great deal, especially when compared to the competition.
EDIT 6-9-09
I took this set with me on a short flight from Denver to Milwaukee. Typically I take my Shure E5c ear buds, external headphone amp, and my iPod Touch with me on flights but I wanted to travel as light as possible on this trip. So I shoved the iPod into the back pocket of the Denons included carrying case and threw everything into my carry on bag.
So how much noise do they really cancel? Well I have to stick with my 80% comment from earlier. In terms of engine noise they probably canceled around 90%. It was the high pitched beeps, buzzing, and guy four rows ahead of me singing that got through.
I have always believed that in ear headphones like the Shures offered better sound and more isolation from noise than "noise canceling" headphones. Comparing my experience with the Shures and now the Denons I have to say that I have had a change of mind. These Denons were far more comfortable over the duration of the flight. They canceled more noise than the Shures blocked out and were less fatiguing to listen to. In a quiet environment the Shures E5C still has an edge over the Denon NC732 but my default travel headphone from now on will be the Denon AH-NC732.

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On ear, Active Noise Cancelin Headphone. This slim black headphone provides for over 95% outside noise reduction. Over 40 hours of battery life with a single AAA battery. This unit collapses into a small molded carrying case for traveling. iPhone/Touch compatible and no adaptor is needed! These are Great for the travelers or just someone who wants to listen only to their music!

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HP GW470AA#ABA Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these as a Christmas present (for myself) directly from HP. At the time they were listed for $160.00 and I found I could get them from HP for $100.00. I liked the bluetooth, it setup just fine with my Vista laptop (also an HP) and the sound was fine. The noise canceling didn't really work, all I got was a high-pitched squeal in the right ear, but I'm in a quiet office, so I didn't worry about it.
I had the same problem that others have had, the headband breaks. I have a pretty normal to small head (I wear a 6 and 1/4 fitted baseball hat) and the headband busted in two.
I sent them back, and HP never bothered to send me a replacement. When I called, they had already refunded my money. They offered me a 25% discount on any other pair of headphones, but I was so put off by the whole experience, I told them "no thanks".
If HP can design a better head band, they'll have something to offer, but as for now, these headphones are not worth the time and money.
And, yes, working with HP's outsourced customer service is not fun. They don't understand the issues with the product and are not easy to work with. I hope someone from HP reads this and moves their call center to a nice college town where they can give students that speak English and have people skills a nice place to work. As it is, I won't buy anything from HP for awhile.

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Enjoy your favorite music wirelessly and without ambient noise. With active noise-cancellation and SRS WOW audio enhancement, HP's Bluetooth Stereo Headphones minimize the sounds of people talking, jet engine noise and more.Use the Bluetooth Audio Adapter to transmit music wirelessly from any audio source with an audio-out port: MP3 players, notebooks, CD players, etc.Active Noise Cancellation so you can enjoy your favorite music without disturbance from ambient noise.SRS WOW Audio Enhancement technology delivers cleaner and livelier audio quality, advanced bass enhancement, and innovative "center control" for improved vocal and musical instrument sound quality.Listen wirelessly, or for use on an airplane and while charging switch to wired audio mode for continued enjoyment.Charge your headphones via AC adapter, or for use on the go, you can use any USB port to charge your headphone and adapter. Foldable and lightweight, with a travel pouch for maximum portability.Custom-designed over-the-ear style headphone cups let you listen to your music more comfortably.

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Kensington Noise Cancelling Headphones ( 33084 ) Review

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(More customer reviews)If Bose's "Quiet Comfort" was the only game in town, a useful but dispensable item like noise canceling headphone probably would have remained a luxury item that's beyond my reach. Luckily, the ultra greedy Bose is not the only player. Kensington's entrance into the noise canceling headphone arena took a completely pragmatic and value-centric approach - quite refreshing when contrasted with the THREE HUNDRED DOLLAR QuietComfort, which more or less do the same thing as Kensington's 33084. The biggest bone some users seem to have with 33084 is the complaint that the headset amplifies internal noise, such as tape hiss. I have no way to verify if the claim is true. But for most people-myself included, this would be a non-issue. I have used 33084 with my iPod, laptop, as well as plane audio system. For all these common systems, mechanical movements are minimal or negligible. The noises from these sources are practically non-existent to begin with, and 33084 certainly did not amplify any noises for me. However, if you're really old school and insisting on getting your tune fix from a hissy old tape deck, I don't think any headphone will pretty up the audio quality of granddaddy walkman to CD level. The actual noise cancellation part is also very decent. I've used the headphone on planes as well as next to an operating dryer, ambient noises do drop to a very comfortable level, while the music is maintained at near-original quality. Another thing I like about these headphones is the fact that they have very decent bass. The only fact I don't like about these headphones is the placement of the on-off switch. As another reviewer has mentioned, the on-off switch gets toggled in the bag too easily. But at less than 10% of Bose's price, I ain't complaining.

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Kensington K33084 Noise Canceling Headphone K33084 Headphones & Earphones

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