BOSE QC35 Other Options?

[sjg]

Glad you like it.

The USB dongle allows it to present correctly to softphones like Lync/Skype for Business as a headset, rather than a generic bluetooth audio device. It's pretty strong, I just put the laptop in my bag with the dongle at the top but otherwise don't worry about it.

[TheAngryDog]

I may have a 13 hour flight to Malaysia coming up soon and could do with some nc headphones, especially as I struggle with noise at the best of times.

I do not need fantastic sound quality, I am not an audiophile, I just need decent nc. It doesn't need to be perfect, just quieter.

As it is for 2 flights I don't see the point in spending 300 odd pounds on a pair. Are there any cheaper viable options?

Thanks.

[Phil.]

I recently bought some BOSE QC20's from Home AV Direct or £175. They're now at £199.

They are in ear but very comfortable with different size fittings. The NC is excellent. Being in ear you may be able to sleep with them in.

http://homeavdirect.co.uk/bose-quietcomfort-20-aco...

Edited to say that they have some QC30's at £219 if you prefer wireless and can cope with the neck band. Note the battery life isn't as good as the QC20's and once the battery is out you can't use them.

http://homeavdirect.co.uk/bose-qc30-quietcontrol-3...

Edited by Phil. on Sunday 30th April 18:51

[TheAngryDog]

ah I should have said, I cannot wear in ear buds, they have to be over the ear

[Olivero]

I have a pair of Sennheiser PXC 550 that I love. The noise canceling is similar to Bose or Sony, but the audio playback is much, much better. I found the base too heavy with Bose and the low end lacking.
The 550's work well for flights and subway travel.

https://en-us.sennheiser.com/wireless-headphone-he...

[johnwilliams77]

I can confirm that the QC are not so good in conference calls in that they pick up too much background noise other than that, great sound, great battery life, quick charging and I love wireless.

[CooperS]

Bought a pair for my wife for our upcoming cruise.

The only issue we've got to tackle is that the headphones don't handle windy conditions very well which is a bit of a problem on a cruise haha.

Our solution will to be put tape over the mics (common solution) or try putting fluffy pieces over the ports like you would on a camera.

Other than that they are superb for our needs. My wife nearly got suckered into a pair of beats solo 3's as anything the Williams sister endorse is ok with her (markters dream).......

[craigjm]

I binned my quiet comforts and went for a set of etymotic er4 Xr

[tvrforever]

johnwilliams77 said:

I can confirm that the QC are not so good in conference calls in that they pick up too much background noise other than that, great sound, great battery life, quick charging and I love wireless.

QC20s are great for listening, great NC, great for conf calls -- I've had 2 sets for several years, fantastic...

QC30s are utter junk - got a set for Christmas, on my 3rd replacement set. Conf calls they amplify background noise into the call, lots of problems with broken wires in band to earpiece, poor Bluetooth stack & stutter. Underdeveloped, under tested, rushed, expensive junk

[gregs656]

TheAngryDog said:

I may have a 13 hour flight to Malaysia coming up soon and could do with some nc headphones, especially as I struggle with noise at the best of times.

I do not need fantastic sound quality, I am not an audiophile, I just need decent nc. It doesn't need to be perfect, just quieter.

As it is for 2 flights I don't see the point in spending 300 odd pounds on a pair. Are there any cheaper viable options?

Thanks.

I have a pair of Lindy BNX-60s - https://www.whathifi.com/lindy/bnx-60/review

I paid £70 for mine on eBay. At the time I had a pair of PSB M4U 2s which I loved but they were a bit bulky to travel with and wired. I bought the Lindys on a bit of a whim and ended up selling the PSBs.

If I was going to spend more I would go for the Sony MDR-1000x (I still might).

[ben_h100]

A happy QC35 user here; I think I bought some the week they came out. They don't get as much use as they used to as I no longer get the train/tube into work, but when I do use them (as I am right now) I am still happy that I bought a pair. Great noise cancelling and great sound. The battery lasts for a long time as well.

[craigjm]

tvrforever said:

QC20s are great for listening, great NC, great for conf calls -- I've had 2 sets for several years, fantastic...

QC30s are utter junk - got a set for Christmas, on my 3rd replacement set. Conf calls they amplify background noise into the call, lots of problems with broken wires in band to earpiece, poor Bluetooth stack & stutter. Underdeveloped, under tested, rushed, expensive junk

I had a set of early 20s and they were junk too and when they inevitable failed with the cable snapping near the control box (obvious design fault) they didn't want to know.

Noticed the OP says they can't wear in ear headphones. I won't ask why as it may be personal but for over ear cancellation phones bose can't be beaten.

If the OP can't wear them because of odd shaped ears then I would go for a set of etymotic er4 and have a set of bespoke ear pieces made from anywhere local that makes hearing aids.

[NorthDave]

I've got a set of the in ear noise cancelling ones - not sure of the model.

If I was buying again I would get a set of the custom moulded in-ear bits and a decent pair of ear phones instead. I think you would get the vast majority of the noise cancellation just by having a good fit and then the benefit of good sound too.

I'm not sold on the Bose solution - it does work but is very costly.

[gregs656]

craigjm said:

Noticed the OP says they can't wear in ear headphones. I won't ask why as it may be personal but for over ear cancellation phones bose can't be beaten.

They really can. Some great options available now and more coming on to the market all the time.

[TheAngryDog]

Thanks guys.

The problem I have with in ear ones is that anything fully blocking my left ear canal (headphones are ok) makes my hyperacusis worse in my right ear, hence the need for over ear ones.

It is for 2 flights so I do not need anything as expensive as the Bose ones. It is however a 13 hour flight

[craigjm]

TheAngryDog said:

It is for 2 flights so I do not need anything as expensive as the Bose ones. It is however a 13 hour flight

If it's not a regular use thing I would check out the Lindy option that Gregg posted above and I would investigate whether Audio Technica have an over the ear version in their current range.

[Vaud]

craigjm said:

If it's not a regular use thing I would check out the Lindy option that Gregg posted above and I would investigate whether Audio Technica have an over the ear version in their current range.

You could buy a used pair of QC15s for £79 on ebay - and then some replacement foam covers and inserts for £8 on Amazon. Takes about 90 secs to replace them.

I've had mine since 2012 and been very happy. Over ear, good battery life (one AAA gives about 18 hours).

They won't be as good as the ones mentioned above, but they will make a big difference on a long flight. And you can always ebay them afterwards for £60+, though I would bet you would keep them.

[jay_ess_em]

Try these:

https://www.whathifi.com/news/denon-unveils-ah-gc2...

I have a set and definitely won't go back to Bose (I've had back-to-back Bose since the QC2)

j

[gregs656]

TheAngryDog said:

Thanks guys.

The problem I have with in ear ones is that anything fully blocking my left ear canal (headphones are ok) makes my hyperacusis worse in my right ear, hence the need for over ear ones.

It is for 2 flights so I do not need anything as expensive as the Bose ones. It is however a 13 hour flight

The BNX-60s won't do that on a single change but you can still use them while they are charging IIRC so not insurmountable.

If you go wired your options open up quite a bit.

[shtu]

TheAngryDog said:

I do not need fantastic sound quality, I am not an audiophile, I just need decent nc. It doesn't need to be perfect, just quieter.

As it is for 2 flights I don't see the point in spending 300 odd pounds on a pair. Are there any cheaper viable options?

Amazon sell the "7dayshop Aero 7" headphones for £30.

I have a set of those, Mrs has a set of QC25s. I'd say that the cheap ones are 80-90% of the noise cancelling effectiveness, for 10% of the cost. Obviously, build and sound quality aren't as good, but they're far from poor. I've used them on a few flights so far and they've been perfectly acceptable.

The photo on Amazon showing someone wearing them is a poor photoshop. In reality they are less clunky.

They also do a Bluetooth version for £10 more - I discounted those as the battery is an internal, USB charged one, which isn't ideal if the battery goes flat partway through a flight.