Noise cancelling headphones?

[halfpenny43]

I've had a pair of Bose QC15's for years.
I like the fact they are cabled and take regular AAA batteries as I tend to make long (19 / 20 hour) long haul flights.

I noticed that the earpads and headbands are again splitting (I replace them every few years) and that got me thinking if noise cancelling technology has really moved on since the QC15's which I think came out in 2009 ?

I want them ideally cabled rather than wireless for using with the inflight entertainment systems on aircraft. For short haul flights I have some Apple Earbuds with noise cancellation but long haul prefer over ear type.

I looked at the Apple over ear. noise cancelling but they don't come with a cable and are hugely expensive.
The Sony WXE1000 seem to be the best at the moment - but any other opinions ??

Thanks
1/2p

[tonyg58]

You could try the Bowers and Wilkins range.
PX7 is the basic one.
Works wired or wirelessly. Noise cancelling was good when I last tried them (it was a few years ago).
Occasionally see them cheaper on their recertified page.
There's also a Bose refurbished website to check.

[tactical lizard]

I have the sony XM5, 30hr battery life and can be cabled. they seem pretty good

[egomeister]

tactical lizard said:

I have the sony XM5, 30hr battery life and can be cabled. they seem pretty good

Did you have any of the previous models? I replaced a pair of XM3s with XM5s about a year ago but have never been 100% happy with them, to the point I'm tempted to pick up some XM4s while the are still on sale.

As you say though, they can be used with a cable (and battery life is good anyway) so they may well suit the OP.

[Seasonal Hero]

QC35’s. Super comfy and keenly priced now. Should still be some around. Foldable as well.

[eliot]

My Bose QC35's are Bluetooth and also have a socket can be plugged into the plane/gadgets. They are rechargeable and last, well ages (several weeks for me - using them almost every evening)

[h0b0]

Most wireless headphones allow you to use a cable. My wife has Bose, my kids have beats, and I have B&O. All have the ability to plug a cable in.

I flew from Barcelona to NYC on Friday using my B&Os via Bluetooth to my iPad. I landed with 75% battery left after 9 hours. Very impressive.

I also have Bluetooth transmitter I can plug into the IFE to make it wireless. I don’t know how long the transmitter lasts because I plug it into the USB. But, the combination lasts long haul so you may not need to limit your selection as most head phones will do both wired and wireless.

[nordboy]

egomeister said:

tactical lizard said:

I have the sony XM5, 30hr battery life and can be cabled. they seem pretty good

Did you have any of the previous models? I replaced a pair of XM3s with XM5s about a year ago but have never been 100% happy with them, to the point I'm tempted to pick up some XM4s while the are still on sale.

As you say though, they can be used with a cable (and battery life is good anyway) so they may well suit the OP.

I have the xm4's, I've thought about replacing them a few times, but honestly can't see the point as they're brilliant.

[egomeister]

nordboy said:

egomeister said:

tactical lizard said:

I have the sony XM5, 30hr battery life and can be cabled. they seem pretty good

Did you have any of the previous models? I replaced a pair of XM3s with XM5s about a year ago but have never been 100% happy with them, to the point I'm tempted to pick up some XM4s while the are still on sale.

As you say though, they can be used with a cable (and battery life is good anyway) so they may well suit the OP.

I have the xm4's, I've thought about replacing them a few times, but honestly can't see the point as they're brilliant.

If they still work fine then I totally agree, my XM3s were one of my all time favourite purchases which makes not gelling with the XM5s all the more frustrating. The only concrete thing I could describe that is worse for me is the comfort on the ears - other than that it's all stuff that I find hard to describe, hence the thought to get some XM4s.

I never warmed to the Bose sound when I have tried those although by all accounts the noise cancelling is probably the best around (at least in the realm of reasonably priced stuff)

[nordboy]

egomeister said:

If they still work fine then I totally agree, my XM3s were one of my all time favourite purchases which makes not gelling with the XM5s all the more frustrating. The only concrete thing I could describe that is worse for me is the comfort on the ears - other than that it's all stuff that I find hard to describe, hence the thought to get some XM4s.

I never warmed to the Bose sound when I have tried those although by all accounts the noise cancelling is probably the best around (at least in the realm of reasonably priced stuff)

Agree on the Bose front. my lad has some and I much prefer the fit ( i find them very comfy, not sure what they've changed for the xm5's?) and sound of the xm4's.

[egomeister]

nordboy said:

Agree on the Bose front. my lad has some and I much prefer the fit ( i find them very comfy, not sure what they've changed for the xm5's?) and sound of the xm4's.

The ear cups seem shallower and a different shape so don't fit over my ears as well, which is the main thing for me. Other than that, the adjuster is more of a friction slider rather than ratcheting, the headband is slimmer, and they don't fold like the XM4s (which doesn't bother me).

I suspect they will be more robust than the 3 & 4 as they were prone to cracking around the headband adjuster (I was always careful not to open them up too much when putting them on and off)

[andy_ran]

I have the Sony MX3 and my Daughter the MX5s

Anything from the MX3 up personally has to be the way to go. They are brilliant and win all the awards for a reason

[tactical lizard]

egomeister said:

Did you have any of the previous models? I replaced a pair of XM3s with XM5s about a year ago but have never been 100% happy with them, to the point I'm tempted to pick up some XM4s while the are still on sale.

As you say though, they can be used with a cable (and battery life is good anyway) so they may well suit the OP.

I had some really cheap Sony headphones. In reality I had nothing to compare them to. I bought them because they seemed to have the best reviews and they were on offer at £260.

[egomeister]

tactical lizard said:

egomeister said:

Did you have any of the previous models? I replaced a pair of XM3s with XM5s about a year ago but have never been 100% happy with them, to the point I'm tempted to pick up some XM4s while the are still on sale.

As you say though, they can be used with a cable (and battery life is good anyway) so they may well suit the OP.

I had some really cheap Sony headphones. In reality I had nothing to compare them to. I bought them because they seemed to have the best reviews and they were on offer at £260.

A significant upgrade then! As you say they review very well (as did the previous models) so I wonder how much of it is a "me" issue rather than an "XM5" issue, hence I am interested to hear from people who have made the same switch. Maybe I just have the wrong shaped head for them

[halfpenny43]

Cheers all

So Sony XM’s and Bose QC35’s seem most popular.
Never tried B&O headphones although did have one of their first Beolit devices that allowed an iPhone to be plugged into it to stream before the blue tooth / wifi enabled version came along.

I do like the Bose so will take a look

Thanks again !

[12TS]

https://www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/products/certified_re...