Wireless headphones with “transparency” setting?

[Zigster]

Hi all,

I’m in the market for some new headphones primarily for my train commute.

I stream music from an iPhone X. I have beatsx at the moment and I really like the way that beats connect so quickly and reliably with the iPhone - no forever faffing around in Bluetooth settings like I had to with a previous pair.

I can’t wear AirPods - they just fall out. AirPod Pros seem an obvious choice, but I’m finding my ear canals seem more prone to infection and soreness than they used to be so I’m hoping to move away in-ears.

I like the “transparency” mode of the Beats Solo Pro. So I have noise cancelling on on the train, but can use transparency to switch it off when walking to and from the station so I can hear what is going on around me. I am a little put off by some comments about discomfort - I tried a pair at the Apple store in Covent Garden yesterday but it is hard to tell with a short test (and the staff there were utterly useless - no idea about specs, couldn’t even get any sound through them so I could have a listen and then seemed surprised when I suggested it wasn’t the best way to sell headphones).

So, what other headphones out there have a similar mode? I see that Bose 700 and Sony WH1000-XM3 have something similar, but it seems to be a temporary thing that you have to hold your hand against to hear an announcement rather than something you can activate indefinitely.

Not that bothered about using on flights. I don’t fly that often and I will still have older wired isolating earbuds I can use for that.

Thanks in advance for any advice. At the moment I’m tempted to buy the Beats Solo Pro from John Lewis who have a deal on and free delivery, but want to check i haven’t missed anything obvious.

[PHuzzy]

Not sure on the others but with the Sony XM3s you can also press a button the change the 'ambient sound control' type which is also customisable.
You can have full noise cancelling or ambient filtering with adjustable levels and voice focussing.

Attached a screen shot of the settings for you.

[V8mate]

I use these when I'm out and about and want to maintain awareness of traffic and strangers.

https://aftershokz.co.uk/products/air

They're useless in a gym though, as the house speakers fill my ears with sound that they can't compete with.

[mojitomax]

I have had Bose qc35 for many years and you can turn the level of noise cancelling down by three levels an off completely.

They’ve never needed reconnecting and been quite reliable.

[Zigster]

Thanks for the responses. i have some Aftershokz I use for running - they’re okay but sound quality is poor and it be quite hard to hear when there a lot of external noise.

The Sony’s do look spot on. I hadn’t realised the NC was that customisable. I’ll look at those, and also the B&W PX5 which also seem promising.

[randlemarcus]

Worth a look at the Surface Headphones. You can even amplify external noise and the price has dropped a little.

[WinstonWolf]

Airpods, get some of these

https://www.earhoox.com/

I've got a modified ear so nothing will stay in. Use those and they NEVER fall out

[Zigster]

Well, an update.

When I applied for permission from the keeper of the household purse, she pointed out that my company has just told us all to expect to work from home from the next few months and the long haul flight we had planned for the Easter holidays (Florida) has been cancelled. So, all in all, not a great deal of need for new headphones for a good few months at least.

Hard to argue with her logic. Only problem is that I’ve now got an urge to spend some money so will have to think of something else to spend it on.

[ladderino]

For when you are commuting again, take a look at these, they are brilliant.

https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/gbr/en/products/mel...

I also can't use AirPods as they fall out of my ears. Melomanias with foam tips sound fantastic.

ETA - they don't have transparency, but with foam tips they act somewhat as an ear plug so block out background noise.

Edited by ladderino on Saturday 14th March 20:31

[57Ford]

I tried Bose QC but they were shockingly uncomfortable with poor volume too. I sent them back and just bought some Jam Contours for around £30. They’re fine really, decent battery life, volume and noise cancelling (which can be switched to transparent mode if you like). I don’t care about top-end audio appreciation so they work well in the quality respect too.