Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones

[Rolmill]

Many thanks for the very helpful advice from all. I think I will start by heading for my local HiFi shop and seeing whether they have some or all of what seem to be the three main contenders for over the ear n/c headphones (Bose QC 25, Bose QC 35 and the Sony) for me to try out. I'm not sure about the in ear earphones, I've used other (much cheaper) ones with mixed success and so am hesitant about forking out the sums required for the Etymotic or Grado earphones mentioned.

[muzzer]

Agree the Bose 35s are overpriced. The sound quality is imho exceptional. The only thing I’ve noticed on planes is they screen out proximate noise but can pick up conversations a few rows away. Anyone else notice this? Maybe it’s just my aural hallucination...And whatever happened to that extra socket on planes you plugged your earphones into that cancelled everything out?

[Bryn]

Agree the Bose 35s are overpriced. The sound quality is imho exceptional. The only thing I’ve noticed on planes is they screen out proximate noise but can pick up conversations a few rows away. Anyone else notice this? Maybe it’s just my aural hallucination...And whatever happened to that extra socket on planes you plugged your earphones into that cancelled everything out?

I think that is an intentional feature of the circuity's design. As tyo the airline adaptor, one came with mine, but that was a few years ago.

[richardfinegold]

We are taking a break from Polar Vorticies for a few days and flew to Florida today. The Sony’s worked great but even though they are fairly heavy, there was so much plane turbulence they kept slipping off my head. I think the Pilot must have a side business selling anti nausea pills

[Rolmill]

We are taking a break from Polar Vorticies for a few days and flew to Florida today. The Sony’s worked great but even though they are fairly heavy, there was so much plane turbulence they kept slipping off my head.

Sounds an unpleasant experience rfg - I'm not a very good flyer, get rather stressed by major turbulence (too much imagination!), which is why I want some good n/c headphones to help take my mind off it...

When you say the Sony's worked great, do you mean the noise cancelling or the sound quality (or both)? Are they heavier than the Bose QC 35s? All else being equal I would tend to go for the lighter pair, as being more likely to be comfortable for extended periods, but a noticeable difference in n/c effectiveness might trump that preference.

[richardfinegold]

Sounds an unpleasant experience rfg - I'm not a very good flyer, get rather stressed by major turbulence (too much imagination!), which is why I want some good n/c headphones to help take my mind off it...

When you say the Sony's worked great, do you mean the noise cancelling or the sound quality (or both)? Are they heavier than the Bose QC 35s? All else being equal I would tend to go for the lighter pair, as being more likely to be comfortable for extended periods, but a noticeable difference in n/c effectiveness might trump that preference.

The n/c was fantastic...it completely blocked the passenger next to me who was praying fervently and quite audibly to survive the experience....and I had made some files of Azhkenazy/Solti in the Beethoven PCs that did help divert my attention, with greatly detailed and rich sound, without the bass bloat that plague headphones in my experience. The Sonys weighs more than the Bose but doesn’t feel uncomfortable, and I thought we’re fairly snug, but when it felt like we were dodging incoming flak from a WWII bombing raid I am not sure that any phones would have stayed on without being surgically attached

[Bryn]

The n/c was fantastic...it completely blocked the passenger next to me who was praying fervently and quite audibly to survive the experience....and I had made some files of Azhkenazy/Solti in the Beethoven PCs that did help divert my attention, with greatly detailed and rich sound, without the bass bloat that plague headphones in my experience. The Sonys weighs more than the Bose but doesn’t feel uncomfortable, and I thought we’re fairly snug, but when it felt like we were dodging incoming flak from a WWII bombing raid I am not sure that any phones would have stayed on without being surgically attached

Have yo used the Sony 'phones in situation such as I mentioned earlier, such as on a coach or bus with strong, low frequency rumbling engine? That's the main thing I find that the Bose QC25s cannot cope with.

[MrGongGong]

Have yo used the Sony 'phones in situation such as I mentioned earlier, such as on a coach or bus with strong, low frequency rumbling engine? That's the main thing I find that the Bose QC25s cannot cope with.

I'm not sure that you hear most of those sounds through your ear canals ?

[Bryn]

I'm not sure that you hear most of those sounds through your ear canals ?

The point is, the rumbling disrupts the behaviour of the Bose active noise cancelling. The result is rather unpleasant 'pumping' of the noise cancelling circuitry.

[MrGongGong]

The point is, the rumbling disrupts the behaviour of the Bose active noise cancelling. The result is rather unpleasant 'pumping' of the noise cancelling circuitry.

aah ok, that makes sense

[Rolmill]

Have yo used the Sony 'phones in situation such as I mentioned earlier, such as on a coach or bus with strong, low frequency rumbling engine? That's the main thing I find that the Bose QC25s cannot cope with.

Bryn, does aeroplane engine noise also cause this problem, or is this not of low enough frequency to trouble the QC25s? Should I assume that the QC35s would suffer similarly, or is the n/c software different? I'm more likely to be using them on 'planes and trains than on coaches or buses, but it's good to hear of potential shortcomings before parting with a substantial wad of readies!

I have seen in one review the comment that the Sonys don't fit so snugly on the head as the Bose, but other reviews don't mention it so I suspect the difference is not great.

Most reviews I have seen prefer the Bose n/c (though one or two voted in favour of the Sony), whereas Sony's sound quality is generally preferred. Given the listening conditions (plane and train journeys) I'm inclined to prioritise n/c effectiveness over sound quality - but I think the message is that I need to try them both out for myself.

[Bryn]

Bryn, does aeroplane engine noise also cause this problem, or is this not of low enough frequency to trouble the QC25s? Should I assume that the QC35s would suffer similarly, or is the n/c software different? I'm more likely to be using them on 'planes and trains than on coaches or buses, but it's good to hear of potential shortcomings before parting with a substantial wad of readies!

I have seen in one review the comment that the Sonys don't fit so snugly on the head as the Bose, but other reviews don't mention it so I suspect the difference is not great.

Most reviews I have seen prefer the Bose n/c (though one or two voted in favour of the Sony), whereas Sony's sound quality is generally preferred. Given the listening conditions (plane and train journeys) I'm inclined to prioritise n/c effectiveness over sound quality - but I think the message is that I need to try them both out for myself.

I have no experience of using noise-cancelling headphones on planes. Perhaps others here can offer an answer. From what I have read, there is little difference in audio performance between the QC25 and QC35ii.

[Richard Barrett]

Bryn, does aeroplane engine noise also cause this problem, or is this not of low enough frequency to trouble the QC25s? Should I assume that the QC35s would suffer similarly, or is the n/c software different? I'm more likely to be using them on 'planes and trains than on coaches or buses, but it's good to hear of potential shortcomings before parting with a substantial wad of readies!

I have seen in one review the comment that the Sonys don't fit so snugly on the head as the Bose, but other reviews don't mention it so I suspect the difference is not great.

Most reviews I have seen prefer the Bose n/c (though one or two voted in favour of the Sony), whereas Sony's sound quality is generally preferred. Given the listening conditions (plane and train journeys) I'm inclined to prioritise n/c effectiveness over sound quality - but I think the message is that I need to try them both out for myself.

Prioritising n/c effectiveness is a good standpoint to take I think. When I use headphones at home I don't use the n/c ones, as I said. I use my NC25s almost exclusively on planes (and, unfortunately, I find myself on a plane at least twice a month) and the engine noise is considerably reduced. You don't really have the low frequency rumble associated with wheels on roads anyway, and the relatively unchanging nature of the engine noise on a plane is exactly what the n/c circuitry is best at dealing with.

[Rolmill]

My thanks to Bryn and Richard for further replies.

Went shopping today and tried out both the Bose (QC35 II) and the Sony (WH-1000XM3). I found the n/c to be equally effective in each, but slightly preferred the sound quality and comfort of the Sony - so I bought the Sonys. I'm conscious that shop ambient noise is not really equivalent to plane/train engine noise, so I may not have evaluated the n/c quality properly, but short of buying both and taking them both on holiday I decided there's not much I can do about that.

Thanks to all who contributed comments and advice - I'm flying to South America in April so will report back if I find I regret my choice!

[Forget It (U2079353)]

From today's Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/mar/16/five-of-the-best-noise-cancelling-headphones