# Noise-canceling headphones.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 22, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335 "2008-07-22T03:30:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335/1 "2008-07-22T03:30:27Z")
I use my iPod only for traveling; it’s a great thing to have especially on long flights. But on most planes I’ve taken, the ambient noise all but drowns out the music . . . especially quieter passages of classical music.
So I’m considering buying a set of noise-canceling headphones. Do any of you have experience with these? How well do they deal with noisy airplane sounds?
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### Author:  [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335/2 "2008-07-22T03:40:37Z")
I have a cheaper pair (Panasonic?) that went for ~$80 last year. They’re killer on airplanes; the aircraft white noise is considerably lessened. Its still there, but barely audible. And I agree - earbuds or even in-ear buds are almost useless on airplanes.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2008, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335/3 "2008-07-22T05:47:19Z")
I got a set as a conference gift. I’m wearing them all the time now, but for walks they’re not too useful. But I agree that on airplanes they’re great - the airplane noise gets handled very well.
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### Author:  [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2008, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335/4 "2008-07-22T08:33:20Z")
I have a pair of Bose ($299) that I got for Christmas about four years ago. (They may be cheaper now, I don’t know.) Ambient noise is almost entirely eliminated even when you’re not listening to music or movies. They also come with several different plugs so they fit almost any airplane and my ipod. Unfortunately, they do absolutely nothing to block out screaming children or annoying chattering seatmates unless you turn your music up loud. I travel often on long international flights and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. They’re worth every penny my parents paid for them. 🙂 The **only** drawback is that they’re a little bulky - the model I have cups your entire ear - but they come with a nice carrying case.
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### Author:  [@mshar253](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mshar253)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2008, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335/5 "2008-07-22T08:38:33Z")
[QUOTE=panache45]
I use my iPod only for traveling; it’s a great thing to have especially on long flights. But on most planes I’ve taken, the ambient noise all but drowns out the music . . . especially quieter passages of classical music.
So I’m considering buying a set of noise-canceling headphones. Do any of you have experience with these? How well do they deal with noisy airplane sounds?
[/QUOTE]
This [question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=475768&highlight=headphones) was just asked the other day; though, granted, there wasn’t much in the way of responses. **xash** suggested [these](http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-Ac...16237595&sr=8-7) .
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### Author:  [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2008, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335/6 "2008-07-22T09:34:59Z")
Believe or not, the first noise canceling headphone devices were actually made SPECIFICALLY for drowning out the hum of an airplane if I’m not mistaken.
I like [these](http://www.amazon.com/Philips-HE592-Surround-Sound-White/dp/B0001OY2W2). You can find them for a lot cheaper somewhere but I lost the site. They’re great headphones.
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### Author:  [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2008, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335/7 "2008-07-22T10:53:31Z")
I bought a set of panasonics for walking to work with along a busy road. They appeared to work on the principle of counter-acting the traffic noise by amplifying the lightest breath of a summer breeze to a raging hurricane, thereby drowning out the noise of the engines.
But maybe on the regular drone of aero engines they’d have been fine but my close-fitting in ears work great on the train.
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [July 22, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noise-canceling-headphones/457335/8 "2008-07-22T18:44:35Z")
I use [these](http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-280-Pro-Professional/dp/B000065BPB) in lieu of noise-cancelling cans ( for example on airplanes ). I think the sound is better and the isolation about as good.