# The best noise cancelling headphone besides Bose **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611 "2013-07-15T23:54:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Man\_from\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Man\_from\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_from_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/1 "2013-07-15T23:54:16Z")
I searched and found a short thread on this but I’d like to see if there is an answer to my specific question, namely: What is the best noise-cancelling headphone (for noise-cancellation and sound quality) in a world where Bose does not exist? I hear a lot about how great Bose is and how its steep price is justified because of that. I’ve had the Bose QuietComfort for many years and really can’t compare to others since I’ve never used anything else but I’m getting a little sick of Bose and am beginning to question if I’m not just paying for the name. In fact, a friend of mine who is an audiophile said that Bose headphones suck. That’s just one man’s opinion, of course. I have had to replace the ear cushions three times now in the past five years. At $35 a pop, it’s getting a bit annoying (and pricey). $35 for sponge? Even twenty dollars seems a bit expensive (unless it’s somehow aerodynamically sealed with some patented technology or something). $300 for the headphones. $35 times three or four times to replace the cushions. I’ve also had to replace the wire a couple of times. Are Bose headphones so good that it’s justified coughing up almost five hundred dollars to enjoy them? I’m not so sure anymore. Surely there’s got to a better, more cost-efficient set of headphones out there. ---
**Author:** ![nion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nion)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/2 "2013-07-16T04:05:41Z")
I have no alternative to name, but I’d run screaming if I had to sink that much money into a pair of headphones. When cars break down that much they call them lemons. Sounds like you got a pair of lemons. I’d be looking for something else too! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/3 "2013-07-16T04:26:49Z")
> **[Best Headphones for 2023: Top Picks for All Styles](https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-headphones/)** > > We've reviewed the top headphones brands on the market. Here's a look at CNET's current top-rated headphones you can buy right now based on our hands-on testing. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/4 "2013-07-16T05:03:57Z")
When Australian Choice (our consumer testing association) tested mid-last year this was their top list: AudioTechnica ATH ANC7b Bose QuietComfort15 Sony MDR NC13 M AKG K390NC Creative Aurvana X Fi The Bose was probably best overall but they are much more expensive than the others. The Sony ranked very close to the top and is about 1/3 to 1/4 the price of the Bose. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_from\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Man\_from\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_from_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/5 "2013-07-16T13:10:26Z")
Thanks for the replies. Some good choices here. Maybe I’ll give them a shot. (I’ll probably have to since Bose is cleaning me out!) ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/6 "2013-07-16T15:42:28Z")
As usual, [Monoprice](http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10823&cs_id=1082706&p_id=10010&seq=1&format=2) has what you need. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/7 "2013-07-16T15:57:41Z")
If you should need to replace the ear cushions again, [this is your guy.](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CSPHYY) Read his reviews. I just replaced the cushions on one of my QC-15s and they’re great. Don’t know how long they’ll last, but they’re at least as good as the OEM. I’ve had 2 pair of QC-15s for at least 4-5 years now, and this is my first problem with them, and my teens are the major users! ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/8 "2013-07-16T16:34:17Z")
Just a word of warning: noise cancelling headphones are NOT to be used for hearing protection. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/9 "2013-07-16T19:30:26Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Just a word of warning: noise cancelling headphones are NOT to be used for hearing protection. OTOH, I get good results from a good pair of earbuds with $20 industrial hearing muffs over top. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_from\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Man\_from\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_from_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/10 "2013-07-16T22:00:23Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Just a word of warning: noise cancelling headphones are NOT to be used for hearing protection. Of course not. I hope there aren’t that many people out there paying hundreds of dollars for electronic equipment on the tarmac or on a construction site when they can pay twenty bucks for those hearing guards. (I assume the hearing protection isn’t as pricey anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![Man\_from\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Man\_from\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_from_Mars)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/11 "2013-07-16T22:03:10Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > If you should need to replace the ear cushions again, [this is your guy.](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CSPHYY) Read his reviews. > > I just replaced the cushions on one of my QC-15s and they’re great. Don’t know how long they’ll last, but they’re at least as good as the OEM. > > I’ve had 2 pair of QC-15s for at least 4-5 years now, and this is my first problem with them, and my teens are the major users! I think what happens with me is that they get saturated with sweat, particularly on hot days. I don’t even use them anymore on hot days when I’m going out for long walks but the one or two times I do use them, they just tear apart. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/12 "2013-07-16T22:17:06Z")
buy a Bose, he recently died. it would be a nice gesture. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/13 "2013-07-16T23:08:49Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > When Australian Choice (our consumer testing association) tested mid-last year this was their top list: > > AudioTechnica ATH ANC7b > Bose QuietComfort15 > Sony MDR NC13 M > AKG K390NC > Creative Aurvana X Fi I can’t recommend the AudioTechnica ATH ANC7b. They were first of all uncomfortable, due to the lack of sufficient extension on the headband. Worse, they simply crumbled after about a year–the plastic piece connecting the band to the earpieces cracked and finally fell apart. I was able to extend the life for a few months with tape, but even that was insufficient after a time. On the upside, the actual noise canceling worked well, but obviously it’s no help if the rest of it falls apart. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/17 "2014-04-07T19:26:45Z")
> [@Mustos](#): > > Yes , really this best noise headphones are amazing i use it it’s Wonderful 🙂 Which headphones are you referring to? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/18 "2014-04-07T19:31:10Z")
> [@Mustos](#): > > is pretty good . Just because you removed the link and copy pasted text doesn’t mean the mods can’t see the original. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/19 "2014-04-07T19:44:23Z")
Are noise cancelling headphones good for people who are hard of hearing? If not what is? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/20 "2014-04-07T19:59:59Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Are noise cancelling headphones good for people who are hard of hearing? If not what is? I didn’t think so until I tried a pair of the Bose QC20 noise cancelling ear buds in a bar one night and was astounded at how much better I could hear the person next to me talking. I’ve had problems trying to follow conversations in bars for years and was amazed at how much they helped. I passed them around to other people and they had the same reaction. Next week I saw the bartender had a pair on. I’m sure that other Noise Cancelling headphones would do the same as I’ve used a few on airplanes. But Bose is the only one so far that makes an ear bud noise cancelling set. Can’t see wearing a full size set in a bar, but ear buds are sort of under the radar. Still, they are expensive as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/21 "2014-04-07T21:06:42Z")
I used to have [noise cancelling Sonys from Best Buy]([http://www.bestbuy.com/site/on-ear-headphones/6614017.p?id=1218762299190&skuId=6614017&st=noise](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/on-ear-headphones/6614017.p?id=1218762299190&skuId=6614017&st=noise) cancelling headphones&cp=1&lp=17), only reason I quit using them is that I’d forget to turn off the cancelling and run down the battery. > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Bose is the only one so far that makes an ear bud noise cancelling set. [Not anymore.]([http://www.bestbuy.com/site/noise-canceling-xba-earbud/1306784519.p?id=mp1306784519&skuId=1306784519&st=noise](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/noise-canceling-xba-earbud/1306784519.p?id=mp1306784519&skuId=1306784519&st=noise) cancelling earbuds&cp=1&lp=3#tab=buyingOptions) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/22 "2014-04-07T21:40:02Z")
Why noise-cancelling at all? Why not sound-isolating? When I use earplugs or headphones I want to hear the music as close to perfectly as I can, and I assume that, like Dolby noise reduction, noise-cancelling would subtract so much information that all you hear is a murky shadow of the original music. Until I can get the audio injected directly into my brain, I think I will stick with good, isolating earplugs. With maybe some $3 muffs from Harbor Freight to isolate me more. Oh yeah, I was going to rewire some old Koss over-the-ear 'phones tonight. And the foam they are packing my wife’s wound with looks like just the right consistency to make new pads for another pair of old Kosses. I have too many headphones and buds. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2014, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611/23 "2014-04-07T22:19:23Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I didn’t think so until I tried a pair of the Bose QC20 noise cancelling ear buds in a bar one night and was astounded at how much better I could hear the person next to me talking. I’ve had problems trying to follow conversations in bars for years and was amazed at how much they helped. I passed them around to other people and they had the same reaction. Next week I saw the bartender had a pair on. How/why does that work? Wouldn’t they cancel the sound from person you’re trying to talk to as much as all the noise? > [@dropzone](#): > > Why noise-cancelling at all? Why not sound-isolating? When I use earplugs or headphones I want to hear the music as close to perfectly as I can, and I assume that, like Dolby noise reduction, noise-cancelling would subtract so much information that all you hear is a murky shadow of the original music. The noise cancellation wouldn’t be applied to the music. They have a microphone to measure the sound of the environment, then cancel that. The music comes through without any cancellation. I don’t have noise canceling ear buds, but I use regular in-ear ear buds on airplanes, and they do help to reduce the plane’s noise. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-noise-cancelling-headphone-besides-bose/663611.md?page=2)