Does anyone know anything about earphones?
I'm thinking of getting myself some of those snazzy big noise cancelling ones so I can practice my guitar and concentrate when I have to work, but I'm not sure whats what.
A few brand names rattle in my head but no idea which are the best.
Anyone with a clue?
Now, this is the biggest can of worms one can open.
Buy this (http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-990-Pro-250-Professional-Acoustically-Applications/dp/B0011UB9CQ). Noise cancelling is a scam.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 09, 2015, 07:30:11 AM
Now, this is the biggest can of worms one can open.
Buy this (http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-990-Pro-250-Professional-Acoustically-Applications/dp/B0011UB9CQ). Noise cancelling is a scam.
If noise cancelling works how is it a scam? I bought some for a flight once and when I turned it on it was complete bliss.
From what I know, you either splurge on the expensive ones or not bother.
Headphone effectiveness depends on what you are looking for. If you just want to hear yourself play an electric guitar, you can get by with fairly basic headphones like Bose noise-cancelling headphones (they'l run you around $60). You'll get noise if you move around, and you won't cancel out higher-frequency or transient sounds (like people talking), nor will you get great bass response, but that may do you. If you really want to cancel out noise, get noise-isolating headphones like maybe the Bose QC25s. They'll run you about $300, but were the best noise-isolating headphones last year.
Spend extra money if it means that you can't hear GF give you bogus info.
Quote from: Liep on May 09, 2015, 07:35:39 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 09, 2015, 07:30:11 AM
Now, this is the biggest can of worms one can open.
Buy this (http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-990-Pro-250-Professional-Acoustically-Applications/dp/B0011UB9CQ). Noise cancelling is a scam.
If noise cancelling works how is it a scam? I bought some for a flight once and when I turned it on it was complete bliss.
Never listen to GF. Even cheap NC headphones do great at eliminating low steady noise like aircraft engines.
Oh, and I ended up getting Klipsch Image One headphones (the lower-end basic headphones) because they sounded good, were on sale, and I didn't need much sound cancellation. But my search is where I reached the conclusions I shared above.
:ike:
I always use the cheapest earphones as I inevitably break them/lose them. -_-
So Bose is the make to look for?
I do like those Beyer ones Gray Fox linked to. Don't know if they sound much better than the competition but they are really, really comfortable.
Don't care much for fancy noise cancelling; for loud places I use in-ear (Westone).
Ignore the gay fox, he has already proven he has no idea what he is talking about on the topic.
My son has a pair of Bose that work awesome. The noise cancelling works, and the sound quality is awesome. Don't ask me the model or how much they cost, I don't know and don't want to know.
I have only proven 2 things.
1. Can of worms.
2. You all disagree with me.
I have no idea why this discredits my opinions.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 11, 2015, 09:14:06 PM
2. You all disagree with me.
I disagree with this.
I neither agree nor disagree.
Generally speaking, you don't use noise-cancelling headphones to practice musical instruments.
GF is going a little overboard, but is mostly correct. You should be more concerned with the sound balancing than noise cancelling- a good pair of over-ear headphones (where the cups completely surround your ears) will cut most ambient noise just by physically blocking it. To keep it from sounding tinny, you're going to want your drivers to be metal and somewhere between 7 and 12 mm. I can't really give you tips on midrange because it's going to boil down to personal preference- personally, I hate the "high-end" Monster/Beats by Dre or Wicked/Soul headphones, because they're tuned so heavily toward bass-heavy hip-hop or rap that anything else sounds muddy to my ears. Sol Republic and Audio Technica make good headphones for listening to music with a wide frequency spectrum, but especially with Audio Technica, you're going to want to be able to demo the pair you're considering before buying. For reference, my Master Tracks (Sol Republic) have got a richer bass sound, but for sheer sound balancing when I'm monitoring my keyboard or guitar playing, my go-to pair is a set of Audio Technica ATH-SJ55 that I got for around $40.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 09, 2015, 07:30:11 AM
Noise cancelling is a scam.
This is the only thing I am arguing. Noise cancelling is not a scam, it works, real good.
Now, the fact that people that don't travel and don't need noise canceling for their needs but still spend ridiculous money on them? :nelson: That a different story, still does not make it a scam.
BTW, take two 8+ hour trips in a C130, one with and one without noise canceling headphones, its like the difference between heaven and hell. :yes:
Ok.
Noise cancelling works well to kill C130 noise.
I have never tried noise cancelling headphones in a plane & my experience has shown that it doesn't cancel enough incoming sound that I could consider it anything but a scam, like 3D TVs.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 09:19:23 AM
Ok.
Noise cancelling works well to kill C130 noise.
I have never tried noise cancelling headphones in a plane & my experience has shown that it doesn't cancel enough incoming sound that I could consider it anything but a scam, like 3D TVs.
Next time you are in a plane and someone next to you has some Bose headphones, punch them in the throat and steal their headphones, you will become a believer. They work.
I will.
Not quite earphones, but it is a "sound" issue. Don't know if it's still available, but in the past James Randi has offered $1,000,000 if an audiophile can prove some $7,250 speaker cables are better than any ordinary monster cables.
http://gizmodo.com/305549/james-randi-offers-1-million-if-audiophiles-can-prove-7250-speaker-cables-are-better
Quote
Click to view our rant about those $7,250 Pear Anjou speaker cables found its way to the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), and Randi offered $1 million to anyone who can prove those cables are any better than ordinary (and also overpriced) Monster Cables. Pointing out the absurd review by audiophile Dave Clark, who called the cables "danceable," Randi called it "hilarious and preposterous." He added that if the cables could do what their makers claimed, "they would be paranormal."
$7,250 Speaker Cables Turn You Into a Dancin' Fool.
We see that the Pear Cable company is advertising a pair of 12-foot "Anjou" audio cables for $7,250; that's $302 a foot! And, as expected, "experts" were approached for their opinions on the performance of these wonders ... Well, we at the JREF are willing to be shown that these "no-compromise" cables perform better than, say, the equivalent Monster cables. While Pear rattles on about "capacitance," "inductance," "skin effect," "mechanical integrity" and "radio frequency interface," - all real qualities and concerns, and adored by the hi-fi nut-cases - we naively believe that a product should be judged by its actual performance, not by qualities that can only be perceived by attentive dogs or by hi-tech instrumentation. That said, we offer the JREF million-dollar prize to - for example - Dave Clark, Editor of the audio review publication Positive Feedback Online.
This is not Randi's first clash with audiophile reviewers who claim to hear differences between various pieces of exotic equipment. He promises a million dollars (which he has waiting in an account for them) if any can prove in double-blind scientific testing that their extraordinary claims are true. None have stepped up so far.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 09:19:23 AM
Ok.
Noise cancelling works well to kill C130 noise.
I have never tried noise cancelling headphones in a plane & my experience has shown that it doesn't cancel enough incoming sound that I could consider it anything but a scam, like 3D TVs.
Wait... so it turns out that you've never tried NC headphones to cancel noise, and thus concluded that they are a scam? Okay...
Has anyone ever suggested to you than, when you've dug yourself into a hole that deep, you should just
stop digging? if not, consider yourself suggested.
Good fit in ear phones do a good job of blocking noise on non-military planes, trains, buses, and other urban noisy-like distractions. For a lot cheaper than $300.
Quote from: Tyr on May 09, 2015, 04:48:27 AM
I'm thinking of getting myself some of those snazzy big noise cancelling ones so I can practice my guitar and concentrate when I have to work, but I'm not sure whats what.
Take a look at these: http://www.westoneaudio.com/index.php/products/um-series/um-pro-10.html
I've seen these go on sale from time to time - may be able to find somewhere for cheaper.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 12, 2015, 10:14:59 AM
Good fit in ear phones do a good job of blocking noise on non-military planes, trains, buses, and other urban noisy-like distractions. For a lot cheaper than $300.
This is true, the Samsung earbuds that came with my phone actually help quite a bit.
Quote from: grumbler on May 12, 2015, 10:09:26 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 09:19:23 AM
Ok.
Noise cancelling works well to kill C130 noise.
I have never tried noise cancelling headphones in a plane & my experience has shown that it doesn't cancel enough incoming sound that I could consider it anything but a scam, like 3D TVs.
Wait... so it turns out that you've never tried NC headphones to cancel noise, and thus concluded that they are a scam? Okay...
Has anyone ever suggested to you than, when you've dug yourself into a hole that deep, you should just stop digging? if not, consider yourself suggested.
Did you not read my post?
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 11:37:45 AM
Quote from: grumbler on May 12, 2015, 10:09:26 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 09:19:23 AM
Ok.
Noise cancelling works well to kill C130 noise.
I have never tried noise cancelling headphones in a plane & my experience has shown that it doesn't cancel enough incoming sound that I could consider it anything but a scam, like 3D TVs.
Wait... so it turns out that you've never tried NC headphones to cancel noise, and thus concluded that they are a scam? Okay...
Has anyone ever suggested to you than, when you've dug yourself into a hole that deep, you should just stop digging? if not, consider yourself suggested.
Did you not read my post?
Yes. Every foolish word. Stop digging.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on May 12, 2015, 10:14:59 AM
Good fit in ear phones do a good job of blocking noise on non-military planes, trains, buses, and other urban noisy-like distractions. For a lot cheaper than $300.
The in-ear jobs don't give much bass response, though.
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 09:19:23 AM
Ok.
Noise cancelling works well to kill C130 noise.
I have never tried noise cancelling headphones in a plane & my experience has shown that it doesn't cancel enough incoming sound that I could consider it anything but a scam, like 3D TVs.
Plane travel is the main reason I have headphones. It does work very well.
Quote from: grumbler on May 12, 2015, 12:09:50 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 11:37:45 AM
Quote from: grumbler on May 12, 2015, 10:09:26 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 09:19:23 AM
Ok.
Noise cancelling works well to kill C130 noise.
I have never tried noise cancelling headphones in a plane & my experience has shown that it doesn't cancel enough incoming sound that I could consider it anything but a scam, like 3D TVs.
Wait... so it turns out that you've never tried NC headphones to cancel noise, and thus concluded that they are a scam? Okay...
Has anyone ever suggested to you than, when you've dug yourself into a hole that deep, you should just stop digging? if not, consider yourself suggested.
Did you not read my post?
Yes. Every foolish word. Stop digging.
:hmm:
Quote from: grumbler on May 12, 2015, 12:09:50 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 11:37:45 AM
Quote from: grumbler on May 12, 2015, 10:09:26 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on May 12, 2015, 09:19:23 AM
Ok.
Noise cancelling works well to kill C130 noise.
I have never tried noise cancelling headphones in a plane & my experience has shown that it doesn't cancel enough incoming sound that I could consider it anything but a scam, like 3D TVs.
Wait... so it turns out that you've never tried NC headphones to cancel noise, and thus concluded that they are a scam? Okay...
Has anyone ever suggested to you than, when you've dug yourself into a hole that deep, you should just stop digging? if not, consider yourself suggested.
Did you not read my post?
Yes. Every foolish word. Stop digging.
I think you should take your own advice Grumbler.
And reread his post. He did not say that he'd never used NC headphones - just that he'd never used them
on a plane.
Quote from: Agelastus on May 12, 2015, 02:33:55 PM
I think you should take your own advice Grumbler.
And reread his post. He did not say that he'd never used NC headphones - just that he'd never used them on a plane.
Maybe you should read his post. He said that NC headphones were a scam because they didn't do things they never claimed to do, and that he'd never actually tested them at what they were supposed to do. You can't call something a "scam" simply because you've never seen it do what it is supposed to do. I can't call the LHC a scam because I've never seen it collide hadrons.
Quote from: grumbler on May 12, 2015, 03:18:18 PM
Quote from: Agelastus on May 12, 2015, 02:33:55 PM
I think you should take your own advice Grumbler.
And reread his post. He did not say that he'd never used NC headphones - just that he'd never used them on a plane.
Maybe you should read his post. He said that NC headphones were a scam because they didn't do things they never claimed to do, and that he'd never actually tested them at what they were supposed to do. You can't call something a "scam" simply because you've never seen it do what it is supposed to do. I can't call the LHC a scam because I've never seen it collide hadrons.
Firstly, that's a truly terrible analogy. It's not as if either of you can try to use the LHC to collide hadrons whereas both of you can test the claims for NC headphones by simply buying a pair and putting them on.
Secondly, since he has posted that he has tried said headphones (something I have no reason to doubt) and found them not to work to his satisfaction, he has every right to deride it as a scam whether or not you agree with him. Calling something a scam is as much a personal opinion as a legal concept.
Thirdly, since he's only said that he's never tested them on a plane, by the wording of your own post you've effectively just contended that NC headphones are only for use on planes, which I highly doubt is the opinion of the manufacturers or most users!
Fourthly, I'm wearing a pair of noise cancelling headphones as I write this (they're blocking out a person's snores) so I do disagree with Grey Fox about them being a scam. Doesn't mean that I can't hear the television news perfectly well though, even so, so I have sympathy with Grey Fox's position - NC headphones only block certain types of noise rather than being a panacea.
Perhaps it might be an idea to ask Grey Fox what exactly he was trying to block out with the headphones before calling him a fool.
Quote from: Agelastus on May 12, 2015, 04:13:56 PM
Firstly, that's a truly terrible analogy. It's not as if either of you can try to use the LHC to collide hadrons whereas both of you can test the claims for NC headphones by simply buying a pair and putting them on.
Secondly, since he has posted that he has tried said headphones (something I have no reason to doubt) and found them not to work to his satisfaction, he has every right to deride it as a scam whether or not you agree with him. Calling something a scam is as much a personal opinion as a legal concept.
Thirdly, since he's only said that he's never tested them on a plane, by the wording of your own post you've effectively just contended that NC headphones are only for use on planes, which I highly doubt is the opinion of the manufacturers or most users!
Fourthly, I'm wearing a pair of noise cancelling headphones as I write this (they're blocking out a person's snores) so I do disagree with Grey Fox about them being a scam. Doesn't mean that I can't hear the television news perfectly well though, even so, so I have sympathy with Grey Fox's position - NC headphones only block certain types of noise rather than being a panacea.
Perhaps it might be an idea to ask Grey Fox what exactly he was trying to block out with the headphones before calling him a fool.
Stop digging.
Quote from: Agelastus on May 12, 2015, 04:13:56 PM
Perhaps it might be an idea to ask Grey Fox what exactly he was trying to block out with the headphones before calling him a fool.
Yeah, but this is Grumbler. He will probably make some lame comment to you like "stop digging" because that is what he does.
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 12, 2015, 05:15:55 PM
Quote from: Agelastus on May 12, 2015, 04:13:56 PM
Perhaps it might be an idea to ask Grey Fox what exactly he was trying to block out with the headphones before calling him a fool.
Yeah, but this is Grumbler. He will probably make some lame comment to you like "stop digging" because that is what he does.
You should realize when you engage him in lengthy debates, you are effectively digging your own grave. :contract:
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on May 12, 2015, 05:19:59 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 12, 2015, 05:15:55 PM
Quote from: Agelastus on May 12, 2015, 04:13:56 PM
Perhaps it might be an idea to ask Grey Fox what exactly he was trying to block out with the headphones before calling him a fool.
Yeah, but this is Grumbler. He will probably make some lame comment to you like "stop digging" because that is what he does.
You should realize when you engage him in lengthy debates, you are effectively digging your own grave. :contract:
Particularly when it is a debate like:
GF: Noise cancellation is a scam.
g: Actually, NC headphones do what they advertise: no scam
GF: No they are a scam because they didn't do what I wanted them to do, and I didn't test them against what NC claims to do.
g: That is a pretty idiotic stand. Stop digging.
Age: The burden isn't on GF to provide evidence that NC is a scam, it is on you to ask questions of him.
g: Stop digging
GF has shown no evidence whatever that noise cancellation does not work and thus is a scam.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on May 12, 2015, 05:19:59 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 12, 2015, 05:15:55 PM
Quote from: Agelastus on May 12, 2015, 04:13:56 PM
Perhaps it might be an idea to ask Grey Fox what exactly he was trying to block out with the headphones before calling him a fool.
Yeah, but this is Grumbler. He will probably make some lame comment to you like "stop digging" because that is what he does.
You should realize when you engage him in lengthy debates, you are effectively digging your own grave. :contract:
Not really. Its just that we hope that he will engage in communication on a meaningful level. Like other humans. But our hopes are normally dashed.
Maybe I have super hearing.
Quote from: grumbler on May 12, 2015, 05:09:45 PM
Quote from: Agelastus on May 12, 2015, 04:13:56 PM
Firstly, that's a truly terrible analogy. It's not as if either of you can try to use the LHC to collide hadrons whereas both of you can test the claims for NC headphones by simply buying a pair and putting them on.
Secondly, since he has posted that he has tried said headphones (something I have no reason to doubt) and found them not to work to his satisfaction, he has every right to deride it as a scam whether or not you agree with him. Calling something a scam is as much a personal opinion as a legal concept.
Thirdly, since he's only said that he's never tested them on a plane, by the wording of your own post you've effectively just contended that NC headphones are only for use on planes, which I highly doubt is the opinion of the manufacturers or most users!
Fourthly, I'm wearing a pair of noise cancelling headphones as I write this (they're blocking out a person's snores) so I do disagree with Grey Fox about them being a scam. Doesn't mean that I can't hear the television news perfectly well though, even so, so I have sympathy with Grey Fox's position - NC headphones only block certain types of noise rather than being a panacea.
Perhaps it might be an idea to ask Grey Fox what exactly he was trying to block out with the headphones before calling him a fool.
Stop digging.
:yawn:
0/10.
What it gains in humour it loses due to the sheer tiredness of the "schtick".
Whenever you're ready to actually defend your untenable characterisation of GF's posts let me know.
Quote from: Agelastus on May 13, 2015, 09:32:52 AM
0/10.
What it gains in humour it loses due to the sheer tiredness of the "schtick".
Whenever you're ready to actually defend your untenable characterisation of GF's posts let me know.
:yawn: You're still digging, but, since GF was utterly wrong to claim NC is a scam and you seem anxious to defend his claim, I suppose you have no choice than to keep digging.
Well, chin-chin. Do carry on with your mud pies.
Wireless or go home.
Quote from: grumbler on May 13, 2015, 03:46:10 PM
Quote from: Agelastus on May 13, 2015, 09:32:52 AM
0/10.
What it gains in humour it loses due to the sheer tiredness of the "schtick".
Whenever you're ready to actually defend your untenable characterisation of GF's posts let me know.
:yawn: You're still digging, but, since GF was utterly wrong to claim NC is a scam and you seem anxious to defend his claim, I suppose you have no choice than to keep digging.
Well, chin-chin. Do carry on with your mud pies.
:yawn:
And, once again, you get a zero for basic English comprehension. Try rereading my posts.
Quote from: grumbler on May 13, 2015, 03:46:10 PM
Quote from: Agelastus on May 13, 2015, 09:32:52 AM
0/10.
What it gains in humour it loses due to the sheer tiredness of the "schtick".
Whenever you're ready to actually defend your untenable characterisation of GF's posts let me know.
:yawn: You're still digging, but, since GF was utterly wrong to claim NC is a scam and you seem anxious to defend his claim, I suppose you have no choice than to keep digging.
Well, chin-chin. Do carry on with your mud pies.
I am not wrong.
Well...I didn't expect this thread to turn out like this...
I personally have bought Bose noise cancelling earphones, and my feeling is that they work to some extent. Obviously they don't cancel all noise, and they work better in some situations. But my opinion is that I am better off with them in most situations. As with a lot of audio stuff, it all boils down to personal feeling, and it is pointless to argue about whether they "work" because I imagine different people will have different opinions. Just like different people will have different views on if certain food tastes good. My wife can't stand them. As soon as she puts them on, she says she is not comfortable. Somehow.
So I think the best way is to try them out yourself. The Bose shop did let me try them on for a few minutes to test their effectiveness. I suggest that anybody who is interested should do the same.
Quote from: Monoriu on May 16, 2015, 05:18:00 AMSo I think the best way is to try them out yourself. The Bose shop did let me try them on for a few minutes to test their effectiveness. I suggest that anybody who is interested should do the same.
Indeed, but if you're trying them at the shop be aware that it won't cancel most shop noises (televisions, talking, etc). Go out on the street and notice the lower noise from the traffic.
Quote from: Liep on May 16, 2015, 06:04:01 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on May 16, 2015, 05:18:00 AMSo I think the best way is to try them out yourself. The Bose shop did let me try them on for a few minutes to test their effectiveness. I suggest that anybody who is interested should do the same.
Indeed, but if you're trying them at the shop be aware that it won't cancel most shop noises (televisions, talking, etc). Go out on the street and notice the lower noise from the traffic.
Going out on the street while testing out a product may invite suspicions that you are trying to run away with it though :ph34r:
Current consideration: 50 quid cheaper qc 15 vs qc 25
Quote from: Tyr on May 16, 2015, 04:37:21 AM
Well...I didn't expect this thread to turn out like this...
I know :lol:
After browsing Languish I feel like a perfectly normal human being again.
I eventually went with the Bose QC25s.
They are rather good.
On my plane this morning I couldn't hear the crying baby or the background aeroplane noise.
One small complaint is that the removable audio wire comes out a bit too easily if you jolt them.
So does anyone have recommendations for in-ear earphones preferably with a mic (also noise cancelling, need them for train rides primarily).
I like my Philips SHE9000 In-Ear buds; I bought Comply foam tips to replace the soft default ones and love them on my morning commute - blocks out most conversations and a lot of ambient noise. No mic, though.
The SHE9005A/00 variant are with hands free talking for Android devices. Costs about €50 on Amazon (doesn't seem to have a mic, though). There are other Philips in ear head phones with mics, but they seem to be of slightly different make than what I have.
I'm planning to buy some in the ear sweat proof running ones. Jaybird BluBuds X @$125.
I've been riding a bus pretty regularly for commuting purposes lately and thought of this thread.
The Bose (QC35 for me) really do work. You can still hear the engine sound, but it very muted and almost unobstrusive. I initially resisted the Bose, because in my mind they had a rep for making overpriced bassy headphones. The QCs are pretty pricey but they sound pretty good. In a low noise environment they can't compete very well - my $99 open-backed headphones sound better. But they are more than good enough for the high noise environments they are designed for. Also light and very comfortable to wear.
That said - I also recently replaced my (lost) Westones with Etymotics - these are "deep insertion" IEMs. Using them requires getting the over the hurdles of sticking the things pretty deep in the ear canal, which is an uncanny sensation. But if you do it - they cut down noise almost as well as the Bose with the active NR. In my subjective opinion (FWIW) they also give a more detailed sound than the Bose. More importantly, they have low end and mid-range models that go for around $50 or $100 respectively, which is a lot less than the Bose (their highest end model costs about the same as the QCs).
Bottom line - if money matters and you can tolerate the weirdness of deep ear insertion, the Etys are probably the best value for noisy area music listening. That said I still use the Bose more often b/c its just more comfortable.
Tamas uses two beets connected with a stick.
They should have earphone plugins on scooters nowadays.
Now that I am in Santa Cruz I need to ask - do they have weed-stink cancelling earphones?