Shut up shut up shut up!
March 23, 2011 11:09 AM Subscribe
Recommend me some good noise-cancelling headphones, please!
Due to a recent rearranging of workspaces, I'm now stuck trying to be a good little programmer in the middle of a very large room. My bosses even removed the cube walls in an effort to increase communication. That works for PM and manager types, but absolutely does not work for anyone who needs to get into the zone without distractions. Right now, there are currently 3 loud conversations unrelated to my work happening with 30 feet of me in various directions... I can't change the situation, so I need to deal with it for the time being. Please, please, help me find some good, cheap-ish noise cancelling headphones!!
Noise cancelling properties are more important to me than sound quality. Heck, there's a good chance I'll at times just be listening to the white noise app on my iPhone. Basically, I need something that will block the noise around me, allow me to listen to whatever I have on my iPhone or MacBook, not leak sound, not be too expensive, and be available in Canada. Ordering online is okay (as long as they'll ship here), but I'd much rather just walk into a Best Buy or Future Shop. Immediate gratification is good. I'm girl on the smaller side, and so are my ears. I actually prefer earbuds, but that's not a priority as much as price.
Help me! I'm getting desperate. I've actually considered taking my MacBook into the bathroom to get some peace and quiet...
Due to a recent rearranging of workspaces, I'm now stuck trying to be a good little programmer in the middle of a very large room. My bosses even removed the cube walls in an effort to increase communication. That works for PM and manager types, but absolutely does not work for anyone who needs to get into the zone without distractions. Right now, there are currently 3 loud conversations unrelated to my work happening with 30 feet of me in various directions... I can't change the situation, so I need to deal with it for the time being. Please, please, help me find some good, cheap-ish noise cancelling headphones!!
Noise cancelling properties are more important to me than sound quality. Heck, there's a good chance I'll at times just be listening to the white noise app on my iPhone. Basically, I need something that will block the noise around me, allow me to listen to whatever I have on my iPhone or MacBook, not leak sound, not be too expensive, and be available in Canada. Ordering online is okay (as long as they'll ship here), but I'd much rather just walk into a Best Buy or Future Shop. Immediate gratification is good. I'm girl on the smaller side, and so are my ears. I actually prefer earbuds, but that's not a priority as much as price.
Help me! I'm getting desperate. I've actually considered taking my MacBook into the bathroom to get some peace and quiet...
If you like earbuds, you're in luck here. The best sound isolation comes not from "noise canceling" technology but from passively blocking out sound. Earbuds with foam plugs isolate you from environmental noise much, much better than active noise cancellation can.
A number of companies make good, low-cost earbuds that you can fit with foam plugs. Etymotic ER-6 is a pretty good choice and costs like $70. With foam plugs in you can comfortably listen to music at low volume on a moving subway.
posted by grobstein at 11:21 AM on March 23, 2011
A number of companies make good, low-cost earbuds that you can fit with foam plugs. Etymotic ER-6 is a pretty good choice and costs like $70. With foam plugs in you can comfortably listen to music at low volume on a moving subway.
posted by grobstein at 11:21 AM on March 23, 2011
Yeah, I was coming in to suggest Etymotic. I am a fan of their products from their musician's earplugs.
I feel for you cgg, I feel for you ...
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 11:30 AM on March 23, 2011
I feel for you cgg, I feel for you ...
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 11:30 AM on March 23, 2011
another vote for Etymotic. I use the ER-4p model, which probably is a little expensive for what you want (they just went up to $300! ugh).
However, the ER-6, ER-6i, or the MC-5 would probably be a good fit for you.
posted by aloiv2 at 11:42 AM on March 23, 2011
However, the ER-6, ER-6i, or the MC-5 would probably be a good fit for you.
posted by aloiv2 at 11:42 AM on March 23, 2011
Hi cgg, if you could check your memail - I sent you a message.
posted by kitkatcathy at 11:46 AM on March 23, 2011
posted by kitkatcathy at 11:46 AM on March 23, 2011
Noise cancelling might not be worth the money for you. From what I understand, they are only really good at cancelling consistent noise, like engine noise. I'm in a similar situation, and I opted for noise isolating headphones. Basically, they're just over-the-ear headphones that have a lot of sound absorbing material so they soak up a lot of surrounding noise. I originally tried the Sennheiser HD 202s, but after a couple hours, they really started to hurt. I then got the Koss UR-20s. They're dirt cheap, really comfortable, and they block a lot more sound than the 202s. You'll still be able to hear people having conversations, but it's dramatically muted.
posted by specialnobodie at 11:57 AM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by specialnobodie at 11:57 AM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Another plug for noise isolation rather than noise canceling. The choices for noise isolation earbuds have exploded over the past few years. Shure, Etymotic, Sennheiser, Ultimate Ears and Westone all make these, and now you can find cheaper versions too.
posted by reeddavid at 12:18 PM on March 23, 2011
posted by reeddavid at 12:18 PM on March 23, 2011
Seconding the comment about the Sennheiser 202's hurting the ears when using for extended periods.
I used to have the Bose noise canceling headphones, but left them in the back of a Paris taxicab. Haven't been able to bring myself to spend that kind of $ on headphones again.
posted by BobbyVan at 12:20 PM on March 23, 2011
I used to have the Bose noise canceling headphones, but left them in the back of a Paris taxicab. Haven't been able to bring myself to spend that kind of $ on headphones again.
posted by BobbyVan at 12:20 PM on March 23, 2011
I have the Sony MDRNC7 noise cancelling headphones. I also used to have Etymotic ER6is. The Etymotics blocked all noise, the Sonys just bring the background noise down to almost nothing. I find they work decently, but are no good against impulsive noises. They're also flat out useless if you're walking; everything sounds like Godzilla foot-falls.
I don't think I could wear the Etymotics for more than an hour.
posted by scruss at 12:27 PM on March 23, 2011
I don't think I could wear the Etymotics for more than an hour.
posted by scruss at 12:27 PM on March 23, 2011
Hey! Koss UR-20s! I had two pair of them for a while, liked them so much. Loved them until they fell apart. Pretty muffling and a good value. I've got MCR-NC7s now and they are kinda lousy: flat pads provide pretty minimal isolation and the overall cancelling effect is kinda thin. I had something more like this back in the day and was happy with the added isolation. Noise-cancelling headphones don't help much with conversational noise, but they do turn down the background noise of the modern officeplace; its lighting, fans and compressors. Its pretty surprising. I always feel like its too nerdy to use big ol' headphones on the train so generally use a pair of rather inexpensive Sony headphones (thanks, Target!) that have different sized earpads to provide a snug fit to block out a good bit of noise.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 12:39 PM on March 23, 2011
posted by Ogre Lawless at 12:39 PM on March 23, 2011
I prefer noise cancelling headphones plus earplugs. I generally can't wear earbuds for long periods of time. Although, I haven't tried any of the newer isolation ones.
When shopping for headphones, I prefer around the ear style than on the ear style. It's so much more comfortable.
posted by reddot at 12:42 PM on March 23, 2011
When shopping for headphones, I prefer around the ear style than on the ear style. It's so much more comfortable.
posted by reddot at 12:42 PM on March 23, 2011
When it comes to quietening voices, I'd also agree the earbuds are a more effective option. However, for me, they get uncomfortable after wearing them for half an hour or so.
I recently bought a set of Sony headphones with active noise cancellation. They work GREAT on a plane - that engine and air conditioner drone just vanishes! And they are very comfortable. But, voices seem to sound even louder.
posted by Diag at 12:53 PM on March 23, 2011
I recently bought a set of Sony headphones with active noise cancellation. They work GREAT on a plane - that engine and air conditioner drone just vanishes! And they are very comfortable. But, voices seem to sound even louder.
posted by Diag at 12:53 PM on March 23, 2011
I've said it before on AskMe, but I'm really happy with my Klipsch Image S2m noise-isolating earbuds. They've got an inline mic/button thing like Apple's earbuds (they should work with your iPhone, they work with my Android phone just fine). They rest fairly deep in your ears but not uncomfortably so. I can't hear a thing around me when I use them, even when listening to something at a low volume.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 12:54 PM on March 23, 2011
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 12:54 PM on March 23, 2011
I actually have a set in my yard sale pile that I'd be happy to send to you. They came from a Brookstone store in an airport. They work well enough on a plane.
I'm also a girl on the smaller side. They fit me fine. The only problem I had with them is that they're slightly uncomfortable if you're wearing glasses.
If you want mine, send me a memail.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:06 PM on March 23, 2011
I'm also a girl on the smaller side. They fit me fine. The only problem I had with them is that they're slightly uncomfortable if you're wearing glasses.
If you want mine, send me a memail.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:06 PM on March 23, 2011
Having used a variety of noise-canceling headphones, I went with noise-isolating ones and would not currently consider noise-canceling ones again. Noise-canceling ones do a good job "eliminating" constant noise, like from a train or plane. They don't work nearly as well for conversations. Some people find the cancellation noise to be annoying after awhile.
While I love my Etymotic earphones, I find they don't work that well in an office. It just takes too long to take them off when someone wants to talk and it takes equally long to get them reseated back into your ears. While I do use them when in server rooms, at my desk I use AKG k 271 MK II (well outside your price range at over $250 US (Amazon claims to sell them for $150 US, but those are resellers, none of which I personally would trust)). With a background noise program or generic electronic/trance/ambient music I hear nothing from the office. Note, that these headphones really require a better headphone amp than is built in to most devices. The inexpensive Boostaroo amp works acceptably, as does the headphone output for some desktop computer speakers.
I purchased my last few sets of headphones (for myself and loved ones) from headphone.com. They have a great return policy and good product pages. I would point you to the closed headphone listing.
posted by fief at 2:08 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
While I love my Etymotic earphones, I find they don't work that well in an office. It just takes too long to take them off when someone wants to talk and it takes equally long to get them reseated back into your ears. While I do use them when in server rooms, at my desk I use AKG k 271 MK II (well outside your price range at over $250 US (Amazon claims to sell them for $150 US, but those are resellers, none of which I personally would trust)). With a background noise program or generic electronic/trance/ambient music I hear nothing from the office. Note, that these headphones really require a better headphone amp than is built in to most devices. The inexpensive Boostaroo amp works acceptably, as does the headphone output for some desktop computer speakers.
I purchased my last few sets of headphones (for myself and loved ones) from headphone.com. They have a great return policy and good product pages. I would point you to the closed headphone listing.
posted by fief at 2:08 PM on March 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I got my boyfriend these Klipsch Image S4s, and he really likes them.
posted by Stephanie Duy at 2:45 PM on March 23, 2011
posted by Stephanie Duy at 2:45 PM on March 23, 2011
I've had these cheap Koss isolation earbuds for years. Although it takes a bit of practice to get them in your ears properly, once they're in and you have some music playing you can't hear anything else. I can be standing next to a city bus and not hear it.
posted by crLLC at 7:17 AM on March 24, 2011
posted by crLLC at 7:17 AM on March 24, 2011
Here's your idea in reverse:
Listen to "music" that is background chatter noise, for example, stuff from here: http://www.soundjay.com/crowd-talking-1.html
If the noise-canceling headphones you choose are insufficient and you really need to concentrate, maybe adding more human chatter to what you hear will turn it all into "white noise" and you can get some work done.
posted by Seboshin at 11:41 AM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Listen to "music" that is background chatter noise, for example, stuff from here: http://www.soundjay.com/crowd-talking-1.html
If the noise-canceling headphones you choose are insufficient and you really need to concentrate, maybe adding more human chatter to what you hear will turn it all into "white noise" and you can get some work done.
posted by Seboshin at 11:41 AM on March 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by torisaur at 11:13 AM on March 23, 2011