I would take any of these on this list over Bose

http://www.headphone.com/selection-guide/noise-cancelling-headphones.php

The Bose headphones do a good job of noise cancellation. However, they're made of plastic and don't hold up under normal wear. Moreover, when my 18 month old pair broke -- literally snapped in half as I was putting them on -- the attitude of the local Bose retailer was "Well, stuff happens. Buy another pair and maybe they'll last longer."

I'd look elsewhere before spending more on anything from Bose, no matter how good it sounds (or doesn't sound in this case.) I've heard good reports regarding Sony's sound canceling headphones but haven't tried them myself.

Jack

I am travelling overseas. I am looking for NC headphones. Please recommend.Thanks

How and when are you going to use these? Do you just want them mainly for the plane ride, or while you are there?

Have you ever used NC headphones before? Do you want "the best" or just "good enough"? Is size a consideration?

NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES...?

Mike

As far as noise reduction is concerned, I haven't heard any of the active noise cancelling headphones that come anywhere close to the sound isolation of a good earphone system. Active NR headphones are only effective up to about 1,500hz if you're lucky and at -15db the reduction isn't really that significant.

Personally, I use the Shure SE series. They are very comfortably, the audio quality is unbelievably good and the isolation is almost spooky, in fact they sell an accessory in-line microphone system so you can puch a button and hear what going on outside your head. Plus, you can also carry the earphones in your pocket.

http://www.shure.com/americas/products/earphones-headphones/se-models/index.htm

Be sure to read the message thread that Mike referenced in the post just above mine.

If you don't want earphones, Sennheisher makes very good isolating headphone the HD-280. I used them on Subways and planes and they really do block out ambient noise. They just upgraded them and released the HD 380 which have even better sound supposedly.

The 280's are about $100 and the 380's are about $200.

They claim 32 db's of isolation

I just can't see travelling with a big set of headphones. I used to travel constantly and earbuds are the "only way to fly." My brother is on 4 airplanes a week and I asked him if he would consider trading his Shure earbuds for a set of noise cancelling headphones and he just laughed. Spot travels a lot and I know he also uses earbuds but I can't remember which ones. They are not Shures.

WOW, my friend swears by his bose, ( but then again he is a fanboy of other hardware hint.. hint ..wink.. wink..) Thank you for the info on the bose, personaly I have always thought that bose was a bit snobby. I have wanted to get some for myself for when it gets loud around the house. so the info on others like shure and sennheiner are good to know..

Good Luck and disregard my first post.

Paul

I am travelling in 3 weeks. The plane ride is about 20 hours. I will be mostly using it to avoid the noise of the engine. Although I might use it later on for other purposes. I am looking for 1) the ability to get rid of plane noise as much as possible. 2) durability of the headphones. Thanks

If all you're looking to do is reduce the engine noise, buy a $2 pair of foam earplugs.

John is right about foam earplugs but, if you want to listen to music, then buy a pair of the Shire earphones.
I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
My wife does 2 or 3 business trips overseas each year (12-18 hr.each way) and loves the Shures that I bought her a few years ago.
She plugs her iPod in and she's a happy traveler :-)

Mike

I have such a negative experience with airplane engine noise that I am focussing on noise cancellation. I think it is a great idea to listen to music from my iPod. Point well taken. Does your wife use full headphones( Shure) or earbuds. Thanks

RZ

My wife uses the earbuds.
Hers were the $100 model.
The nice thing is that each pair comes with 3 different ear pieces to compensate for different sizes of ears.
As I said in the thread I referenced, I have a set that I use whenever I do on-location shooting and remain very happy with them.
I used to have a set of headphones (Sennheiser??) but, when they finally started falling apart, switched to good earbuds and haven't looked back.

Mike