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I used to think noise-cancelling headphones were a gimmick. I'm also pretty indifferent to audio quality, so I never expected to buy expensive headphones. But I

I used to think noise-cancelling headphones were a gimmick. I'm also pretty indifferent to audio quality, so I never expected to buy expensive headphones. But I had an opportunity to try out one of the best options available right now, and the noise cancelling performance blew me away. With the closed-back cups sealing over my ears, and the noise cancelling active, I can only just hear normal-volume conversation next to me. When also playing music, I can't hear any normal sounds around my house. With white noise and earplugs as well, I literally can't hear a baby screaming.

MediumD 5y ago
Which headphone did you try? That sounds amazing
- rootusrootus 5y ago
  Can't speak for OP, but I recently bought a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones and I'm pretty impressed. They don't make me feel the pressure in my ear like some do, and the noise suppression is just about magic. My wife has to text me from downstairs to tell me my kids are fighting even when it's just outside the door to my office, because I can't hear them at all (and I don't turn up the volume on my music). Just turning them on without any music makes it hard to understand someone talking in the same room.
  - jason_slack 5y ago
    I have these same ones and AirPod Max as well. Both really amazing for focus, deep thought and traveling.
    - rootusrootus 5y ago
      > traveling For sure, that moment when you power them up on the airplane it's heavenly.
    - reasonabl_human 5y ago
      Which do you prefer? I’ve been rocking the Bose QC35 II’s for years but am wondering if in-ear solutions can compete now for commuting on foot (metro, buses, etc.)
      - e1g 5y ago
        I loved my XM3. They eventually broke, and I replaced them with the AirPod Max as I’m all-in on Apple gear. Returned those within a week. The weight, the size, and the ANC side effects made it unusable for all-day wear. Some people love them, but I was disappointed. I’m back to XM, with newfound appreciation. You can try both for a week, and return the set that doesn’t fit into your life. Both Apple and Sony can handle a refund.
  - ak217 5y ago
    What's the magnitude of improvement over the standard option (bose quietcomfort)?
- bredren 5y ago
  AirPod Max noise cancellation is pretty stellar.
- alanbernstein 5y ago
  XM3, my understanding is that the noise cancelling performance is similar to the XM4.
dehrmann 5y ago
5 years ago, I got a pair of Sennheiser over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones for long flights after realizing how loud I had the volume turned up on earbuds. I'm happy enough with them, but they're too plasticy for the price and rather bulky for traveling (so I'm considering Airpods Pro), but on a flight, noise canceling is absolutely not a gimmick.
- loufe 5y ago
  I wouldn't give up on Sennheiser without looking at their new offerings just quite yet. I just bought a noise cancelling over the ear pair from them (after returning my XM4s) and their build quality is excellent - metal, leather, high quality plastic.
  - luizfelberti 5y ago
    Just an FYI here for those unaware, but Sennheiser recently sold off their consumer headphone division [0], so the future of Senn's great headphones is very much a mystery at the moment [0] https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/7/22424367/sonova-buys-sennheiser-consumer-business-headphones-soundbars https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/7/22424367/sonova-buys-sennh...
  - dehrmann 5y ago
    The model I have is the PXC 450. It does look like recent ones have gotten better.
- prometheus76 5y ago
  Have you looked at Audio-Technica noise-cancelling headphones? Better sound than the popular Bose ones, but with a cheaper price tag.
Jakobeha 5y ago
I had AKG headphones. I noticed a difference when noise cancellation was on, but there was a weird humming sound and they didn't work very well for me. Also, they're very bulky and you can't wear them while sleeping. > With white noise and earplugs as well, I literally can't hear a baby screaming. That's one benefit of headphones: if the earplugs aren't enough, you can do earplugs + headphones for ultimate noise-cancellation.
ixacto 5y ago
Got some Sony XM4 noise cancelling. Totally worth the $200 for them and they work great with zoom.

MediumD 5y ago

Which headphone did you try? That sounds amazing

rootusrootus 5y ago
Can't speak for OP, but I recently bought a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones and I'm pretty impressed. They don't make me feel the pressure in my ear like some do, and the noise suppression is just about magic. My wife has to text me from downstairs to tell me my kids are fighting even when it's just outside the door to my office, because I can't hear them at all (and I don't turn up the volume on my music). Just turning them on without any music makes it hard to understand someone talking in the same room.
- jason_slack 5y ago
  I have these same ones and AirPod Max as well. Both really amazing for focus, deep thought and traveling.
  - rootusrootus 5y ago
    > traveling For sure, that moment when you power them up on the airplane it's heavenly.
  - reasonabl_human 5y ago
    Which do you prefer? I’ve been rocking the Bose QC35 II’s for years but am wondering if in-ear solutions can compete now for commuting on foot (metro, buses, etc.)
    - e1g 5y ago
      I loved my XM3. They eventually broke, and I replaced them with the AirPod Max as I’m all-in on Apple gear. Returned those within a week. The weight, the size, and the ANC side effects made it unusable for all-day wear. Some people love them, but I was disappointed. I’m back to XM, with newfound appreciation. You can try both for a week, and return the set that doesn’t fit into your life. Both Apple and Sony can handle a refund.
- ak217 5y ago
  What's the magnitude of improvement over the standard option (bose quietcomfort)?
bredren 5y ago
AirPod Max noise cancellation is pretty stellar.
alanbernstein 5y ago
XM3, my understanding is that the noise cancelling performance is similar to the XM4.

dehrmann 5y ago

5 years ago, I got a pair of Sennheiser over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones for long flights after realizing how loud I had the volume turned up on earbuds. I'm happy enough with them, but they're too plasticy for the price and rather bulky for traveling (so I'm considering Airpods Pro), but on a flight, noise canceling is absolutely not a gimmick.

loufe 5y ago
I wouldn't give up on Sennheiser without looking at their new offerings just quite yet. I just bought a noise cancelling over the ear pair from them (after returning my XM4s) and their build quality is excellent - metal, leather, high quality plastic.
- luizfelberti 5y ago
  Just an FYI here for those unaware, but Sennheiser recently sold off their consumer headphone division [0], so the future of Senn's great headphones is very much a mystery at the moment [0] https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/7/22424367/sonova-buys-sennheiser-consumer-business-headphones-soundbars https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/7/22424367/sonova-buys-sennh...
- dehrmann 5y ago
  The model I have is the PXC 450. It does look like recent ones have gotten better.
prometheus76 5y ago
Have you looked at Audio-Technica noise-cancelling headphones? Better sound than the popular Bose ones, but with a cheaper price tag.

Jakobeha 5y ago

I had AKG headphones. I noticed a difference when noise cancellation was on, but there was a weird humming sound and they didn't work very well for me. Also, they're very bulky and you can't wear them while sleeping. > With white noise and earplugs as well, I literally can't hear a baby screaming. That's one benefit of headphones: if the earplugs aren't enough, you can do earplugs + headphones for ultimate noise-cancellation.

ixacto 5y ago

Got some Sony XM4 noise cancelling. Totally worth the $200 for them and they work great with zoom.