[Elecraft] Bose noise canceling headphones

[Jim Brown]

On Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:33:56 -0700 (PDT), Bill W4ZV wrote:


>If you **truly** want to block out ambient noise, there are much better and
>less expensive solutions.  If I recall correctly the $300 (fair traded) Bose
>QC2 units only have ~10 dB of attenuation.  Bose doe not spec their sound
>reduction because it really isn't so great.  I think I found the 10 dB
>figure above from a 3rd party evaluation of the original Bose QC.

>I've used the Etymotic ER-6 which is an in-ear solution with claimed average
>noise reduction of 34-36 dB for ~$85 at amazon.com.

>http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6.aspx

>The only problem with the ER-6 is it may be uncomfortable for some people. 
>I've worn them in contests and had no problems for extended periods (i.e.
>14-15 hours per sitting).

Agreed on all counts. I work in pro audio, and have long used the more 
expensive Etymotic ER4 in-ear phones to mix live music. Their noise isolation 
is EXCELLENT if the earpiece matches your outer ear well, less satisfactory 
if it does not. That's very much a matter of every person's ears. These 
earphones, and competing models sold by Shure, are made primarily for 
musicians working on stage. I own two pairs of ER4s and three pairs of Shures 
(three different models). The ER4s and the higher priced Shures are all quite 
comfortable, and easy to wear for the duration of a contest as anything else 
I've tried. With all of these higher quality in-ear earphones, you can go to 
an audiologist and have ear molds made to fit your own ears. That's pretty 
much the ultimate both in comfort and in noise isolation. 

I also like and use Sony MDR7506 headphones. They are comfortable and sound 
great, but have far less isolation. 

73,

Jim Brown K9YC