Noise canceling headphones - any recommendations?

[Daragon]

Quick question for any and all audiophiles out there:

Recently decided to take the plunge and shop around for a decent pair of noise canceling headphones, never owned a proper set before and need to stop with my near obsessive buying of average sounding products, especially as I prefer to hear the noise coming from my ipod as opposed to the idiot chavs on the seat next to me on a train!

So far I've only had opportunity to try out a pair of Bose QCs but I refuse out of principle to pay over 200 quid for a pair of headphones, regardless of how good they might be.

I've narrowed it down therefore to the Goldring NS1000 @ 49.99

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/8240767/Goldring-NS1000-Active-Noise-Reduction-Cancelling-Headphones/Product.html

and the Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5 vi Noise Isolating In Ear Headphones @ 29.99

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/9783628/Ultimate-Ears-SuperFi-5-vi-Noise-Isolating-In-Ear-Headphones/Product.html

I'm more drawn to the Goldrings as I prefer the fit type (in-ear ones never stay in my ears from experience). The Ultimate Ears however seem to have a special fit allowing for more active use and have the added bonus of a mic for receiving calls (although as I'm more likely to be using my ipod than my Galaxy S for music this might be a moot point)

Reviews in general (as opposed to just the play.com user ones) seem to be very much a mixed bag with the UEs but very much positive for the Goldrings, still I'm quite uncertain as to which I should go for.

Anyone have one or t'other to pass judgment?

[gunrock]

I picked a pair of Logitech's noise cancelling headphones for about 22 quid a couple of years back as they were end of line (probably due to the terrible low cost, fragile design). They look like they might break at any time but I've looked after them and the noise cancelling feature works brilliantly.

I mention it in-case you find some cheap.

[charlesr]

Are you aware of the difference between those two you linked? The first has active noise cancelling (it listens to the exterior noise and adds the opposite waveform to the sound output so it cancels to zero). The second is noise isolating - i.e. it's like wearing earplugs.

I'd advise trying these first because they are £6 delivered: http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProduct...234&sku=764564

They have excellent sound quality (and I'm quite picky) and have survived many runs. They are isolating.

Also, what mp3 bitrate are you using? Or lossless? If you are really bothered about sound quality, then you need to go lossless - the headphones above, in combination with lossless (FLAC) files on my Sansa Clip is such a vast step up from the mp3s on my old Benq Joybee (the actual headpone amplification quality on the Joybee and the Sansa is superior to the ipod too).

[Daragon]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Not sure on the bitrate of my mp3s, or whether or not they are indeed lossless, although given where I obtained them I'm assuming they aren't the latter. I do like the quality of them though, I'd just prefer to hear them over gossipers on my commutes.

I have heard that a decent pair of noise isolators can be just as effective as cancellations and as I've been getting slowly more accustomed to the mp3 player on my Galaxy S I may well be using that a lot more afterall.

Out of interest, are those pairs you've linked to effective isolators Charles? Will they drown out engine noise for example?

[charlesr]

They come with 3 different sizes of bud so you can choose the most effective one. I find them quite disconcerting to use while running because you can't hear anything going on around you properly, but you get used to them. It's just like wearing ear-plugs, so all medium to high pitched noise is substantially reduced.

I would say you'd be mad to use them while driving.

edit: Just to clarify, it just reduces the sound level - you can still hear stuff. Like ear-plugs basically.

[Daragon]

Would isolators suit me for bus/train journeys? I rarely fly so I wouldn't need anything too powerful.

The in-ear ones which came with my galaxy s are pathetic at the job but they looked just like the ones you linked to.

[smouty]

I have used ones similar to the ones Charles linked too and they are a big step up from most supplied headphones. The HMV ones look like SennheiserCX300/Creative EP-630 copies.
I recently switched to some soundmagic PL-11s which are significantly better for £20 and come supplied with about 20 different tips. I use the foamy ones for great isolation.
The bass on these in ear isolators is amazing when fitted correctly.

The soundmagic and CX300 are both on this list

http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/best-in-ear-headphones.html

[charlesr]

I also feel you have to be careful with these - the sound pressure has nowhere to go apart from straight on to your eardrum. The bass is great.

[Daragon]

How would you guys rate the isolation on them though? Will they drown out commuter and engine noise?

[smouty]

Definitely block out commuting noise. When you say engine noise, what are we talking - 1970s Mini or more/less? If you've ever been to F1 you can buy the packs of ear plugs that are foam that you compress and they expand in your ear. These earphones offer a similar level of noise blocking.

[charlesr]

heh, for £6 why don't you just try them?

But, the noise reduction isn't as much as the ones that have multiple buds in a row, but they are more comfortable.

http://fwd.five.tv/gadget-show/bestbuys/audio-accessories/headphones-in-ear

They are just like those Sennheisers.

[shafropuff]

Sennheisers make my ears burn for some reason...

I find Shure to be the best when it comes to noise isolation.

[charlesr]

What did you get in the end?

[Daragon]

Went for the Ultimate Ears Super fi 5. Should be arriving today or weekend hopefully.

Have seen far too many youtube reviews praising them so took the plunge. Did think about those HMV ones you linked to, just to try out, but as they looked very much like the pair which were packaged with my Galaxy S I decided against it.

Almost went for the Goldrings until I heard they're extremely leaky, and as they'd be most likely connected to my FiiO amp for volume and bass boosting I wouldn't want to be Mr unpopular on the train with the annoying 'chunes!

[smouty]

They get a good writeup on headfi who are always hyper-picky