Help me choose - wi...
 

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[Closed] Help me choose - wireless noise-cancelling headphones - Sennheiser or AKG?

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I am on the horns of a dilemma - which set of wireless, NC headphones do I choose?

I should say at this stage the very expensive Bose et al are not under consideration...

I was initially going to buy some Sennheiser HD4.50 headphones, but they were out of stock with John Lewis. I have a £50 JL voucher to spend. They're £119. Have seen B-stock cheaper elsewhere but no voucher.

I started looking elsewhere, and found the AKG N60NC wireless. They're £200, but I have found some places have B-stock at around £140. Couldn't use the vulture.

I've tried both; each sounded good to me (the AKG gets plaudits for the audio but TBH I couldn't really tell the difference in the short test periods).

Both seemed to fit fine; typical uses will be on the (walking) commute and in the office when trying to concentrate/block out colleagues.

They'll in rhe main be used with an iPhone (so I know I won't get the best audio quality via aptx).

Any comments?


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 11:14 am
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No-one?


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 12:22 pm
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I don't have the Sennheiser HD4.50 headphones but I have the Momentum noise cancelling over ear wireless headphones and they have been excellent in terms of quality/ battery life. I use them on all the flights I take and around the house (cancelling out the Dancing/Jungle/Talent/Voice programmes the family listen too). They seem to make good products.


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 12:30 pm
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I’ve got the AKG ones, and really like them, they do a decent job of blocking out/dulling background noise (helped when I was in hospital) and sound really good too.


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 12:30 pm
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No experience of Sennheiser but would certainly recommend AKG. Had mine about three years now and no complaints.


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 12:31 pm
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My experience is thus:

Sennheiser - good but carried and popular due to brand name.

AKG - just brilliant. Build quality, VFM and reproduction. I'm a fan from experience.


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 12:40 pm
 DezB
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Sennheiser every time for me. Not heard a bad set of Sennheisers. Owned one pair of AKGs and they were seriously shit. (Might've been a duff set according to the love they get!!)


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 12:42 pm
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No experience of the Sennheiser, but I have the AKGs and love them, highly recommended!


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 1:30 pm
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Thanks everyone - no closer to making a decision but good to see they're both rated!


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 1:42 pm
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I have the sony mdr-1000x, i find them great. Often under rated. Can sometimes be picked up on discount. Think i paid 199 on Black Fri.


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 1:55 pm
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Sony 1000 XM2s can be had for a decent price now.


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 2:04 pm
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No point me commenting cos Iv'e got Bose QC15's. 🙂


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 7:37 pm
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I saw Bose QC25s on Amazon for £140.


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 10:05 pm
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Sony WH-1000XM2 is the answer, according to "experts". V happy with mine


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 10:18 pm
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They’ll in rhe main be used with an iPhone (so I know I won’t get the best audio quality via aptx).

Unless all your music is Lossless, I doubt very much indeed that you’ll notice any difference at all. AAC files at 320Kb are pretty much indistinguishable from Lossless, I’ve done direct comparisons just to satisfy my curiosity and see if it was worth ripping everything in Lossless, and even using a £350 pair of UltimateEars TripleFi 10 IEM’s I couldn’t hear a difference worth noting.
But then, I’m in my mid-sixties with forty-odd years of gig-going behind me...


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 10:40 pm
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I got myself a set of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 noise cancelling headphones back in December. Cost 130€ at the airport.

Used them in the plane to Brussels and then the train on the way home.

I like.

Good, deep sound. Noise cancelling works well, but some say there are better noise cancellers out there from Sennheiser and Bose.


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 11:31 pm
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I've had a pair of Sennheiser PXC 300 for 12 years now. They've seen off everything I've tried since.


 
Posted : 26/02/2019 11:57 pm
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AC files at 320Kb are pretty much indistinguishable from Lossless

Hmm, looking at the specs, the Sennheisers don't support AAC either. That might be the clincher...

I’ve had a pair of Sennheiser PXC 300 for 12 years now

Neither wireless nor noise cancelling!

I like. Good, deep sound. Noise cancelling works well, but some say there are better noise cancellers out there from Sennheiser and Bose.

I think Bose is out due to cost. Good to hear about the Sennheiser sound.

Thanks all.


 
Posted : 27/02/2019 9:53 am
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"Neither wireless nor noise cancelling!"

They're definitely noise cancelling, I'm sat with them on now 🙂

I can't see the attraction of wireless either, but that's neither here or there 🙂


 
Posted : 27/02/2019 10:09 am
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I bought my wife Bose QC35 11s in a John Lewis sale for £285. With a £50 voucher, that's £235 next time they are on sale.

They are simply perfect; comfortable, intuitive controls, rich sound and extremely effective NC with no hiss. Battery life is excellent too. Unless the cheaper models you are considering are without compromise, save up for the 35s.


 
Posted : 27/02/2019 10:15 am
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I  got Sennheiser M2s for under 200 quid.  Used on flights (comfy for 12h), around the house, trains, coaches. Sound great, noise cancelling always on,  well built (so far), battery life excellent.


 
Posted : 27/02/2019 10:17 am
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Bose QC35 IIs are only £223 on Spanish Amazon (weird I know!). Can be bought via your UK amazon account.

Brexit flutters yesterday made them a few quid cheaper yesterday 🙂

https://www.amazon.es/Bose-QuietComfort-35-Auriculares-inal%C3%A1mbricos/dp/B0756CYWWD?th=1


 
Posted : 27/02/2019 10:42 am
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Sorry for the thread highjack but it is related.

Most of these noise cancelling headphones are now wireless using bluetooth. One of the obvious places where noise cancelling is great is on a plane. Does anyone know if you can connect to the in flight entertainment by bluetooth?

In answer to the original question, i'm not much help as I have a pair of B&W PX. I would recommend them but they seem to be holding a high price


 
Posted : 27/02/2019 12:13 pm
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Does anyone know if you can connect to the in flight entertainment by bluetooth?

I have never seen it. You could always use an adaptor that goes in the jack?
There are also airlines that ban Bluetooth completely.


 
Posted : 27/02/2019 12:20 pm

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