Comments on: Bose QuietComfort, Audio-Technica ATH-A900, and Grado SR60: Tale of Three Headphones http://blog.cheesefingers.com/2007/09/28/bose-quietcomfort-audio-technica-ath-a900-and-grado-sr60-tale-of-three-headphones/ Practical thoughts fueled by divine orange powder Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:08:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: ila http://blog.cheesefingers.com/2007/09/28/bose-quietcomfort-audio-technica-ath-a900-and-grado-sr60-tale-of-three-headphones/#comment-11882 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:52:34 +0000 http://blog.cheesefingers.com/2007/09/28/bose-quietcomfort-audio-technica-ath-a900-and-grado-sr60-tale-of-three-headphones/#comment-11882 Um. I think you are messed up. ila out Um. I think you are messed up.

ila out

]]> by: Richa http://blog.cheesefingers.com/2007/09/28/bose-quietcomfort-audio-technica-ath-a900-and-grado-sr60-tale-of-three-headphones/#comment-10990 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:59:49 +0000 http://blog.cheesefingers.com/2007/09/28/bose-quietcomfort-audio-technica-ath-a900-and-grado-sr60-tale-of-three-headphones/#comment-10990 A bit late on this one, but here are my two cents: I feel that one needs both earbuds and cans for a complete listening experience; earbuds for their obvious portability, and cans for comfort when listening at home. Now, I'm no audiophile, but I've done some investing in all of my headphones, so while they are not the best of the best, they are quite good for their price—each under $100. My earbuds are Etymotics ER-6is, which I love love love. They're earbuds with an amazing response, and they sit deep in your ear to block out almost all external noise, which is worth its weight in gold when you're trying to sleep on an airplane. Noise canceling headphones like the Bose QuietComfort—or my pair, branded PlaneQuiet, with the same noise canceling capabilities of the QCs at less than half the price—are great to reduce ambient noise like engine hum on an airplane, but they do nothing to block out voices, and in fact make them clearer. Anyone who's been on an airplane with a screaming child will know this is not a desirable outcome. The ER-6is, by contrast, are small, lightweight, don't need batteries or to be switched on, and block out external noise like nobody's business. It is a little weird wearing them at first, but you quickly get used to them. Earbuds in general are not comfortable when listening for long periods of time1, and while the ER-6is are pretty good for 5 or 6 hours, after a while my ears start to itch. Which is where the cans come in. When you are listening to music all day long, like I like to do at work, there's just no substitute for a pair of large over-the-ear headphones; comfort and great sound combined. My over-the-ear headphones are Sennheiser HD280Pros, and I am very happy with them. While they do put a bit of pressure on your head to achieve their snug seal, they are supremely comfortable all day long, and have great clarity and response for classical, jazz and electronic music, all of which I listen to on a regular basis. 1 In fact, I can't wear regular earbuds for more than a half an hour without my ear cartilage hurting. The in-ear headphones are really the only ones I can wear for long periods of time. A bit late on this one, but here are my two cents:

I feel that one needs both earbuds and cans for a complete listening experience; earbuds for their obvious portability, and cans for comfort when listening at home. Now, I’m no audiophile, but I’ve done some investing in all of my headphones, so while they are not the best of the best, they are quite good for their price—each under $100.

My earbuds are Etymotics ER-6is, which I love love love. They’re earbuds with an amazing response, and they sit deep in your ear to block out almost all external noise, which is worth its weight in gold when you’re trying to sleep on an airplane. Noise canceling headphones like the Bose QuietComfort—or my pair, branded PlaneQuiet, with the same noise canceling capabilities of the QCs at less than half the price—are great to reduce ambient noise like engine hum on an airplane, but they do nothing to block out voices, and in fact make them clearer. Anyone who’s been on an airplane with a screaming child will know this is not a desirable outcome. The ER-6is, by contrast, are small, lightweight, don’t need batteries or to be switched on, and block out external noise like nobody’s business. It is a little weird wearing them at first, but you quickly get used to them. Earbuds in general are not comfortable when listening for long periods of time1, and while the ER-6is are pretty good for 5 or 6 hours, after a while my ears start to itch.

Which is where the cans come in. When you are listening to music all day long, like I like to do at work, there’s just no substitute for a pair of large over-the-ear headphones; comfort and great sound combined. My over-the-ear headphones are Sennheiser HD280Pros, and I am very happy with them. While they do put a bit of pressure on your head to achieve their snug seal, they are supremely comfortable all day long, and have great clarity and response for classical, jazz and electronic music, all of which I listen to on a regular basis.

1 In fact, I can’t wear regular earbuds for more than a half an hour without my ear cartilage hurting. The in-ear headphones are really the only ones I can wear for long periods of time.

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