MarkLeininger
Platinum Member
Does anyone have any experience with a combination hearing protector/radio? There's 3 or 4 brands I've seen that range in price from $50-$200.
hearing protector/radio
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Tdog
Platinum Member
I have the Worktunes variety - - works pretty good on FM. Not too comfortable when I wear a straw hat & - - a liitle warm here in summer. Works well over a ball cap, however. There is a rather long thread on this topic about a year or so ago. You can spend plenty when you start looking at earphones that cancel out the noise.
Overall, I'm happy with what I have, but they are not perfect.
Overall, I'm happy with what I have, but they are not perfect.
KennyV
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Mark,
I’ve never used a combination radio noise cancellation.
I have a Sony noise cancellation headset that I plug a walkman in… It works great cuts outside noise a lot. I use these whenever using a non cab tractor… /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Sony around $150. Boise also has a set around the same price… KennyV.
I’ve never used a combination radio noise cancellation.
I have a Sony noise cancellation headset that I plug a walkman in… It works great cuts outside noise a lot. I use these whenever using a non cab tractor… /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Sony around $150. Boise also has a set around the same price… KennyV.
tillerkiller
Silver Member
Sharp E2C Earplug/hi-end headphones. The _HOLY GRAIL_ of hearing protection and stereo reproduction.
Shure E2C
About $99 for just the headphones. You cannot hear _anything_ with these on. NOTHING. Well, maybe a little, but not much. I have a pair and these are unbelievable. Throw your stereo speakers in the trash unbelievable. They also don't come out until you take them out. They loop over the back of your head so the cord stays out of harms way.
I kinda like them.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Shure E2C
About $99 for just the headphones. You cannot hear _anything_ with these on. NOTHING. Well, maybe a little, but not much. I have a pair and these are unbelievable. Throw your stereo speakers in the trash unbelievable. They also don't come out until you take them out. They loop over the back of your head so the cord stays out of harms way.
I kinda like them.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Moon
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I"m another happy work tunes owner. As stated above they fit okay over a ball cap. I can hear the mower / tractor with them on, but i kinda like that. I have a belt that slips on occasion, so if the tone of the mower changes or if i hit something i hear it. I feel more comfortable hearing some of the engine / mower noise. Work Tunes cost about 55 bucks with shipping from harbor freight.
Moon of Ohio
Moon of Ohio
Dargo
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I own several pair of noise cancelling headphones. I love my music as well as listening to audio books when I travel. I have a pair of the Sure E2C ear buds and they seem about the same, but do not have as much bass as, the Sony MDR-NC11's I have. If you like the ear bud (in the ear) style, the Sure E5's make the E2c's sound like a tinny out of focus am radio. The problem is that the E5's are a wee bit pricey.
I personally have found that I just am not comfortable with any of the "in the ear" style headphones. Besides all of the ear bud earphones being uncomfortable after a few hours, they do not do that great of a job of sound reproduction. Because of the inherent limited size of the sound driver, you seem to get most all midrange sound with some treble. After spending plenty of money on both, I feel you have to have the over the ear sets for that. I have a pair of Sony MDR-NC20's that do a good job for the price. However, they do not compare to the Bose Quiet Comfort 2's. The Bose QC2's are really not that expensive either compared to the comparable sounding Sure E5's. I can honestly say that the Bose QC2's are by far the best on the market. You can get a set for about $250 to $275. The Sure E5's will cost you well over $500 for a similar quality of sound and noise cancellation.
From this post, you can tell that I've spent quite a bit of money on noise cancelling headphones. If price is the deciding factor, I'd go with the Sony MDR-NC20's. If you want the ear bud style, the Sure or Sony's sound the same. I guess I prefer the Sony's because I gave the Sure's to my son. However, for me, I'd have saved a lot of money if I would have just gone out and bought the Bose Quiet Comfort 2's to start with. They really show that the others lack in treble and bass. In the same surroundings, the QC2's also dampen the ambient noise much better, and they really are not that much more expensive; especially after you buy 3 or 4 sets of cheaper ones just to find that you don't like them. The next time you walk through the first class area on an airplane, just look and you'll see that nearly everyone has the Bose Quiet Comfort 2's on.
With all of those that I've mentioned, you have to have a Walkman or other sound source. I'm yet to find a radio/noise cancellation setup together that is worth my money.
I personally have found that I just am not comfortable with any of the "in the ear" style headphones. Besides all of the ear bud earphones being uncomfortable after a few hours, they do not do that great of a job of sound reproduction. Because of the inherent limited size of the sound driver, you seem to get most all midrange sound with some treble. After spending plenty of money on both, I feel you have to have the over the ear sets for that. I have a pair of Sony MDR-NC20's that do a good job for the price. However, they do not compare to the Bose Quiet Comfort 2's. The Bose QC2's are really not that expensive either compared to the comparable sounding Sure E5's. I can honestly say that the Bose QC2's are by far the best on the market. You can get a set for about $250 to $275. The Sure E5's will cost you well over $500 for a similar quality of sound and noise cancellation.
From this post, you can tell that I've spent quite a bit of money on noise cancelling headphones. If price is the deciding factor, I'd go with the Sony MDR-NC20's. If you want the ear bud style, the Sure or Sony's sound the same. I guess I prefer the Sony's because I gave the Sure's to my son. However, for me, I'd have saved a lot of money if I would have just gone out and bought the Bose Quiet Comfort 2's to start with. They really show that the others lack in treble and bass. In the same surroundings, the QC2's also dampen the ambient noise much better, and they really are not that much more expensive; especially after you buy 3 or 4 sets of cheaper ones just to find that you don't like them. The next time you walk through the first class area on an airplane, just look and you'll see that nearly everyone has the Bose Quiet Comfort 2's on.
With all of those that I've mentioned, you have to have a Walkman or other sound source. I'm yet to find a radio/noise cancellation setup together that is worth my money.
tillerkiller
Silver Member
Dargo has made some excellent points, and I would like to make some counter points. I have never used active noise cancellation technology, so Dargo has got me there.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you like the ear bud (in the ear) style, )</font> E2C's are not earbuds, they seal into your ear. They stay put. They block sound. Earbuds are not really comparable, so if you have tried earbuds don't think you have tried these.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The problem is that the E5's are a wee bit pricey./quote]
On this we agree! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Did anybody see Usher on the Music Awards last night? Did you see the silver cord running down the back of his neck? E5's, I'm pretty sure. I guess he can afford them. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I personally have found that I just am not comfortable with any of the "in the ear" style headphones. Besides all of the ear bud earphones being uncomfortable after a few hours, they do not do that great of a job of sound reproduction. )</font>
The in-ear style is all I can stand. Headphones fall off when you are chopping wood, tree trimming, looking around behind you while mowing, etc. Once you get used used to in-ear phones (They do go _inside_ your ear, some people don't like this) they are the only way to go. And they don't fall out. Ask Usher if you don't beleive me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Bose QC2's are really not that expensive either compared to the comparable sounding Sure E5's. I can honestly say that the Bose QC2's are by far the best on the market. You can get a set for about $250 to $275. The Sure E5's will cost you well over $500 for a similar quality of sound and noise cancellation. )</font>
Check Ebay, they are all cheaper there, and don't discount the E2C for the purpose we are talking about here. I am not a fan of active noise cancellation, it can introduce artifacts into the music that were not there. Note that I have not actually used active headphones, but I read it on the internet and I believe everything that I read on the internet so it has to be true! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( With all of those that I've mentioned, you have to have a Walkman or other sound source. I'm yet to find a radio/noise cancellation setup together that is worth my money. )</font>
This is completely the opposite of what I have found with the E2C. I could not disagree with you more on this point.
One other hand, If you read enough on this subject you will see some people rave about E2C and some rave about Sony MDR-NC11, what I think is happening is that some people's ear canal/inner ear acoustics are different. Or maybe their expectations are different. I would not trade my E2C for E5's or anything else because my E2C's sound so good to me. Now if I had a deal where I could go back to my E2C's if I wanted them back then heck yes I would try the E5!!!!
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I guess I prefer the Sony's because I gave the Sure's to my son. )</font>
Can I be your son too? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you like the ear bud (in the ear) style, )</font> E2C's are not earbuds, they seal into your ear. They stay put. They block sound. Earbuds are not really comparable, so if you have tried earbuds don't think you have tried these.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The problem is that the E5's are a wee bit pricey./quote]
On this we agree! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Did anybody see Usher on the Music Awards last night? Did you see the silver cord running down the back of his neck? E5's, I'm pretty sure. I guess he can afford them. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I personally have found that I just am not comfortable with any of the "in the ear" style headphones. Besides all of the ear bud earphones being uncomfortable after a few hours, they do not do that great of a job of sound reproduction. )</font>
The in-ear style is all I can stand. Headphones fall off when you are chopping wood, tree trimming, looking around behind you while mowing, etc. Once you get used used to in-ear phones (They do go _inside_ your ear, some people don't like this) they are the only way to go. And they don't fall out. Ask Usher if you don't beleive me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Bose QC2's are really not that expensive either compared to the comparable sounding Sure E5's. I can honestly say that the Bose QC2's are by far the best on the market. You can get a set for about $250 to $275. The Sure E5's will cost you well over $500 for a similar quality of sound and noise cancellation. )</font>
Check Ebay, they are all cheaper there, and don't discount the E2C for the purpose we are talking about here. I am not a fan of active noise cancellation, it can introduce artifacts into the music that were not there. Note that I have not actually used active headphones, but I read it on the internet and I believe everything that I read on the internet so it has to be true! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( With all of those that I've mentioned, you have to have a Walkman or other sound source. I'm yet to find a radio/noise cancellation setup together that is worth my money. )</font>
This is completely the opposite of what I have found with the E2C. I could not disagree with you more on this point.
One other hand, If you read enough on this subject you will see some people rave about E2C and some rave about Sony MDR-NC11, what I think is happening is that some people's ear canal/inner ear acoustics are different. Or maybe their expectations are different. I would not trade my E2C for E5's or anything else because my E2C's sound so good to me. Now if I had a deal where I could go back to my E2C's if I wanted them back then heck yes I would try the E5!!!!
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I guess I prefer the Sony's because I gave the Sure's to my son. )</font>
Can I be your son too? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Dargo
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tillerkiller, we actually agree on the subject. Either I phrased it wrong, or you misinterpreted the part about the "setup together". Yes, I phrased it improperly. What I mean't was that I have not ever tried an actual setup where the radio was built into the headphones/earbuds that sounded good. For example, one single unit that provides the source as well as the sound reproduction. You know, the type where the tuner is in one earphone. Maybe a good one exists, but I have not tried it, and I've wasted plenty on this area.
Perhaps it is not correct, but I use the word ear buds and in the ear as the same. Both the Shure E2C's and the Sony MDR-NC11's fall out of my ears. That drives me nuts. Even though they come with three different size inserts, the medium size falls out and the large size feels like I have a prybar in my ear.
You almost had me excited for a minute. I looked on eBay and thought I saw a pair of the E5's for $250. I was going to buy them for that! Well, that was until I saw that they were used and the bidding was still going. I'm not big on buying something used that goes into my ear. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif That just doesn't sound good to me.
I suppose that comparing the E2C's to the Bose QC2's isn't a fair comparison since the E2C's are under $100. The Bose QC2's are not in the same price range. To me, the Bose Quiet Comfort 2's sound just like the Stax SRS-2020's I have at home. I'd say that the E5's I'd heard would compare with the Stax. And, yes, I know Stax has some 4040's that are awesome. However, when they are about $1500, that sort of takes them out of my range. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif It's just my preference to not have things in my ears.
Okay, I didn't watch the music awards last night. Who is Usher, or is it a group like Pink Floyd, and not a single person? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Perhaps it is not correct, but I use the word ear buds and in the ear as the same. Both the Shure E2C's and the Sony MDR-NC11's fall out of my ears. That drives me nuts. Even though they come with three different size inserts, the medium size falls out and the large size feels like I have a prybar in my ear.
You almost had me excited for a minute. I looked on eBay and thought I saw a pair of the E5's for $250. I was going to buy them for that! Well, that was until I saw that they were used and the bidding was still going. I'm not big on buying something used that goes into my ear. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif That just doesn't sound good to me.
I suppose that comparing the E2C's to the Bose QC2's isn't a fair comparison since the E2C's are under $100. The Bose QC2's are not in the same price range. To me, the Bose Quiet Comfort 2's sound just like the Stax SRS-2020's I have at home. I'd say that the E5's I'd heard would compare with the Stax. And, yes, I know Stax has some 4040's that are awesome. However, when they are about $1500, that sort of takes them out of my range. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif It's just my preference to not have things in my ears.
Okay, I didn't watch the music awards last night. Who is Usher, or is it a group like Pink Floyd, and not a single person? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
OP
MarkLeininger
Platinum Member
Thanks for info. I can't wear earbud style, it gives me a headache. I didn't realize a noise cancellation pair that plugs into a walkman was available. That sounds like a good solution to me because I travel a fair bit and it would be nice to wear on the plane. I'm a little reluctant to buy the Bose because I don't want to trash something that costs $250 when I drive under a low branch or wack myself in the head with a hammer. But the sony seems like a good compromise and I already have a walkman. The only thing I like better about the worktunes is not having a cord running from my head to the walkman because I know I'll get that tangled on something. Maybe I'll order the worktunes and try them for a day or so then return them if I don't like the sound.
thanks again
thanks again