So my fiancee is interested in some noise cancelling headphones to use while in the lab or while studying, where she doesn't want to listen to music but would like to remove some of the vocal clutter and ambient noise from the situation. If money were no object I'd just go with a higher-end pair like the Bose QC15 or QC3 but I'm not trying to spend $300+ here.

Recommendations in the $150-or-below price range would be welcome. Also, she does not prefer the big over-ear headphones. I've seen some earbuds that claim to have active noise cancellation--do those work worth a damn? Or would I be better off with a lightweight on-ear setup? I'm aware that the physical setup of the pads on the over-ear models are going to be helpful in passively blocking noise along with the active setup, but I'm working with the preferences given to me here.

Thanks for any input.

[Edited on July 10, 2012 at 9:48 AM. Reason : $]

7/10/2012 9:48:03 AM

I have the older model but the Sony noise canceling headphones are the best and most comfortable I've ever used. My wife almost got punched because I didn't hear her calling my name from five feet away while I was listening to a podcast in my home office and that was without the active cancel enabled. If you want true noise canceling then you need the over ear design.

http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666374257

If she just wants quiet without the music then earplugs would be cheaper or a Nascar headset.

7/10/2012 1:16:58 PM

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OMKR8E/ref=asc_df_B000OMKR8E2090816?smid=AGNVO1SI8BPQA&tag=dealtmp649262-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395129&creativeASIN=B000OMKR8E

I bought these 3 years ago. I use them every day at work and take them on planes regularly. I've been pretty happy with the quality, and they have shown no wear and tear after 3 years.

[Edited on July 10, 2012 at 1:41 PM. Reason : not sure why amazon sells the same model for different prices]

7/10/2012 1:40:05 PM

Note that the earbuds aren't going to give you the same quality of noise cancellation as a full ear cover, but these are two that I know of.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SE-NC31C-K-Headphones-Black/dp/B0050G38L2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341943230&sr=8-1&keywords=pioneer+noise+cancelling+earbuds

So these are the ones I use when I travel. They're good because they neutralize engine noises while still letting you hear amplified human voices (like airport announcements). May not be ideal for your gf's situation, but they've made a huge difference for me on bus and plane trips.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-ANC23-QuietPoint--ear/dp/B004K09H32/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341943230&sr=8-2&keywords=pioneer+noise+cancelling+earbuds

My parents use these, and they seem to be pretty popular. They like them, but I can't make a claim as to how effective they are.

http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-IMAGE-S4-Noise-Isolating-Headphones/dp/B001V9LPT4/ref=pd_cp_e_3

Probably worth looking into these as well.

7/10/2012 2:06:13 PM

Any recommendations from someone using headphones while mountain biking? I have some skull candy ones, but can't seem to keep the wind noise out.

7/10/2012 3:07:51 PM

If they aren't going to be used for listening to music just get some earplugs, especially if she wants them to be in ear vs over ear

7/11/2012 10:38:41 PM

Trying to have both available, considering the only headphones she currently has are a pair of $20-ish buds, so something more comfortable/quality is desirable. Might just get an over-ear pair and return them if she can't stand them.

7/12/2012 8:49:18 AM

You may want to try a simple and free white noise app until you decide what to go with. I travel to the other side of the globe with some regularity and thought about buying some high dollar noise cancelling headphones, but I get by just fine with a couple of free iPhone apps and don't have to worry about charging or packing separate equipment.

Of course it's apples and oranges, but I thought I'd mention it nonetheless.

7/12/2012 8:54:22 AM

bttt to post this link.
http://gizmodo.com/5944636/the-best-noise+canceling-headphones

9/19/2012 11:54:19 PM

Bose is great because the QC15 would have two mics to detect noise.

The better route from there if you don't want to spend the big bucks is Sony. It'll about half the price and it will hold relatively well.

9/23/2012 12:45:17 PM