Reliable, Effective Noise-Cancelling Headphones without the High Price Tag?

Hi Michael!

Thanks for answering.

For me the pain hyperacusis is newish, so everything hurts give or take :') If headphones even over the ear noise canceling headphones make tentative hypoacusis worse, how do people fly, or use public transportation?

I was told by my audiologist as long as I use them for a short amount of time and it very low volume I generally ( pain hyperacusis aside, let's theorize that that continues to fade away) should be able to tolerate it well. Do you feel like this is misguided?

 

HI @PolarSun

I do not agree with the advice that your Audiologist has told you. Since you have asked for my opinion I will give it but please remember the following are my own personal views.

I have corresponded and counselled quite a few people that have "Noise induced tinnitus". I do not believe anyone that has NIT should use headphones even at low volume and especially if they have hyperacusis, as both are at risk of becoming worse.

I used to counsel someone that was told by her Audiologist, to use headphones at a "low volume" and this will help treat the hyperacusis. Unfortunately, the woman's tinnitus and hyperacusis got worse and she telephones me one evening crying because her ears hurt so much.

It is up to you if you want to continue using headphones as you have been advised but I do not think it is a wise choice. Your Audiologist may indeed be an very good health professional in the field or Audiology but may not have any experience with tinnitus. Meaning he/She has never experienced it. And if they have I suspect it is very low and manageable. The last thing you want to risk is making your tinnitus and hyperacusis worse by using headphones, so please be careful.

I wish you well
Michael

 

Thanks for all the responses.

Unless there's an actual comparison with specified equipment, we can't just make a blanket statement that the cheaper ones aren't good enough. One budget headphone brand may be garbage but another one, a gem. On the other hand, while some premium models are top-notch, others are overpriced, and underwhelming. For casual use, the comfort, quality and prices of TaoTronics N/C headphones are a very good value. Again, I do not use them for music listening, only for the noise cancelling.

Budget N/C headphone shootout - the TaoTronics (not my exact ones but a similar model) came in first place.

Best Budget Headphones With Noise Cancelling -...

This reviewer of a pair of $80 TaoTrotronics (not my exact pair but a similar model) said that they were better than $300 BEATS, with "much better sound and they're a third of the cost".

I Can't Believe These Are Only $80! :...

 

So the NC headphones were more effective on blocking out the subway noise than earmuffs?

I am thinking it should be best for me to go to a store specialized in audio and trying several models of headphones from different brands. I wouldnt mind spending 300 bucks on headphones if they are great quality and sound is good. I am going to use them to listen to music and maybe audiobooks. I guess it is hard to get an idea of NC features and sound quality without listening to them..

 

I was looking at the SONY NC headphones too. I havent tried them yet.. I own a couple of headphones already, all without the NC feature. I have Bose headphones, that to me sound kind of flat, without enhancing high or low frequencies, and I like them, sound is awesome. I also like the sound of Grado headphones, which is less balanced; they make the high frequencies brighter.

How would you describe the sound of the SONY ones? Is it flat sound or sound that enhaces high or low frequencies?

 

The N/C headphones that I bought seemingly are better at blocking the subway noise, than earmuffs. The earmuffs have a cavernous and muffled sound when wearing them, the active N/C ones do not. This is the one I have.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N68FTRW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=

 

Has anyone tried these NC headphones from Sennheiser?

https://www.amazon.es/Sennheiser-HD...d=1559857997&s=gateway&sr=8-7#customerReviews​

 

I haven't tried the Bose ones so I don't have much to compare it too. I use the Sony ones mainly for NC, I think the sound sounds fine, and I am not an audiophile so I guess to me I'd not be able to describe it very well. It sounds balanced to me but I think looking at some reviews would be most accurate as I am very bad at this haha.

 

The TaoTronics 2019 model is on sale again, at Amazon Prime for $79.99, which is an excellent value for basic entry-level N/C headphones.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07N68FTRW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1