I've always loved your reviews, Tyll, and I reference InnerFidelity for just about everything involving headphones. But you should really get yourself some kind of external mic, even if just a USB one. The video quality is fine, but the audio of your camera could obviously be improved.
Awesome review! I think the idea that noise cancelling headphones like these give you a quieter listening experience, and as a result can sound better then comparable non ANC headphones is so true.
I bought the new Soundlink on-ear headphones recently. The sound quality is fantastic, on par with my Logitech UE9000s. But, they're much lighter & compact, the finish is more durable, the battery life much longer, and the styling better (nicely understated). Bose has a bad rep, but honestly my Soundlink on-ears are the best Bluetooth on/over-ear headphones I've ever tried or owned, and I've tried most of the premium models...
I don't know if U abused them, but it floors me how people complain of headphones breaking a lot, @ least the 1's I use, like the old Auvio Pearl bud design. They R supposedly going 2 break quickly, but I've been using my one main pair constantly for years & it has no problems. I've even accidentally dropped them a few times, hard on 2 hard flooring, but always TRY 2 treat them like they cost a fortune, because they sound so GR8 & it's hard 2 find N E thing that sound as good 2 replace them. I have lots of backup pairs of course. They're cheap as fuk. Whatever phones U own, don't stuff them in a random container or abuse the cord. Drape it softly & carefully. Don't pull out in-ears by teh cord, or yank things from the plug by the cord, or coil up the cord all the time, etc. B especially careful not 2 ever kink the cords where they go into N E sort of junction, as that is always where they will fail.
Actually I'm extremely careful with headphones, the Bose QC15's ear pads simulated leather surface just started to flake off after a few years of use. Perhaps it was just climate changes etc.
This is why I prefer felt. Not for comfort, nothing beats a soft leather/pleather for comfort in my opinion, but they just do not last on the long haul.
Marc Axelrod I am not crazy about HE400i either, especially for $500. More interested in HE560 which was compared to HD800. However it would be interesting to see HE400i measurements also. Just curious
Well I finally got got my hands on the new Philips Fidelio NC 1 portable on ear headphone which has equal quality (if not better) of ANC PLUS a really decent sound signature which sounds the same with the ANC switched on or off. So basically it has great ANC and a really enjoyable listening experience all round. About time Bose had some real competition and boy, should they be worried. I would highly recommend these over the Bose.
Philips have just released a Fidelio NC1 on ear active noise cancelling headphone (currently only in Europe atm), which according to reviews is far superior to the Bose QC's in both NC and audio quality. Any chance Tyll your friends at Philips can get you a review pair soon? Could be a winner.
Hi there. I'm thinking to order QC25 for myself to listen music on ipod. But. I'm yet not sure which headphones are good for listening music + noise cancelling. Please help me to chose the best headphones. Thanks in advance
they are very good headphones, but.... I have to send them back to the store.... why??? headaches :( and dizziness .... I dont know why, but I didint feel good with the NC ... I feel sad because I want those very much ...
where did u come up with how long these last? me, my family and some of my friends have been using Bose headphones for years and never have we had a pair crap out on us in a short amount of time. my oldest pair is about 7 years old.
Had this for a few days... But returned it in the end I would say the noise cancellation is top notch, best for flight travellers. However, sound quality is just not convincing... Lots of headphones above $150 are better sound than this...
If you have to get Beats get the Solo 2. The rest are absolutely horrible, the sound quality is always bass heavy (muddy bass as well) and thick sounding. If you want the good quality headphones stay away from big brands( ie Bose and Beats ) as they all use most of the money on the marketing. 25% headphone and 75% marketing. Get A-Audio Legacy headphones or V-modas. They all look amazing and have better sound quality.
Sennheiser has their Momentum and Urbanite versions too and they look nice to my eyes especially the Momentum. Yeah to some it may look bad but I like it.
Dark_Soul yah.i agree with you that beats are over price.i only got the executive because it was on sale more than 60%.so it wasn't really a bad deal..anyway I will try checking those headphones if I see them ..thanks for the recommendation dark☺
I tried the QC 3 & 15, & the 3 isolate better. The 15 were tizzy & warm with a 'scooped' sound & resonant enclosure causing a bozy character, & isolated much WORSE than the QC3, which R smaller & cheaper, & sound better 2, with their muddy sound, but @ least not annoying & tizzy & less canceling than like the 15 is. I wager the 25 is similar. What's even funnier is none of these so-called 'noise canceling' headphones give isolation better than even the cheapest 'junk' in-ear phones =)) U know, with the rubber tips U stick in your ears. Those isolate like crazy, even though it isn't the main feature of the design (the best being they can get amazing bass if made right). If U want the best Bose noise canceling version, get the 3, not the 25. B warned if U have a large head they will not fit well. I could barely fit them on pushing down on my head. I'm not some fuking 5 foot Chinese slave. They need 2 design this krap 4 real humans.
OMFG the Quiet comfort 15 was on his 'Wall Of Fame'? LOL! =)) The Koss Porta Pro sound about 10 million X better than the QC 15. The proper thing 2 say if there was no better open ear noise canceler than the QC15 is 2 tell people NO GOOD OVER EAR NOISE CANCELING DESIGN HEADPHONE EXIST THAT CAN COMPETE WITH IN EAR MONITORS. Just because somebody makes 'the best cow turd sandwich' doesn't mean there is such a thing as a good cow turd sandwich. They ALL suk!!! The objective is SOUND QUALITY, so if a particular 'form factor' doesn't offer it, TELL THEM WHAT DOES!! B helpful, rather than ARTIFICIALLY LIMITING PEOPLE'S CHOICES with arbitrary 'form factor category'. Rank them by SOUND QUALITY!! Fux sake! U may as well try 2 tell people 'what is the best type of Linux OS if I want 2 run Windows programs. WTF? Run a fuking Micro$oft OS, like XP! =)) They will never stop support 4 it, & never have. They just SAY they have, but it's NOT TRUE! Y? Because all businesses need it 4 actual work, not just 2 dik around. It runs 90+% of ATM machines, & all kinds of factory production systems, interfaces 4 running ships & power plants & countless other things. It's very flexible & runs nearly N E software U want. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME with Linux if U want 'Windows program flexibility' =)) DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME with over ear 'noise cancelers' if the QC 15 is the best of breed. TRY A DIFFERENT BREED THAT IS SUPERIOR, LIKE IN EARS =) I don't like sticking stuff in my ear either. The key 2 SOLVE that problem is 2 get the right TIPS!! The most comfortable R the big soft Maxell or TDK varieties. If N E 1 wants model numbers E-Mail me @ 'balkanguy at live dot com', etc. The best mid size R several from Radio Shack (particular models). U also need 2 switch tip type & wearing style (deep or further out) now & then as your ear will CHANGE SHAPE INSIDE in response 2 pressure, slightly decreasing in size 2 compensate 4 pressure after initially increasing from the pressure, etc. It's dynamic, like people who wear those 'nose stretcher stickies' 2 help reduce snoring get divits in their nose ater a while because the flesh sucks in trying 2 balance the pulling strain against the nose. When U stop or change methods, it returns 2 balance. This is part of what drives people away from in-ears. Wearing them is sort of complicated, & nobody puts accurate details about it online. Maybe I should =) Basically, when a tip becomes uncomfortable or no longer seals easily, TRY A DIFFERENT TIP! & that tip will NOT remain the perfect tip 4 U. U will have a SELECTION of 'best tips' that will CHANGE depending on the current shape of your inner ear! Nobody will need more than 2 or 3 really. U can just bgo back & fourth between large & medium (deep or further out) so it is pushing against a different part of the inner ear so the areas can have time 2 return 2 shape, or 'homeostasis' as the medicals call it. The frequency U will need 2 change depends on if U wear them a lot or seldom also. If U only wear tips a couple hours a day, U will never need 2 change probably, 'cuz the ear will have time 2 return 2 exactly where it was. I watch like 3 movies a day on tips so change more frequently.
I like the way he reviews headphones, straight forward, truth and no regrets! :D
I've always loved your reviews, Tyll, and I reference InnerFidelity for just about everything involving headphones. But you should really get yourself some kind of external mic, even if just a USB one. The video quality is fine, but the audio of your camera could obviously be improved.
we love sound, as you do. please fix the sound on your videos.
***** if he can afford to buy all these headphones he can fix it
***** I think a lot of them get sent to him for free
***** yeah but if your a bass head like me you'll want something different
Awesome review!
I think the idea that noise cancelling headphones like these give you a quieter listening experience, and as a result can sound better then comparable non ANC headphones is so true.
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the SONY MDR-Z7.
I tried this on store today and wow... totally eliminates noise from outside... im impressed! and decent sounding too
I bought the new Soundlink on-ear headphones recently. The sound quality is fantastic, on par with my Logitech UE9000s. But, they're much lighter & compact, the finish is more durable, the battery life much longer, and the styling better (nicely understated). Bose has a bad rep, but honestly my Soundlink on-ears are the best Bluetooth on/over-ear headphones I've ever tried or owned, and I've tried most of the premium models...
great review. I would need one of these but since im used to studio monitor headphones, i would definetly not stand the mediocre-low sound quality..
I wonder if they fixed the earpads. On prior models, the earpads would simply deteriorate after a couple of years.
Same here, I had to replace them once
I don't know if U abused them, but it floors me how people complain of headphones breaking a lot, @ least the 1's I use, like the old Auvio Pearl bud design. They R supposedly going 2 break quickly, but I've been using my one main pair constantly for years & it has no problems. I've even accidentally dropped them a few times, hard on 2 hard flooring, but always TRY 2 treat them like they cost a fortune, because they sound so GR8 & it's hard 2 find N E thing that sound as good 2 replace them. I have lots of backup pairs of course. They're cheap as fuk. Whatever phones U own, don't stuff them in a random container or abuse the cord. Drape it softly & carefully. Don't pull out in-ears by teh cord, or yank things from the plug by the cord, or coil up the cord all the time, etc. B especially careful not 2 ever kink the cords where they go into N E sort of junction, as that is always where they will fail.
Actually I'm extremely careful with headphones, the Bose QC15's ear pads simulated leather surface just started to flake off after a few years of use. Perhaps it was just climate changes etc.
It was because U did not pay your carbon tax 2 Al Gore & his bankster jew buddies! GLOBAL WARMING KILLED YOUR HEADPHONES! =:-o
This is why I prefer felt. Not for comfort, nothing beats a soft leather/pleather for comfort in my opinion, but they just do not last on the long haul.
Will this help cut out babies crying in airplanes?
Thanks for the review Tyll, I am hoping to see HE400i and HE560 review and measurements soon :)
Marc Axelrod I am not crazy about HE400i either, especially for $500. More interested in HE560 which was compared to HD800. However it would be interesting to see HE400i measurements also. Just curious
only measured HE560 +Marc, I would like to see HE400i measurements. Just a weird headphone...
The microphone he uses makes a lot of background noise.
Use the BTunes plug to make QC25 wireless.
Would you recommend these or the QC20? Is the sound quality superior in the 25s? Or vice versa?
Great Review! You actually convinced me to buy a pair of these.
Well I finally got got my hands on the new Philips Fidelio NC 1 portable on ear headphone which has equal quality (if not better) of ANC PLUS a really decent sound signature which sounds the same with the ANC switched on or off. So basically it has great ANC and a really enjoyable listening experience all round. About time Bose had some real competition and boy, should they be worried. I would highly recommend these over the Bose.
Best info ever heard keep it my man all the best
Philips have just released a Fidelio NC1 on ear active noise cancelling headphone (currently only in Europe atm), which according to reviews is far superior to the Bose QC's in both NC and audio quality. Any chance Tyll your friends at Philips can get you a review pair soon? Could be a winner.
Hi there. I'm thinking to order QC25 for myself to listen music on ipod. But. I'm yet not sure which headphones are good for listening music + noise cancelling. Please help me to chose the best headphones. Thanks in advance
Can you use rechargeable battery ? or because of the V it won't work ?
Thank you. :)
Hey,could u review the B&W p5 series 2?And maybe comparing them to the original one,plz
Hey can you give us an update on your bose qc 20s? How is the battery holding up?
Great video! I've had the QC15's since they came out in 2009, and they're starting to wear out. Maybe this would be a suitable replacement :)
they are very good headphones, but.... I have to send them back to the store.... why???
headaches :( and dizziness .... I dont know why, but I didint feel good with the NC ... I feel sad because I want those very much ...
I love your videos but why is there so much white noise in this?
just process your audio to remove the white noise with a noise remover or add a gate or something
Please review the QC35 - cheers big ears!
Thanks for sharing your videos.
One observation, the sound on your videos has a lot of background noise, and is kind of annoying to listen to.
***** aren't the headphones you mentioned to made to cancel outside noise? The problem is with the noise on the video recording it self.
Could you do the Focal Spirit One S?
does it support windows pc and android device ?
I prefer to not use headphones in very loud environments, and instead pay attention to my surroundings (because loud = stay alert).
Tyll your videos are great, althought you need a better mic...
can you do a review on the bose soundtrue on ear headphones please
Bose Quiet Comfort 25 or V-Moda Crossfade M-100?
i know im late get the v-moda
300$ is a lot for a product that has a 18-24 month lifetime.
where did u come up with how long these last? me, my family and some of my friends have been using Bose headphones for years and never have we had a pair crap out on us in a short amount of time. my oldest pair is about 7 years old.
SwordsHeldHigh My brother's bose qc25 lasted 5 years before one side stopped sounding. It can be fixed thou.
I got mine.
Had this for a few days... But returned it in the end
I would say the noise cancellation is top notch, best for flight travellers.
However, sound quality is just not convincing... Lots of headphones above $150 are better sound than this...
there's a lot of static and pulsing noises
Cool shirt
Can you pls review the beats executive?
If you have to get Beats get the Solo 2. The rest are absolutely horrible, the sound quality is always bass heavy (muddy bass as well) and thick sounding. If you want the good quality headphones stay away from big brands( ie Bose and Beats ) as they all use most of the money on the marketing. 25% headphone and 75% marketing. Get A-Audio Legacy headphones or V-modas. They all look amazing and have better sound quality.
Sennheiser has their Momentum and Urbanite versions too and they look nice to my eyes especially the Momentum. Yeah to some it may look bad but I like it.
Dark_Soul yah.i agree with you that beats are over price.i only got the executive because it was on sale more than 60%.so it wasn't really a bad deal..anyway I will try checking those headphones if I see them ..thanks for the recommendation dark☺
Man are you serious you spend like 10k $ or more for headphones every year and you cant buy a decent MIC?
RIP LOGIC
I tried the QC 3 & 15, & the 3 isolate better. The 15 were tizzy & warm with a 'scooped' sound & resonant enclosure causing a bozy character, & isolated much WORSE than the QC3, which R smaller & cheaper, & sound better 2, with their muddy sound, but @ least not annoying & tizzy & less canceling than like the 15 is. I wager the 25 is similar. What's even funnier is none of these so-called 'noise canceling' headphones give isolation better than even the cheapest 'junk' in-ear phones =)) U know, with the rubber tips U stick in your ears. Those isolate like crazy, even though it isn't the main feature of the design (the best being they can get amazing bass if made right). If U want the best Bose noise canceling version, get the 3, not the 25. B warned if U have a large head they will not fit well. I could barely fit them on pushing down on my head. I'm not some fuking 5 foot Chinese slave. They need 2 design this krap 4 real humans.
OMFG the Quiet comfort 15 was on his 'Wall Of Fame'? LOL! =)) The Koss Porta Pro sound about 10 million X better than the QC 15. The proper thing 2 say if there was no better open ear noise canceler than the QC15 is 2 tell people NO GOOD OVER EAR NOISE CANCELING DESIGN HEADPHONE EXIST THAT CAN COMPETE WITH IN EAR MONITORS. Just because somebody makes 'the best cow turd sandwich' doesn't mean there is such a thing as a good cow turd sandwich. They ALL suk!!! The objective is SOUND QUALITY, so if a particular 'form factor' doesn't offer it, TELL THEM WHAT DOES!! B helpful, rather than ARTIFICIALLY LIMITING PEOPLE'S CHOICES with arbitrary 'form factor category'. Rank them by SOUND QUALITY!! Fux sake!
U may as well try 2 tell people 'what is the best type of Linux OS if I want 2 run Windows programs. WTF? Run a fuking Micro$oft OS, like XP! =)) They will never stop support 4 it, & never have. They just SAY they have, but it's NOT TRUE! Y? Because all businesses need it 4 actual work, not just 2 dik around. It runs 90+% of ATM machines, & all kinds of factory production systems, interfaces 4 running ships & power plants & countless other things. It's very flexible & runs nearly N E software U want. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME with Linux if U want 'Windows program flexibility' =)) DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME with over ear 'noise cancelers' if the QC 15 is the best of breed. TRY A DIFFERENT BREED THAT IS SUPERIOR, LIKE IN EARS =)
I don't like sticking stuff in my ear either. The key 2 SOLVE that problem is 2 get the right TIPS!! The most comfortable R the big soft Maxell or TDK varieties. If N E 1 wants model numbers E-Mail me @ 'balkanguy at live dot com', etc. The best mid size R several from Radio Shack (particular models). U also need 2 switch tip type & wearing style (deep or further out) now & then as your ear will CHANGE SHAPE INSIDE in response 2 pressure, slightly decreasing in size 2 compensate 4 pressure after initially increasing from the pressure, etc. It's dynamic, like people who wear those 'nose stretcher stickies' 2 help reduce snoring get divits in their nose ater a while because the flesh sucks in trying 2 balance the pulling strain against the nose. When U stop or change methods, it returns 2 balance. This is part of what drives people away from in-ears. Wearing them is sort of complicated, & nobody puts accurate details about it online. Maybe I should =)
Basically, when a tip becomes uncomfortable or no longer seals easily, TRY A DIFFERENT TIP! & that tip will NOT remain the perfect tip 4 U. U will have a SELECTION of 'best tips' that will CHANGE depending on the current shape of your inner ear! Nobody will need more than 2 or 3 really. U can just bgo back & fourth between large & medium (deep or further out) so it is pushing against a different part of the inner ear so the areas can have time 2 return 2 shape, or 'homeostasis' as the medicals call it. The frequency U will need 2 change depends on if U wear them a lot or seldom also. If U only wear tips a couple hours a day, U will never need 2 change probably, 'cuz the ear will have time 2 return 2 exactly where it was. I watch like 3 movies a day on tips so change more frequently.
2 bad U can't fuking read. Maybe U should find a school @ go there =)