Wear ear protection on planes

[jmalecki05]

I ditto the above comment on noise cancelling headphones on flights (or anything else for hearing protection). On an recent flight with Boeing 757 aircraft, I started with the headphones from takeoff until 2+ hours into the flight. Upon taking them off, the noise was almost painful and after a 5 minute meal, I put them back on.

 

[MR.MAGOO]

Now I have to factor in the noise component if flying. My 70 year old sister wants me to travel with her to Belfast to study our genealogy. I hate flying and will have to break my big sister's heart.

 

[Hobbit]

I own Samsung noise cancellation headphones (they were a gift), but they're heavy and have a big case, so I've never flown with them before. They actually sound very good when I listen to music on them in the office. Many of my friends do swear by Bose headphones for noise cancellation. I just can't bring myself to buy Bose products...

I have a set of on-the-ear Sennheisers that fold small and work well. They came with the dual adapter too which the Airbus's use.

I also have a pair of high fidelity earplugs I got at Guitar Center. I wear them when I play in a band, but they also work good for flying. They are supposed to lower the sound by about 20db while maintaining a flat freq response. I like them in that I don't have to pull them like with the foam style to hear someone talk.

 

[KEW]

Just thought I'd mention that the Bose QC25 noise cancelling phones are on a cyber week sale for $180.
I think Bose usually controls pricing so I guess $300 really is what they go for?!!?

I bought a pair and they definitely out-class any other attempt at consumer noise cancelling headphones that I have heard. Interesting that Bose has a pocket of competence within it's realm!

Unfortunately, they sold out of teh Samsung/android version. You have to buy the one for Apple and I think you can get the Android cord for around $30 (the cord, which unplugs is the only difference - I think it is the control module on the cord that is different). Pretty sure if you are not worried about controlling music form your phone, an Apple cord would work fine.

https://www.amazon.com/Bose-QuietComfort-Acoustic-Cancelling-Headphones/dp/B00M1NEUKK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1512003093&sr=8-3&keywords=bose+qc25+headphones&th=1

 

[KEW]

I wish I knew if this was a good source for proper comparisons, but here is a article on "best NC Phones"
https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/best-noise-cancelling-headphones/

They have Bose as best for NC, but Sony and Sennheiser seem to be closing the gap!

 

[Irvrobinson]

I did an interesting experiment a couple of days ago. While we were listening to fusion jazz on the music system, I turned up the volume until the average loudness was the same as the typical 737 I've flown in, about 87db, at our listening seats. I told my wife that's the equivalent loudness I've measured on planes. She was pretty surprised. 87db is *loud*. Now she's convinced to wear hearing protection.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

I recently had a flight and took my earplugs with me and will have them with me in future as well. Have never really thought that you would need earplugs for flights but when you have tried it, it is so much more pleasant with them.

 

[KEW]

I recently had a flight and took my earplugs with me and will have them with me in future as well. Have never really thought that you would need earplugs for flights but when you have tried it, it is so much more pleasant with them.

On the last international flight I took, Ear plug were part of the package they distributed (along with the cheap earbuds, blindfold, etc).

 

[tyhjaarpa]

On the last international flight I took, Ear plug were part of the package they distributed (along with the cheap earbuds, blindfold, etc).

I guess some companies have better service than others.

 

[KEW]

I guess some companies have better service than others.

I've only seen that in flights across the pond.

 

[Montucky]

After spending a solid 6 years aircrew, I can attest to this. Then again, my plane (the C-5 Galaxy) generated somewhere around 120 dB on takeoff. Super loud inside inflight too. My hearing's taken a big hit because of it. Now I'm Abe Simpson after the THX intro. "Turn it up!"

Seriously, though. As previously stated, the constant drone of a jet, which maintains a solid frequency over long periods of time is not good for your hearing. Ear plugs, noise cancelling headphones, or noise-isolating earphones would go a long way if you're a frequent flier. Take it from me. The VA offered me partial disability for my hearing loss, which I declined since I don't consider that disabled, but still, I don't recommend it if it can be avoided.

That said, it's BECAUSE of my hearing loss that I demand higher quality audio gear now. Counter-intuitive to most people I talk to about it, but the way high end speakers can reproduce everything goes a long way for me, versus lesser speakers which I have a tough time comprehending dialogue and such at times. It's a GREAT excuse to use on my wife.

 

[Irvrobinson]

After spending a solid 6 years aircrew, I can attest to this. Then again, my plane (the C-5 Galaxy) generated somewhere around 120 dB on takeoff. Super loud inside inflight too. My hearing's taken a big hit because of it. Now I'm Abe Simpson after the THX intro. "Turn it up!"

Seriously, though. As previously stated, the constant drone of a jet, which maintains a solid frequency over long periods of time is not good for your hearing. Ear plugs, noise cancelling headphones, or noise-isolating earphones would go a long way if you're a frequent flier. Take it from me. The VA offered me partial disability for my hearing loss, which I declined since I don't consider that disabled, but still, I don't recommend it if it can be avoided.

That said, it's BECAUSE of my hearing loss that I demand higher quality audio gear now. Counter-intuitive to most people I talk to about it, but the way high end speakers can reproduce everything goes a long way for me, versus lesser speakers which I have a tough time comprehending dialogue and such at times. It's a GREAT excuse to use on my wife.

Thank you for your service, and thank you for having the integrity to decline partial disability when you thought it was unwarranted.

 

[-Jim-]

Gents,

I used to fly a lot in my past job, but now it's only 5 or 6 times a year. One time, over a decade ago, I was flying from London to Houston via Chicago in Business Class on American Airlines, and they gave me one of the earlier Bose noise cancelling headphones to use. Amazing!

Normally I dislike Bose products, but I'll be damned if they didn't set the bar on this technology. I used to work for GE and one of the sales guys in the Aircraft Engine Division told me the noise on an aircraft has a lot to do with what OEM has supplied the engines. So that may be why there are plane to plane difference within the same model. He said GE's were quieter at the time. I know all OEMs are constantly pushed to make them quieter and more fuel efficient.

I couldn't afford the expensive Bose headphones, but I got a moderately priced Sony set for Christmas and use them religiously ever since. Sometimes I too leave them on without music - just to cut the din. I don't fly without them.

 

[pwlong]

I wish I knew if this was a good source for proper comparisons, but here is a article on "best NC Phones"
https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/best-noise-cancelling-headphones/

They have Bose as best for NC, but Sony and Sennheiser seem to be closing the gap!

I'll vouch for the Sennheiser PXC 550s, specifically for their comfort, which was mentioned as a strength in the linked review. The NC works quite well, too. I am able to listen to audio books on flights, without maxing out the volume. I've not tried another of the other NC headphones, though.