[SingDanceRunLife]

Hello good people of PC!

As per my T's suggestion to help with my sensory over-stimulation problem, I will be getting a pair of noise canceling headphones. I don't want to break the bank, so I think I'm going to limit my budget to about $150 since that's probably all I can get from the Bank of Mom & Dad, and I'm poor and need to save as much money as I can since if the government shutdown lasts long enough, my job will be compromised.

So...I'm looking to you for suggestions of ones that are decent quality, but don't cost $300. If I had that much to spend, I would get some Bose ones, no doubt, but unfortunately, that's just not an option. Frankly, I'm actually really surprised my mom didn't object when I told her how much they would cost, but hey, it's a good thing, right?

[Rohag]

I do not have experience with noise canceling headphones, but I suggest you consult Ariesmars. Ariesmars researched them and had experience with a pair that did not meet expectations...

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

'o.O $300 on headphones?! Holy crap, that's hugely unnecessary. xD

[SingDanceRunLife]

'o.O $300 on headphones?! Holy crap, that's hugely unnecessary. xD

It is quite a lot, yes. I've never paid more than $20 until today so, yeah...but in the interest of promoting/maintaining my mental health, I had to shell out more. (Well, my parents paid, but you know what I mean). If I had the money, I would love to get some Bose ones, but since I don't, I have to work with my actual options.

I did some research and some shopping (went to Target, Radio Shack and Best Buy), and I ended up getting some $100 Audio-Technica ones that I'm quite happy with. They supposedly block up to 87% of ambient noise, so I went with them instead of the others that I was thinking about because they cost half as much as the other two pairs I was seriously considering, and of those two, one only claimed to block up to 90% and I couldn't find a percentage for the other. Another $100 didn't seem worth it for only up to 3% more reduction.

[ariesmars]

I have searched for years, seen hearing specialists, tried everything i could get my hands on. I bought those $300 bose and returned them, why? They did not work! Got some from stores, they do not work. I was in search of something to block out summer noises, I used earplugs, mp3, and earmuffs to block out the sounds. I'm an extreme case. I believe it has to do with the freq your trying to block. Until this year, it was earplugs, music, and earmuffs. This year I got musician earmolds made. I plug in any mp3 player and it is clear and most sounds are removed, but with me and the certain sounds it's sometimes not enough and i still need earmuffs, otherwise i have to max out the volume and that is too loud. The earmuffs i use are those yellow muffs with built in radio from lowes. There cost $50. My custom molds cost $160. From all my struggles I recommend musician earmolds from an audiologist. Why? They are earplugs and music buds combined. They fit perfectly to only that persons ear and block more than any other in ear/over the ear can. Add music to it and 90%+ outside noise is gone. I can't heard anything if i put the sound up, but then it is too loud. You dont want to go deaf, there are already enough people like that. Search boombox cars.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Thanks for the input.

I really dislike having earplugs or even in-ear headphones in for long periods of time...it just dives me crazy, so over the ear headphones fit the bill for me.

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Lol. I actaully have a pair of what I dub "really good headphones" If everything is silent, I can still hear stuff around me, albeit a bit muffled, but when music is playing, I'm on a game, or I'm watching a movie, they are absolutely fantastic, more so for getting rid of outside sounds. I'm really picky with headphones, because I wear glasses and am used to a certain way headphones feel; "different" headphones bug my OCD, I think. These headphones also have brilliant bass, crisp sound, and the highs 'n lows that I find comfortable.

Here's a picture:



I don't think they cost much to get. The headphones are made by Compucessory, I think. I also find the headphones really comfy, which is one of the reasons why I haven't replaced them, even though the pads are badly worn. xD

Audio headset is designed for professional use with the latest digital audio equipment. Large 40mm drivers deliver full bass and sharp highs. Frequency response is 20Hz-20KHz. Headset includes an adjustable leatherette headband, 8-1/2' long cord and 3.5mm plug with 6.3mm adapter.

I'm assuming by noise canceling, you're referring to headphones that aid in blocking outside sides from interfering with your audio antics - I'm probably a bit biased, because I've never tried many of those expensive kinds.

[Grey Matter]

Ah Sing, they help so much with sensory overloads I barely take mine off during the day. I had a cheaper pair (gave them to my sister) and they worked like a charm. I'll edit this post when she gets home to give the name, I think I paid $35 and it made everything nearly 100% silent.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by Zwangsstörung

Lol. I actaully have a pair of what I dub "really good headphones" If everything is silent, I can still hear stuff around me, albeit a bit muffled, but when music is playing, I'm on a game, or I'm watching a movie, they are absolutely fantastic, more so for getting rid of outside sounds. I'm really picky with headphones, because I wear glasses and am used to a certain way headphones feel; "different" headphones bug my OCD, I think. These headphones also have brilliant bass, crisp sound, and the highs 'n lows that I find comfortable.

Here's a picture:



I don't think they cost much to get. The headphones are made by Compucessory, I think. I also find the headphones really comfy, which is one of the reasons why I haven't replaced them, even though the pads are badly worn. xD


I'm assuming by noise canceling, you're referring to headphones that aid in blocking outside sides from interfering with your audio antics - I'm probably a bit biased, because I've never tried many of those expensive kinds.

Yeah...that would NOT work for me! I need something to block the outside noise, even if I'm not listening to music.

Originally Posted by Teen Idle

Ah Sing, they help so much with sensory overloads I barely take mine off during the day. I had a cheaper pair (gave them to my sister) and they worked like a charm. I'll edit this post when she gets home to give the name, I think I paid $35 and it made everything nearly 100% silent.

I've had a set for just a day and I'm already soooo incredibly glad my T made the suggestion!! I honestly never would have even thought of that.

I would be interested in knowing what ones you've got, even though I already bought a pair and am extremely happy with them. And at $100 they weren't too pricey since ones that are usually deemed as "good" are $200-300. I did look at some cheaper ones (made by Sony), but they were DEFINITELY cheaper in every way -- construction, comfort/fit, noise cancellation etc. They were only $50 so I really wanted to like them, but I just couldn't get on board with them. They don't have very good reviews either, so...

[(JD)]

Bose just came out with noise cancelling EAR PLUGS btw for listening to music.

If you don't want headphones, buy a ear muff headset used for firearm range practice... I use mine when mowing the yard (riding mower.) Really cheap.

[ECHOES]

Now if you are lucky, like me, you can turn off your hearing aids and enjoy the peace At work, when someone comes up to talk to me, I have to have them wait a sec while I "turn on". lol

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by (JD)

Bose just came out with noise cancelling EAR PLUGS btw for listening to music.

If you don't want headphones, buy a ear muff headset used for firearm range practice... I use mine when mowing the yard (riding mower.) Really cheap.

I can't stand ear plugs. I don't know what it is about them, but I absolutely detest them...which is strange since historically I've always preferred the in-ear earbuds for listening to music.

I do want headphones though so I have the option of listening to music since sometimes that's what I need to chill out. I need the noise cancellation though so if I just want plain and simple quiet, I can have that as well. It's almost like a very soft white noise that you can turn on and off, and it's actually amazing when you put the headphones on and can no longer hear what's going on around you.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

Now if you are lucky, like me, you can turn off your hearing aids and enjoy the peace At work, when someone comes up to talk to me, I have to have them wait a sec while I "turn on". lol

Haha. Noise actually bothers me more when I can only sort of hear it...so I'm not sure how well that would work out for me.

[ariesmars]

Jeez, I forgot to mention I got an aircraft headset. Now that is over the ear and it mutes 95%of my bad noises, but its just not practical to be in public with that on your head. Glad you found something that works for you, there's no doubt that it wouldn't work for me. Darn this curse of hearing. Just a side note. There is a issue with blocking sounds, the more you try to block...the harder your ears work to find sounds. Its a viscous cycle, and its to late for me to break the cycle.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I've been making my ears work hard to find sounds for years! I used to sneak out into the rec room to watch TV long after my parents thought I was in bed, so I had to have the volume down ridiculously low so they wouldn't hear it. I think that's why to this day I listen to music and the TV at about half the volume as most people I know.

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

I'm very used to listening for stuff, too. I tend to have my headphones/speakers set fairly low, or at least, low enough that a couple of people have brought it up. It's weird, though - I'm a guitarist - I used to play the electric guitar, and that was certainly pretty loud, although, even then, I kept the amp(s) probably lower than most would. I only play the acoustic, nowadays, and a lot of the time, I think I play it quite softly.