10-03-2006, 11:28 PM
I do quite a bit of flying so keeping my ears happy and my attention diverted for those long hours in an aluminum tube is important to me. I used to use simple ear plugs to keep the noise out but listening to music is difficult.
Early last year, I started out with the small Sony noise cancelling headphones you can buy at Best Buy for about $50. They work decently but since they don't fully cover the ear the implementation is a bit limited.
A number of row mates on different flights had the Bose headsets that were over $300. They raved about them, but that's a bit of change so I did some research. I found, researched and purchased the Solitude Noise Cancelling Headphones (www.solitudeheadsets.com).
Some of the major reasons I purchased these were the reviews and reputation of the company and product. The model I have collapses completely - although I looked at the website and the current model doesn't. That put it head and shoulders above the Bose because I want lightweight and the smallest form factor I can find.
Here are a couple of reviews:
http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roadwar...eadset.htm
http://www.geek.com/hwswrev/conel/solitude/index.htm
http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi...eindex-fea
Overall, I love the Solitude. They're small, compact (if you discard the case) and the universal cable means that I can purchase any mini-jack cable and it will work (unlike the Bose). The one problem I have with the Solitude is that it is slightly bulky on my fat and bulky head. This means that I cannot lie down with my head turned to the side unless I want the Solitude to prop my head up in an uncomforable position.
Of course, this problem presupposes that I will have enough space in coach to lie down - which is an unusual and typically improbable circumstance.
Other than that, I highly recommend the Solitude.
Early last year, I started out with the small Sony noise cancelling headphones you can buy at Best Buy for about $50. They work decently but since they don't fully cover the ear the implementation is a bit limited.
A number of row mates on different flights had the Bose headsets that were over $300. They raved about them, but that's a bit of change so I did some research. I found, researched and purchased the Solitude Noise Cancelling Headphones (www.solitudeheadsets.com).
Some of the major reasons I purchased these were the reviews and reputation of the company and product. The model I have collapses completely - although I looked at the website and the current model doesn't. That put it head and shoulders above the Bose because I want lightweight and the smallest form factor I can find.
Here are a couple of reviews:
http://www.thetravelinsider.info/roadwar...eadset.htm
http://www.geek.com/hwswrev/conel/solitude/index.htm
http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi...eindex-fea
Overall, I love the Solitude. They're small, compact (if you discard the case) and the universal cable means that I can purchase any mini-jack cable and it will work (unlike the Bose). The one problem I have with the Solitude is that it is slightly bulky on my fat and bulky head. This means that I cannot lie down with my head turned to the side unless I want the Solitude to prop my head up in an uncomforable position.
Of course, this problem presupposes that I will have enough space in coach to lie down - which is an unusual and typically improbable circumstance.
Other than that, I highly recommend the Solitude.