Noise-canceling headphones - very limited budget

Teo Ming Ern

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Hi,
Just want to ask if it's possible to buy a pair of noise-canceling headphones for a very limited budget of less than $150. I use the headphones to watch movies on a flight. I have circumaural headphones, Sennheisers but the roar of the airplane engines are so loud I can't hear the dialogue in the movie. I watch movies on my own Sony Tablet Z at max volume but I can hardly hear anything. I must say that I usually tune volume quite high when watching movies even on my tv or desktop cos I usually can't catch everything that is said. By the way, I usually fly budget airlines that's why I am watching movies from my tablet. But even in-flight entertainment also usually not loud enough or I should say background engine noise is too over-powering.

So this begs the question:

1) Would noise canceling headphones help?
2) Any recommendations for something less than $150?
3) Prefer headphones and not earbuds but open to all suggestions if any at all.


Thank you very much!
 

musicsg_com

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Hi,
Just want to ask if it's possible to buy a pair of noise-canceling headphones for a very limited budget of less than $150. I use the headphones to watch movies on a flight. I have circumaural headphones, Sennheisers but the roar of the airplane engines are so loud I can't hear the dialogue in the movie. I watch movies on my own Sony Tablet Z at max volume but I can hardly hear anything. I must say that I usually tune volume quite high when watching movies even on my tv or desktop cos I usually can't catch everything that is said. By the way, I usually fly budget airlines that's why I am watching movies from my tablet. But even in-flight entertainment also usually not loud enough or I should say background engine noise is too over-powering.

So this begs the question:

1) Would noise canceling headphones help?
2) Any recommendations for something less than $150?
3) Prefer headphones and not earbuds but open to all suggestions if any at all.


Thank you very much!

I have not reviewed any ANC headphones below $150, but I did a search and found a Sony ANC headphones at S$69.
http://www.sony.com.sg/electronics/headband-headphones/mdr-zx110nc

In general, most ANC headphones will easily remove the low frequencies like engine noises, to some degree. And looking at the budget price, you must not expect magic, but should still be better than zero ANC.

In my last trip, I slip in a pair of unknown brand Mixcder ANC-G5 wired earphones with ANC. Works great in removing engine noise.
http://musicphotolife.com/2016/11/mixcder-anc-g5-review-active-noise-cancelling-wired-earphones/
 

Teo Ming Ern

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Wow! Thanks! You really made my day! $69 for Sony is a pretty great price... and noise canceling too?
 

Teo Ming Ern

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I've found mixed reviews of the Sony headphones... I should try to test it out. Anywhere you know I can test drive the noise cancellation?
 

blazin

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Sony, 313 somerset Sony Centre should have I think.
 

8-lane

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Teo Ming Ern

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Thanks... I saw it too... But I have no chance to test drive the noise cancellation and how effective it is. I had a go with Bose's Quietcomfort 35. The shop had booming CNY song with vocals... Cut out almost everything except part of the vocals... Pretty impressive. But I felt like getting a bit of headache when I was watching a movie with the headphones..
 

saltknife

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Thanks... I saw it too... But I have no chance to test drive the noise cancellation and how effective it is. I had a go with Bose's Quietcomfort 35. The shop had booming CNY song with vocals... Cut out almost everything except part of the vocals... Pretty impressive. But I felt like getting a bit of headache when I was watching a movie with the headphones..

I have the Bose qc35 and it is freaking amazing at ANC and pretty comfy too. Sound quality isn't the best but it's decent, nice flat signature. However it is way out of your budget!
 

Teo Ming Ern

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I have the Bose qc35 and it is freaking amazing at ANC and pretty comfy too. Sound quality isn't the best but it's decent, nice flat signature. However it is way out of your budget!

I know right... not about to pay $500+ for a set of headphones lar... I tested it... amazing ANC. I read that Sony's ANC is also on par... hence my great interest in the MDR-ZX110NC... a bit difficult to find reviews for that model... and I wonder if it is sold in Singapore... I visited Courts and Harvey Norman at Jurong Point and both carried a variety of brands but not this model...
 

8-lane

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Thanks... I saw it too... But I have no chance to test drive the noise cancellation and how effective it is. I had a go with Bose's Quietcomfort 35. The shop had booming CNY song with vocals... Cut out almost everything except part of the vocals... Pretty impressive. But I felt like getting a bit of headache when I was watching a movie with the headphones..

Lol ic...


10char
 

Bababah

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anyone using qc30? any reviews? I'm more inclined to something that is more portable.
 

kaixin18

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Thanks... I saw it too... But I have no chance to test drive the noise cancellation and how effective it is. I had a go with Bose's Quietcomfort 35. The shop had booming CNY song with vocals... Cut out almost everything except part of the vocals... Pretty impressive. But I felt like getting a bit of headache when I was watching a movie with the headphones..

anyone using qc30? any reviews? I'm more inclined to something that is more portable.

u might want to go down to jaben. its in adelphi. can try out all the products. i went there last month. there's only 2 staff in the store. so if there's no crowd then they may give u 100% attention.

when Jaben was at the upper floors in adelphi it was so much better. got many staff and many tables and chairs for people to sit down and test the earphone headphone.

i bought 2 earphones and 1 headphone from them last month. i got a really good discount. try not to talk big or be arrogant with the staff.
 

Teo Ming Ern

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u might want to go down to jaben. its in adelphi. can try out all the products. i went there last month. there's only 2 staff in the store. so if there's no crowd then they may give u 100% attention.

when Jaben was at the upper floors in adelphi it was so much better. got many staff and many tables and chairs for people to sit down and test the earphone headphone.

i bought 2 earphones and 1 headphone from them last month. i got a really good discount. try not to talk big or be arrogant with the staff.

Thanks for the tip... but sometimes I don't feel like walking into a specialised store... cos my budget so small, the staff usually will offer you the best in class... I can't see myself paying more than $150 for a set of headphones... my most expensive set is the Sennheiser PX-100 as it was compact and had larger phones for better sound compared to IEMs... which I feel are rather unhygienic too...
 

nwong118

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Full-on review of the Fiil Diva ANC headphones... sounds really good...

http://www.head-fi.org/products/fiil-diva-bluetooth-noise-cancelling-headphones/reviews/17602
Are you willing to sacrifice for a recessed male/female vocals? Male vocals start from bass (150hz) (deep voice) to lower treble (falsetto) and female starts from lower Mids (250hz) and above. Are you willing to sacrifice Soundstage as well? It depends on whether you value Soundstage, which gives a 3D effect feel. You might have to consider these factors. I would suggest heading down to a stereo shop, you'll be able to ensure that the product you're buying is what you like. Just my 2 cents :D

Edit : Different people have different preferences. So you'll have to justify if the sound signature suits you.

Sent from iPhone 17 using GAGT
 
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kaixin18

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Thanks for the tip... but sometimes I don't feel like walking into a specialised store... cos my budget so small, the staff usually will offer you the best in class... I can't see myself paying more than $150 for a set of headphones... my most expensive set is the Sennheiser PX-100 as it was compact and had larger phones for better sound compared to IEMs... which I feel are rather unhygienic too...

like i said earlier. don't be like most of the guys who talk very big in the store that day last month when i bought my headphones and earphones. i was very honest with the china guy that my budget was no more than $300 for the headphones and earphones.

the other guys in the store were clearly trying to impress the sales girl when they said that they did not have a budget or that their budget was $2000. for $150 u can look at a couple of models in Jaben. just go down and take a look. you can try all the headphones and earphones. no one will pressure you by hard selling.

http://store.jaben.com/collections/headphones?sort_by=price-ascending
the website is not accurate because i remember seeing a couple of headphones below $170 and they were really good. brands like marshall, audio technica and a few others.
 
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