I have just purchased some Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones for studying.
In a recent vseminar from INE Brian Dennis said one of the key factors to successful study was to get disconnected. Turn of your email, twitter, facebook etc and focus on your study. I have found that the sound of my CCIE rack which is in the same room as I study in is distracting in itself, so I purchased some bose noise cancelling headphones. The result is nothing short of amazing. You put the headphones on and flick the switch and 90% of the background noise just disappears. The model I purchased was the QC15.
If you have not heard of bose noise cancelling headphones before they basically have a microphone on the inside and outside of the headphones which constantly monitor the sound, and the headphones take the sound that it hears on the outside and then plays an inverse of the sound wave to the inside of the headphones, in effect cancelling the noise out. The microphone on the inside then monitors the difference. The result is noise cancelling, or as some people say noise blocking. But techncially they are noise cancelling. They work best with background noise, and are mainly used on airplanes to cancel the noise of then engines on a long flight, however I have found them to be perfect for cancelling the noise of my rack and also any other background noise in the house. You can use them with or without music and I find that a bit of high energy music really gets me in the zone, but it has to be without any speaking i.e an annoying DJ, so I have found some great online dance stations that just stream upbeat music.
So if you really want to get disconnected whilst doing your CCIE Study, I highly recommend getting a set of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones.
Bose QC35II
Since writing this post I have since upgraded to the latest version of these amazing headphones the QC35ii. The main feature of these headphones is they are bluetooth, so you can enjoy the amazing Bose quality and noise cancelling without any wires, which was a massive game changer for me.
Bose QC35’s on Amazon.co.uk for £285
If you do purchase the bose noise cancelling headphones by using the Amazon link above I will receive a small commission which goes towards running this site – the price you pay is not affected.
There are other models available, however I have found that the Bose ones to be the most effective.
Bose QC15 Questions:
Can Bose qc15 be used without noise cancelling?
No, the Bose QC15’s can only be used when powered, when the battery runs out the stop working. Battery life is about 30 hours and I always carry a spare battery with me so this is not an issue. The newer Bose QC25’s will operate without power as normal headphones (without the noise cancelling)
Do Bose noise cancelling headphones work without music?
Yes, you can just use the Bose QC15’s without any music connected, by either not playing any music or not even connecting the audio cable the noise cancelling function works great.
Are Bose noise cancelling headphones worth it?
In my personal opinion yes they are really worth it, I use mine every day and cannot imagine wearing any other pair of headphones now. I am so used to cancelling out background noise. They really come into their own on a plane and it makes flying a dream, but unlike most travelers I use mine every day either on the train, walking around the city or at work. You have to be careful when using them on the street as you will be isolated from noise but in my opinion these are the best headphones I have ever owned and I don’t leave home without them!
Bose QuietComfort 25
Since writing this post Bose have released a new version their noise cancelling headphones the Bose QuietComfort 25’s these are the updated version of noise cancelling headphones to the QC15’s
QC25s are lightweight, and their ear cups rotate even more for a better fit. The headband sits closer to your head, with luxurious suede-like material underneath for extra comfort. If the AAA battery runs out, you can still enjoy music without noise reduction. And the ear cups pivot to fit in a compact case that’s easy to carry.
I must say the sound is not as good as it is with the headphones switches on but at least they work. This was one of my problems with the QC15’s in that when your battery went flat you had no music.
I always used to carry at least 2 spare batteries so was never without power.
Are they expensive? Yes. Are they worth it? Yes, every penny. They are the best pair of headphones I have ever owned and one of my must have items when travelling.
See my Bose Quiet Comfort 25 Review
If you wanted to spend a little bit more you can get yourself some Custom Quietcomfort 25 headphones. You can customize the colors to have any combination you want.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones Review
This review is based on my use of the Bose QC15’s over the last few years.
Positive Points
- They are the best noise cancelling headphones on the market by far.
- Battery life is over 30 hours.
- They are super comfortable.
- Audio quality is amazing – (to be expected from anything Bose).
Negative Points
- Once the battery is flat they stop working – (This problem is fixed with the QC25’s which operate as normal headphones when the battery is flat, just without noise cancelling.
- They are quite big on your head – (The QC25’s are slightly slimmer profile, but to be honest for a pair of headphones designed to cancel noise you do need something big on your ears.)
- They are the most expensive noise cancelling headphones on the market.
If the Bose Quiet Comfort range of headphones are outside your price range, there are some more reviewed here
http://uk.pcmag.com/headphones-reviews/3341/guide/the-best-noise-canceling-headphones
