Noise Isolation or Noise Cancellation, which to choose?

[PagalDesi]

So I have a pair of the Bose in-ear headphones and they're really good for that price, but now I'm looking to purchase a new pair of headphones and I was interested in the either the noise isolation or noise cancellation headphones, however I don't know too much about either and the difference between them.

What would you advise? From your personal experience, which would you prefer?

[ReyZero]

Noise Isolation is like headphones that seal the ear with their tips.
Noise Cancellation usually has a box somewhere on the headphone wire that requires a battery to turn on, that takes outside noise and sends the reverse sound to you making it appear to not be there. (That's how I was explained on it anyway)

It really comes down to if you want to run around with a battery on your headphones or not, although while listening to music I've been happy enough with Isolation since I listen to music enough to ignore outside noises.

[bobb-mini]

As I have repeated many times here.....

I much prefer noise isolation vs noise cancellation.

Noise Isolation = is simply earplug + earphone. Simple. Works all the time.

Noise Cancellation = requires power source, don't always work, extra bulk, u must be fairly still else a bump to the noise sensor and that will send u an annoying feedback.

Get a noise cancellation only if u absolutely cannot stand placing earplugs deep inside your ears.

[jasoncordelle]

A lot of people that fly regularly, use Noise Cancellation headphones or earphones as in that environment they are ideal...they cut out the drone of the engines and allow you to listen to the music or movie or whatever in total isolation.

I have had both and like Bobb, I much prefer the noise isolation headphones. They are simpler, they don't give "false feedback" and they don't require an exetrnal power source other than the music player.

[misper666]

lol

a lot of people on planes are seeing magazine adverts left/right/centre for bose.

but on many planes, pilots wear a variant of sennheiser hd25-1 (and other isolating headphones).

some people are taken in by brands or what they see widely available in shops. that's why you'd see all the chavs going on about koss spark plugs a few years back (now replaced by skull candy it seems)

[Canadian Hobo]

Noise isolation phones are much simpler and more effective in my opinion. Most manufacturers offer various types and sizes of tips to get the ultimate seal and any many cases the different tips change the audio qualities of the phones themselves.

Cheers