Strengths:Excellent sound, above average noise cancellation, comfort, overall cost, can be used with NC turned off
Weaknesses:Occasional \"feedback\"
Summary:I have had the Bose QC3, (which I exchanged for) the QC2, which were \"lifted\" from me while on a flight (whoever you are, you\'ll burn for that) several months ago.
I then bought a highly, what seems now to be, self-touted \"off brand,\" that will forever collect dust, or be on eBay soon. I finally broke down and bought the MDR-NC60\'s.
Admittedly, the QC2\'s were the best in sound quality, BUT, I fly almost 200k miles a year, stuff gets lost, broken, forgotten, and stolen, and I could not see my way to dropping another $200+ on headphones, although I consider them now to be a necessity.
These are VERY comfortable, around the ear fitting. The QC3\'s were good quality, they packed smaller, but on any flight longer than 3 hours, they made my ears ache, and I had to take them off, negating the reason for having them in the first place. Over the ear is very much worth finding the extra space for them, and has a more isolating quality than on-ear.
One thing I couldn\'t understand about the Bose products was that you cannot listen to anything without the NC turned on, ergo, when the battery dies mid flight, you\'re SOL on being able to use the headphones, for anything.
The Sony headphones can be used without the NC on, come with all the needed adapters - BUT COST 1/4th what the others do for nearly the same quality.
Think of it this way... If you\'re buying these to alleviate the stress of engine noise, crying babies (yes, even in 1st class), drunk passengers thinking they\'re funny, rich, AND good looking, and overhead announcements that shake the enamel off your teeth, they\'ll work fine - better than fine. And, for the same money, you can lose them, break them, forget them, and get them ripped off, at least 4 times before you really end up on the loosing side.
Ah, that weakness... Occasionally, and its interdependant on the jet type, vibrations in the airframe that manifest themselves into the frame of your seat and subsequently into you (you can\'t feel them), seem to cause some \"reverberation.\" It sounds like a low hum. The Bose was better at handling this than the Sony\'s, BUT, you can usually adjust the headset, or move your head and it either diminishes, or goes away completely.
I haven\'t really noticed the same issues with the battery life that others are complaining about. I use these 3-4 times a week, and I have put 3 batteries in them since I got them, including the half drained one that came with the headphones.
One last thing... Turboprop planes are untameable. Get an mp3 player with lots of power. If you fly a bunch of prop planes, my hat\'s off to you, and get some of those ear plugs that you roll up and expand in your ear.
These are a good buy, particularly at this price point. If I lose these, I will not hesitate to buy them again.
