FlyByNight
Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 18, 2007
- Posts
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No, seriously. I'm surprised to have found only passing reference to this in the threads. Here's the deal:
I travel a lot on transatlantic flights and long-haul commuter buses. Despite the multitude of statements elsewhere claiming total sound isolation with IEMs, my experience does NOT bear that out. Plenty of outside sound comes through, particularly at lower frequencies--and that's with either Shure black foamies or the long ComPly's. I have no experience with Customs.
The other issue with IEMs: On United at any rate, if you have a pair of low-impedance IEMs plugged straight into the airplane sound system, you will get your eardrums BLASTED when the pilot or stewardess comes on with an announcement. It's something in their sound override system. I found this out the hard way on my first flight with UM-2s--I about hit the ceiling. Literally painful.
On the other hand, the Bose QC2 really works to knock down low-freq engine roar/rumble, and is compatible with the aircraft sound system; but it lets voices straight through, and horribly bloats musical bass while sucking out the mids.
So, the solution: I put in IEMs and hook them to my iPod; then put the Bose QC2 right on top, and plug them into the aircraft. That way I have effective sound reduction across the spectrum (but can still hear voices when the music is off). I can listen to high-SQ music via IEM, or the movie soundtrack through the Bose. On the commuter bus, I just unplug the Bose audio cord and wear them strictly for the noise reduction.
I admit it's a pricey solution. But it's still half the cost of custom IEMs; and my frequent air travel plus daily 2+ hours on the commuter bus make it worthwhile to me. (I considered the Plane Quiet Solitude NR headset, which is $100 cheaper than Bose for the same performance; but reviews say it clamps more tightly on the head and has less inside clearance, which may make it press against IEMs).
Long post but as I say I have not seen this in any previous threads; and at least it might save someone else's eardrums before they plug an IEM into their armrest!
I travel a lot on transatlantic flights and long-haul commuter buses. Despite the multitude of statements elsewhere claiming total sound isolation with IEMs, my experience does NOT bear that out. Plenty of outside sound comes through, particularly at lower frequencies--and that's with either Shure black foamies or the long ComPly's. I have no experience with Customs.
The other issue with IEMs: On United at any rate, if you have a pair of low-impedance IEMs plugged straight into the airplane sound system, you will get your eardrums BLASTED when the pilot or stewardess comes on with an announcement. It's something in their sound override system. I found this out the hard way on my first flight with UM-2s--I about hit the ceiling. Literally painful.
On the other hand, the Bose QC2 really works to knock down low-freq engine roar/rumble, and is compatible with the aircraft sound system; but it lets voices straight through, and horribly bloats musical bass while sucking out the mids.
So, the solution: I put in IEMs and hook them to my iPod; then put the Bose QC2 right on top, and plug them into the aircraft. That way I have effective sound reduction across the spectrum (but can still hear voices when the music is off). I can listen to high-SQ music via IEM, or the movie soundtrack through the Bose. On the commuter bus, I just unplug the Bose audio cord and wear them strictly for the noise reduction.
I admit it's a pricey solution. But it's still half the cost of custom IEMs; and my frequent air travel plus daily 2+ hours on the commuter bus make it worthwhile to me. (I considered the Plane Quiet Solitude NR headset, which is $100 cheaper than Bose for the same performance; but reviews say it clamps more tightly on the head and has less inside clearance, which may make it press against IEMs).
Long post but as I say I have not seen this in any previous threads; and at least it might save someone else's eardrums before they plug an IEM into their armrest!
