[TorontoSS]

Hi guys,

I have a question about noise cancelling headphones. I bought some around 2013, Bose QC15's. They were, in my opinion very effective. However they also gave me a headache and made me want to throw up. Not a response you want for a pair of headphones so I sold them. More companies came our with noise cancelling but I didn't touch them. I got my husband some parrot zik 2.0's however I barely try the noise cancelling because I know the effect. I understand that since it's sending an opposite wave in your ear, your ear receptors think you're moving around and you're not.

With this being said, I am assuming technology hasn't changed and this is the way noise cancelling works. My first question is, am I correct? Shall I just stay away from noise cancelling forever?

My next question is, would newer versions (like Bose qc35) give the same affect?

Anyone out there who used to feel sick and no longer does? Any brands which work better?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Music Alchemist]

I owned the QC15 for years and auditioned the QC25 and QC35.
 
It would appear that the newer models have improved upon things and have less of the sickening pressure effect.
 
Honestly, though, you almost always don't actually need active noise canceling. The passive isolation from many closed-back headphones (especially in-ear monitors) is usually more than enough.

 

[TorontoSS]

Thanks for that. I would agree. I don't think one needs noise cancelling most of the time.

I currently own Bose soundlink around ears and they isolate sound very well and it's all I need really. (I know people don't like Bose but I think they excel in comfort which to me is important).

If anyone else has thoughts I'd welcome them too! Thanks!

 

[Music Alchemist]

By the way, if you want to improve the sound of your QC15, connect a normal headphone cable.
 
The stock cables have electronics on them that mess with the signal and ruin the sound to an extent. Since the area where you connect the cable is proprietary, you may need to wrap some material (I used toilet paper) around the connector shell of the cable to keep it in place. It also reverses the channels due to the active circuitry of the headphones.
 
You probably noticed that the sound quality degrades as the battery depletes, so using a charged (or new) battery helps as well.

 

[GRUMPYOLDGUY]

  By the way, if you want to improve the sound of your QC15, connect a normal headphone cable.
 
The stock cables have electronics on them that mess with the signal and ruin the sound to an extent. Since the area where you connect the cable is proprietary, you may need to wrap some material (I used toilet paper) around the connector shell of the cable to keep it in place. It also reverses the channels due to the active circuitry of the headphones.
 
You probably noticed that the sound quality degrades as the battery depletes, so using a charged (or new) battery helps as well.

 
Out of curiousity, what kind of design in line with the cable could ruin the sound?
 
It has to be passive components... with a TRS connector the pinout isn't wide enough to carry a separate power and ground for circuitry. So even if it was an RLC filter or something, how could that ruin the sound? I'm not sure the cable is the root cause.

 

[GRUMPYOLDGUY]

Hi guys,

I have a question about noise cancelling headphones. I bought some around 2013, Bose QC15's. They were, in my opinion very effective. However they also gave me a headache and made me want to throw up. Not a response you want for a pair of headphones so I sold them. More companies came our with noise cancelling but I didn't touch them. I got my husband some parrot zik 2.0's however I barely try the noise cancelling because I know the effect. I understand that since it's sending an opposite wave in your ear, your ear receptors think you're moving around and you're not.

With this being said, I am assuming technology hasn't changed and this is the way noise cancelling works. My first question is, am I correct? Shall I just stay away from noise cancelling forever?

My next question is, would newer versions (like Bose qc35) give the same affect?

Anyone out there who used to feel sick and no longer does? Any brands which work better?

Thanks in advance!

 
I think that's a misunderstanding of noise cancellation technology. It produces a waveform that destructively interferes with ambient noise. In theory, by the time the wave "reaches the ears" the noise has already been cancelled.
 
But if you think they're making you nauseated, then maybe noise isolation is a better solution for you.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Out of curiousity, what kind of design in line with the cable could ruin the sound?
 
It has to be passive components... with a TRS connector the pinout isn't wide enough to carry a separate power and ground for circuitry. So even if it was an RLC filter or something, how could that ruin the sound? I'm not sure the cable is the root cause.

 
It's both the electronics on the cable itself (it has a remote on the middle and another electronic component on the top, which interfaces with the electronics in the headphone) as well as the active circuitry of the headphones. Switching to a conventional headphone cable dramatically improves the sound of this particular headphone. The stock cable without a remote on it also sounds better than the stock cable with a remote on it.

 

[GRUMPYOLDGUY]

   
It's both the electronics on the cable itself (it has a remote on the middle and another electronic component on the top, which interfaces with the electronics in the headphone) as well as the active circuitry of the headphones. Switching to a conventional headphone cable dramatically improves the sound of this particular headphone.

 
Interesting. My QCs came with a non-remote cable as well... I don't hear a difference between the two or a third non-OEM cable, and I'm guessing I wouldn't measure one either. But it brings up an interesting question about channel isolation in cabling.
 
Certainly the active circuitry in the headphones could affect the analog path... but swapping cables wouldn't change that.
 
In what way is the sound improved?

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Interesting. My QCs came with a non-remote cable as well... I don't hear a difference between the two or a third non-OEM cable, and I'm guessing I wouldn't measure one either. But it brings up an interesting question about channel isolation in cabling.
 
Certainly the active circuitry in the headphones could affect the analog path... but swapping cables wouldn't change that.
 
In what way is the sound improved?

 
Do you have the QC15? The difference is very significant and easy to hear, especially with a normal (not stock) cable. Switching from the remote stock cable to the non-remote stock cable made the sound more smooth and less grainy. The most significant difference I noticed with a normal cable was that the treble was not harsh and sibilant anymore. The rest of the sound improved as well, but I no longer own it. Basically, the stock cables sound very distorted. Swapping cables absolutely does change the sound in this instance, and it's because they have electronics on them that interferes with the signal. I believe some would say they act as a resistor.
 

 
See that part at the top with the switch? That's the main problem.
 
If you have a newer model, things may have improved to the point that the stock cables sound just as good as other ones.

 

[GRUMPYOLDGUY]

Do you have the QC15? The difference is very significant and easy to hear, especially with a normal (not stock) cable. Switching from the remote stock cable to the non-remote stock cable made the sound more smooth and less grainy. The most significant difference I noticed with a normal cable was that the treble was not harsh and sibilant anymore. The rest of the sound improved as well, but I no longer own it. Swapping cables absolutely does change the sound in this instance, and it's because they have electronics on them that interferes with the signal. I believe some would say they act as a resistor.




See that part at the top with the switch? That's the main problem.

Yes. That's a gain switch. It's purely resistive and adds fixed impedance to the headphones. Since there is no capacitive component, the impedance of this does not vary with frequency. That means uniform gain through the entire spectrum.

What you seem to be describing is an increased noise floor. It's possible depending on the impedance of the design. Now that you've explained it, it makes sense.

 

[Music Alchemist]

What you seem to be describing is an increased noise floor. It's possible depending on the impedance of the design. Now that you've explained it, it makes sense.

 
It seems to be more than just noise floor. As I said in my edit, the stock cables sound very distorted compared to a normal cable.

 

[TorontoSS]

I think that's a misunderstanding of noise cancellation technology. It produces a waveform that destructively interferes with ambient noise. In theory, by the time the wave "reaches the ears" the noise has already been cancelled.

But if you think they're making you nauseated, then maybe noise isolation is a better solution for you.

You're probably right. I think I am more sensitive than others though. I didn't know that noise cancelling headphones could do that when I first used them on a flight and I was dizzy. I find too much pressure hurts my head as well (found this using bowers and Wilkins p5s and p3s).

My question was really - has the tech changed? However you're right, it seems noise isolation is for me. I'm actually happy with that.

 

[TorontoSS]

So I thought I'd update my question a bit.  Clearly I wasn't as satisfied as I said I was when I said that noise isolation works for me.  To be frank it does. It's more than what I need, but curiosity got the best of me and I tried on a pair of Bose QC20s.  This morning also tried QC35s but in a store.
 
Firstly, I haven't really tried Noise Cancellation for a long time.  The last time I really did was with the QC15s.  I tried my husband's Parrot Zik 2.0s for about 20-30 min.  I noted that I didn't feel that sick.  But it still clamps on my head.  I just don't like that design. 
 
So I tried a pair of QC20s in store and found no problem actually but this was in store.  So I got a pair.  And walked around with it, and whilst I felt SOME uneasiness - not that much.  BUT when I try on QC25s or QC35s in store, my head feels like it's being squeezed. 
 
Whilst the QC20s aren't as easy to wear as other non noise cancelling headphones, I find them not as bad.  So my question to all you experts out there is:
 
Are in ear noise cancelling easier to use in terms of pressure and dizziness than around ear ones?  Is there a difference in the amount someone feels dizzy or is this just different from person to person? 
 
Thanks in advance!

 

[SonicBoom11]

I know this is an old thread but I felt compelled to answer after buying the latest Sony XM4s and they make me feel sick as a parrot with a throbbing head. I think some of us will always suffer!

 

[TorontoSS]

I know this is an old thread but I felt compelled to answer after buying the latest Sony XM4s and they make me feel sick as a parrot with a throbbing head. I think some of us will always suffer!

Thanks for letting us know! It’s useful to know what works and what doesn‘t. I’ve been using the nc700s and they’re not too bad.