Shure noise-cancelling earphones

[172Driver]

Just picked up a pair of Shure noise-canceling earphones from Future Shop. They are excellent. You will have to get used to the noise canceling since you don't even hear the bike, never mind traffic and such. I could hear both an ambulance and fire truck today, so a bit of a saving grace. Sound quality is top-notch, a little pricey but worth it.

[sinic]

Which model did you get?

I bought a set off of EBay and they should be here next week (Shure SCL2)

[172Driver]

Sorry, I tried to figure what model, but I was on the bike when I bought them so none of the packaging came back.

[Yorkee]

I got a pair of Philips and they sux. they don't cancel wind noise.

[leedufour]

Are noise canceling and noise isolating different? They are both on here.
Which is better?

[sinic]

I got my Shure SCL2 in the mail today and I have to be honest I am less than impressed

The sound quality of the music is about on par with my cheapie earbuds I was using before (but I suspect I have to play with them more and choose which ear attachment suits me best ... I can't seem to get a good fit). I did notice a huge difference in the outside noise reduction (I was testing them at my desk and the phone rang ... I didn't hear it)

I wasn't able to take them on a ride yet ... and I am not sure that I will be able to ... I can't seem to get my helmet on without dislodging the ear piece from my ear (if the seal isn't perfect, the sound quality sucks even more and you don't get the noise cancelling effect)

Maybe it is just learning how to do it, but on both my Shoei and Suomy helemts, I couldn't get them to stay in and gave up after 5 tries on each ...

It may have been a waste of $70 ...

[172Driver]

It took me a couple of attempts to get the lid over them. These ones have the wire flipped back over the ear, and they seem to break their "seal" while I pull the helmet on, but once on they seem to sit back into place and are fine. It is a fine art to do this however!!

I happened to find the manual for the ones I picked up, there are SE110 from what I gather, sorry but I really thought I threw all the paper stuff for them away.

[172Driver]

I should add as well that these are "sound-isolating", not noise canceling as I incorrectly had them labeled in the title. My apologies.

[suprPHREAK]

Are noise canceling and noise isolating different?

"noise isolating" means the earphone is effectively an ear plug, and passively blocks noise from the outside.

"noise canceling" means there is an electronic component which, using a small microphone, samples the ambient noise, then inverts the sound wave, and plays that to your ear phones. The effect causes the canceling system's wave to "delete" the ambient sound wave.

Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Isolating:
+cheaper
+no external power required
+no added weight from batteries
-can be uncomfortable
-require a proper seal in your ear canal
-still susceptible to noise if seal is broken, or louder than dB reduction rating.

Canceling:
+clean sound, generally with zero interference
+can eliminate ALL noise frequencies, be it low boon or high hiss (ie: wind noise)
+can be more comfortable, since a perfect seal is not necessarily required.
-expensive for good ones
-added weight of batteries (either in headphones, or on a dongle on earbuds.)
-effectiveness of eliminating noise depends on location of sound pickups. (if it is on the cord as a dongle, then it wont do much good in eliminating helmet-caused noise. If th pickups are in the earbud, such as Bose, works AMAZING)


I too use Shure noise-isolating (E2C) and love them for riding and long trips. Pricey, but well worth it!

[SeamusKellyInsurance]

I've also used the Shure E2C's for the last 3 yrs (more for distance trips) & would highly recommend them. Definitely worth the investment.

[leedufour]

Do the "noise cancelling" protect the ears from buffeting noise?
Seems like they would!
My new helmet is far louder than the old one and after 750 kms on Sunday my ears were ringing.
I don't want ear plugs though, I want tunes!

[sadrik]

If the pickups are in the earbud, such as Bose, works AMAZING)

What model of Bose earbuds have noise canceling in the earbud?