Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

I've been doing a bit of flying and have been wondering whether I should invest in a pair of those cool noise-reducing headphones. Are they worth the money and hassle of carrying one more bulky thing in my already crowded carry-on bag? If so, which should I get?

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

I haven't really shopped for them in years, as the ones I have are at last 5 years old.

But I find them to be worthwhile for long trips. To state the obvious, they cut down on the background roar of the plane. Sadly, they do not make it so you can't hear the obnoxious people next to you, but they can make it easier to hear whatever you'd otherwise listen to via headphones.

When I shopped, I could not bring myself to pop for whatever the Bose ones costs. It just wasn't worth it. So I bought some from Sony for a quarter of the cost and have been quite happy with them.

I've also used the Bose ones when they were included in first/business on transatlantic flights. To me, they performed no better.

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

I have an old pair of Beats by Dre, which have good sound, are made with cheap plastic and are way overpriced. I value them highly on flights. They don't block out all screaming baby noise, but when you turn on music or a movie, they do an excellent job. A friend of mine got these recently and they are much much better than my current pair: http://www.gadgetreview.com/2011/11/...eadphones.html

If I had it to do over again, I'd buy those or test out a few of these: http://reviews.cnet.com/best-noise-c...ng-headphones/

TM

And they're all cheap compared to your first class ticket!
 

For long flights, my single most important thing is a good eye mask. The portable media device is second and the noise reducing head phones third. I have a couple of varying qualities that I keep losing and finding, and just dig one up before I go. I think the headphones are all about the same regardless of price - you're not getting concert hall sound while flying, sorry.

On a flight of three hours or less, who cares. But on a cross- or inter-continental flight, I would not want to be without any of them.

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

I'd love to zone out, but that would be selfish. You see, I'm probably the most successful Moth storyteller in the World right now, and the person next to me is always very fortunate to have randomly hit the jackpot of being within earshot of me, I could hardly cheat them of the opportunity to hear my wonderful stories for 8-12 nonstop hours.

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

BTW, it is possible to put ear plugs in underneath the headphones if you happen to be next to a real windbag.

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

If the objective is noise cancellation, Bose is the winner. Go to an Apple Store, where I they have several models of NC headphones (or used to). I tried several and the Bose easily won. For sound quality they may lack a little, but you're on a plane, so deal. They're great. I leave them on the entire flight and I can actually hear when I arrive.

Another option if you want to spend a lot less is a decent pair of in-ear headphones. They can do a pretty good job of sealing out the airplane noise, although not quite as good. And they become a lot more uncomfortable with time, to the point where I bought the Bose.

Re: And they're all cheap compared to your first class ticket!
 

How do you watch with the eye mask on?

Re: And they're all cheap compared to your first class ticket!
 

g.o.

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

Once you're done with them, remember to direct them to the Moth podcast, where they can put your stories promoted there on an endless loop, I'm sure.

Re: And they're all cheap compared to your first class ticket!
 

Google glasses.

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

Other reviews.

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

Someday, maybe, I'll make the podcast, but my stuff is different from what they normally pick. Plus if I made podcast, I'm not sure I can keep doing the story slams- I'm street level- Detroit.

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

Or just play dead.

Re: Towards A Virtual Williamsburg!
 

2. and to ggg's point, there are so few of us that can be interesting to listen to for 8 hours, and when someone w/o the chops tries it can be uber-tedious.