Headphones at noisy workplace

[Bryan]

The QC35 comes very close to audiophile sound quality at home where it's quiet. On public transport, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

 

My ten cents. Have owned four iterations of Bose QC cans, and currently own QC35's and QC25's. Last three iterations very good ANC but certainly no audiophile sound quality from any of them. The sound quality of Bose QC25 and QC35 is not even in same ballpark vs my Ether C headphones. Of course the Ether C's are considerably more expensive, but they are one of the true audiophile cans out there. Buy Bose QC25/35's for the ANC. Good enough for podcasts, travel, listening to music in hotel room, back home mowing the lawn. Bose QC headphones not good enough for audiophiles primary music listening headphone. >also< Bose QC35 Bluetooth function not 100% there yet. Some dropouts and static depending on where QC35's used. Prefer single AAA battery replacement in QC25 to recharging the QC35's wired-in rechargable. One day Q35 battery will need Bose servicing and that means extra expense and down time, and if user forgets to charge QC35 but needs the ANC function they are SOL till they charge 'em. Lastly the earpads in last three Bose QC headphones are mediocre and under moderate to heavy use, they start coming apart and replacements are $30 bucks a pop until user needs to replace them again for another $30. Third party earpads sold on eBay and amazon for the Bose headphones are not as good as the Bose earpads at noise isolation for those who may be tempted to save a few bucks. Been there, done that.

[Bryan]

One of the temptations is to use headphones and IEMs driven at high levels to defeat distracting sound. Unfortunately, high sound levels can damage hearing

 

So true.