Did you know that noise-cancelling headphones can cause severe ear pain, jaw pain, headaches, and disorientation? I’ve considered buying noise-cancelling headphones for a while now. I asked for feedback on Twitter, and I learned the Bose QuietComfort 35’s were the best model out there.
But I wasn’t really traveling much, so the $350 price tag seemed unjustified in my case. I suggested them to my sister, who was also in the market for headphones.
A few days later my brother surprised us both with two pairs of Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones. At first the headphones were amazing: Clear sound, no noise. Then I started to experience some ear pain and other discomforts that kept getting worse.
How do noise-cancelling headphones work?
Noise-cancelling headphones work by counteracting sound waves to reduce ambient sounds. They process ambient noise through a microphone and generate an “anti-noise” signal, which significantly reduces noise.
Noise-cancelling headphones are most effective at eliminating low-frequency sounds. This is precisely why some people report ear pain from wearing noise-cancelling headphones.
Pain from noise-cancelling headphones
It all started the first time I used the Bose QuietComfort 35 noise-cancelling headphones. After wearing them for a couple of hours, I started to experience sinus pressure, ear discomfort, and pain between my right ear and jaw.
I figured it was a symptom of using them for too long and that I would get used to it. When I activated the noise-cancelling button, things got worse. The ear pain got more severe and so did the jaw pain. I kept wearing them, thinking this would pass after a few days. It did not.
Headaches from noise-cancelling headphones
Eventually, my sister, who initially raved about her headphones, told me she was also experiencing terrible headaches and dizziness. This was after I noticed her being unusually aggravated. She later told me her agitation was due to the headaches and disorientation from wearing her headphones.
We both kept wearing them, thinking it would get better but it only seemed to get worse. In fact, wearing the BoseQuiet Comfort 35 headphones for a while started to make me feel disoriented as well. I later learned this was an expected reaction to cancelling out low-frequency sounds.
I decided to Google the problem to see whether this was normal and perhaps even temporary. It turns out that many people experience headaches, ear pain, dizziness, and disorientation from wearing noise-cancelling headphones.
What’s causing ear pain and headaches from noise-cancelling headphones?
There were tons of Reddit threads about noise-cancelling headphones causing pain. There was even a specific thread about how Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones were causing headaches. People on various forums were complaining about various issues resulting from long-term noise-cancelling headphone use.
Several people on this Amazon thread reported that things got so bad, they developed ear infections. But the complaints weren’t restricted to forum chatter. A 2008 TechRadar article titled “Do noise cancelling headphones make you sick?” provides insight into what may be causing the various issuers wearers have reported:
“The sound waves that cancel each other out may still transmit enough very low frequency vibrations to stimulate the balance receptors that are connected to the hearing hair cells in the inner ear… The disequilibrium that some people may feel from this is made worse because the vibrations falsely signal that the head is moving, but the eyes report that the head is stationary. Those mixed signals make the headphone wearer feel dizzy.”
Most of this discomfort doesn’t seem to wear off over time. The author of this 2016 Business Insider article titled “There’s a very good reason not to buy the best noise-cancelling headphones in the world” supports this theory:
“The active NC technology creates an odd ear-pressure sensation that feels weird and a bit uncomfortable after extended use, making the experience far less natural than that with a standard set…Don’t get me wrong: I love my QC25s, even if I have to take them off every couple hours to ward off pressure headaches.”
Active vs. passive noise-cancellation
There’s a difference between active and passive noise-cancelling technology. Active noise-cancelling headphones reduce low-frequency sounds, while passive noise isolation reduces mid- to high-frequency sounds.
In other words, passive technology is best for reducing most sounds, while active noise-cancelling headphones effectively eliminate most sounds. The best option depends on your needs.
Personally, I prefer passive noise-isolating headphones since they don’t cause ear pain and headaches.
Alternatives to noise-cancelling headphones
If noise-cancelilng headphones are causing you headaches and dizziness, you should consider noise-isolating headphones instead. These block out far less sound, resulting in less discomfort.
I’ve since returned my Bose headphones and received a full refund from Amazon. Instead, I picked up a pair of Beats Solo 3‘s, which worked out much better. They don’t block out noise outright, but still quiet the noise on airplanes enough to make it possible for me to sleep.
Bottom line
Prior to my experience with the Bose QuietComfort 35’s, I’d never heard anything about noise-cancelling headphones causing pain. Every frequent traveler swears by them and I’ve read dozens of blog posts praising the miracle of these gadgetes. Which makes me wonder: Does everyone else just put up with the discomfort?
Noise exposure doesn’t seem as bad as the searing ear pain I experienced wearing noise-cancelling headphones. If there’s this much pressure while wearing them on the ground, how much worse will it get on a plane?
I also hope that anyone out there shopping for noise-cancelling headphones is aware of the ear pain, headaches, and dizziness reported by some users.
Have you experienced any discomfort from using noise-cancelling headphones? Did the problem persist or go away with long-term use?
Are headphones supposed to hurt
Headphones are not supposed to hurt your ears. If they do, you are probably wearing them too tight or your ears don’t respond well to the noise-cancelling function.
Why does my head hurt after noise-cancelling headphones?
Your head might hurt after wearing noise-cancelling headphones because the lack of ambient noise can cause disorientation. The best way to deal with this is by turning off the noise-cancelling function on your headphones.
Can noise cancelling headphones cause ear infections?
Noise-cancelling headphones can cause ear infections by trapping moisture in the ear canal. Taking your headphones off occasionally and keeping them clean is a great way to avoid any possible chance of ear infections.
Featured image by StockSnap from Pixabay
This story was originally published on May 10, 2017 and has been updated.
I’ve always had cheap knockoff NC headphones, and noticed a little occasional ear pain, but never dizziness. I always wondered if it was just me. It always cleared up quickly and I assumed I just had the volume too loud. Maybe a similar issue? I’ll definitely be looking for this more now.
PS – there’s an ad for QC35s at the bottom of this page… 😉
I keep the volume pretty low but even when I’m not listening to music, the complete lack of sound starts to bother me. Leave it to Google to turn a negative post about headphones into an advertising opportunity. 🙂
I was using my noise cancelling Bose during work and then a windows noise came suddenly, a year after and I still have ringing in the ears. I wouldn’t recommend using this for anyone.
It definitely turned me off noise cancelling headphones.
So I’ve noticed that they vary. I have the “on ear” that are a few (like 5-8 years old) that do give me some pain, but the ones that American has for example, those I don’t seem to get the same experience.
I wonder what kind those are. I’m definitely on the market for some noise-isolating headphones.
Guessing I’ve been fortunate. Never had any issue with Bose models. Tried them from the original full cup, on and in ear. Not a fan of the latter only a physical comfort issue. Considering a pair of 35 but would be interested in hearing from those who have a more positive experience.
I don’t like in-ear buds either. The QC 35’s are highly regarded. There just seems to be a small group of people who experience pain and dizziness from noise cancelling headphones in general.
Looks like I am a couple years late, but for anyone reading now… I have new Bose over ear noise cancelling headphones. I do experience the weird ear pressure feeling with the noise cancelling on at work, but on this model, you can turn off the noise cancellation from an app on your phone (you can use a low setting as well) – not sure how this would work if you connected the headphones to a different device without the app? With the noise cancellation off I have no problems. That being said, I find that it only is a problem for me when I am at work or somewhere that isn’t very loud. When I am flying or in a busy restaurant where there is a lot of ambient noise, I love the noise cancellation as I don’t experience the pain in those situations and I can hear what I am trying to listen to much better than without noise cancellation.
Same here – with the noise-cancelling feature off, I’m fine. But then I also don’t need to pay $500 if I’m not using the primary function.
I got the QC35s and I noticed a tinge when I first started wearing them. But after the third time, I never noticed it again. You do start to get used to the frequency. I would say stick with them. Because they are incredible.
I’m wearing them right now and the dizziness is setting in again. 🙂 I think I’m ok with noise-isolating headphones as opposed to noise-cancelling.
Talk to me years after use.
Interesting. I’ve got both the QC25’s and the wireless 35’s and always wear them on flights even for the better part of long flights like DFW or JFK to HKG and haven’t experienced those issues.
Maybe an isolating type would be better in your case.
I think so too. Though today I’ll be giving them one last try on a flight. The pain has subsided a bit, but there’s definitely discomfort after I use them for a couple of hours.
Really interesting to learn about the pain caused by noise cancelling headsets. They’re a staple these days in Business Class cabins and people tend to swear by them.
They’re actually comfortable when you turn off the noise-cancelling button. With it on, it’s pretty painful, especially on airplanes. But it really varies by user.
I am experiencing the exact same problem. Did you have any luck trying to retunr your headphones?
I think it may just be that some people are quite susceptible, and others not at all–similar to how some people are prone to carsickness or seasickness, and others not affected in the least. I had an old Bose set for many years and have a new QC35 set now, and have worn them for hours at a time with no pain, dizziness, or other issues.
True. This affects a small subset of people.
I started to realize the QC35 does cause discomfort and ear pain on prolonged used. Use it for few hrs a day and took it to a transatlantic flight (20hrs) and in the first few hrs – Got worse with pain and nausea. I hv now reduced the use but with prolonged use (over 3hrs) it starts to hurt. Noticed the ear lobes starts to heat up if u hv it non stop for over 3-4 hrs…anyone noticed that?
Does this happen for both wired and wireless? It only happens to me with wireless (BT)
I think the issues is the noise-cancelling feature. Not being able to hear any sound leads to dizziness and all the other symptoms here (similar to vertigo).
Few days ago, I tested the QC35 at the local BestBuy. They do an amazing job at cancelling noise. But wearing them less than a minute, in -store, without music in them I felt dizziness right away. Removed them and it went away. Tried them again with music and did not feel anything at all after several minutes. I figured out that only seems to happen when there is no sound at all.
So I ordered a brand new pair of QC35 on eBay (Got a very good price).
After 3 full workday of use I must say that what I experienced in store was exactly what I thought. When music is playing everything is just fine. But if it ends I start to feel a bit of dizziness, but at a much lower level that I experienced in store.
My advice… use them to actually listen to something… not to be in a sound void.
Even listening to them gave me ear pain. But glad to hear they’re working out for you.
The pain / discomfort between your ear and jaw sounds exactly what I experienced after I bought some Goldring NS-1000 Expedition noise-cancelling headphones. It’s a horrible sensation that seems to run from the middle ear downwards. It eventually gets so bad you have to stop using the headphones. I got in in my left ear.
My suspicion has always been that it’s something to do with the noise-cancelling function. I did also wonder whether it was the headphone cup pressing into space below / behind my ear, but I don’t remember there being a problem except when listening to music. Yes, it did eventually subside, but only after nearly a year and after (twice, I think) giving up using them altogether.
I think its the noise-cancellation too. It’s not natural to cancel out sound and I think the body reacts to that negatively. My pain never subsided so I ended up returning the headphones and getting a pair of Beats with my Mac purchase. Those are working out much better!
I’m about to return some QC35s to the store because I bought them a couple of hours ago and the noise cancellation hurts my ears a ton. I’m going to get some Soundlink ones that I tried in the store that are a ton cheaper but still have awesome sound quality (just no ANC). What I find really odd is that my mom has some old school (early 2000s) wired Bose Noise Cancellation headphones and they don’t bother me at all. I have worn them on many trips with no problem. I can’t figure out why the QC35s hurt/pressurize!
Maybe the noise-cancelling technology on the older pair is less advanced and thus creates less pain. I returned mine and got a pair of Beats Solo 3’s, which have been working great!
I have the same issue. Now most car manufacturers use Active Noise Cancellation (Volvo calls it Active Noise Suppression). I cannot stand it! Not everyone’s ears are the same, and for some reason ANC really bothers me. I used Bose headphones in a lab from 2011-2013 and in 2014 I developed terrible tinnitus and hyperacusis that has never gone away. I haven’t used headphones or earbuds since mid 2014. I also notice that speakerphone on any iphone or mac really bothers me too. Have you had any problems in modern cars or with cell phones? I have no issues with natural sounds, only synthetic, so maybe it has something to do with data compression and the algorithms used in digital sound.
Interesting. What kind of noise does it suppress? I have not had issues with anything other than noise-cancelling headphones.
low frequency engine and road noise. google “active noise cancellation cars” and there are a few articles about it. Chevy and Ford tend to bother my ears the most. those cars also add in sound through the stereo to make the engine sound cooler than it is. so lots of audio tricks to hurt your ears.
Wow, this is news to me. But really good to know the next time I’m in the market for a new car.
Did you also experience any Ear Barotrauma?
Read what happened in Cuba. You are wearing weapons of mass destruction.
Scary stuff.
I have the Sony mdr100abn. The quality sound is amazing, and if you hear flac music and connect the wire instead bluetooh optiion, the quality is brutal, but……. After 3 weeks of use these headphones i’ve noticed something. I have a little pain in my internal ear and i have noticed a little ringing or buzz during the nights. And when the ANC is turned on, the pain increases too much. I am very angry, i think my ear have a irreversible damage for use these headphones!!
That’s awful. I would definitely stop using them. In my case, I couldn’t tolerate the pain – despite hearing from others that it gets better. I honestly love my Beats – they’re not noise cancelling but provide excellent sound. There’s really no need to cancel out all noise, IMO. It’s not natural and your ears react accordingly.
‘ i think my ear have a irreversible damage for use these headphones!!’ Welcome to the club. You have permanent damage see and ENT you need tests.
For over 20 years, I’ve kept a pair of Sony HD7506(MDRV6 in some markets) closed-ear headphones in my laptop bag, which usually are my travel ‘cans. They can take an absolute beating and still function. They’re not noise cancelling, just noise-isolating. No batteries to mess with, they have a long curly cord and sound reasonably good. Aftermarket lambskin earpads make them very comfortable after many hours. I used them back in my studio days and still keep buying them as needed. My current pair is ~10? years old and still going despite me being on the road ~200-300 nights/year. They’re not my preferred headphone for home use, BUT I’m not going to be carrying a headphone amp & $800 cans on the road.
Best part — they’re dirt cheap. $68 on Amazon as I type this.
Nice! I prefer the noise isolating variety too. I’ll never again spend $300+ on headphones, that’s for sure.
no noise cancellation is perfect. The noise cancellation is always slightly off. This means that there is a slight overlap of wave phase that would increase the volume hitting the ear.
In my experience, every so often, I have noticed, when listening to certain audio signal, the presence of thumps and low wavelength, super high amplitude sounds–even at low volume settings–that very quickly cause inner ear pain.
I suspect that, in an effort to maintain signal fidelity to the ear, Bose has inadvertently turned their device into something that can transmit high fidelity signal error, or sloppy sound guy tricks to increase clarity of speech, right into the user’s eardrum. This pisses me off, as it seems like this can–very stealthily–damage your hearing.
Seems like access to some kind of safety features on the phones in the form of *MANUAL* (I.E., non-app that you have to take 5 minutes to fish around for, figure out how to work, wait to connect, etc.) setting method where you can place an upper limit on the amplitude of any sound wave that comes out of the device.
I do notice the discomfort from my QC35s, but in my case its not as dramatic as the author describes. I love them, actually. Btw, with the Bose Connect app, you can set noise cancelling to medium, which alleviates the pressure in the ears and still affords good sound cancelling.
It seems to be limited to a rare subset of the population. I know plenty of people who swear by the QC35’s. Unfortunately, noise-cancelling headphones aren’t for me.
Here’s the reason… https://www.64audio.com/technology
I am using BOSE QC30 which is in-ear headphones. I having occasional Ear Barotrauma in my right ear which is feeling you get in ears when flight takes off and change in altitude and I am experiencing Tinnitus as well. It has been only 1.5 weeks i bought BOSE QC30 and start to experience these feelings. I am going return them back and buy BEATS
Before using these QC30, i have used BEATS Studio wireless 2.0 for more than 2 years, prolonged use cause ear fatigue (which is normal for everyone) but never experienced Ear Baratrauma or Tinnitus.
In-ear headphones are pretty uncomfortable for me. The Beats Solo3’s have been awesome!
So far no problems for me. I am on my third pair in over 10 years. Every time a crying child or two people yakking away start up I hit the button and smile. I loves me Bose.
I know tons of people who swear by their noise-cancelling headphones. Sucks that I miss out on that benefit…
My wife has misophonia and absolutely loves the Bose QC35. I tried it and it is really nice and quiet. I wasn’t listening to anything though — just blocking the noisy kids so I could read. After wearing them for 30 minutes I felt like my ears were constantly hearing and yet not hearing anything. It felt heavy/oppressive. I have not had any pain but I cannot wear them for more than a few minutes. At work though, my plantronics one-ear phone BT headset broke and I got a new one (Plantronics B825-M). I started getting the same feeling I get when wearing the QC35. I didn’t even realize the headphones were noise cancelling. There is a switch on the left side-bottom where I was able to turn off the noise cancelling — I would get immediate relief from this heavy/overactive feeling. Maybe if I were listening to something at the time it would be ok. I was on a conference call and continued to wear the headset after the call was over and started getting that oppressive feeling again. That was today. I decided to google it and found this page.
That’s pretty much how I felt when wearing them. It’s really odd how many random symptoms you can experience – headaches, nausea, dizziness, anxiety and sinus pain.
“Every frequent traveler swears by them and I’ve read dozens of blog posts praising the miracle of noise cancelling headphones. Which makes me wonder: Does everyone else just put up with the discomfort?”
I hate Bose over-ear noise canceling headphones – get sound pressure headaches. But my Bose ear buds are fantastic and I wouldn’t travel without them. My last trip (SFO-IST) I had to stop at BestBuy to buy another pair (my wife and I now have 4 pairs – we literally will not fly without them)
Glad you found something that works! I love my Beats – I think noise isolating just works better than noise cancelling.
I had the QC-25 then the QC-35. I’d been using them for 2 years or so with no issues. However, on a long flight I was wearing them whilst watching a in-flight movie and got a sudden feeling of claustrophobia. Like I’d never felt before. I had to leap out of my seat and walk around the plane for a bit. I stopped using the headset for the rest of the flight. I didn’t make the connection to the headset though.
Then a month or so later my commute changed and I started using the metro whilst using the headset. I had weird dizziness sensations and my heart was racing. A week or two in, I eventually had what I later found out to be a panic attack on the metro, where I was convinced I was experiencing a heart attack. Turns out it was just a panic attack or something similar. Never had experienced anything similar before. Very scary. I went to the hospital and my vitals were found to be fine. Took me a couple of weeks to feel normal again.
I never used the QC-35s again and instead settled for using a sound isolation headset that workers use. Cheap and effective. Haven’t had the issue again. I googled around to find if others had experience this but I must’ve missed this article.
That sound awful, Julia. It’s similar to some of the things my sister and I experienced. I think the lack of noise is not natural and thus throws some people off balance.
I was so excited to get the Bose but find that they cause anxiety and neck pain. Problems stop when I turn off the NC. Back to earplugs for flights !
It’s important to keep in mind this doesn’t happen to everyone. It seems to be the majority of people who use noise-canceling headphones don’t exhibit these symptoms. So if you think you might be in the latter group, maybe go to a Best Buy and test out a pair.
Im glad I’m not the only one. I’ve had some Sony NC ones for a couple of years, never really used the NC feature much. This past summer, I started increasing the use. I got an ear infection and what the doctor described as TMJ – joint pain near my right ear in my jaw.
I’d use them intermittently and, while my ear infection went away, I’d keep getting the TMJ and a weird feeling in my right ear, almost as if it needed to pop. Since I’ve stopped using them and started using non NC Bose, the TMJ pain is gone and my ear doesn’t feel off.
Used them this morning for a 30 minute exercise. Back again. It does seem some are more sensitive than others. Will not be using NC again.
Yeah I’d definitely steer clear of them. When I looked into noise-canceling headphones, I read that ear infections were a possibility but you’re the first to confirm it. Blocking out noise completely isn’t natural and our nervous system responds accordingly. That explains all the headaches, nausea, and general “off” feeling.
Thanks for the article. If I only read that *before* I bought mine q25. I am very probably going to return them ans ear/head/ and neck pain is too big price for the silence.
Glad it’s helpful! You can probably return them, especially if you explain the symptoms you’ve been having.
Well, probably there will be no problems with return as we have here 14 days no-ask return policy when you shop over Internet. So at least I have this.
Where did you buy it from? They may make an exception for issues like the ones you’re experiencing.
As I wrote, we have no-ask policy for goods returns bought over the Internet for first 14 days. I successfully returned the headphones, never going to try noise-canceling ones again. I guess benadryl & ear plugs are back for flying again. Have a nice day.
Glad it worked out for you!
No issues at all for me. I’ve gone to sleep in them on the plane and woke up as we landed. I walked all the way out to transfer, I had forgotten I was even wearing them. No pain for me whatsoever even though I have Tinnitus on my left ear.
No issues with mine… When the QC35s are turned off and back on, NC automatically turns back on, and to the highest setting. You can use the app to set up the left button to control ANC – high, low, off…
It’s definitely a YMMV situation. It has to do with how some people’s ear canals are shaped. I learned that the hard way!
Here in Australia, updating my mobile phone account plan to a current one offered by the telco I use, I was given a pair of Plantronics BackBeat GO 810 Bluetooth headset, as part of the 24 month contract of the new plan. At home, trying to use this headset, instant headache which only went away when I took the headset off. It made no difference whether wired or Bluetooth.
I had jumped on the headphones because of their noise cancelling capability, and I could not use them. Under Australian consumer law this is classed as a major fault, not known at the time of purchase, and a fault which if known, would have had the purchase not go ahead. Confronted with the law, the telco grudgingly removed the headphones from my plan contract.
Looks like for me, noise isolating is as good as it will get.
It doesn’t get covered much but noise cancelling headphones are clearly problematic for some people. Glad you were able to return them.
Many thanks for the article. I just bought and returned a pair of Sony wh1000xm3 noise cancellation headphones. So disappointed because baring the headaches they are great headphones. But I got a headache within 10 min of wearing them, and then suffered with extreme fatigue, was really not good. Tried all manner of things to see if I could change the pressure, switch off the nc (although what is the point of buying them then) used it with the wire and no Bluetooth. So now I’m going to resort back to my trusted wired, on ear Bose OE2s, once I can find some new cushions for them. Otherwise will look into the Beats pair. But ideally, as I wear headphones for long periods of time, I also don’t really want a Bluetooth frequency running through my head.
Sure thing! It’s a good thing you were able to return them. I’ve had my Beats Solo 3’s for two years now and love them.
My Sony wh-1000xm3 caused me great deal of pain during my recent flight journey from India to USA, Noise Cancelling seems to have made it even worse to an extent that my right ear Pain got severe and noise cancelling seems to be ever lasting even when not using the head phones. This is so weird experience
It’s terrible. I wasn’t even aware this could happen until I tried the Bose noise-canceling headphones.
Interesting… What I wonder is what these weird sensations do to one’s hearing if these devices are used for years. I bought the QC35s recently and gave up on them after about a few minutes of partially because of the weird sensations and partially because of other issues not relevant here (inconsistent behavior with VST instruments on PC…) I haven’t seen any studies on the topic of long term hearing…
Same here. My brother got me a pair of Air Pods recently and insisted they were different than other noise-canceling headphones. I tried them on for 15 minutes and the ear pain and sinus pressure was too much. He claims he got used to it after a week, but I can’t imagine wearing them for that long. It can’t be good for you.
Hi All
I just wrote this about :
Skull Candy Crusher ANC
I have emailed Skull Candy and asked for a refund.
then i Googled Headaches from Skull Candy Crusher ANC and come across this thread.
here is my review and email the SkullCandy :
My View on the Crushers,
I have had them for 10 days.
the ANC gets weird when driving in my New-ish Merc Van. Over little road bumps (normal roads) the Crusher’s ANC reacts in a form of a little static click sound.
After a few days, it does start to get noticeable, and then annoying, and for $530 AUD, they are not that impressive.
The BASS is fun, though the actual volume levels are not loud at all. For $530AUD, I would expect to be able to crank them up when I want to, though this is not the case, I was badly disappointed with the volume level.
My Sabbat E12 Ultra True Wireless are louder and cleaner sounding, then my KZ E10 True Wireless absolutely destroy the Crushers in Loudness, Soundstage, Separation and Clarity and also manage to provide great BASS, though no where near the Crushers.
The mic on the Crusher’s is great, despite all the reviews, I am on the phone at least 20 times a day and not one person has had trouble hearing or understanding me, and when I ask my friends how do I sound, they comment they had no idea I was on BlueTooth.
I use an new OPPO 5G phone.
Connection wise, BT, the Crushers are a delight, the Sabbat E12 are 50/50, the KZ E10 are painful, I would rate them at 10/90.
Lastly, the Crusher Earcup Rotating Hinge broke on me tonight, so that is the final straw for them, I will be contacting SkullCandy and asking for a refund.
The Crushers simply are not a good general allrounder headphone, I love my BASS, but the cons outweigh to pros , I would rate the crushers at 3/10 because of their high price and lastly painful comfort wearing during the day.
I want to love the Crushers, but I simply can’t.
I only gave a 3 because :
+1 for call quality
&
+1 for BASS
&
+1 for connectivity – BT
8 points deducted for :
-1 for Volume Level
-1 for Weight
-1 for Cabin Pressure
-1 for EarCup size
-1 for White Noise
-1 for ANC noise clicks at certain frequencies
-1 for the hinge breaking (just faulty bad luck in that particular piece of plastic I figure )
You know that feeling you get when you have been on your feet all day and get home and take off your shoes, the release of pressure, well that is the same feeling of the Crushers.
And finally lastly, I have had a headache for the last 5-7 days, that is not normal for me, . . . . not blaming the Crushers, butttttttttt . . . . . the cabin pressure, the actual weight and the fit and clamping are just outright painful, and the White Noise . . . . hmmmmmmmmm ???
Now they are broken I will go back to the KZ E10’s and have a non painful, clear listening and talking experience again, with no White Noise and Cabin Pressure.
Sorry SkullCandy, the Crusher ANC are FUN, I wish I could love them, but I can’t !!
my recommendations to SkullCandy, larger Earcup, less weight, louder volume levels, a complete overhaul of the ANC – the interference clicks at certain frequencies gets very annoying, get rid of the White Noise ( I forgot to mention that )
Concluding, I have Sennheiser HD’s and Focal Utopia Headphones, so I am no stranger to headphones.
Christopher
Yes I am happy to find this article, because I am having the same issues with NC phones. I had an Edifier non- NC for some time and I enjoyed a lot the confort and sound, but I gave it away to a friend and decided to try the AKG N700NC headphone. It is a very good phone, but I felt some disconfort in the ear after prolonged use. I sold it and got the Sony Wh-1000xm3, and it has been a very bad experience since I started using it. I feel great pressure in the ear and feeling of dizzinness. After reading all these comments, I decided never more using NC phones. I will just stick to the Edifier again. Thanks
I experienced loud Engine noise as feedback while my headphones are on during takeoff…It was strange as I unplugged them and still picked up the feedback. I noticed this on both flights. After take off they were fine but during the noise was very loud.
I have blue tooth headphones those noise cancelling ones and I’m also have this jaw pain I don’t even know how to describe it. But I won’t be using them again . I have decided to switch to simple headphones. It’s really put me off all noise cancelling device’s.
Definitely switch to a different pair of headphones. It became really unbearable for me.