Andy Lee’s weblog

Two weeks ago I got a pair of Bose QuietComfort noise-cancelling headphones, and I’m debating whether to return them.

My first comment would be on truth in packaging. Look what it says on the side of the package:

After several days of light use, I can report with absolute certainty that these headphones aren’t assy at all.

More seriously, the issues at hand are comfort, effectiveness, and cost.

Comfort. The first big plus is that the QuietComfort is extremely comfortable. The reviews on Amazon consistently commented on this, and when I tried on a pair in the Apple Store I was immediately impressed. I’ve had mine for two weeks, and I’ve found that after wearing them for a couple of hours, I don’t get the headaches or ear soreness that I can get with other cup-style headphones. No complaints in this department.

Effectiveness. The Bose headphones cut down a significant chunk of the white noise in my office. But the noise is so loud that what gets past the headphones is still enough to bother me a little.

Cost. Cost was an issue to some extent, though comfort and effectiveness were by far my main criteria. The noise of roaring computer fans gets on my nerves, especially when I’m tired, so I don’t totally mind paying $300 for something that’s going to protect my sanity every day I’m at the office. But it’s still a lot of money.

In the end, I’ll probably keep the headphones, out of inertia.