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Non-ANC closed back headphones for travel?

FattyGabbiee

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Hi all,

Now that my home office is all setup, I am looking for a good pair of closed back for traveling. I ordered the Sony MX5 to replace my 7 year old Bose QCs but can return the MX5 if there are better recommendations. When I travel, I do prefer to use my headphones when possible vs. the airlines if using their entertainment setup but do have my laptop to watch TV/movies and/or listen to music. I snagged a Qudelix 5K for dac/amp to help drive for my devices but if using the airlines, I may need a set of high sensitivity/low ohm headphones to drive.

Besides airline usage, they will be used for conference calls with a separate USB mic and watching movies/TV on my laptop in hotel rooms.

Budget is under 1k with a focus on durability, passive noise reduction, minimal leaking, and more fun vs. accurate. I can EQ with the Qudelix 5k for my devices too. Of note, I can get a discount for Denon and B&W headphones.

I have been great things about the DCA headphones but not sure if an airline headphone output will work with them effectively. I was looking at the Denon 5200, AKG 371, various Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser.

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
 

staticV3

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The Aeon 2 Noire is like the perfect travel headphone. It's extremely portable:
aeon2noir.jpg16034438_800.jpg

You're right, it probably won't work well plugged directly into the headphone out port of your airplane seat's Infotainment system.
There are workarounds though:

• Airplane headphone out -> Twelve South AirFly (or similar) -> Bluetooth -> Qudelix -> Noire
Or if you need more power:
•Airplane headphone out -> Twelve South AirFly (or similar) -> Bluetooth -> Topping G5 -> Noire
Or if you don't like Bluetooth:
• Airplane headphone out -> Topping NX7 -> Noire

Though you should know that no passive headphone will isolate you from noise below 200Hz, so the airplane's engines' rumble will pass through to your ears 1:1, see here.

To isolate you from low frequency noise, you need either deep insertion IEMs or active noise cancellation.
 
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Elitzur–Vaidman

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• Airplane headphone out -> Twelve South AirFly (or similar) -> Bluetooth -> Qudelix -> Noire
Or if you need more power:
•Airplane headphone out -> Twelve South AirFly (or similar) -> Bluetooth -> Topping G5 -> Noire
Or if you don't like Bluetooth:
• Airplane headphone out -> Topping NX7 -> Noire

Though you should know that no passive headphone will isolate you from noise below 200Hz, so the airplane's engines' rumble will pass through to your ears 1:1, see here.

To isolate you from low frequency noise, you need either deep insertion IEMs or active noise cancellation.
Topping G5 has a line-in, so OP could just go •Airplane headphone out -> Topping G5 -> Noire
 
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FattyGabbiee

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Thanks, Static and Elitzur! This is all great info and never heard of the Airfly, what an awesome solution. Static, after this post, I went to DCA's website and instantly wanted to know more about the Noires. I live in the PNW and need to find a store that has them to listen to.

As for the G5 vs the NX7, love both options and if I choose the G5, I could use EQ APO on my laptop for EQ vs. the Qudelix 5K. I wouldn't get EQ from the airplane's entertainment system but that's okay since the majority of the listening/watching will be from my hotel room and laptop.

I am also considering the E1DA 9038D6K instead of the Qudelix 5K for dongle use for the times I don't want to carry the G5.

All of these options are new to me and I truly appreciate the help.
 

staticV3

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I am also considering the E1DA 9038D6K instead of the Qudelix 5K for dongle use for the times I don't want to carry the G5.
The D6K is really not a good choice for low impedance, low sensitivity headphones like the Noire. The 9038SG3 is much, much better for that.

Also, if you do order a Noire, make sure you choose the XLR cable:
Screenshot 2022-12-14 191017.png
With it, you can use all headphone Amps.
With the 3.5mm cable, you can only use single-ended Amps.
 
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FattyGabbiee

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Thanks, Static. That is great to know. Another lesson learned and much appreciated!
 

staticV3

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@FattyGabbiee one caveat to this:
Also, if you do order a Noire, make sure you choose the XLR cable:
With it, you can use all headphone Amps.
With the 3.5mm cable, you can only use single-ended Amps.
Yes you can use all headphone Amps with the XLR cable, but you'd have to buy adapters from 4pin XLR to 3.5mm/2.5mm/etc and use them all the time unless you're on a desktop Amp with native 4pin XLR out.
If you know that you'll only ever use 3.5mm or 1/4" Amps, then better to get the right cable for that and and spare you the hassle of all those adapters.
 
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