It Can't Come Quickly Enough

There's nothing like having your favorite pair of headphones kick the bucket to make you realize just what a difference these devices can make to one's work. Since my beloved Shure earphones died, it's been harder to concentrate: office noise creates distractions that make it difficult to think. For a writer — especially one in an office as busy as mine — that's not good.

I Want It All

There is a world of difference between a great pair of headphones and a merely adequate pair, and I want the best I can get. Actually, I don't just want them, I need them. Comfort, noise isolation and spectacular fidelity aren't a big deal during the hour I spend in the gym, but I wear headphones the same way I wear my glasses: they go on when I sit down to work, and they don't come off until it's time to drive home.

Rescue Me

Happily, I work for Crutchfield, home of excellent A/V equipment. My ultra-understanding boss lent me a pair of Bose® QuietComfort® 2 headphones (check out Chris and Ralph's video review). I've fallen deeply in love with them--they truly are comfortable, and while they don't screen out variable noise like talking, their noise cancellation ability does kill the constant roar of say, air conditioning, and reduces the intensity of general office noise so it gets pushed to the background.

When music is playing, I barely notice the rest of the office, but I get just enough outside bleed-through to keep me in the loop if say, a fire alarm went off. I can live with that. Life is easier when a coworker tries to get my attention. too. The noise cancellation works best screening out constant noise. So the sound of someone talking quietly a few feet away is pretty well muted, but someone speaking directly to you becomes curiously distinct, without being invasive. And the sound fidelity of the music is wonderful — easily as good as my Shure earphones. The mid-bass handles a little differently, so I had to change my EQ settings, but that's a minor consideration.

The Show Must Go On

Of course, a premium set of headphones like the Bose QuietComfort® 2 is something of an investment — in fact, the price for these is roughly the same as my poor Shures cost. Given how often I use headphones, the sound quality, and the sheer comfort of the Bose set, the investment seemed quite reasonable, and I was all set to plunk down my money... that is, until the starter on my ancient Trooper died, then the rear brake pads needed replacing, then the speedometer stopped working.

In short, I want these headphones, but I'm going to have to save up. In the mean time, I'm looking for a lower-budget set that'll still give me great sound. And so the quest continues...

• It Can't Come Quickly Enough — Scissor Sisters
• I Want It All — Queen
• Rescue Me — Aretha Franklin
• The Show Must Go On — Queen