My Itchy Travel Feet | The Baby Boomer's Guide To Travel

Hearing the Difference with Able Planet Active Noise Canceling Headphones

by Donna Hull on 2010/02/02

Able-Planet-True-Fidelity-Active-Noise-Canceling-HeadphonesAs I sit at my desk writing this review, the rich sounds of acoustic guitar reverberate through the Able Planet True Fidelity Active Noise Canceling Headphones (NC300W) that I’m wearing. The headphones are plugged into my MAC which is tuned to my favorite Pandora channel. The noise canceling switch is turned on, improving the musical quality while dulling outside sounds with white noise. I can hardly hear the annoying leaf blower that a gardener is using right outside my office window. The best part? The volume control attached to the connection wire is barely turned up, allowing beautiful sound without damaging my hearing. That’s important to this baby boomer.

True Fidelity Active Noise Canceling Headphones are produced by Able Planet, a company that designs innovative products for the hearing impaired. According to their website, “Able Planet embeds patent-pending LINX AUDIO™ into audio and communication devices to enhance sound quality and speech clarity for all levels of hearing.” The system enhances sound for those who need to hear better while providing quality sound to able-bodied listeners like me, allowing us to preserve our hearing by turning the sound down.

The headphones arrived in a protective case that included one AAA battery, 1/4 home stereo adaptor, a 3.5 mm plug with in-line volume control and an airline adapter. The sturdy adjustable headphones feature padded earpieces that completely cover your ears. I usually find these types of headphones uncomfortable but the True Fidelity headphones are quite comfortable.

If you’re a baby boomer traveler who’s coveted high-priced noise canceling headphones, the Able Planet True Fidelity Active Noise Canceling Headphones could be your answer. Offered at a price point of $129.99 (I found them on Amazon for $76.00), they provide good value for the price. The only downside is the room that the case will take up in your carry-on, which might be a challenge for some of us over-packers.

Since I’m not a big techie, I consulted my friend Google to find a few reviews for those of you who want to learn more about the technical aspects:

The Gadgeteer writes about her experience using True Fidelity Active Noise Canceling Headphones on a plane.
Tnerd focuses on the technical aspects of True Fidelity Active Noise Canceling Headphones.

Now for my favorite part. The folks at Able Planet are offering the True Fidelity Active Noise Canceling Headphones to one of my readers. So, post a comment to tell me what you’ll be listening to on the headphones as you travel to your next baby boomer adventure. Please include your email address for contact purposes. Contest ends on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 11:00 p.m. Arizona Mountain Standard Time. Winner will be announced as soon as possible. Remember, according to my general contest rules, the winner must be a U.S. resident and respond within 48 hours of receiving the notification email; or I chose another winner.

Able Planet provided the True Fidelity Active Noise Canceling Headphones for my review. The Amazon link that I’ve included is for your convenience. However My Itchy Travel Feet does receive a small percentage for purchases made at Amazon.com.

UPDATE: February 10, 2010. This contest has expired. As soon as the winner acknowledges receipt of my email, I’ll make the announcement.

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  • lockworw
    i'd love to be listening to music on a plane with these.
  • lilyk
    I'll be listening to Erasure.

    lilyk@mail2world.com
  • garrettsambo
    I'll be listening to some Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin music. garrettsambo@aol.com
  • gkran
    Chopin :)
  • Jay F.
    I'd be listening to audiobooks on my Zune with this. I just downloaded Game Change.

    jayfr at yahoodotcom
  • nesta67
    I'll be listening to some U2
  • Swtlilchick
    I will be listening to Shawn Colvin on my headphones
  • heather c
    I either listen to a movie we're watching on our player or I'm trying to listen to something relaxing via the planes stations.
  • auriette
    My iPod includes American Theatre Wing interviews, show tunes, classic rock and '80s pop. I'm pretty eclectic with my musical tastes, and I hate the earbuds. Noise-canceling technology would be perfect for traveling, too. Hubby and I flew to England in 2008 for our long-postponed honeymoon, and multiple babies cried all night on the redeye. Not fun.
  • Brian E.
    Thanks for the giveaway...when traveling by plane I like to listen to some mellow jazz or top 40 stuff just to block out the ambient drone.

    senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com
  • kathypease
    i would jam out to some ac/dc :)
  • Dan Oreilly
    I'd listen to oldies.
  • Amber G
    I would love to enter please!
  • Jen
    I would listen to my audiobook of George Orwell's "1984."
  • Chris
    I will be listening to either Michael Buble or Frank Sinatra with my new headphones. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
  • Melissa w
    I will be listening to my country music on my ipod touch :)
    I am flying soon, so this is perfect.
  • Sandra Diana
    I'll be rockin' out to Huey Lewis and the News!
  • ladyt1964
    I have been listening to a lot of 80's ballads lately so thats what I'll be listening to.
  • js2222
    I'll be listening to Beatles!
    Thanks for the giveaway!
  • christopher h
    i'd listen to podcasts
  • Rosey
    I'll be listening to my new iPod which has a little of everything, rock, alternative rock, country, religious, jazz, classical, pop, and even some kids tunes for the little guy.
  • leandrew
    AWESOME!

    Great giveaway offering!

    Would love to win a pair of these earphones!

    Great for listening to my favorite group of 'all-time' Fleetwood Mac while traveling!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    Good Luck to all!
  • carol lewis
    I will use them to make it quite while I fly so I can read. Drives me nuts when I cannot and I keep reading the same thing over and over. I never could study with noise, either.
    The other thing I would do is wear them while on the computer because my hubby has the TV on all the time and sometimes I don't like the noise or what he watches and so this would let me zone out!
    Fantastic giveaway!
  • electricisland
    The Beatles- While my guitar gently weeps.
  • barbarawr
    Beatles, of course!
  • happishopr
    I'll have Disciple or praise and worship music playing on my ipod.
  • Constance L
    I'll be listening to all my favorite songs on my ipod.
  • wendywallach
    i would be listening to broadway showtunes.
  • heaventrees
    I'll be listening to anything from The Eagles to Amy Winehouse. I'm eclectic.
  • gloriase
    I'll be using the ipod on my iphone to listen to an audio book
  • damon
    After last night's SuperBowl, I want The Who on my headphones.
  • denyse
    I'll be listening to some Boom Boom Pow!
  • I'll just enjoy the quiet.....
  • amandakbarnes90
    I will be listening to Natasha Bedingfield...for sure! :)
    Amanda Barnes
    amandakbarnes90@gmail.com
  • jillmyrick
    On my way to our next adventure I will be listening to Rascal Flatts.
    Thank you so much for the chance to win.

    jweezie43[at]aol[dot]com
  • deanac
    I will be listening to Pink Floyd!
  • deanac
    I will be listening to Pink Floyd!
  • berwyn100
    On these earphones I would be listening to The Best of Santana!
  • Karen
    I will be listening to red hot chili peppers
  • mogrill
    I would love the headphones. I always get stuck next to a noisy kid. Thanks for the chance.
    mogrill@comcast.net
  • I will be listening to Philip Glass or the latest episode of This Week In Travel (shameless plug)
  • I love Pandora! It's always on when I'm surfing. These sound (pun intended) great.
  • cynthiac
    I'll be listening to audio books and Pink Floyd on my iPod.
  • I got some noise canceling ear-bud type headphones as a gift years ago and they make a world of difference, even if I use them just to cancel out ambient noise when working from a hostel or airplane.
  • timbosquad
    That's a very easy one. I'm big into Soothing music lately, and I'd be beboping around town to The Album Leaf's subtle, dulcet tones :)
  • Jamie
    I would use these to listen to audio books.
  • Stephanie V.
    have a long trip across the pond scheduled so probably to a movie and some classical music.
    tvollowitz at aol dot com
  • sweetsue
    I will probably be listening to an audio book-preferably one by Stephen King.
  • angelaj
    I like the oldies, so I'd be listening to the old crooners like Sinatra
  • bruce
    I fly a lot so this would be wonderful. First, it would help drown out the engine noise so I could hear music and movies better. But also, it would also help drown out the inevitable screaming babies. I love kids -- even have a few -- but four or more hours of this while stuck in an aluminum tube with a narrow seat and no legroom.....

    Yeah, these would be fantastic!
  • Brad
    I'll be listening to Mercy Me
  • sarahhirsch
    I might try listening to SILENCE while my kids listen to THEIR music without headphones. ;) That, or some Tori Amos.
  • Sharon B
    I'm a fellow Baby Boomer who loves all rock, pop, and soul. But I recently found the "relaxation" channel on Pandora, and that's pretty nice, too. Would sound even better on these headphones!
  • karid
    I'll be listening to the latest John Grisham audio book. I LOVE those!
  • Stacy
    I'd choose to listen to SILENCE. It's my favorite sound :)
  • Great contest Donna! And you gotta love Adam's comment that he is not a boomer, but will be old someday! Ha! Just you wait Adam - when you get there you won't feel "old"! If I won these cool headphones, I would listen to the jazz of Diana Krawl, Norah Jones, John Mayer, some folk with Robert Earl Keen, some R&B with Otis Redding and Earth Wind & Fire, lots of classic rock like Zep, Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and of course wicked guitars like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton...OK, I better stop, but you get the picture.
  • hale2005
    I will be listening to some MJ Live!

    hellrzr(at)juno(dot)com
  • I'm a horror movie junkie so I'd use the headphones to connect to my portable DVD player and pop in some of my favorite horror movies: The Evil Dead or The Exorcist.
  • nicole
    I like to listen to staind or creed on airplanes.
  • Every time I fly I wish I had some noise canceling headphones, but I always think of it too late for the trip! I'd likely be listening to the Hawaiian Music I love.
  • Wow those headsets would be great the next time I travel to Europe! I love listening to everything from Classical, Johnny Cash, Pop, Rock, Alternative, House, Electronic you name I listen to it as long as it is good. If were to be flying however I would probably listen to some nice classical music to calm my nerves.
  • abfantom
    I would use these at the offices to listen to internet radio and block out all of the office noise.
  • judystock
    Donna, I love this idea. I didn't know they had anything like the noise canceling headphone set. On my trip to NYC in December, the plane's noise really bothered me. Would be so good to do without that annoying sound. And, I will bring my Mac, have it on my lap, and will be listening to my Bruce Springsteen channel on Pandora.
  • Wow, great looking head phones. I confess it'slargely inspired by a blog post about Granada i read earlier today - but Flamenco is definitely the first thing that springs to my mind. Always great music for relaxing, writing or reading.
  • traymona
    Joh Mayer's Continuum, some Stevie Ray Vaughn, or crank up the Led Zep.
  • Michael
    These sound great
  • They sound great! I'm not into music, so it will be an audio book (borrowed from the library) - last trip was P. D. James, next trip likely more of the same - or a travel podcast - maybe Amateur Traveler.
  • Kewl contest! I would listen to Morrissey, Led Zeppelin and Cocteau Twins.
  • Christine
    These sound great. I fly a lot and would love to try these. Let's see, what would I be listening to? Probably something classical and very very soothing!
  • Sandy2118
    Now here's a prize, I really, really need! Not for me, for my husband. To cancel his noise!

    Being a needy retired person, or, to be more exact, a needy retired SWEDISH person, he derives great pleasure from listening to Swedish radio through the Internet. The only problem is we have only one computer, and it's mine, my WORK MACHINE. I have often been obliged to explain this reality to him, as gently as possible, not an easy task when he lies on the couch beside my computer chair, a contented smile on his face. Having lived abroad myself for a long period, I know what it's like to miss one's country, so I try to share. Most of the time I do not mind the voice speaking in resolute tones connected to his favorite history programs and can tune it out but not always. But when I'm tired, or in a rush trying to meet a deadline, being able to hand him this Able Planet head-set would be a true Godsend ...
  • I'm with Sheryl--when I need to relax I have a piano concerto channel on Pandora that's nice and soothing. Then a Fergie channel for when I have to clean up.
  • I'm not a baby boomer but I'll be old someday. And it's probably better if I start paying attention to my hearing sooner rather than later.

    I'd use the headphones to listen along to my playlist of travel themed songs. And to drown out the... uh... obnoxious noises?.... when staying in a hostel. That is, until the headphones get stolen!
  • Mike
    Heading on my first international flight this year. Going to New Zealand so with the long flight I would listen to many various things. Probably listen to a classic rock playlist with Allman Brothers, Beatles, etc mixed in with a few sermons from church.
  • ottsworld
    Always wanted some of those! I hate the ones that come with all of the Apple products! Not all ears are created equal!
    If I win I'll most definitely listen to my favorite podcasts - NPR Wait, Wait don't tell me, This American Life, and The Moth - these are my best travel companions!
  • yinyang160
    I'll give then to my husband so he can play his i pod to himself
  • fangirljen
    I'll be listening to some great Retro 1980's rock like the Eurythmics.
  • Not a baby boomer but I'd love these. I'd be listening to Bach, my favorite composer. Pick me! Pick me!!
  • sarahhenry
    As an anxious air traveler I would so love to have a pair of noise canceling headphones as I spend a lot of time in the sky trying to convince myself I'm somewhere other than floating above the clouds.

    So, natch, I'd be playing soothing sounds and relaxation mantras, you know, stuff like "you're protected by a beautiful white bubble....you're wrapped in a secure, comfy blanket....safe passage, safe passage, safe passage." Gets me thru the worst of the white knuckle moments;).
  • Sheryl
    Nice contest, Donna What I usually listen to when I fly...a nice, relaxing classical piano concerto. Being a nervous flyer, this helps to calm me; even lulls me to sleep if I'm lucky! I need to tune out the world.
  • carol
    cdziuba@aol.com I will be listening to Bruce Hornsby and Elton John. My first comment evaporated!
  • caroldz
    cdziuba@aol.com Listening to Bruce Hornsby and Elton John.
  • MeredithResnick
    These sound (no pun intended) wonderful. I've been toying with purchasing a pair of these for myself and one for my husband. I think it would make air travel so much better. I recently saw someone wearing a pair at the gym, too, which could come in handy with some of the music they play in the weight room from time to time!
  • I'll be listening to the music of songwriters Carrie Newcomer and Cathie Ryan, and the fiddle of Hanneke Cassel.
  • I'll be using the ipod app on my iphone to listen to an audio book, probably the bio of MLK.
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