[Tarsul]

here's hoping that someday headphones without pressure (e.g. active/passive noise cancelling) will make a comeback, too. But then again I think there still exist cheap wired ones without such "advanced" technology. As one woman in the article said best: "'I don't like how this feels' and we're all kind of returning to the last place we were comfortable."

[DerArzt]

> here's hoping that someday headphones without pressure (e.g. active/passive noise cancelling) will make a comeback, too

What do you mean? There are tons of wired headphones that don't do noise cancelling at multiple price points.

I can still pick up a new pair of headphones that I started using 10 years ago (AudioTechnica m50x if you want the recommendation).

[brudgers]

For wireless headphones I've gone to bone conduction and open-ear. Started with some cheap models from Ali-Express to see how I liked it. I did.

Shokz had a black friday deal on Open-Run Pros and those are my goto. Admittedly, they are not as convenient as my Airpods were, but my ears appreciate not being bombarded with noise canceling.

[orev]

Every headphone that has noise cancelling also gives you the option to turn it off, and also to enable audio pass through.

[procaryote]

Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 at least just allows varying levels of passthrough. You can have noise cancelling or noise cancelling + sound from the outside mike. You cannot have noise-cancelling off for better battery life or to cope with windy conditions

They're awful in several other ways too, which is sad for what should be their flagship model

[brudgers]

Yep.

I prefer other technologies over noise cancelling in my ordinary use anyway. And my ears feel healthier. But that’s me, not you.

[JoshTriplett]

I avoid noise cancelling as well; I find that it very rapidly gives me a headache. I prefer a nice set of headphones that physically block outside sound.