Patrick, I've never used them, but don't you want to be able to hear what's going on around you on the subway? Just make sure you evaluate the safety angle.

I tend to go with the flow on the subway. If everyone suddenly got off the subway, i would follow them. If everyone clutches there valuables close to them, I do the same. If everyone looks calm and peaceful, I assume that I should do the same. NB, my daily commute is very simple, only one train.

just watched the video on the web page. The headphones cancel out low frequencies, so human voices and I assume bird songs are still audible.

Good news -- you can still hear the birds singing in the subway.

Amusingly enough David Pogue has a video clip of this up (maybe that's what started you thinking).

Do you want the full over the ear ones or the deep in your ear canal ones?

I have friends who liked the bose ones, but as with most things, you have to try them on to see if they're comfortable (I don't remember which model, they said they made flying a lot more comfortable. I'd get some except they fit poorly over my turban :-D)

I've been using these Shure headphones for a while now -- I think they are pretty comfortable and do a good job at drowning out noise. But they're not noise reducing in the same fancy circuit way, they just plug up the ear canal. Hence they are only $100 instead of $350. So it's not like you won't hear anything else, but they will block out the annoying guy next to you on his cell phone. Plus they sound much much much better than the (*(*&(^%$^$@# earbuds that come with an iPod.

The bottom line of the article was you couldn't go wrong with the Bose, maybe that is what I will do.
Although I hope I won't feel stupid or incumbered by the large headpones. That's the one thing that fives me pause, lugging large headphones around everyday.
Mike, I am intrested that you were dissatisfied with the Ipod buds. I was blown away by the sound quality when I first used mine. It remined me of the first time I put on my glasses. Oh! this is how this music sounds.

I thought the bottom line of the article was that the Audio-Technica headphones were as good as the Bose but cost a lot less.

However, I think there is a big difference between subway noise and airplane noise. My understanding is that these kinds of headphones don't work as well on the subway.

Yes, i thought he was kind of elitist trying them on an airplane and in his suburban home ("@%$* gardener making all that racket with the lawnmower"!) instead of on a NYC subway. And no discussion of street noise either. Doesn't David Pogue have Hell's Angels and ambulances roaring up his street every 5 minutes.

Maybe you can try them both in the subway and decide? I know the Bose has a take home and try policy, the competition might as well.

I would have loved to have used them when I had a cubicle, but they;re not designed to block out voices.