As an introvert i hate it. It's always loud and temperamental and really if anything i should get a discount for using it.
Once did a late night Walmart run for a bunch of random stuff. Only to come up to no cashiers. Luckily the sweet girl at the self check out saw my panic and used a bar code scanner to get me on my way
When it just scans tags as i push my cart through I'll consider self checkout. Otherwise it just feels like I'm working for free.
Noise cancelling headphones is almost a medical aid when it comes to shopping. You don't have to listen to any noises except ones you like, and, people are much less likely to bother you.
I'd personally recommend Sennheiser Momentum 4. I have that one, and a Sony WH-1000XM4. I think maybe the Sony has slightly better noise cancellation, but the M4 has better sound, and much better registration for when it is removed etc, so I only use that one. I've many times picked up the XM4 and it's out of battery because it never turned itself of. That has never happened with the M4, and it's super nice to be on the phone with someone, move the headphone from the right ear to talk to someone nearby, and it automatically mutes me. That kind of thing.
But, different budgets, different needs (I need over the ear for comfort, etc). Definitely don't take my word for it though and just see if you can try them out in a store. Maybe also check the app they expect you to use, as you don't find out if it sucks before you buy it otherwise.
I appreciate your response. The Momentum 4 seems like it would suit me but the app thing… why do they need an app? Everything should be built in.
I'll dig a little deeper but hey thanks for putting me on to something i haven't even heard of. I need to get out more I guess… noise cancelling has been around for a bit but I didn't like early products much. But have always had respect and good results from Sennheiser, will give it a go. Based on what Sony did to people that had their high end earbuds I'm wary of them and apps in general that load firmware with no reversion so i probably won't look into those.
I share the dislike of everything needing apps these days. The sony one was a little bit annoying because it seemed to have some paid products looking like normal features. It also occasionally turns on a feature that was quite annoying, where talking (even clearing your throat) would turn off noise cancelling and even amplify ambient noose. And I had to use the app to switch that feature off once a week.
The Momentum 4 works well without the app. It's nice if you want to change the equaliser settings. I sometimes do as they have a preset for audiobooks/podcasts. And it's been nice to confirm the effect of gestures you can do on the headphone (most moderns over the ear headphones have capasitive finger gestures on the flat side). Bluetooth works fine out of the box, and with it you can check battery power, switch tracks, volume, all of that stuff.
The only thing you really need the app for, is updating the headphone firmware, which you likely want to do, as they sometimes improve the notice cancelling, etc. Sidenote, that update took almost half an hour to complete, which is the longest firmware update I've ever seen. I havent checked if it is possible to update firmware using a computer and USB.
In any case. If it helps you out, I'm glad. Have a good one.
That is a lot of usefull information. I'm no fan of digital EQs whatsoever but I do use wavelet with the IEMs. Works great plugged in but knowing my next phone probably won't have a headphone connection I got a fiio BT amp and it just creates distortion with the EQ. Not sure who's to blame for that.
Hopefully the M4s behave better (yeah I'm sold). Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience, it's been very helpful!
Happy to help. Good luck. I also noticed your username twice now, I wrote about the windows installer messing up my RAID system. Lemmy is a small world yet :) Have a good one.
I don't know . I had a cart full of everything from window blinds to steaks and for me it seemed like an ordeal because its an unknown.
And let's be fair, it's not a matter of scanning and moving on, that would be easy. Each item has to be scanned one at a time, and then weighed and bagged. Takes forever and in my experience something always goes wrong and I get "please wait for cashier / assistance".
Maybe just bad experiences or I am perhaps an idiot when it comes to them.
To the point of the topic: keeping my head down while someone scans my items and then swiping my card is far easier than all the attention and interactions I create with the self checkout machines.
As an introvert i hate it. It's always loud and temperamental and really if anything i should get a discount for using it.
Once did a late night Walmart run for a bunch of random stuff. Only to come up to no cashiers. Luckily the sweet girl at the self check out saw my panic and used a bar code scanner to get me on my way
When it just scans tags as i push my cart through I'll consider self checkout. Otherwise it just feels like I'm working for free.
Noise cancelling headphones is almost a medical aid when it comes to shopping. You don't have to listen to any noises except ones you like, and, people are much less likely to bother you.
Do you mean active noise cancelling? If yes, do you have any recommendations?
I have some nice wired IEMs that kinda do the job but only problem is I catch myself almost dancing as I get lost in my own world hah
I'd personally recommend Sennheiser Momentum 4. I have that one, and a Sony WH-1000XM4. I think maybe the Sony has slightly better noise cancellation, but the M4 has better sound, and much better registration for when it is removed etc, so I only use that one. I've many times picked up the XM4 and it's out of battery because it never turned itself of. That has never happened with the M4, and it's super nice to be on the phone with someone, move the headphone from the right ear to talk to someone nearby, and it automatically mutes me. That kind of thing.
But, different budgets, different needs (I need over the ear for comfort, etc). Definitely don't take my word for it though and just see if you can try them out in a store. Maybe also check the app they expect you to use, as you don't find out if it sucks before you buy it otherwise.
I appreciate your response. The Momentum 4 seems like it would suit me but the app thing… why do they need an app? Everything should be built in.
I'll dig a little deeper but hey thanks for putting me on to something i haven't even heard of. I need to get out more I guess… noise cancelling has been around for a bit but I didn't like early products much. But have always had respect and good results from Sennheiser, will give it a go. Based on what Sony did to people that had their high end earbuds I'm wary of them and apps in general that load firmware with no reversion so i probably won't look into those.
I share the dislike of everything needing apps these days. The sony one was a little bit annoying because it seemed to have some paid products looking like normal features. It also occasionally turns on a feature that was quite annoying, where talking (even clearing your throat) would turn off noise cancelling and even amplify ambient noose. And I had to use the app to switch that feature off once a week.
The Momentum 4 works well without the app. It's nice if you want to change the equaliser settings. I sometimes do as they have a preset for audiobooks/podcasts. And it's been nice to confirm the effect of gestures you can do on the headphone (most moderns over the ear headphones have capasitive finger gestures on the flat side). Bluetooth works fine out of the box, and with it you can check battery power, switch tracks, volume, all of that stuff.
The only thing you really need the app for, is updating the headphone firmware, which you likely want to do, as they sometimes improve the notice cancelling, etc. Sidenote, that update took almost half an hour to complete, which is the longest firmware update I've ever seen. I havent checked if it is possible to update firmware using a computer and USB.
In any case. If it helps you out, I'm glad. Have a good one.
That is a lot of usefull information. I'm no fan of digital EQs whatsoever but I do use wavelet with the IEMs. Works great plugged in but knowing my next phone probably won't have a headphone connection I got a fiio BT amp and it just creates distortion with the EQ. Not sure who's to blame for that.
Hopefully the M4s behave better (yeah I'm sold). Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience, it's been very helpful!
Happy to help. Good luck. I also noticed your username twice now, I wrote about the windows installer messing up my RAID system. Lemmy is a small world yet :) Have a good one.
What's there to "panic" about? Just scan your things and move on?
I don't know . I had a cart full of everything from window blinds to steaks and for me it seemed like an ordeal because its an unknown.
And let's be fair, it's not a matter of scanning and moving on, that would be easy. Each item has to be scanned one at a time, and then weighed and bagged. Takes forever and in my experience something always goes wrong and I get "please wait for cashier / assistance".
Maybe just bad experiences or I am perhaps an idiot when it comes to them.
To the point of the topic: keeping my head down while someone scans my items and then swiping my card is far easier than all the attention and interactions I create with the self checkout machines.