Noise cancelling headphones

Does anyone have experience with these for audiophile music listening - how well do they work and what might be some good ones to consider? The idea would be to remove the computer fan noise while listening - my computer isn't bad but it isn't silent either.

I have a rather basic pair. They work quite well at eliminating ambient noise at middling frequencies, however they also emit what can only be described as a white noise like tone when in operation. Since this is rather similar sounding to a computer fan, I can't promise it would be effective at achieving your particular objective. But perhaps other noise-cancelling techniques exist, I don't know...

If you want a pair of good sound cancelling headphones be prepared to spend quite a bit more than you would for a standard set.

Also, be sure you get some that can cancel over 15dbs. 15 is good for light ambient noise, but if you want something that you can use on an airplane or train and still get good sound, I wouldn't settle for anything less than 30db of cancellation. They make some that go up to 50, but your looking at about 300 to 400 dollars for those in the US

hope that helps

Thanks Mike and Will Kirk for the advice. It seems like an iffy and expensive approach to solving to what is mostly a nuisance problem.

i wouldn't go for 50db of active noise cancelling, unless you're in an airplaine every week since most of them introduce a high frequency hiss themselve (active components). i think -15db will do fine, unless you have you computer sitting 3 inches from your ears..
i know for sure a headphone with -15db noise cancellation will sound better overall than one that cancels out for 50db (cause of the frequencies it creates in opposite polarity which are supposed to cancel out the). don't forget a lot is going on in a noise cancelling headphone.

dude, go for one that isn't 'active', buy a closed dynamic headphones or whatever so there's less sound from the outside coming in.

i centrainly wouldn't go for a noise cancelling headphone, since i don't believe in noise cancelling 'anythings' (plugins, fx-pedals, etc.) since they always introduce their own problems.

If it's just the fans, unless they're obnoxiously loud (which isn't normal, I'd think), I think closed headphones would be enough to block out the sound.