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Re:Open plan offices attract highest levels of worker dissat... by sliverstorm on Thursday September 19, 2013 @12:55AM (#6409903)
Good headphones are comfortable. I actually prefer them sometimes to no headphones, 'cause they keep my ears warm.
Re:Open plan offices attract highest levels of worker dissat... by dredmorbius on Thursday September 19, 2013 @03:15AM (#6410294)
I've got the reverse problem: I'm _always_ warm. Keep a fan at my desk, on at all times. Over-the-ear phones trap a _lot_ of heat.

Instead I use earplugs.

Re:Open plan offices attract highest levels of worker dissat... by epsylon on Thursday September 19, 2013 @04:37AM (#6410535)
I wear glasses and I have yet to find a pair of sufficiently isolating headphones that doesn't become painfully uncomfortable after 1 hour. And I've tried various high-end solutions.
Re:Open plan offices attract highest levels of worker dissat... by masomenos on Thursday September 19, 2013 @01:31PM (#6412986)
Tried Etymotic earbuds? They come with a bunch of adapters to fit different sized ears. My model is of course discontinued but the mc5 looks closest. http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/mc5.html

edit: unlike any other earbuds I have tried, they are engineered to survive the inevitable wax-plugging. Just replace the filter & you're back in business.

Re:Open plan offices attract highest levels of worker dissat... by abalone on Thursday September 19, 2013 @01:34AM (#6410030)
Try earmuffs?
Re:Open plan offices attract highest levels of worker dissat... by miahi on Thursday September 19, 2013 @02:03AM (#6410103)
I tried industrial earmuffs for a while (-25 dB), when I was in a noisy office, and they work. With another "layer" of in-ear phones you can work anywhere. They also send a stronger signal of "don't bother me", but some will find it rude.
Re:Open plan offices attract highest levels of worker dissat... by jarjoura on Thursday September 19, 2013 @02:10AM (#6410122)
LOL where is your office?