Hi. I have a neurological condition that makes me especially
sensitive to sound. It's very hard to think when there is
uncontrollable noise around me (as in the office where I work - people
talking, opening cellophane wrappers on candy, etc), and sometimes it
is even physically painful. It's certainly very tiring.

I've been looking at active noise cancelling headphones to help combat
this. I like how the Bose QuietComfort II headphones can be worn
without listening to music, but with the noise cancellation still on.
I want that option, to have the noise cancellation always on, and
listen to music only if I feel like it. I get tired of listening to
music all the time to drown out the other sounds. I really just want
it to be quiet.

Over-the-ear hearing protectors such as you find in hardware stores
don't work well enough, and anything I have to insert in my ear canal
is too painful to use for very long. So I need something external.

I keep reading how Bose has this awful reputation, and $300 is a lot
of money to gamble on something working the way I want it to. I know
what I want, but I don't know what I should get. Sennheiser? Bose
QC2? Sony MDR-NC20? I'm no audiophile, and I'm out of my depth
trying to make this decision on my own.

Can anyone please offer advice?