EX25 Extreme Isolation Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Headband is very tight, I had to wear it angled forward for comfort. Audiophiles may be dissapointed by the sound quality but I would rate it above average. My old Panasonic RP-HT240 had better sound quality but it's headphone cup cushion material was flimsy (disintegrating within 5 yrs) whereas these EX-25 headphone cups are high quality, functional & durable. This does not use sound circuitry which I considere a plus since those electronic gimicks add a bit of white noise. You must be cautious about wire connection at the headphone cups since it's not a very sturdy connection. Long cable length. Airplane headset adapter jack not included.

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Extreme Isolation Headphones are the only isolation headphones that do not leak sound into microphones during recording. No bleed of click tracks or recorded tracks. The only passive isolation headphones that can be worn for long periods of time without ear or head fatigue weighing only 9.5oz. The headband is stretchable over time and does not need to be tight on your head to block sound. These headphones have supurb fidelity for your studio and personal audio device. The choice of music college students from coast to coast for peace and quite in noisy dorms. NO BATTERIES REQUIRED.Outstanding fidelity for your project studio Light weight design only 9.5 oz. Ear cushions that do not bleed sound into live microphones while recording Comfortable headband that is adjustable and will stretch out for a perfect fit Professional gold screw-on 1/4" adaptor

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Sony MDR-NC6 Noise Canceling Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Yeah, they feel cheap, they are cheap. But nonethless, and on the light of their price, this phones are quite good.
I've tested the Bose QC2 and owned the Sennheiser PXC300 noise-reducing headphones, both well beyond the $100 mark, and even more beyond this Sony's asking price, and that's what makes these a good offer. The Bose is tops, the Sennhaiser are just slightly behind. To tell you the truth, I like the Bose earcups quite a lot and that's what makes the difference for me between those two.
Contrary to several other opinions I've just read here, I found this unit's earpads quite comfortable, non-obtrusive and well designed. Maybe I have flat ears or something, but I don't suffer from them. Neither do I suffer from the pressure of the headphones over my head (I have a big head by the way). Granted, I struggled a little trying several adjustments before feeling really comfortable with the set on. What I find a little obtrusive however, is the location of the battery compartment, looks bad, feels bad, and makes you think they put it there as an aftertought. Construction seems adequate, for the price. Some materials seem higher quality than others though. The earpieces feel particularly fragile, but you get a set that's very light.
The sound, altough not great, is pleasantly good, specially when the NR circuit is on. I have an old pair of Sony Digital Reference headphones for this kind of tests, since they are some kind of a benchmark from the days when Sony made high quality products. So I put the NC6 through a series of good quality audio sources and the results were surprising. No audiophile, netiher digital reference studio headphones levels here, but a very good, satisfying experience. The bass is powerful but not overriding, the midrange is rich and well balanced, high frequencies just blend in.
Now on the NR feature. If you read the specs, the NR circuitry on this model works on the low part of the human hearing spectrum. They do NOT reduce high frecuency noises such as voices, TV, etc. What they do is reduce humming, vibrating, low frequency noises. And they do it well. I tested this on environments with some noisy A/C units, washing machines, seating on an airplane, and the results altough not on par with the costlier units aforementioned, are satisfactory considering what you pay. I could hear music from my iPod with a comfortable volume level on the plane, and enjoy it. This can't be said about most other alternatives in the price range.
With the NR circuit on, the source sound gets a little boost, this can hardly be annoying and otherwise can be quite positive since it allows you to lower the source volume level and in the case of battery-hungry hdd-based digital players this can give you a bit more from your battery charge.
As with others NR sets, white noise is mixed with the source to provide the "cancelling" part of the equation. Yes, this white noise can be heard on this set, and on any other NR set I've tried. A bit lower on more expensive models, but a perceptible compromise anyway. To some people, this can sound a bit artificial, and it somewhat does, but hey, consider the alternative withstanding a noisy plane cabin, A/C units, and other such environments preventing you from hearing and enjoying your music.
If you're evaluating NR for the first time, go with these. They are inexpensive, and will give you an idea of what to expect from better sets. For the price you won't regret it, since you can opt for something up on the model line later and keep these as some kind of an emergency replacement, or keep them at your office, shop, etc. Your non-audiophile kids will probably love them too and they won't be damaging their eardrums prematurely.
Accesories include an airplane adapter and a pouch, both standard quality items, no surprises there. The audio cable has what seems to me the correct length, unlike some other sets with miles of cables to worry about. Even better, the cord is single-sided so you don't get to struggle around untangling it. Battery life seems erratic, I got about 35 hrs with a mid volume level using alkalines. Rechargeables are challenging, lasting from 15 to 25 hrs, but when you are running out, the NR feature fades away fast, so keep replacements handy since it gets a bit hard to pinpoint your battery-life expectancy.
I give them four stars, they are very good for starters, and for evaluating the technology without making a big investment.

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pShut off the outside world with MDR-NC6 noise canceling headphones. Ambient sound can be reduced over 10dB at 300Hz, which means youll hear more music, and less plane/train/bus noise. Noise canceling headphones are great for work, traveling, or even when youre trying to sleep in a loud place. The MDR-NC6 have a slim swivel folding design, making them more compact for storage. Includes plug adaptor to connect directly to a stereo or dual jack of in-flight music services./p

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Sony MDR-NC40 Noise Canceling Headphone (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I travel a great deal and have a drawer full of noise canceling headphones by Panasonic, Kensington, JVC and Sony. Each had limitations -- not enough high end, poor construction, poor noise reduction, or in the case of lesser Sony's I bought several months ago, pretty good sound, but rather inadequate ear cups and poor portability (they wouldn't fold up to occupy as little as possible space in my briefcase.)Always worried about losing or damaging something while traveling I did not go for the full kahuna and buy Bose.
So, having seen these around some local shops and taken a listen I bought the NC40 and immediately took them on a trip.
By and large they are fine. When turned on (don't even try to listen to them when off) the sound is rich and clean; lovely base and good high end, which is important to my tired ole ears. Plenty of mid-range. Nice volume. I'm not sure they are world beaters in terms of overall noise reduction, but they certainly take the edge off and from my same old seat near the rear of a Southwest jet, they provide a relaxing and easy to take listening experience. One WANTS to use this extremely comfortable headset, whether noise reduction is needed or not. I hear things I didn't know my MP3 decoder put in a file. Oh, I listen mainly to jazz and classical music.
Oh yes, they fold up neatly and I like the on-off switch/battery holder, which lives by itself on the connecting line and has an override button that works beautifully.


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Shut out up to 80% of the ambient noise around you with the MDR-NC40 noise canceling headphone. Great for work, traveling or just when you're trying to sleep in a loud place, they provide a calming atmosphere no matter where you are. The pressure-relieving cushion offers premium comfort, and the lightweight, folding design makes storing them a breeze. Includes a premium travel case and "AAA" batteries.

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Denon AH-NC800 Advanced Noise Canceling Headphones (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The only credible review on noise canceling it to take it to flight, I brought my QC15 & Denon NC800. Once the cabin pressure, altitude and engine noise put together affect your body & hearing is a completely difference feeling than standing at BestBuy store or your living room. Bose QC15 still "a little bit better" in noise cancellation, a little bit but not that much. Music wise the QC15 is not nearly as good as the Denon NC800. Mid flight QC15 sounded so dull and disappointing, coz Bose's especialty is on Public Address System, even their headphones sounded that way, thats why they were never an audiophile marque, where a league Denon belongs. Yes NC800 noise canceling mode is just a notch lower than QC15, but that is an acceptable trade-off coz Denon sounded well at 40,000 feet, my iPod Nano Touch volume is only set to 1/3 with EQ off, very nice. I would be interested to test the Sennheiser MM500 & Denon NC800 next time I fly to HongKong. Here the final verdict done in mid flight from Newark to HongKong:
Bose QC15 - Best for noise canceling "ONLY"
Denon NC800 - Best for both noise canceling and music
I will pick the Denon hands down, noise canceling on denon is slightly less agressive than Bose but acceptable trade-off due to sound quality that never present on Bose.

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Equipped with Denon's innovative Dual Noise Cancelling system, the AH-NC800 headphones provide the optimum combination of quietness and audio fidelity. The AH-NC800 employs a Hybrid Aluminum Housing Material Housing to reduce ear cup resonance maximizing fidelity. It features not one, but two noise cancellation detection microphones. One microphone listens to ambient noise around the earpiece, while the other is internally mounted within the ear cup of the headphone to detect unwanted vibration and resonance. Together they provide superb noise isolation along with outstanding audio quality. For optimum comfort, the AH-NC800's feature 3D-contoured soft protein leather covers over super-soft compliant foam pads, together providing maximum acoustic isolation along with supreme comfort allowing for extended listening sessions without fatigue. The headphones are supplied with two different detachable Oxygen Free Copper cables, including a shorter (.7m) cable for connection to a portable audio player, and a longer (1.5m) cable for connection to a PC, airline jack or convention audio system. Both feature gold plated 3.5mm plugs. The headphones can be worn without the cable being connected, and can be used with or without the noise cancelling function activated. The AH-NC800 is also equipped with Denon's exclusive Compressed Audio Restorer circuitry, which provides re-construction of the full audio spectrum of compressed music formats. The anatomically correct light weight headband features 11 comfort adjustment steps. The AH-NC800 sets performance audio standards in noise cancelling headphones.

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Panasonic RP-HC500 Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I just purchased the Audio-Technica Quiet Point ($124) and the Panasonic RPHC-500 earphones and compared them side-by side, using a CD run through Bose Speakers, with an earphone outlet on the speakers. I found that both earphones are equal in ear coverage; i.e., the earphones themselves are the same shape and size. Sound quality: virtually the same, with the exception that the Panasonics were a little "Bass-ier" than the Audio-Tehnicas, and might be better suited to use with an amplifier where the bass tones from the amplifier could be regulated. I found that the base tones on the Panasonic were somewhat greater as compared to the A-Ts, but if the listener likes a greater amount of bass tone, then the Panasonic would be the perfect choice.
I then compared both to the Bose $350 fit-over-the-ear model. The Bose displayed a clearer sound quality, but for $350, I would choose the Audio-Technica or Panasonics due to their far lower prices and better construction. The Bose earphone yokes are extremely fragile. I just fractured the yokes on my second pair of Boses and hopefully they can be repaired when I send them back to the company. It seems inconceivable that such an expensive pair of earphones can break so easily. The Panasonics seem to have the beefiest yokes. The Audio-Tehnicas have a similar physical appearance to the Boses. From the standpoint of yoke strength, it appears that the Panasonics win out over the other two. Also, the Audio-Technica yokes poke out about 1/2 inch more than either the Bose or Panasonics, possibly making wearing them less comfortable if the wearer's head is turned to the side while lying on a pillow, for instance.
Comfort-wise, the A-T and Panasonics seem to be virtually identical. The Panasonics have a bit more padding, so if the user has little hair on top, they might be slightly more comfortable. They appear to be equally easily adjustable for optimum fit. The Panasonics arrived with a dual-plug for use on airlines, while the A-Ts did not. I have no idea if dual plugs are a requirement for listening to airline music; the last time I flew, I used the single-plug Boses with no problem.
While wearing each pair, I clicked my fingers at arm's length to compare the noise-cancelling qualites. The Panasonics won hands-down. The Panasonics also seemed to be slightly more adept at cancelling out the broadcast from a nearby table radio tuned to a talk show. Interestingly, the Bose earphones displayed what appeared come in a poor third, allowing more radio sound to come through, even though the noise-cancelling button was on, and a new battery had just been placed in the unit. How each would compare on an airline with screaming children, I have no clue
I plan to purchase the Panasonics and send the Audio-Technicas back. The Panasonics have better noise cancellation, better construction around the yoke area (hopefully making them less apt to break), include a dual plug for airline use, have a flatter profile in case the wearer wants to listen in bed while his/her head is in a lateral position on a pillow (or while sitting in a reclining chair), has a slightly better cushion at the top cross-piece, and is $25 cheaper than the Audio-Technicas. Both have nice carrying cases that display about the same size and bulk as displayed by the Bose. The Panasonic boasts 92% noise-cancelling capability, while Audio-Technicas have 85% printed on their box.
As far as the Bose earphones are concerned, I would not buy another pair. After comparing the Boses to the above earphones, I feel the Boses are far overpriced and far more prone to breakage. I am on my second pair, the first pair having broken on both sides and may be unrepairable. After the first pair proved to be so flimsy, I babied the second pair, but the yoke broke in the same spot as that of the first pair. The Bose earphones appear to be riding on their previous good reputation; however, these earphones IIRC were the only pair of earphones on the market that really provided good fidelity---there was no other competition. Now, there is competition, both in quality and price. I feel Bose needs to rethink their pricing and design features, lest they become non-competitive.I

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Panasonic RP-HC500 Noise-Canceling Headphones

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Denon AH-NC732 Active Noise Cancelling Headphone Review

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(More customer reviews)The Denon AH-NC732K is a very nice pair of headphones. They are compact, comfortable, and sound very good. The noise canceling works very well taking care of engine noise and other low frequencies. The included carrying case is perfect to slip in your briefcase or carry on bag and it has enough room for all of your adapters and cables.
The headphones don't fit around the ears like the larger Bose QuietComforts. They rest on and cover the entire ear. I was surprised that they were comfortable to wear. It took a little fiddling around to get a secure fit but it was worth it. The headphones feel like they are creating a seal to achieve maximum noise reduction. In fact if you just put them on without creating this "seal" you might not think much of these headphones so proper fit is key.
My first test was for noise cancellation. A lot of people will use these just for that feature and not even play any music through them. I ran an airplane noise WAV file through my desktop stereo system to simulate being in a plane. After cranking up the volume on my JBL 2.1 system I put the headphones on. There is a small switch on the side on the headphones to turn noise canceling on and off. With it off you could clearly hear the humming of the engines, the beeps of the seat belt indicators, and the general noises of cramming a hundred people in a cabin. Turning the noise cancellation on reduced these noises by 80%. The engines were barely audible and the beeps sounded like they were further away. Overall I was pretty pleased with the noise cancellation. Hopefully they work as well on a real flight.
I tested these for music with an iPod Nano and my stereo system. Plugged into the headphone out of my Peachtree Audio Decco using Sonos as a source I was immediately disappointed with the sound coming out of the Denons. They were bright and harsh with one note bass. I made sure the noise canceling switch was on, it was, and turning it off made the sound worse. I decided to "break in" the headphones before doing any more listening. I plugged them into the Nano and put it on shuffle mode, turned up the volume and then put a towel over them to drown out the sound.
After 5 hours of non stop playing I decided to give them another listen. They definitely sounded better, the highs were smoother and the bass was more relaxed. They still weren't great and for $299 they should be better. I decided to play around with the EQ settings on the Nano. Listening to The Beatles, Norah Jones, The Doobie Brothers, Daft Punk, etc. I checked every single EQ setting on the iPod. Surprisingly the Classical EQ setting sounded the best followed by Electronic , Rock, and Latin. With the Classical setting engaged these headphones sound fantastic. The volume was turned up 90% of the way to get the amount of sound I am used to, which is to say as loud as the real thing.
On my Shure E5C headphones the volume at half way is more than enough.
Comfort 4/5 They are very comfortable but it takes time to get them to fit correctly.
Convenience 5/5 I love the detachable cords, the case, and in a pinch you can listen to music if the battery dies.
Sound 5/5 They sound great once they break in but remember to try the EQ settings on your MP3 player to get the best sound.
Value 5/5 If you can try these at a local dealer and buy them for less than $299 (most dealers will discount) then they are a great deal, especially when compared to the competition.
EDIT 6-9-09
I took this set with me on a short flight from Denver to Milwaukee. Typically I take my Shure E5c ear buds, external headphone amp, and my iPod Touch with me on flights but I wanted to travel as light as possible on this trip. So I shoved the iPod into the back pocket of the Denons included carrying case and threw everything into my carry on bag.
So how much noise do they really cancel? Well I have to stick with my 80% comment from earlier. In terms of engine noise they probably canceled around 90%. It was the high pitched beeps, buzzing, and guy four rows ahead of me singing that got through.
I have always believed that in ear headphones like the Shures offered better sound and more isolation from noise than "noise canceling" headphones. Comparing my experience with the Shures and now the Denons I have to say that I have had a change of mind. These Denons were far more comfortable over the duration of the flight. They canceled more noise than the Shures blocked out and were less fatiguing to listen to. In a quiet environment the Shures E5C still has an edge over the Denon NC732 but my default travel headphone from now on will be the Denon AH-NC732.

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On ear, Active Noise Cancelin Headphone. This slim black headphone provides for over 95% outside noise reduction. Over 40 hours of battery life with a single AAA battery. This unit collapses into a small molded carrying case for traveling. iPhone/Touch compatible and no adaptor is needed! These are Great for the travelers or just someone who wants to listen only to their music!

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Kensington Noise Cancelling Headphones ( 33084 ) Review

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(More customer reviews)If Bose's "Quiet Comfort" was the only game in town, a useful but dispensable item like noise canceling headphone probably would have remained a luxury item that's beyond my reach. Luckily, the ultra greedy Bose is not the only player. Kensington's entrance into the noise canceling headphone arena took a completely pragmatic and value-centric approach - quite refreshing when contrasted with the THREE HUNDRED DOLLAR QuietComfort, which more or less do the same thing as Kensington's 33084. The biggest bone some users seem to have with 33084 is the complaint that the headset amplifies internal noise, such as tape hiss. I have no way to verify if the claim is true. But for most people-myself included, this would be a non-issue. I have used 33084 with my iPod, laptop, as well as plane audio system. For all these common systems, mechanical movements are minimal or negligible. The noises from these sources are practically non-existent to begin with, and 33084 certainly did not amplify any noises for me. However, if you're really old school and insisting on getting your tune fix from a hissy old tape deck, I don't think any headphone will pretty up the audio quality of granddaddy walkman to CD level. The actual noise cancellation part is also very decent. I've used the headphone on planes as well as next to an operating dryer, ambient noises do drop to a very comfortable level, while the music is maintained at near-original quality. Another thing I like about these headphones is the fact that they have very decent bass. The only fact I don't like about these headphones is the placement of the on-off switch. As another reviewer has mentioned, the on-off switch gets toggled in the bag too easily. But at less than 10% of Bose's price, I ain't complaining.

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Kensington K33084 Noise Canceling Headphone K33084 Headphones & Earphones

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AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-ANC25 Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)The sound quality of these headphones is not the best, I was expecting more from a brand like Audio Technica. I like the removable cable, which also happens to have a small connector on the end which fits my iPhone 2G.
The noise canceling on these works VERY well. It takes a few seconds to recognize the noise after you turn it on, so it isn't immediately noticeable...but after a few seconds it drowns everything out. The difference is immediately noticeable when you turn the feature off.
The headphones are also very comfortable, I can wear them for hours with minimal discomfort.

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AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-ANC27 Noise-Canceling Headphones

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Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B Active Noise-Cancelling Closed-Back Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Bose QC15 vs. Sennheiser PXC 450 vs. Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b
Disclosure: I have tried all these on an airplane. I am not an audiophile. Noise Cancelation is the most important attribute to me.
The Carrying Case: All three are quite durable and stiff.
1.) Bose- the smallest, a low profile, room for an Ipod, accessories too.
2.) Sennheiser- Square shape, low profile, however not a lot of room for anything else in case.
3.)Audio Technica- Nice big case if you want to carry extra stuff (Nintendo DS, ipod, etc).
Build Quality:
1.) Sennheiser- you can tell this is built VERY well. Strong plastics, good components, thick cord. Top notch. You feel like you are getting something really high quality.
2.)Audio Technica- Nice solid construction, appears durable.
3.)Bose- If this had a Sanyo logo on the side, I would not have flinched. How can something $300 be so incredibly cheaply made.
Size:
1.) Bose- as far as over the ears go, these are pretty small.
2.)Audio-Technica- mid-sized.
3.)Sennheiser- These are big. No question, but they store flat.
Comfort:
1.) Sennheiser- Very comfortable, will fit almost any size ears. Keep on for hours.
2.)Bose- Also comfortable. I did not experience "highs" discomfort.
3.)Audio-Technica- Perfectly satisfactory. Larger opening than previous AT model.
Sound:
1.) Sennheiser- I actually wore these at home too, simply to hear parts of songs I had never heard before. Astounding. My 10yr old music collection sounded totally NEW.
2.)Audio-Technica- Well balanced, good sound.
3.)Bose- Great sound, but very heavy on the bass. I listen to a lot of rap and pop, so it was mildly annoying. I ultimately had to turn my treble settings up on my ipod to balance the sound.
Features:
1.) Sennheiser- nice cord, push to talk button (temporarily mutes NC and sound which is great for interruptions on airplanes).
2.)Bose/Audio Technica- just the basics. Bose simply an on/off switch.
Price:
1.) Audio Technica- $150 to $225 depending on how you shop.
2.)Sennheiser- $200 to $275
3.)Bose- Hard to find below $300+.
Noise Cancelation:
1.) Bose- No question here, far surpassed the other two. Best Noise Cancelation.
2.)Audio-Technica- Good Noise Cancelation.
3.)Sennheiser- Not sure what happened here. Incredible sound, satisfactory noise cancelation.
Summary:
I ultimately kept the Bose because I was only using these for flying and the Sennheiser's (as much as I loved them) let me down in the Noise Cancelation department. The Sennheiser's had by far the most superior sound, but the Bose Noise Cancelation was night and day. The Bose are made very poorly for a $300+ product, it was disappointing.
Final assessment:
Audio-Technica- best balance of value for money
Sennheiser- Best sound and comfort
Bose- Best Noise Cancelation


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Arrive refreshed after a long flight, avoid distractions in a noisy office, or find peace and quiet in your living room with ATH-ANC7b QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones.
Effectively reduces distracting background noise by 90%.

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Philips HN 110 Folding Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I basically live on airplanes. I fly somewhere over 250,000 miles a year every year. I'm also an amateur audiophile and have a really cool 2 channel stereo system, as well as lots of other high end audio gear. I've owned nearly every brand of noise cancelling headset, as well as used ones I haven't owned. These are by far the best value out there for Around the Ear headphones, bar none. Its true that if you have large ears, these may cramp your style, but this is true of ALL around the ear headphones worn over a long period of time. Thats why most major manufacturers have also introduced OVER THE EAR units as well.
As far as noise cancelling and sound quality, these headphones are at the top of the class. I've worn the ridiculously expensive Bose QCs for years, and the price is downright scandalous. I always am amazed at how many suckers pay for these, when they are no better or worse than all the other ones I have.
At the moment, I have Sennhieser PC300, Philips HN110, Sony HC6 (I think) and have sold my Bose QC2s to pay for ALL of these. So I have both an over the ear (sennheiser,sony) and around the ear (philips). I travel with either the Sennhieser (90% of the time) and the Philips (10%) of the time, but I use the Philips 100% of the time for at home game playing and music listening when I don't want to wake the family. I travel with the Sennheisers more often simply because they take up much less space in my carry on bag. But on long flights (asia, etc), I bring the philips
The Sennhiesers are over the ear and probably have the nicest sound quality, but these Philips are a nearly close second. The Philips also have very very good noise cancelling. The Sony's are generally decent, and are basically balanced overall, not excelling at any one thing. I tend not to use them that much, as they don't have great audio quality.
My ears are not that huge I guess, and these Philips are nice to wear for me. The Bose hurt quite a bit over time, just like any around the ear. I recently wore a pair of Bose QC3 over the ears on a flight from London to New York, and they hurt quite a bit as well (they were complimentary on a American Airlines business class flight). And the sound quality was lousy, as well as the noise cancelling was sub par.
But Bose spends lots O' money on marketing. Philips is basically inept at everything but making things. So you would have to search for these to discover them as a value.
A couple of rules of thumb.
1) ALL around the ear headphones will hurt if you have large ears.
2) NO noise cancelling headphones cancel all noise....they all work the same way, there is no magic (if you are into reading technical specs, you can see this for yourself, don't take my word for it)
3) Bose are priced 5-6 times what they could be priced
4) Most NC headsets between $35-$100 have decent sound quality and around the same NC characteristics
5) ALL over the ear headsets have marginally less NC characteristics than around the ear due to the physical design
Conclusion. Don't be fooled by fancy TV ads, billboards, and other seductive marketing. The product cost the same as all the others inside. Noise Cancelling has been around for 30 odd years, and hasn't changed that much, beyond miniaturization of the silicon chips that cancel the noise, and huge improvement is small speaker quality. But these are not exclusive to one manufacturer. Anyone can make decent NC headphones.
From someone who has worn them all, and has a taste for music and lives on airplanes, I can recommend these units. You could buy 10 pair of these for the functionally equivalent bose QCs, and not really experience any difference.

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Take the foldable HN110 headphone with you on your travels and enjoy great music everywhere--even in noisy environments like buses, trains and airplanes. It's a full-size headphone that covers your whole ear, yet it folds up for compact storage in the soft pouch supplied. The active noise canceling technology is easy adjusted using the controls that are conveniently integrated into the headphone shells.
Enjoy great music everywhere--even in noisy environments like buses, trains and airplanes. Click here for a larger image

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Audio Technica ATH-ANC1 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling On-Ear Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are looking for noise-canceling headphones for an MP3 player that deliver excellent sound reproduction at an affordable price, this product should be on your short list for consideration. I have owned noise-canceling headphones by Sony and Altec Lansing, as well as in-ear buds (which by their nature have a noise canceling effect) by Audio Technica and Etymotic Research, costing $200 and more. The earbuds were uncomfortable, difficult to insert and remove, and produced insufficient low-end sound and an uncomfortably sharp high-end. The noise-canceling headphones by Sony (MDR-NC6's - on ear) and Altec Lansing (over the ear) failed to produce acceptable sound in my opinion. Either they suffered from overall low fidelity (Sony MDR's), or mushy bass and poor sound separation (Altec Lansing). The Altec Lansing's were also too large to store and use easily during air travel (I fly a lot and economy of space is a major consideration). I've also owned the lower end Bose (on ear) headphones, but unfortunately found that they lived up to their snarky reputation among audiophiles (artificial sounding, way over-bassed, and a poor value for the money).
So these Audio Technica Quiet Point headphones, newly released this January, have been an extremely pleasant surprise. The sound reproduction is the best I have come across for portable music players. The overall sound is natural and full, without the juiced-up quality that some headphones substitute for real fidelity and which can quickly produce "ear-fatigue." Sound separation is excellent; bottom end sound is full and remarkably clean and sharp. The phones fit comfortably and securely, and can be worn for hours without ear-fatigue. They also reduce outside noise, whether from an airliner or a crowded coffee-shop, as well as any of the other players I've listened to.
These headphones are also well-designed. Whether you are a frequent air traveler or simply like to have your music player in your day pack for listening in a cafe or while shopping, the lightweight (1 pound) but sturdy construction, and a fold-up feature that makes the 'phones easy to store and also protects them from damage, are big plusses.
These headphones can't substitute for the fidelity of good full-size audiophile headphones for the home, but in my experience that is true with all headphones and earbuds designed for portable music players. Overall, they do a better job than any other product in this category that I have heard, and at about $100 the price can't be beat.
Highly recommended.

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The ATH-ANC1 QuietPoint headphones from Audio Technica deliver natural sound and luxurious silence in a highly compact on-ear design.These fold-flat headphones incorporate Audio Technica’s acclaimed active noise-cancelling technology to block out up to 85% of outside noise, while delivering clear, detailed and natural sound.The active noise-cancelling circuitry is located in a handy external module attached to its connecting cord, for extremely light weight on-ear wear.The headphones also work when the noise-cancelling function is turned off, and operate in passive mode without batteries.Although compact, the headphones deliver powerful, immersive sound, thanks to their precision high-efficiency full-range drivers and premium internal components.They’re ideal for use with the Apple iPod, iPhone, iPod touch, portable music players, computers and in-flight entertainment systems.

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JVC HANC250 High-Grade Noise-Cancelling Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)I travel fairly frequently on work and the long international flights were getting to me. I'd originally bought a Solitude Plane Quiet II headset which I was fairly happy with except for:
1. Quite tight around the head, difficult to wear for long periods of time.
2. Good sound quality, particularly bass, but an annoying hiss and missing treble and highs during audio playback.
3. Fairly heavy owing to needing 2 AAA batteries.
A colleague at work bought the JVCs and we did a comparison. Initially I was skeptical because my Solitudes were around the ear vs the JVCs which are over the ear. We went into a very noisy server room to do the test and I have to say the performance of the JVCs was astoundingly good.
All three issues that I had with the Solitudes were absent.
1. Extremely comfortable and light. Great build quality.
2. Even better noise canceling performance despite the over the ear design. Even with the active noise cancellation off, merely wearing the headset provides good sound insulation.
3. Great sound quality, very balanced bass and treble, zero hiss.
4. Better battery life than the Solitudes despite needing only one battery.
In addition, the JVCs have some of the benefits of the Solitudes over the industry's most famous headset (Bose).
1. Conventional cable (not proprietary like Bose).
2. Audio passthrough even when the battery dies.
3. Single AAA battery, non-proprietary (if you forget to charge your proprietary Bose battery, your headphones are dead).
4. Great price/value tradeoff compared to the Bose QCII or III.
The only negatives of the JVCs I could perceive are:
1. No volume dial control on the headset itself which is less of a convenience as you now have to turn down the volume from your ipod or computer rather than just reaching up and dialing down.
2. Headphone cable is fairly short (43in) so its difficult (not impossible) to use it with home stereo equipment.
3. Replacing the battery is a bit difficult and involves popping the right earpiece out.
Update (Jan 2008): I was able to compare these against the Bose QC3s. The Bose sound quality (you will not believe this) is really bad compared to the JVCs. Specifically the sound of the QC3s is muddy with extremely muffled treble. I am even happier now that I bought these instead of the Bose.

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The new JVC HA-NC250 combines outstanding sound quality with advanced noise-canceling and isolation technologies, for a superior, uninterrupted listening experience.
Outstanding sound quality with advanced noise-canceling and isolation technologies.

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Maxell Noise-Cancellation Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)These headphones were disappointing. I bought them to use in a computer room that has a refrigerator size disk drive and an even bigger AC unit. These headphones do a good job of reducing the low-frequency noise but most of the high frequency stuff comes right through. As a result the noise reduction for me was about 20 - 30% of the total. I also tried them with a leaf blower and had the same results. They do seem to work well at taking out low rumbling humming noises like you would find in air travel but not for anything that has high pitched fan noise like AC units or vacuums.

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Maxell Noise-Cancellation Headphones

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AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-ANC27 Noise-Canceling Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Initial impressions (may add more later on) - currently my rating is ~3.5, leaning towards 3 instead of 4:
This model seems to targeting the lower-end models of other brands, Sony's and JVC's mainly. I have to admit, compared to them, it performs better. (the same can also be said for ATH-ANC1, as it is targeting the market for the highly popular Sennheiser models and in my opinion, Audio Technica did pretty well in that aspect)
Noise-canceling is there, but so is the hissing. Unlike the more expensive ATH-ANC7 model, this model introduces a fair amount of hissing. But, since the hissing stays at a constant level and does not vary in time unlike other noise-canceling headphones (like all the Able-planet models that I tried), it does not have the potential of causing headaches, so for me this is acceptable. The performance of the noise-canceling is also acceptable. I think, if you exclude the hissing, the performance is similar to the ATH-ANC7 model (cannot say it is a golden standard but pretty close).
Regarding the design, well, not unexpectedly it is also on the lower-end of the scale. I think the outer layer of the cups is designed fairly well. The problem is mostly related to the padding. Also, they kept the size of the padding section of the earcups pretty small, so unless you have small ears, you may have hard time fitting inside. Also the material used for the padding is a bit on the tougher side. It is not soft and that means longer listening periods may become quite uncomfortable. I am guessing the same material is also used for the headband, which gives an enhanced discomfort effect! (frankly, right now, it feels like a tough object sitting on top of my head, instead of making itself fit nicely to the environment)
On the good side, the construction seems to be good, so unlike the currently-expired Logitech noise canceling headphones, I don't think it is going to break any time soon. Also, for the battery placement, I am glad they followed the second generation ATH-ANC7 model, and make it easier to replace the battery.
The accessories that come with the item are the same as the other models (a hard-shell case, airplane adapter, etc.). But, since this is a given for almost all the newer models, it is not a differentiating feature anymore. The only interesting thing I noticed is that the cable has a locking feature. You can lock the cable end that is inserted into the headphone. I don't know whether this is a needed feature or not, but maybe it was for some people.
I was planning to write about the audio quality after I use it for the next few days. But, after a few hours of use, it became really tiring for my ears. It feels as if the headphone is not only canceling the lower-frequency noise outside, but the lower frequency audio on the inside too. Interestingly the audio sounds better, when the noise-canceling feature is not turned on (at least it sounds more comfortable). When the noise canceling feature is on, the high-frequency content is enhanced more than needed (possibly, a side-effect of the hissing). You can change the settings of the audio player to reduce that effect, but it would have been better if that was not needed in the first place.
At the current price range, I can say it is a fairly acceptable model. If they hadn't missed the mark regarding the comfort and the sound, I would have given this model a 4.5...
(And if I were Audio Technica, I would reduce the price of this headphone and change its title to Quiet-Discomfort...Who knows, it may actually help them sell this product...)

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AUDIO TECHNICA ATH-ANC27 Noise-Canceling Headphones

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Bose? QuietComfort? 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling? Headphones Review

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(More customer reviews)Bose QC15 vs. Sennheiser PXC 450 vs. Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b
Disclosure: I have tried all these on an airplane. I am not an audiophile. Noise Cancelation is the most important attribute to me.
The Carrying Case: All three are quite durable and stiff.
1.) Bose- the smallest, a low profile, room for an Ipod, accessories too.
2.) Sennheiser- Square shape, low profile, however not a lot of room for anything else in case.
3.)Audio Technica- Nice big case if you want to carry extra stuff (Nintendo DS, ipod, etc).
Build Quality:
1.) Sennheiser- you can tell this is built VERY well. Strong plastics, good components, thick cord. Top notch. You feel like you are getting something really high quality.
2.)Audio Technica- Nice solid construction, appears durable.
3.)Bose- If this had a Sanyo logo on the side, I would not have flinched. How can something $300 be so incredibly cheaply made.
Size:
1.) Bose- as far as over the ears go, these are pretty small.
2.)Audio-Technica- mid-sized.
3.)Sennheiser- These are big. No question, but they store flat.
Comfort:
1.) Sennheiser- Very comfortable, will fit almost any size ears. Keep on for hours.
2.)Bose- Also comfortable. I did not experience "highs" discomfort.
3.)Audio-Technica- Perfectly satisfactory. Larger opening than previous AT model.
Sound:
1.) Sennheiser- I actually wore these at home too, simply to hear parts of songs I had never heard before. Astounding. My 10yr old music collection sounded totally NEW.
2.)Audio-Technica- Well balanced, good sound.
3.)Bose- Great sound, but very heavy on the bass. I listen to a lot of rap and pop, so it was mildly annoying. I ultimately had to turn my treble settings up on my ipod to balance the sound.
Features:
1.) Sennheiser- nice cord, push to talk button (temporarily mutes NC and sound which is great for interruptions on airplanes).
2.)Bose/Audio Technica- just the basics. Bose simply an on/off switch.
Price:
1.) Audio Technica- $150 to $225 depending on how you shop.
2.)Sennheiser- $200 to $275
3.)Bose- Hard to find below $300+.
Noise Cancelation:
1.) Bose- No question here, far surpassed the other two. Best Noise Cancelation.
2.)Audio-Technica- Good Noise Cancelation.
3.)Sennheiser- Not sure what happened here. Incredible sound, satisfactory noise cancelation.
Summary:
I ultimately kept the Bose because I was only using these for flying and the Sennheiser's (as much as I loved them) let me down in the Noise Cancelation department. The Sennheiser's had by far the most superior sound, but the Bose Noise Cancelation was night and day. The Bose are made very poorly for a $300+ product, it was disappointing.
Final assessment:
Audio-Technica- best balance of value for money
Sennheiser- Best sound and comfort
Bose- Best Noise Cancelation


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The headphones that pioneered an industry are now even better.
QuietComfort 15 headphones feature exclusive Bose advancements in noise reduction technology. You hear less noise than ever before, and even more of your music and movies--with the quality sound you expect from Bose. And their lightweight fit stays comfortable for hours. It's a combination of benefits unmatched in the industry.
Quieter than ever beforeBose was the first to introduce noise cancelling headphones over 20 years ago, for use specifically on airplanes. And the company has continuously improved the technology since then.
QC?15 headphones significantly reduce even more noise across the full spectrum of human hearing. Advanced electronics now use microphones both inside and outside each earcup to sense and reduce more of the sounds around you. The headphones also feature improvements to proprietary Bose ear cushion technology, further reducing unwanted noise. New cushion materials now block more noise before it enters the earcups, delivering an even quieter listening experience and a comfortable fit.
Concert hall sound--or peaceful sanctuaryQC15 headphones also have proprietary signal processing and audio reproduction technology for quality sound--including deep low notes--from small, lightweight earcups. You enjoy well-balanced and detailed audio, all made clearer by advanced noise reduction.
Even when not listening to music, you can use these headphones to quickly leave the noise behind--and relax.
For travel, work and homeWhen you fly with QC15 headphones, engine roar fades even further away. When you listen at home or at work, fewer distractions get in the way. When you're on the move, an optional mobile kit lets you use these headphones with a cell phone, too.
What's in the box--QuietComfort 15 headphones--Detachable audio cable--AAA battery--Airline adapter--Carrying case

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Sony MDR-NC60 Noise Canceling Headphone Review

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(More customer reviews)First a few words about a noise canceling headphones in general. I'm a frequent traveler, flying about 50% of time internationally. I'm not a musician by any means, but I understand that having a pair of good "cans" sometimes is the difference between arriving to your destination wasted or completely relaxed. You owe it to yourself to have a pair of good quality noise cancellers if you travel internationally or coast-to-coast at least 3 times a year. I've owned my share of noise canceling headphones, starting from Sony "in-the-ear" MDR-NC11A, then graduating to Sennheiser "on-the-ear" RPXC 250. Finally, I borrowed Bose "over-the-ear" QuietComfort 3 to my conference flight to California and back to Ohio. If you are deciding which general design of headphones to choose - let me tell you up-front that "over-the-ear" design gives you the best comfort you can have on the long flight - hands down.
Now in the detail about this particular set. After experiencing the "over-the-ear" design of Bose, I decided to get a pair. But being burned by my previous experiences, I decided to do some careful comparison shopping. After a few weeks of research, I went to the actual store to compare 3 models that I've selected: Bose QuietComfort 3 ($299), Sennheiser PXC 350 and ($359) and Sony MDR NC50 ($199). The MDR NC60 Model was not even on my list then, and Sennheiser PXC 450 ($449) being as good as they are (canceling 90% of the noise) was simply too pricy for me.
I've tested Bose QuietComfort 3 first. Being so highly advertised, I was expecting it to be the top performer, but was extremely underwhelmed. It performed much better then any of my previous headphones, but it was no match for Sennheiser and it was even worse then Sony, that, may I remind you comes up to be $100 cheaper. On the top of it, I could not find the actual acoustic characteristics for the Bose pair anywhere in the manual. (Since then, I've done search on the WEB and I still cannot find them... amazing!). Then I moved on to the Sennheiser PXC 350, and was not disappointed. I almost left the store with that pair in the shopping bag. Cancelling up to 85% of noise, it was an excellent pair. When you turn the NC on - it fills like you suddenly went deaf. The BASS is very punchy and powerful even when the noise cancellation is off. Third on my list were Sony MDR NC50 and they were surprisingly good as well. Not so good with the BASS when NC is off as Sennheiser, and they felt a bit awkward on my head, but the sound quality was better then those of Bose. I was almost ready to leave, when a store clerk showed me a pair of NC60's and that's when I was sold - right then and there.
They are as good as they come, canceling up to 85% of noise, with excellent sound quality, and with a good BASS output when NC is off. I'd say that if Sennheiser PXC 350 is better - I could not determine it. After researching this model on the WEB for another week, I've purchased it from Amazon for $149.00. I've already had my first flight experience with it and let me tell you - I'm not disappointed. Here is the list of Pros and Cons from where I'm sitting...
PROS:
-This is the most comfortable pair of cans I've ever tried. The overall fit is very comfortable - I was able to fall asleep on a 3 hour flight. There is absolutely no "suction" effect as I've experienced with another phones I've tried.
-Both, the cups and the bridge are wrapped up in very fine leather. I read some reviews that some people do not like leather on the headphones as it may cause sweating - I personally never experience that, not with this pair nor with any other headphones I've owned. So, even though I cannot say anything negative about that aspect, I might not be the best judge in this case - some people can be more sensitive then others. As far as leather quality and feel - they are as good as they come.
-The unique feature of this model is a "monitor" button that allows you to hear surrounding sounds without turning off the NC or taking the cans off. The only comfort comment I have about this model is that this button is hard to find for someone who's just beginning to adjust to this set. As I'm getting used to this pair, though, I'm getting much better at it - minor problem with a design in my mind.
-This pair runs on a regular AAA battery, illuminating the need to carry a battery charger and having to worry about how to charge it in Europe. This is a big plus in my books. 1 AAA battery gives you 30 continuous hours of NC; if you think that it is not enough - just take a couple of spare AAAs with you - it is still better then a charger, and sure will be enough for a trip to any destination.
-Overall build is very sturdy, yet easy to adjust to whatever position is desirable. Folds neatly into a carrying case, and as far as "over-the-ear" designed go - do not take much space when folded. Again, if the portability is your main concern - you might want to check out "on-the-ear" designs.
-Sound quality (again) is one of the best ones I've tried when it comes to NC headphones for travelers. BASS output is very good with NC on and just slightly worse with it being off (expect it on all NC headphones). I'm listening to all kinds of music and these NC's perform very good for everything from Cleveland Orchestra to Jimi Hendrix. That being said, if you do not plan to use the NC feature of the headphones and just need something to listen to your stereo at home - you'll definitely be able to find a better set for less money. Better yet - take this simple test: if speakers for your home theatre system are made by Boss, Sony, or Panasonic - this pair is going to be good for use at home, at work, or on the plane. If, on the other hand, you have Boston Acoustics hooked up to your stereo - you might want to keep MDRNC60 for travel purpose, and for home use pick up a higher end model without NC feature.
-Noise Cancellation feature works great - definitely better then on Bose QC3 (and I'm not kidding). In my opinion it is the best NC you can get for under $300 - as simple as that.
CONS:
-There is only one negative comment that I have about this product. Carrying case that this model comes with is a softer kind which is a big minus in my mind. I like the hard case that comes with Bose QC3: having a harder case allows you to clip it to your laptop bag, for instance, and not to worry about smashing your headphones to pieces as you walk down the isle on the plane. This case I would not recommend to keep clipped to the outside of your luggage, as you can end up damaging your headphones. Also, as a future suggestion to a lonely Sony engineer who might read this review in his spare time - it would be nice if the inside compartment in the carrying case had enough room to accommodate iPod Video (just a suggestion)
NOTES:
-The airplane adapter is "foldable" - that is when you can fold one of two mini jacks "in". Is it really necessary to preserve 2 millimeters of space when you already have a carrying case? Fixed one would be just fine; instead another possible breakage point is being introduced. I'm not sure how this adopter will be functioning in 3 years if it is constantly "folded - unfolded", and I'm not going to test it, though, I'll just keep it "unfolded" all of the time.
-The cable that comes with these headphones connects the actual cup with the stereo mini jack. There is a plus and a minus in this feature for me. I understand the desire to make a cord interchangeable, and I guess some people might want to disconnect the cable so that they can sleep on the plane, but it might backfire if the connection becomes loose over a period of time. I read a lot of reviews and did not see people complain about it, but who knows if this becomes a weak point for me - will I write a review after 3 years of use, or just go and buy another pair?

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High-quality noise-canceling headphones up to 85% ambient noise reduction 40mm driver units & neodymium magnets provide superior sound quality comfortable over-the-ear design lightweight & premium design built-in mute switchincludes aaa batteries premium hard carrying case in-flight adapter & unimatchplug adapter

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AKG K390NC Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones with Inline Microphone (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I checked Consumer Reports for its recommendations on noise cancelling earbuds and the AKGK390NC buds were rated number one. Consumer Reports was spot on. Even when my iPod was not playing, the earbuds blocked a lot of the ambient noise that can be annoying on long flights. I must admit, though, it's hard to wear them at work, but I can't hear people that come into my office.

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Ultimate sound, ultimate noise reduction.With a flight adapter, and active noise reduction to cancel out noise,they\'re first-class travelers. But it\'s the performance of the new K 390 NC headphones that sets them apart.

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