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Currently own the MDR-NC6 Sony Noise Canceling head phones. Seriously considering forking out $550 on the Bose ones. The Sony ones are awesome and very travel friendly.
Whether you're a serious
audiophile who demands the very best in music clarity or simply want to
block out airplane engine roar or crying kids, "noise-cancelling"
headphones have become a popular choice among today's travelers. Here
we look at five different solutions.
by Marc Saltzman
These clever products look like regular headphones
that go over (or sometimes in) your ears, but they use sophisticated
technology to greatly reduce environmental noise. While some companies
tackle this task in proprietary ways, most "noise-cancelling"
headphones work by introducing an electronic interference to the noise
– a kind of anti-noise, if you will – and thus dramatically reducing
the amount of noise experienced by the listener. This is achieved by a
tiny microphone that "hears" the noise and a processor that generates a
sound wave with the opposite polarity, which in essence cancels out the
noise within the headphones.
Some
prefer to wear these noise-cancelling headphones with no music playing
whatsoever; this is why most models ship with an optional cord to plug
into a portable music player. Noise-cancelling headphones aren't
perfect -- they won't completely block out clatter around you -- but
they're much stronger than plain 'ol earplugs.
Not surprisingly, these headphones vary in quality, size and price. The following is a brief look at our top picks.
Bose QuietComfort 3 ($399; www.bose.ca)
Third
time's the charm for Bose's latest noise-cancelling headphones. Smaller
than its predecessors, the QuietComfort 3 headphones offer a very
comfortable on-ear fit, yet they feature similar noise-cancelling
technology developed by Bose for commercial pilots and military
applications. Unlike other noise-cancelling headphones in this
round-up, these include a rechargeable battery pack that snaps onto the
top of the right earpiece which saves you money in the long run.
Included in the travel pouch is the an optional audio cord (for use
with iPods, portable DVD players or laptops) and an airplane adaptor
for in-flight audio. The only downside to these headphones is you can't
use them if the battery dies out.
Logitech Noise Cancelling Headphones ($149; www.logitech.com)
Because
Logitech's SilentSound technology includes "active" noise reduction
(via anti-noise electronic signals) as well as "passive" blocking
(larger, snug-fitting headphones that cut out many high-frequency
noises), the company claims its headphones offers up to 22 decibels of
cancellation instead of the usual 10 to 18 decibels as with most other
headphones of this kind. When paired with a portable MP3 player, music
quality proved quite good, but not as clean-sounding and well-balanced
as the Bose set. The gray travel pouch fits the headphones, audio cord,
in-flight adaptor and AAA battery.
Sennheiser PXC300 ($199; www.sennheiserusa.com)
Frequent
travelers who'd rather opt for a more compact noise-cancellation
solution might consider the great-sounding Sennheiser PXC300 earphones.
This foldable and lightweight model employ Seinheiser's newly-refined
NoiseGard Advance system, which significantly reduces ambient noise so
you can enjoy peace and quiet or your favourite songs, audiobooks or
movies. The PXC300 is also remarkably comfortable thanks to its small
and soft leatherette cushions. Two minor issues, however: these
earphones lack deep bass found in other noise-cancelling headphones and
the in-line battery compartment (which houses two AAAs) must be clipped
to a belt or purse.
Sony MDR-NC60 Noise Cancelling Headphones ($249; www.sonystyle.ca)
Comfortable
and powerful, Sony's MDR-NC60 is the company's latest over-the-ear
noise-cancelling solution that can be used with music or without. When
the on-ear monitor switch is flicked, these headphones provide 16.5
decibels of noise reduction at 200Hz, which Sony says shuts out up to
85 percent of environmental noise, such as jet engines. Despite their
somewhat large size, the headphones are fairly lightweight at just 230
ounces (with AAA battery inserted). Sound quality during music playback
is clear and well-balanced between highs, mids and lows. We also love
the black travel case with optional shoulder strap and audio cable
pouch.
Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones ($359; www.shure.com)
While
these earbuds offer "passive" sound blocking rather than electronic
"active" cancellation (read: no batteries required!), the Shure SE310s
do a remarkable job in keeping the outside world from entering your
ears. These sound isolating earbuds include foam tips to place gently
in your ear – and a "Deluxe Fit" kit with various sizes and materials
so you can choose what's best for you – while the high-definition micro
speakers (with excellent bass) deliver crisp-sounding audio from your
music device. Shure, an award-winning leader in high-end earbuds, claim
these sound-isolating earbuds can block more than 90 percent of outside
noise – and from our trial with them, we're inclined to agree. |
| | Posted 2/11/2008 5:06 AM - 59 Views - 2 eProps - 1 Comment
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