Monday, 4th October 2010

Noise Reducing Headphones

I checked out three sets of good quality head phones that all claim to reduce background noise, and are also small enough, or make themselves small enough to carry with you on your travels.

The Sony Noise Cancelling MDR-NC40 are a lightweight pair of foldable cans that look impressive and don't disappoint.

They come with a leather-like carrying case, and when folded down, it takes up about as much space as a big pair of sunglasses...but small for "over-ear" headphones.

The padded ear-sections are very comfortable and cover the ear, but don't go over the ear. Even without going over the ear and sealing your lug inside it, it does the job very well.

To operate the noise reducing capability, you slot a AAA battery inside the volume control which sits on the headphone cord. The 'phones will work without the power switched on, but with the power on, it synthesises a sound in the opposite phase to the ambient sound, and the noise of the traffic or airplane engine gets cancelled. A "monitor" switch also disables sound while you press it, so you can hear necessary noise, such as phones, people etc.

That's the theory, and in practice, it works, but for ambient noise, not necessarily for direct noise such as singing or talking, but it does work, and improves what you are listening to.

Everything stores neatly in the carrying case, with foldable partition flaps to stop the parts getting scratched - clever Sony people! There are also little leather pouches to carry the adaptor and spare battery.

They've thought this one through well - the adaptor has two mini jack for the type of stereo mini jack sockets used on in flight music services.

Cost: €114.99 from Peats Electronics, but they are good! 8/10

Sennheiser PXC 350 Noise Guard Advance - these are a big name in audio, and are big cans for travel headphones. Big, big cans that totally cover your ears, and make you look like you really don't want to be disturbed until you touch down in Sydney or LA.

There is a 16 page manual to go with the mega-cans, you needs 2 AAA batteries (but they come with the set), and you get a big jack adaptor along with an airline adaptor. It comes with what it says is a "soft case", but it is kind of hard with soft zippy corners.

They can also be used as normal headphones - a switch on the left headphone can turn off the Noise Reduction feature. The cord has a volume control and the cans cut out almost ALL sound outside, never mind just ambient sound. A red light comes on when powered up and flashes when the battery is low.

They get a good grip of your head, so you would want to be happy and comfortable with them. They can be folded in different ways, the earcups fold 90 degrees or fold into themselves, nad then into the neat 8 inch by 6 inch Sennheisher logo mini case, that comes complete with carry handle and slots for spare batts and accessories.

Noise reduction - very good, slightly big for travel, and tight. 7/10

Cost: €199.99 - Peats Electronics

AKG K440 NC

AKG are a well known top professional audio brand, and you expect good things from them.

The headphones are pretty good looking with a nice slightly retro metallic band across the top with a silver grey colour to the set. With a swivel mechanism they are like mini transformers - they can fold out in a multitude of dimensions.

The set extends, swivels, rotates and bends in on itself. But the style of the metal head top band takes away from the comfort. Two small square foam pads don't make it the most pleasant set of cans to wear.

It comes with a small black neoprene pouch with a drawstring, containing 1 AAA battery, a big jack adapter and an airline twin mini jack adapter.

It give very good sound including when the NR is off. The smallish earphones just cover the ears, with a familiar AKG design on both the cans and the cord control. There is a big control attachment for just an "on/off" button, a red LED light and a shirt clip. The pouch would only keep dust off the set, not give it protection.

Very good sound, but slightly uncomfortable. 6.5/10

Price €79.00 - Peats Electronics