Customer Reviews: Read 48 more reviews...
 Okay, but there are better April 24, 2007
69 out of 75 found this review helpful
I recently compared the Bose QC2 headphones (an obscene $299) with the cheaper Sennheiser PXC-300 ($159.99) and the new Sony MDR-NC22s ($70.00). The Sennheiser's are a smaller design that does not completely cover your ear and comes in a smaller case, which is more convenient for travelling. The Sony's are an in-ear solution, and have the smallest case. All have active noise canceling.
I did my testing in the rear of an Boeing 737. The rear is generally the noisiest location in an airplane. My primary testing criteria was which headphone reduced overall noise the best. I also listened to see which headphone allowed me to listen to music and audio programs (podcasts) at the lowest volume level. I was really hoping that one of the cheaper options would be better than the Bose, but they weren't.
The Bose knocked out the most airplane noise and allowed me to listen to music at the lowest volume level and still hear it. The Sennheiser was next, and the Sony was last. The Sony also suffered from a noticeable hiss noise which you could easily hear on audio programs and music played at a low volume.
In short, if you want the best, it is still Bose. If you want to pay a little less and don't mind that you're not getting the best, the Sennheiser is a good choice. The Sony is a good choice only if you can't afford the Sennheiser and you want to play music LOUD.
does pretty much what one can expect (nothing more) August 7, 2007
35 out of 36 found this review helpful
My wife has one of the original Sony noise-cancelling earbuds, which were bulkier and more expensive but work quite well. I ended up borrowing them all the time for plane trips, so as we were traveling together, I got a pair of the updated version.
A few general remarks about active noise cancellation. It works quite well on monotonous low-frequency noises (read: airplane engines), but will be pretty useless against "the sound of eight crying babies" (for you Simpsons fans out there). The Sonys are in-ear, so if you can achieve a good seal in your ear canal you get passive damping in those frequency ranges.
Also, pretty much every active noise-canceller I tried introduces a bit of white noise in the treble range --- generally only noticeable if you don't play music through them.
Furthermore, don't expect active noise-cancellers to give great sound unless you're willing to pony up big bucks. I tried the $350 Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones (which cost five times as much) and while they sound as good as any ANCHs I've ever tried, they can't hold a candle for sound quality to my trusty $40 Sennheiser PX 100 Collapsible Headphones.
Engineers have a saying: "better, cheaper, faster --- pick any two". For headphones one could paraphrase it to: "good noise cancellation, hi-fi sound quality, affordable --- pick any two". Allegedly, the new Sennheiser PXC 450 NoiseGard Active Noise Canceling Headphones give you both superior cancellation and hi-fi sound, but they cost an arm and a leg.
If one keeps these remarks in mind, the Sony MDR-NC22 do pretty much what you can expect. The combination of active cancellation and passive isolation works better than either on its own --- but mine do have a pronounced hiss. Sound quality is decent but not great --- anything that has a strong, busy bass line (so forget Iron Maiden, Rush, or Dream Theater) is clearly too much for them, trebly electronic stuff sounds fairly OK. Again, expect to pay much more money if you want both active cancellation and good sound.
Unlike the bulkier original with its fixed rubber flanges, they have removable in-ear flanges (in 3 sizes), and those got stuck in my ears a couple of times. Nothing scary or dangerous, just annoying --- but this could of course happen with pretty much any in-ear earphones.
Bottom line: I'm keeping them for trips but am not going to use them as general-purpose headphone replacements. One day, I may be able to spend $500 on PXC-450s without feeling guilty...
 Nice, but other (better?) alternatives exist as well July 13, 2007
28 out of 31 found this review helpful
I purchased the Sony MDRNC10s many years ago and have used the 11s as well (each of which is a predecessor to this model, with, I believe, the same specs--it's the cosmetics which have changed over time). They are nice and indeed eradicate a noticeable portion of low-sound rumble on planes and on the street. I find that I arrive at a destination from a flight less tired, with using these.
Having said that, I've also compared them in-flight to a set of Shure E2C in-ear earbuds with no noise-cancelling electronics (generally available, including at Amazon.com, for $70-$100). I've found that if I fit the Shures with the Shure triple-flange ear pieces (also available here, and which indeed can be fit onto the E2Cs with a small amount of effort, in a couple of minutes, even though not designed for the E2Cs), they exceed the "noise-cancelling" results of the Sonys. With the benefit of being smaller and even easier for travel (no separate electronics case) and no need for battery power. Plus, the Shures are well-recognized good earbud phones off a plane as well, for everyday use, and get great customer support from Shure, a leader in that area (as distinct from, unfortunately, Sony, which will leave customers high-and-dry, in my experience, and whose products, I also unfortunately have found, tend to break down over time while products from other companies will last longer). The only thing to be aware of is that the triple flanges really do go into the ear canal, more so than with the Sonys--some people may not like that, and I have found that the flanges indeed can tickle my inner ear every so often. (Note, in that regard, that the length of the triple flanges can be trimmed, as noted by Shure itself--presumably, they could be made into double flanges so as not to enter the ear as deeply (although I haven't tried that yet).)
In the end, I've found that simple can, indeed, sometimes be better. And this also has saved me from $300 for a Bose (bulkier, especially for travel) headset.
Good product - but do your homework before you buy April 9, 2008
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
First: I have read some reviews on the NC22 complaining about "weak noise cancellation" and "hiss".
Current noise cancellation technology works on specific frequencies (in the low range, but not very low), on specific types of noises (continuous or cyclic) and has a limited effect (15 to 20 dB).
The circuitry does induce a subtle hiss. And here's why: since neither the earbuds or the noise cancellation can block high frequencies effectively, this hiss, which is made of white noise, helps to mask unwanted sounds. This same principle is used on white noise generators to make an environment seem less noisy.
Of course, for US$ 150 you could get an over-the-ear which will block all sounds so it will have no hiss. But the NC22 goes for less than half their price and is much more discreet to use in the metro or in a bus.
How loud is that hiss anyway? Well, my laptop fan is louder than that (I have tested). If the hiss becomes an issue, it means that the environment is so quiet that you can certainly turn the noise cancellation off.
Plus, if you listen to music instead of just putting the earphones on, the hiss will become unnoticeable very quickly. This is because the brain will ignore weak, continuous sounds in the presence of louder, variable sounds.
But not all hiss is induced by the earphone. Some is residual noise. Objects cutting through air (airplane, trains, cars) will generate noise in a wide range of frequencies. The lower frequencies are cancelled, but the higher remain, and that sounds like a hiss. About that, there isn't much to do, except wait for the next generation of affordable noise cancellation circuits.
I have used the NC22 in a carpool, in the metro, in the bus, in an airplane, and for walking.
I use it with my Sony Ericson W880. Bass is very nice if you turn the MegaBass (Sony proprietary) feature on. Otherwise, it's ok. Other frequencies are good. It sounds pretty much like an EX81 for me.
Walking was definitely the worst experience. If it's windy, even just a little, the microphones (which are external) will capture the sound of the wind blowing on them and the circuitry will try to cancel that. Because this sound is not actually heard by you, only by the mics, this will create more windy sound instead. This is a very unpleasant artifact. The only solution: turn noise canceling off.
The carpool and the bus were about the same. It cancels the engine noise nicely (not totally, tough). Other noises will remain. Some low frequency, rapidly changing noises (e.g. tires on concrete) generate mild high frequency artifacts. The solution: listen to the music a little louder (volume 3 1/2 was enough, I use 2 for the metro).
In the metro, it works very well on the surface, and well enough in the tunnels. In the airplane, it works very well.
On the wishlist department: the circuit could be detachable from the phones. Would make untangling easier. :)
Bottom line: Good product, great value. Don't buy if you plan to use it outdoors.
 Much Better Than Expected March 28, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I needed / wanted a pair of NC Headphones for couple of long airplane rides to Europe. I almost bought another brand that was very cheap, $19.95, but opted to get the Sony 22's , because if nothing else, battery life would be better than the cheapies.
Also, I thought I would return them if they sounded really bad.
Based on other reviews here, I didn't expect much performance unless using them in the NC mode, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Without the NC turned on they sound almost as good as the earbuds that came with the Sony MP3 player (800 series player) , and almost as good as my V-Moda Vibes. They sounded even better with NC turned on.
I ordered a second pair ( pink) for my daughter.
I do have other versions( over the Ear) of Sony NC Headphones and they don't sound this good. It could be Earbud design of these that make the difference. Based on recent prices on Amazaon and at Staples, Sony may be getting ready to discontinue these phones, so if you want a pair with the Earbud design, grab them now. Best Buy no longer carries the NC22s and they have replaced them with another Sony over the ear design. Fry's Electronics was out of them too.
They are not the most expensive ones out there, but probably the best bang for the buck.
Update - 4/22/08
Just returned from a recent trip to Europe. Used the phones for over 30 hours on 1 AAA battery, and the performance was awesome. Plane was most impressive using the Air France In Flight Entertainment system. Also used on the Eurostar Train ( London to Paris) and on a tour Bus. I will never travel without these again. I watched six inflight movies and I felt like I was sitting in my living room. Great Job Sony !
Update - 5/5/08
Still using same battery for an additional 10 hours. So now a total of over 50 hours on same battery. Also, used the earphones while running a backpack leafblower and the noise reduction is amazing. Even better than the ear protectors that I had been using.
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