The Noisebuster technology works via the following process: tiny microphones within each earpiece "listen" for any pervasive environmental noise and send this information to a device called an in-line audio-enhancer pack. This device reads and analyzes the information and then generates a noise-cancellation wave that's out of phase with the noise itself. The audio-enhancer pack feeds this wave back into the headset--when the noise wave goes up, a corresponding cancellation wave goes down, causing the two signals to cancel each other out. This eliminates a good deal of unwanted sonic junk, from airplane engine noise to distant freeway traffic seeping into your living room.

We evaluated our HP-NC1s as a utility crew used jackhammers on the street outside our listening room. Because you can bypass the Noisebuster technology with a switch, it was easy for us to compare the noise-canceled signal to the standard sound. While Noisebuster didn't entirely eliminate the jackhammer's rat-a-tat-tat, it did significantly reduce the sound so that we could listen to quiet music, such as soft jazz and classical.

As for the sound of the headphones themselves, the midrange is clear, but the HP-NC1s are a little sluggish overall, with no deep bass or extended high frequencies. In fairness to the HP-NC1s, noise-canceling headsets often sound restricted in the frequency extremes, as it can be tricky for the noise-canceling devices to differentiate between noise and music. The fit of these headphones is also a little snug for our taste, but you can loosen them a bit by gently bending the headset.

We have heard comparably priced, non-noise-canceling headphones that sound better than Maxell's HP-NC1. However, better sound doesn't matter much if you're having a hard time hearing the music in a noisy environment. At this price, these headphones are a bargain.

Pros:

• Noisebuster technology works well
• In-flight dual-jack adapter included
• In-line volume control

Cons:

• Snug fit may be uncomfortable
• Average sound quality

The headphones are permanently attached to a small belt-clip unit about the size of a pack of baseball cards. The unit has an on-off switch (for the cancelling part) and a volume control. A 3' cord ending in a standard 1/8" stereo plug comes out the bottom of the pack.

The phones have great (but not excellent) response. They are designed as part of the N/C system and so have their best output at about 150Hz--which is great not only for rock and pop but classical as well. When you turn on the N/C, the sound is damped in the higher frequencies, which actually makes everything much clearer. Just don't use "Super Bass" on your CD player because the sound will get muddy. Without it, though, I was able to enjoy classicalon a recent plane flight without any distractions--which brings me to the N/C aspect of these headphones.

The noise cancelling is centered around 150Hz, which is the pitch of most plane engines but works quite well for cars and buses too. On my last plane flight, I turned the noise cancelling on as soon as we took off. It removed the engine noise so well that I started to get annoyed by the half-volume air-conditioning noise that it let through. By the time I turned them off, I really had forgotten how much they were blocking the engine noise and was surprised how loud it was.

The box says that it will run for about 22 hours on a pair of AAs, but I've had it running for over 30 hours without problems. It *will* run on rechargeables, but I strongly recommend NiMH if you choose to do so.

Overall recommendation: A high-quality set of phones, especially considering the price for N/C headphones. I recommend them for any frequent traveler.


Depends on the type of noise   November 8, 2001
 70 out of 74 found this review helpful

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.


These don't work for me!   September 6, 2000
 25 out of 31 found this review helpful

Be careful with this product! The headphones are not bad quality, and though these headphones do provide some degree of noise reduction, there are some serious drawbacks -- at least for me. These include: (1) When you engage the noise reduction, noise is reduced, but so is the frequency range of your recording! (2) Either the headphones are relatively insensitive or there is an insertion loss even with noise reduction switched out. I assume the manufacturer assumes you'll be listening to heavy metal from a powerful amplifier. Well, I'm listening to classical through a flea-power anplifier. With ordinary headphones/earbuds, things are "adequate". With the Maxell, the volume is inadequate. And (3), with noise reduction switched in, the volume is even more inadequate. For my use, unusable. I wouldn't buy these again.


Nice execution for the money   November 20, 2001
 25 out of 27 found this review helpful

We bought these to soothe our nerves during flying. I found that they function very well as headphones. The noise cancellation circuitry adds a very low level white noise that can only be heard in quiet passages in quiet environments, but the circuit can be switched off and the headphones function as any unpowered phones do. Sound reproduction is good, the noise cancellation works mainly in the lower octaves (rumble and roaring noises) which is where you need the help when traveling. Higher frequency noises like voices are only slightly attenuated. This may be a design strategy which makes sense, but is also likely much easier (cheaper) to execute than full-bandwidth attenuation. Very helpful for our intended purpose.


Only one annoyance...   November 23, 2001
 19 out of 19 found this review helpful

I have enjoyed the noise reduction and sound quality of these headphones with portable devices.

When using them on anything connected to mains power (read: home AV units, a laptop on AC power, portable music players plugged into AC power... pretty much anything not running on batteries) there is a very distinct electrical buzzing/humming when the NC is engaged.

If I remove the device from mains power - for example, pull the AC cord for the laptop - the buzz ceases. Also, touching any exposed metal of the frame of any of these devices causes it to cease as well, making me wonder if it is some sort of grounding problem. Happens in buildings all over town, so it isn't just faulty wiring in the house...

No buzz if the NC circuit is off. Volume control has no effect on it.

It's an annoying problem, but since I use these headphones mainly on-the-go, it doesn't affect me as much as it might some people.