The Best of Both Phone, and Tablet
The JVC HA-NC100 combines passive noise reduction--the padded cups that cover your ears--with active circuitry designed to block low-frequency noise, such as the hum of a train or the deep roar of a jet engine. It's an effective one-two punch, though the result is definitely noise reduction, not complete cancellation. If you're sitting in a crowded airport lounge, don't expect much dampening; the noise there is largely mid- to high range. But the active circuit does a commendable job with the low-end stuff, making public-transportation environments seem considerably quieter.
As for the headphones themselves, we found sound quality to be decent overall. Bass response seemed a little weak, and during quiet music passages, we could occasionally detect a bit of the hiss produced by the active circuit, though only in the right ear. In passive mode, this hiss was eliminated, improving the overall listening experience a bit. Audiophiles may find the JVC HA-NC100 Noise Canceling Headphones wanting, but for everyone else, it's an almost unbeatable deal.
