Sony Noise Canceling Headphones user reviews

3.0 stars

"Good price, second to Bose QC, requires audio source" on August 15, 2006 by jasonaarons

Pros: Price, Audio Quality, Base

Cons: Requires Audio source to cancel background noise

Summary: In the Atlanta airport there is a store where you can demo the Bose Quite Comfort and other comparable models in the $150 and over price range.

I found the Sony MDR-NC11A Noise Cancelling Earbuds in Radio Shack and decided to test it out. I tried the Sony on the car ride home without a audio source. I was able to hear my wife, I was somewhat disappointed.

Turns out the Sony has to have a music source to actively cancel noise, just putting the earbuds in your ear isn't enough! Once I plugged the Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm into a audio source the background noise cancelling starts, between songs when their is dead air, the noise cancelling stops.

I was looking for something equivalent to the Bose QC3 which cancels all outside noise regardless of audio input, however for the money I will likely keep the MDR-NC11A.

My laptop has a 3.5mm audio jack for the Sony Earbuds. On airplanes I typically use my Treo 700p/Pocket Tunes to listen to MP3s which has a 2.5mm headset jack. During plane rides I have to power on my laptop for Windows Media Player to get a audio source which isn't allowed for takeoff/landings.

I also tested a Philips SDN2500 Noise Cancelling Earbud from $24 at WalMart. It didn't cancel any noise. The Philips was not as comfortable in my ear as the Sony. Maybe I had a bad unit. www.philips.com has no documentation on the SHN2500 making it a no recommendation.