Rating: 
Summary: Great quality, REALLY REDUCE BACKGROUND NOISE
Review: I purchased these headphones about 2 weeks ago primarily to get some peace and quiet at a highly noisy environment at work. I am surrounded by heavy duty computer equipment, printers and a noisy break room. Sennheiser pxc 250 really reduce all the noise to a very manageble level and make it possible to concentrate on my work.
I also used them while waiting in line at the major DMV office (renewing my license). I was really surprised how loud the enironment was, once I took them off.
These headphones are very light and comfortable, there is no ear fatigue at all. The feel a bit light and I was somewhat afraid that I will break them, however, they appear to be very well made. They neatly fold into a supplied case.
I definately recommend them to anyone.
I shopped around, and Amazon has them at the best price.
Rating: 
Summary: Overall, very good
Review: I like this unit, it was a real help on a trip with some very inconsiderate people in the vicinity. With noise-cancelling on, it really helped pick out movie dialogue- it completely enhances your enjoyment of films on a plane. It also really improves the sound of music too, although on the flight I was on even the lowest volume setting was way too loud is some cases. This unit could use an on-board volume control to combat this. The cigar shape noise cancelling thing is kind of a pain, particularly when someone wants out in the aisle and you have an extra cord to fiddle with. But it's not that bad. The unit isn't perfect, and it doesn't seal out all noise by a long shot, but when you turn on the music or movies it goes a long way toward helping you forget that you are surrounded by a hundred strangers. You also aren't battling engine noise to hear dialogue. It makes a big difference and it will be going with me on all future flights. I had no problems with pressure or ill feeling, even after wearing it for 4hrs at a time on an int'l flight.
Rating:
Summary: Great noise reduction, but a little tight and awkward to use
Review: I purchased these for use on the subway and bus, and for use while I eat lunch outside in the middle of Washington DC. The noise reduction is wonderful, but it's noise reduction, NOT elimination. It's amazing what happens when you turn these off after using them for a while and realize how much noise pollution you haven't been subjected to. They are mostly comfortable, but just a little tight. The cords are prone to tangle a bit, but if you're mostly sitting still while you're using these, it shouldn't be a problem. I would recommend these for purchase as long as you're not looking for total silence. These are a great way to reduce your stress from noise pollution, and terrific quality for a very reasonable price.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones I've Heard
Review: I tried everything. My last attempt at a decent headphone for use in a noisy gym was the Shure E3C "in-ear" headphones. You can see my review for those in the Sure E3C section. Before trying those out I had been using the Sony MDR-NC20's for the last 6 months. They did cancel the noise out pretty well but the sound was terribly muffled (no highs) the mids seemed squashed to me almost like they were compressed and while the lows were there, they were very mushy. For a while I just figured that this was the price one pays for using noise canceling technology. Then I went on a hunt again and read some good reviews for the Sennheiser PXC250's so I went and purchased a pair. I first just put the batteries in and tried them at home. They sounded great! Rich low-end, brilliant but not harsh highs. Overall a very pleasant EQ curve. But the real test would be at the gym.
The ambient noise in this gym is the constant roar of treadmills, stair machines, stationary bikes, etc. Overall these cover a fairly broad frequency spectrum. I put the headphones on and started the music. Oooops! I forgot to turn the noise canceling on. After doing so I couldn't believe my ears. With the music on (and not even too loud) I felt isolated in the room. The sound was absolutely top-notch and turning on the noise cancellation circuitry actually improved the sound quality! While I have tried the Bose noise canceling headphones it was around 6 months ago so I don't feel qualified to do a direct comparison. However, I do not remember them blowing me away like these Sennheisers did.
I think it's also important to know what kind of music I used to judge these phones as someone into classical music might looking for a different sound than someone into rock. I have been either a professional musician or otherwise involved in the music industry for the last 40 years. My music types of choice and the genres I used to judge these phones were progressive rock, rock, and fusion jazz. My reference headphones are the Sony MDR-7506's which, to me, are some of the best sounding headphones one can purchase without completely breaking the bank. They are also some of the most used headphones in the studios I worked in and visited. These Sony phones can produce a very low yet articulate bass and smooth mids and highs that are never over bearing. While the PXC250's are not as rich sounding as the Sony MDR-7506's, to me they are just as pleasant sounding. There are no frequencies I miss when listening to these.
Rating:
Summary: These headphones are GREAT for traveling
Review: If you are a frequent flyer - you will LOVE these headphones. I have worn these for an extended period of time and found them to be quite comfortable (this was important to me because I was also looking at the SONY headset and I saw many reviews stating that the SONY headset squeezed too hard causing some discomfort).
The sound is much better in these headphones than the headphones provided by the airlines (and cleaner too since these are just for you!!). Now - these are not intended to sound like a home theater, and I think the quality is great for traveling. The noise reduction works ok - it doesn't reduce it 100% but it does help while you're flying.
Durability: This headset is small/compact and easy to stow away (comes with a small zipper bag that you can then place in your carry on bag), but you can't place it on the bottom of your bag. They will last if you take care of them.
I'm very happy with my purchase!
Rating:
Summary: Great on Airplanes
Review: I travel a LOT! These are much less expensive than the Bose and work great at cutting the hum of jet engines and airflow inside the cabin. Since they don't cut higher pitch sounds, you can still hear the attendant when she wants to know what beverage you want. They do not have full ear cups so they aren't as hot to wear as the Bose and they fold up nicely into a neat little pouch with a zipper side pocket for an extra battery and the accesories. I have room for a small mp3 player in the bag too. Warning: The belt loop on the little pouch is WEAK! Don't put this on your carry-on bag strap and expect to keep the phones very long. PUT THE POUCH inside YOUR BAG!! I almost lost my whole set-up on only my 2nd trip.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed with the noise cancellation technology
Review: I originally wanted to buy the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 noise cancelling headphones but after seeing the price tag of $299 at the Bose website and suffering sticker shock, I looked on Amazon for an alternative. (I couldn't justify paying $299 for JUST NOISE cancelling headphones b/c it wasn't an absolute must have for me. Also, they are not high fidelity headphones. Just noise cancelling headphones.)
After having spent many hours looking at many different type of noise cancelling headphones, earbuds, plugs, etc. on Amazon, I decided to buy the Sennheiser PXC 250 Noise Cancel Collapsible Headphones (Silver), mainly due to the mostly positive 61 reviews (I read them all) and due to the good description of the product.
After having used this product for about a week, I must say that I am not satifised. I will say why and then afterward, I will highlight some positive aspects about this product.
This product generates too much white noise or hissing sound when you turn on the noise cancelling technology. This hissing sound is slightly louder than the hissing sound you hear when you play a blank cassette WITHOUT DOLBY NOISE REDUCTION "ON". The hissing sound also is similar to the noise you hear when the tv or radio can't find a signal and all you hear is static noise. In my opinion, the hissing sound is too loud.
It is this "hissing sound" that cancels the noise. If you eliminate the hissing sound by putting wax inside the headphones (I did this and was able to eliminate the hissing sound), you WILL NOT get any noise cancellation even though you have the noise cancellation turned on. THIS PRODUCT ELIMINATES ABOUT 60% OF THE OUTSIDE NOISE BY GENERATING THIS HISSING SOUND. WITHOUT GENERATING THIS HISSING SOUND, THIS PRODUCT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REDUCE ANY OUTSIDE NOISE. THE KEY TO THE NOISE CANCELLING TECHNOLOGY OF THIS PRODUCT IS THE GENERATION OF THIS HISSING SOUND.
So, in essence, you are substituting the some of the outside noise with the hissing sound. Instead of hearing 100% of the rumbling airplane engine, computer fan, etc., you WILL HEAR 40% rumbling airplane engine, computer fan, etc. AND 60% hissing sound (which is too loud in my opinion. My gut feeling tells me that this hissing sound is not good and will probably damage your hearing if you CONTINUOUSLY expose your eardrums to this hissing sound. You have to realize that this hissing sound is VERY CLOSE TO YOUR eardrums unlike ambient noise which is far away from the eardrums.
This product is deceptive because IT REALLY DOES NOT cancel noise ALTHOUGH IT ADVERTISES AS DOING SO. It SUBSTITUTES 60% of the outside noise WITH THE HISSING SOUND OR WHITE NOISE. So, it really should advertise as 60% noise substituter not noise canceller.
The good aspects of the product are as follows:
Excellent design. It is very light and folds up into a compact form so it is very portable (only drawback is that it is very fragile so you need to handle them gently otherwise you will probably break them). Also, it is very comfortable to wear. You don't really notice these headphones on your head except for a slight pressure on your ears. You probably will be able to wear these headphone for 6 to 8 hours before you start to feel discomfort.
The wires on these headpones aren't too long or cumbersome. They are adequate and manageable.
Sound quality of these headphones are quite good. If you plug these headphones into above average CD player, sound card, stereo system etc., you will be at least satisfied. (Ironically, I bought these headphones for noise cancelling purposes but I will be primarily using them for listening to music. LOL!)
The price tag on these headphones are about $150 retail and $130 at Amazon. In my opinion, these headphones are worth about $65 to $75, if that, based on the fact that it generates too much hissing noise and sound quality.
Rating:
Summary: Pros & Cons (Based on real life experiences 12/25-12/30/04)
Review: Pros:
1) Portability. The collapsible design can sometimes result in tangled wires, but it is a small price to pay for being able to put a great sounding pair of headphones in your carry-on or backpack without taking up a lot of space.
2) Comfort. The ear shape and texture is soft and the phones overall are lightweight. The ear cup design will NOT completely cover even the smallest of ears, instead focusing most of its force at the entrance to the ear canal. I have listened to these phones for a few hours without feeling inclined to adjust them or take them off completely.
3) Sound. The sound without the Noise Guard turned-on is good. However, for a truly rich sound, I've found they work best with the noise cancel function on. The signal-to-noise improves so dramatically that even in a low-noise environment the experience is greatly enhanced. I can only imagine how incredible the sound would be if the ear cup design completely sealed the entire ear off.
Cons:
1) Battery Pack. This is not entirely a negative, more of a disclaimer. I feel that Sennheiser did a good job of making the pack thin and lightweight. I am about 6' 1" and still have a small amount of wire slack on both ends of the pack (when clipped on to my belt or pant waist), so ease of movement is not an issue. However, a taller person may find that their movement (especially for exercise) would be limited by this design. Lastly, as many other people (including Sennheiser) have reported, the noise cancelling is only effective within a lower frequency range. However, in most circumstances (including airplanes) you will find that the reduction is satisfactory for enjoying everything except the softest of musical passages.
2) Price. Again, this is not a complete negative. If you appreciate great sound and live, work or play in a noisy environment, you should be willing to pay a premium. However, if you simply like to listen to music at home or work, there a numerous high-quality options at much, much lower prices.
Rating:
Summary: cross the road carefully: you can't hear the cars
Review: They are excellent for cancelling low-frequency, periodic sounds such as car/airplane engines, air conditioners, etc. Not really designed for crowd noises, music, and sudden loud noises but they will still help. Definitely would recommend for the commuter (trains, planes, buses). Other than Bose's top-of-the-line and mostly unaffordable noise cancelling headphones, they are currently the only ones that have any considerable background noise cancellation.
Since most said the pros, let me point out the cons:
-when subjected to gusts of wind (say over 15mph) the sound of the wind is magnified like 3-4 times
-the noise cancelling apparatus (with battery) is a bit bulky and makes transportation a little inconvinient
-not the best headphones for excercising
-noise cancellation is so good that its dangerous to use while driving and even walking (since you can't hear the sound of cars coming as you normally would so you have to be more careful)
That said, they're a great pair of headphones, especially for the commuter. I am sure that without a doubt if the price were that of generic headphones it would get an overall 5 star rating.
Rating:
Summary: Good noise cancelling headset
Review: Airplane noise cancelling was good. It is an overstatement to say thay you cannot hear people talking, especially in a quite room. The straight plug is not a good design for airplane travel, as it gets bent with almost any activity, even when trying to remember the warnings posted in other reviews.
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