Rating: 
Summary: Sleek, Stylish, but noise-cancellation is disappointing
Review: I read and heard the hype of noise-cancelling headphones and how they will make my life much better. So, i went out and bought/researched most of the top selling headphones. The Aiwa model (HP-CN5) is the most value priced. But, it has a buzz when you turn on the noise-cancellation, and i certainly think that most of the noise-cancellation is being achieved by increasing the volume than anything else. Also, the battery slot is awkwardly placed above the left earpiece, and it thus constantly budges against my head.
The Sony MDR-NC11's are quite uncomfortable, and cost nearly 3 times as much as the Aiwa model. The manual said that the noise-cancellation will work only if the earbuds are fitting "snugly," and from my experience it seems that the snugly fit of the earbuds is what cancels more noise than the noise cancellation technology. I must say, however, that these are the most stylish, sleek and portable headphones of the lot. Sadly, their noise cancellation is nominal, and not worth it for the pain of "snugly" fitting earbuds for extended periods of time.The third model i tried was the Sony MDR-NC20, which is the most expensive of the lot. It is definitely more comfortable than the previous models, and also has passive noise cancellation due to the closed loop cushion design around the ear. However, it will get uncomfortable when worn for long durations due to the small earcup design. In Summary, all three of these headphones cancel noise by adding a "buzzing" sound when noise-cancellation is turned on, and by increasing the volume of the music if plugged to a CD player. I would suggest using your money on a better CD player, and get comfortable headphones without the noise cancellation feature. Let me suggest Koss UR-20 or Koss UR-30 for beautiful sound quality and comfort, and the Koss THE-Plug or Sony Fontopia for ear bud type models. All cost less than 50 bucks! Enjoy, and i'll head to the stores to make all the returns! :(
Rating: 
Summary: Smart product (but
Review: This is an interesting product - interesting as in its noise-cancelling feature is 90% based on its ear-bud design rather than its hyped noise-cancelling circuit. Technology:
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Its noise cancelling circuit is unnecessarily hyped up. It merely does the following (my guess):
There are small microphones on each side of headphone,
which record the ambient noise and give this info to noise-cancelling circuit which sends a cancelling frequency signal so
as to cut out the noise. (Try configuring voice on yahoo messenger and you'll see what I mean). Whats great about it
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Sleak design, sexy look. Most amazing thing about this product
is its earbud-design. When I put it in my ears without any music
being played, I cannot even hear my keyboard taps!!! What it means to you:
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If you are getting it as a gift, gladly accept it.
If you wanna buy it out of ur own hard-earned money (read not
from stock-options ;)), my humble advice is dont...or if you
are so desperate buy it used.
If you are crazy about owning cool stuff, well in that case,
you will end up getting this one (like me) :)
Rating:
Summary: This is just a toy.
Review: Ok, that said, I am an ultralight pilot of a powered parachute. And, as any pilot of a light aircraft knows, things can get very loud at the business end of these aircraft which typically is only a few feet from ones ears. Now, I own a pretty good set of passive noise reduction headphones from Comtronics, the Comtronics Pro helmet and headphones to be exact. But I still need more noise reduction especially when flying for 1 to 2 hours next to that infernal racket generator. So instead of shelling out mucho bucks for a new pair of flight quality ANR headsets, I thought I might buy a pair of Sony Noise Cancelling Earbud Headphones (MDR-NC11) (just so we all know exactly what the product under review is) and put them under my Comtronics headphones for an additional 10db of noise reduction around 300Hz. As an added bonus, I could then use the MDR-NC11 by themselves when flying in the cabin of a Boeing 777 on my 15hr flights to Tokyo, Japan. Wrong!!! There was no noticeable difference in sound level with the MDR-NC11 under my Comtronics headphones. Without the Comtronics headphones, there was a minor decrease in sound level with the MDR-NC11 turned on as opposed to turned off. The MDR-NC11 noise reduction was slightly less than the Comtronics headphones alone. So, you are better off getting an aircraft quality set of passive noise reduction headphones than using the MDR-NC11. I must admit, though, the earbuds on the MDR-NC11 were more comfortable than I thought and beat the heck out of foam earplugs. They are more effective also since they seem to seal out the noise better. So my suggestion is to get a set of Sony earbuds without the noise cancellation or buy the cheapest brand of noise cancelling headphones you can find that still provide comfort.
Rating: 
Summary: They don't cancel noise
Review: They don't block any noise that I can tell. None at all. I've used good noise canceling ear phones on airplanes before and thought having a small portable pair would be worth the money. WRONG. These don't block any noise at all that I can tell. The only thing turning them on does is amplify the sound. The ear buds do block out some sound but music on or off, noise cancelation on or off it's all the same. What they are is a very over priced, regular old earphone.
Rating: 
Summary: Perfect for the noisy city
Review: I own the Bose QuietComfort headset, which is fantastic for use at home or on planes, but it's just too cumbersome to lug around New York City. I've been contemplating the MDR-NC10 for use on subways and general wanderings around the city for some time now, but held off in part due to some of the negative reviews on this website. When I saw the updated MDR-NC11 for sale at Brookstone, I thought, with their 60 day satisfaction guarantee, I could try them out and always return them if I didn't like them. (I do not work for and am not in any way affiliated with Brookstone; just like the fact that they have a realistic product return policy.) In a word, this set is great! I don't have this uncanny ability to tune out noise, an ability which most New Yorkers seem to possess intrinsically; I need a little technical help, and this set does it. Anyone who has ever ridden the NYC subway knows that it creates some of the worst noise pollution of any public transit system, but with these earphones, even when just seated snugly in my ears, much of that noise is kept out of my head. I have used it to listen to music that I previously could not expect to enjoy outside of my own four walls. Minimalist acoustics in tracks like Famous Blue Raincoat (Leonard Cohen), Drop (Red House Painters) and Colorblind (Counting Crows) are just some examples of music that I can now clearly hear while riding a rush hour train! Even the subtle string arrangement in the latter half of Famous Blue Raincoat is clearly audible. Amazing! To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how the NC10 and NC11 differ technologically, but comparing the actual device to pictures of the NC10, Sony seems to have made it a little bigger/bulkier, which I don't understand. Given the size of the new control handle, you could have fit your standard play, stop, next track, previous track, etc. buttons of a portable device remote control on there. The relative weight with the required AAA battery means that you have to find a really good place to attach the clip or risk having it come undone due to gravity. Definitely an aspect that Sony could improve. The other thing I would have liked to see is a control for what appears to be a built-in bass boost. It helps with some recordings, but sometimes you just want to turn it off. By default, the earphones have M size buds fitted. S and L sizes are included in the package. I found that I needed M for one ear and S for the other in order to have both phones sit comfortably but snugly in my ears. It's worth spending some time to figure out the right combination to maximise the satisfaction you'll derive from this set. Overall, I'm incredibly happy with these earphones and think I should, with their help, be able to endure New York for a few more years yet! :)
Rating:
Summary: Hugely Disappointing!
Review: I purchased these Sony Noise Canceling Earbud Headphones hoping that they would be a smaller and more portable version of my Sennheiser HDC 451 noise suppression headphones, which are excellent. I couldn't be more disappointed. First off, they were extremely uncomfortable to wear. They go directly into the ear canal. And even though they have interchangeable pieces (for a better fit), they still had a tendency to fall out -- which was annoying. The earbuds also block the ear canal completely. If you've ever stuffed cotton (or earplugs) in your ears, you'll know that this causes one's own breathing to become very noticeable -- which is exactly what happened! And if I turned my head and brushed the earphone cord against me -- I could hear that too! As positives, the Sony's did a decent job of filtering the lows. But they did nothing to screen the highs (as do my Sennheisers), so things like room fans, air conditionings and dishwashers were still much more noticeable than I would've liked. The sound quality of my music, though, was excellent. And there was none of the hissing and buzzing I've gotten from lower priced noise canceling headphones from other brands. Overall, I couldn't help but suspect that the tight fit of the earbuds was responsible for a large portion of the headphone's noise suppression capabilities -- and not necessarily the electronics. In conclusion, if you're accustomed to earbud style headphones, you might find these Sony's to be an improvement over ambient. I, unfortunately, found them to be extremely uncomfortable to use and -- for the money -- hugely disappointing!
Rating:
Summary: Link in the evolution
Review: In my endless search for the perfect remote sound system for my iPod, I thought I'd try these. The goal was to have noise cancellation in vehicles and especially whilst biking. Yeah, I know, "Bikers need to hear traffic!" Well, I turn my head adequately and am situationally aware, to that's not a problem, so let's drop the lecture! What IS a problem for me is the ambient noise of traffic and noise created by wind blowing over the cables and units themselves, forcing me to increase the volume and damaging my ears. The results: no difference regarding the wind. The mics didn't detect what my ears were hearing. Neither did it block traffic noise. Driving in my truck was nice, however. I have a heater (I live in Alaska) that sounds like the business end of an F-15 in afterburn. This cancels that noise well. They also worked well in a passenger jet (MD-80). Babies and pilots, however, couldn't be cancelled. The sound quality is 7 on a 10 scale. Bass is mediocre and high end definition weak, but for their size, surprisingly good. My highest commendation, however, is the surprising comfort of the buds! The virtual "noise cancellation" was due mostly to the way the buds firm, yet comfortable fit in the ear canal, inherently block external sound--with or without the soundwave cancellation turned on! The cancellation technology, I'm afraid to say, is negligible in all scenarios. I was hoping for true isolation. My theory: this is where ALL noise cancellation headphones are at the present technological level and the future holds great promise. So, these are adequate for the time being, but I KNOW subsequent advancements will follow. I view this as an expensive link in the evolution of portable sound cancellation. I'd get a Sony EX70, which has no cancellation technology but blocks sound (due to stellar earbuds that seal the ear canal), less cumbersome and cheaper.
Rating:
Summary: Good Size-Performance Combination
Review: If you're looking for maximum noise reduction, go for the over-the-ear headphone. However, I take my laptop and assorted peripherals with me when I fly and I simply don't have room to store full-size headphones in my carry-on computer case. I purchased these earphones during a business trip a couple of weeks ago, and I've found them to be a good alternative. They're small, but deliver good performance for their size I wasn't too impressed with them when I tried them in the airport, but my first flight with them was in the back of a 757 and I was surprised at the amount of engine and background noise that they cancelled out. They definitely made the flight a more relaxing experience. A couple of observations: 1. Make sure you get a good snug fit from the earbuds. If they don't fit snugly, the noise cancellation effect is significantly reduced. It may take some experimentation with the 3 different sizes Sony includes. 2. Once you turn the power on, it may take a few seconds for the noise cancellation to reach it's maximum effect. 3. The earphones don't block the sound of your own voice like the over-the-ear headphones do. In fact, they seem to amplify it. (But then, you're normally not conversing with anyone while listening to music or watching the movie.) All in all, it's a good value for the money if you spend a lot of time on airplanes and don't want the hassle of carrying the bulkier over-the-ear headphones.
Rating:
Summary: If only I could give it a ZERO
Review: I'm a Sony fanatic. I buy Sony first (save for Bose speakers & iPod stuff). I have a Sony receiver, Sony CD changer, Sony DVD player, Sony Walkman, and on and on and on. This is the single worst Sony product I've ever purchased. It is so bad I challenge Sony to show my one documented photo of a single Sony employee who has ever used the product. First, my Bose noise-cancelling headset doesn't hiss--Sony's claim this is normal is bunk. Second, the endless mass of controls and weirdly assymetrical cords make it almost unusable on the train and ferry. Walking with it is nearly impossible owing to the tangle of wires. The weight of the control box weighs enough to pull th ebuds out of your ears. This may sound picky but if you buy these you'll soon see what I mean. It makes then useless for motion--I can't imagine running in them--which is in part why I bought them. The earbuds don't fit in my ears (I can use the standard iPod buds, but none of the Sony buds fit well). Did *anyone* at Sony actually try this product before it hit the market? At $100 a pop this product is a rippoff. And as a huge Sony fan I warn fellow consumers--go straight to Bose. (I bought these to compliment the Bose because I thought the in-ear design would be better for my daily commute and walking.)
Rating:
Summary: Don't pay full price
Review: I got mine 2 weeks ago and here is my report. BOTTOM LINE: with these headphones, noise cancelling is achieved PRIMARILY by good, tight fit (i.e., just get the cheaper non-noise cancelling circuitry type). As it says in the manual, the circuitry only cancels low frequency sounds like AC unit drone. When in use at Starbux, neither voices nor the milk steamer will be cancelled. Based on my senses, Sony has attempted to attack high frequency noises simply by boosting high frequencies of your music (i.e., a big part of the "noise cancelling" relies on INCREASING noises...which can be damaging and also means it is not effective when music is not played through them). In combination, (tight fit, low freq cancel, high freq boost) you get decent isolation at the expense of altered EQ, extremely limited ability to reduce ambient sounds without playing music, and a STEEP retail price. Again, the cheaper in-ear sony phones without the circuitry are a good alternative if you are unwilling to splurge for the Bose. I have had the opportunity to try the twice as expensive Bose unit...NO COMPARISON. The Bose headphones are absolutely amazing. TRUE noise cancellation. They work stunningly and do not rely at all on music being played through them. Don't try them on at a store without having $300 to spare because you won't want to leave without them! I'm still saving up for mine...
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