Maxell HP-NC1 Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Effective NR; not bad headphones, either
Review: The noise reduction works as advertized. Low frequency sounds are _greatly_ reduced. Higher frequencies -- human voices, in particular -- are less damped. But if you spend time around machines (airplanes, air conditioners, etc.) they make your life a lot more peaceful. As headphones (for example, for a stereo) they are OK but not great.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Effective NR; not bad headphones, either
Review: The noise reduction works as advertized. Low frequency sounds are _greatly_ reduced. Higher frequencies -- human voices, in particular -- are less damped. But if you spend time around machines (airplanes, air conditioners, etc.) they make your life a lot more peaceful. As headphones (for example, for a stereo) they are OK but not great.

Rating:
Summary: Work well, good value, mechanically weak
Review: These are inexpensive and work well with airline audio systems, computers, walkmans. Battery life is excellent, at least 20 hours on a set of batteries. However, mechanically, these headphones are flimsy. The earcups twist for storage, but if stressed, they will break off. They can be repaired, if you don't mind using epoxy glue and wrapping up the break with wire, and not having the twist capability anymore.

Rating:
Summary: Work well, good value, mechanically weak
Review: These are inexpensive and work well with airline audio systems, computers, walkmans. Battery life is excellent, at least 20 hours on a set of batteries. However, mechanically, these headphones are flimsy. The earcups twist for storage, but if stressed, they will break off. They can be repaired, if you don't mind using epoxy glue and wrapping up the break with wire, and not having the twist capability anymore.

Rating:
Summary: Depends on the type of noise
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing technologi, less good comfort....
Review: These relatively inexpensive noice-cancelling headphones really does its job well, remarkable how it reduces the cabin noice on a Boing 747 by at least 50%. It's actually possible with these to follow a movie being shown and understand all that's being said without too much concentration. As for the sound quality, they're probable nothing fancy but they produce a good deal more bass than your standard in-flight headset. My only problem with these is the comfort issue. After 1-2 hour of wearing my ears gets red/annoyed. This is because they rest on the ear itself where I would've preferred an over-the-ear solution. I am happy I got them however, great value for the money, the Sony solution is way WAY more expensive and I just need them for an occational movie in flight.

Rating:
Summary: waste of time and money
Review: This is very uncomfortable unit. But the most annoing this is that I could not use headphones on a 15 hour flight on Boing 747 bussiness class. Units does not have proper connector. Headphones are heavy, pinched my ears and perfomed poor. Even standrd headphones provided by United were better. I just hope that I will get my money back fast.

Rating:
Summary: Nice execution for the money
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Nice execution for the money
Review: 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.