Rating: 
Summary: Mostly good, with some annoyances
Review: These are fairly nice headphones, with a lot of plusses. I found them to be very comfortable, and sound quite good (I'm not an audiophile, though, so I'll defer to others.) The compact design is very nice, and includes a nice carrying case (a heavy-duty nylon weave), a regular phono jack adapter, and an airplane jack adapter. I'm very impressed with all of the above.On the minus side, I don't think they're worth the price I paid -- they seem quite a bit pricier than other models. On the very minus side, the battery compartment latch broke immediately -- it has a flimsy, tiny plastic latch that seems doomed to failure at some point. One of the most annoying things is that if you have the battery compartment attached to your body (as they designed for and recommend), you've got about a meter (one yard) of cord to work with. You'll have to sit on your desk or stand in front of your stereo to use them. A very poor corner to cut, in my opinion. I subsequently ordered an extension cord, but chafe at having to do so. Regarding the noise cancellation, I found it to be quite good. Noise cancellation is typical of other units (e.g. aircraft headsets) -- it cuts ambient noise about 10dB in the lower frequencies. This helps quite a bit (and I expect would be particularly nice on airplane trips), but customers who expected dramatic silence were expecting way too much. Even foam earplus can only attenuate about 30dB (though arguably do much better at higher frequencies). All in all, I'm happy with these headphones, but annoyed with the price, the flimsy battery compartment, and the ridicuously short cord.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Pleased
Review: I bought an IPOD a couple of weeks ago to listen to on my daily commute by train. I was dissapointed with the sound quality using the headphones that came with the IPOD on the train given all the background noise. I researched noise reduction headphones on the web and settled on the Sennheiser. I was a bit skeptical, but, wow, what a difference! The noise reduction elminates probably about two thirds of the train noise. Doesn't elminate it completely, but it is low enough that you forget about it. I can hear all the music with the volume only half way up. The clarity is great. I can hear each instrument individually. True, the base is not as strong as it could be, but fortunately the IPOD comes with a built in equalizer so I can compensate. What's more, I saved 60% as opposed to a $300 pair of Bose headphones.
Rating:
Summary: Mine made it to Iraq and back in one piece.
Review: I took the PXC-250's on my deployment to Iraq in 2003. After the "dust" settled and we were able to relax for an hour or two in the evening, I'd spend a little time listening to music. The PXC-250 stood up well to the conditions. Of course they aren't exactly rugged and I did make an effort to take good care of them; putting them away in their case every night and cleaning them every once in a while. The combinations Nike Sport ACT-300 and Sennheiser PXC-250 delivered excellent cd quality. The noise reduction unit worked (and still works) well. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: I'd recommend them...
Review: The Basics
Constructed of solid metal/plastic components, comfortable vinyl padding, folds up into a relatively small and flat profile, and fits great in the quality padded case that's included. The noise-canceling circuitry is contained in a separate plastic container as long and wide as a thick cigar -- not bulky at all to handle especially with the belt clip. The power switch is pushed up/down and has enough resistance where I don't see how it could be unintentionally turned on as a previous reviewer commented. It is powered by 2 AAA batteries (documentation doesn't state how long the power would last with continuous use) and will conveniently continue to function even when the batteries drain (albeit without the noise cancelation). The adapters/connections are NOT gold plated which is rather disappointing for a product of this price. Not that it matters to me, but these headphones are not "silver" colored as stated and shown in the product title and picture; they are black and gun metal gray and don't appear obnoxiously showy. The standard two year warranty is definitely an advantage over other headphone manufacturer offerings. I've never owned/used noise-canceling headphones before and therefore will be comparing them to the Sennheiser HD-280 cans I purchased at the same time. Audio Quality
The audio reproduction of the 250s is inferior to the 280s, which I'll admit is an unfair comparison as the latter are semi-professional studio headphones. With the noise canceling circuitry turned off the audio sounds shallow and tinny because the padding causes the headphones to sit somewhat far from the eardrums. If you push the headphones against your head you'll notice the audio quality and bass response improves. When the circuitry is turned on the tinnyness disappears, but audio seems a little over-boosted particularly the bass. Mid and high range is more accurately produced. For its size, design and intended purpose these headphones have acceptable audio quality. Noise Cancellation
The 280s definitely blocked out surrounding ambient noise better because of its closed design that fit around the whole ear unlike the 250s that just rest on top of the ear. When the noise cancellation is turned on, it does a great job of blocking out fan/air conditioning droning as well as other low-pitched noise but the circuitry produces a higher pitched hissing in return (comparable to an audio cassette tape without Dolby Noise Reduction technology). I suppose this is the effect of one noise canceling out the other, fortunately it isn't that noticeable while listening to music at moderate levels. Don't expect these to isolate you from noisy coworkers or screaming babies on an airplane; you'll still be able to hear outside conversation especially when women talk because of their higher pitched voices. Conclusion
Although the HD-280 has a foldable design, they are still rather bulky and heavy to transport while traveling. If an acceptable compromise, I'd have to recommend them for its better sound isolation, audio quality and lower price. However I'm keeping the PXC-250 as they're very convenient to tote around, allow me to hear others when being addressed at work and have acceptable audio quality for what its worth.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre quality for the price.
Review: I have other studio headphones for home use that cost less than
these, and provide very high quality, with good frequency
response. So, I expected a lot from these headphones. Maybe the
noise reduction technology is expensive, but I am still not happy
with Sennheiser. I bought them to reduce sound in my office, and
while sound is reduced, it's nowhere near what I was expecting. There's a noisy computer under my desk, and its high-pitched
whine is reduced--some. Mostly, I found LOW-pitched sounds to be
quieted more than high. And when co-workers hold an impromptu
meeting outside my door--forget about it; the headphones reduce
an awful din to an annoying din. I now wish I had saved my money and just used my old studio head
phones--I could have bought some CD's to mask the sound instead. As for claims like "I couldn't even hear the phone ring", I find
it highly unlikely.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Value for Travelers
Review: If you will be spending any time on airplanes this year, I highly recommend you buy yourself a pair of these Sennheisers. I used mine for the first time on a long international flight and was amazed at the results. They did a great job at eliminating roughly 80% of the ambient noise both while listening to music on my MP3 player and watching in-flight movies. It's remarkable how much less fatiguing air travel is if you block out the overwhelming ambient noise. Pros:
- highly effective active noise reduction
- very reasonably priced
- collapsible with small carry case and adapter plug for dual prong aircraft jacks
- very light weight and comfortable (noise reduction circuit and batteries are located in a belt clip module, not the headset itself)
- much less bulky than the Bose noise reduction headphones Cons:
- not quite as effective as expensive fully enclosed noise reduction headphones (ie. Bose) If you are a true road warrior (ie travel every week), you might choose the $300 Bose noise canceling headphones. They are slightly more effective, but not enough to justify being 3 times as expensive as these Sennheisers.
Rating:
Summary: An Oasis of Tranquility Amid the Noise of the City
Review: I am looking forward with dread to four months of apartment renovations starting soon and I was looking for ways to keep my sanity during all the racket and mayhem. The idea of Noise Canceling headphones seemed just the ticket to help me keep from losing my mind. I tried the Bose, the Sony, and the Sennheiser in a comparative listening bout. Overall, I liked the Bose a little better than the Sennheiser, but not enough to justify the increased price. Both blew away the Sony, which just doesn't sound that good and conducts too much movement noise up into the headphones. The Sennheiser are closed ear headphones, very lightweight and comfortable to wear unless you are exercising, where they tend to get a bit too hot. The snug fit of the earphones helps block out sound, even without the noise-canceling feature. But with the feature the amount of noise that is reduced or effectively canceled is remarkable. Most of the daily rumble of Manhattan is removed from your listening experience, though louder and sharper sounds still can be heard. The actual sound in the headphones is excellent, very clear, with a focused treble and a distortion free bass response. I tested the phones using a variety of music, orchestral, jazz, rock, and organ music. For my money, organ is the most difficult of instruments for headphones, as the rich bass frequencies almost always lead to distortion. Happily, the Sennsheimer phones were able to reproduce the massive sounds of Messiaen without mishap! As a final test I took my headphones on a street run last night. I picked out the quietest CD that I have, Morton Feldman's Rothko Chapel, which never really gets above a whisper. Walking through Lincoln Center, which was crowded with concertgoers, I barely heard a thing. Walking down the street, there was an eerie sense of calm. I could hear car horns, and some other ambient noise, which I was glad of, since it could be dangerous otherwise, but the quiet and clarity of the Feldman was remarkable. The final test was a Subway ride. While I can't say that the Subway ride was noise free, the headphones did a wonderful job of blocking all but the loudest noises. I didn't even miss notes when the express train rumbled through my station. The design is a bit of a negative. As has been said, the battery pack is a bit bulky, though not so much as to really bother me. And the headphones do fold up nicely, making them a good compact option for travel. But the wires tangle easily, unlike the Bose. Hopefully, in future models, Sennheiser will find a way to improve this feature. Overall, I am extremely pleased with the performance of this product, and at the price point, it can't be beat.
Rating:
Summary: Great sound, reasonable price, small annoyance
Review: I bought these headphones to use with my new portable when I'm walking around the city and on airplanes. I also thought I'd try them on the NYC subway system, which is about the most demanding test I can think of, but I didn't have much hope for them working too well on the trains. In fact, they are pretty good in the subway, which is saying a lot given the racket down there, and for walking around town they are exceptional. I sat in a park near one of the city highways and listened to a selection of various music styles, all of which sounded very good, even the soft classical pieces. The Sennheisers were very effective at eliminating the hum of highway traffic, and also cut about 70% of the noise from helicopters and boat traffic on the nearby river. If these work this well in the city, I can only imagine how much better my next airplane ride is going to be. Now for the small annoyance: There are a lot of cords to deal with, as there are two different lines running out of each side of the headset and also a third line that runs out of the powerpack. Plus, the powerpack is somewhat bulky, which was a hassle when I tried to wear the headphones while exercising. But the excellent performance and the reasonable price make the cord issue one that's worth dealing with. Speaking of price, these headphones are definitely a great value. I paid $103. for them on sale on Amazon -- a significant savings from what they go for in retail stores and far less than the cost of the Bose headset that I originally wanted. While I can believe that the Bose are a bit more effective at filtering out some sounds, the Sennheisers are more than adequate for my purposes -- and for only a third the price of the Bose.
Rating:
Summary: Travel headphones
Review: After many hours of online researching and trips to Ultimate Electronics, Circuit City, and a few other electronic stores I decided on this pair. Online customer reviews aside, I highly recommend a visit to the music store, electronics store, wherever. If you are going to spend a hundred dollars on anything try it out first. There is a huge diversity out there in ear cup size, sound, and build quality. I personally was looking for a good set of headphones that I could use on a plane. These more than exceeded my expectations for that purpose. If you are looking for a set to use in the office at your desk, these are not for you. You can get a better set at half the price. I'd recommend something with closed cups and passive noise reduction if your office is noisy. Most active cancellers don't help with this problem. The same holds true for most other noisy environments. These actually work best with low frequency noise, i.e. the plane. I also tried them in our computer room which has blowers and stacks of servers humming along. They actually seem to reduce the noise there by approx 50-65%. I had a few coworkers try them out here to see what they felt and they agreed that they were excellent noise reducers. On the plane and with my personal dvd player I normally played the volume between 5 and 6. I watched several movies and the sound effects and speech were heard easily and clear. Before I had a 10$ set that you inserted into your ear. I had to play the same player at 10 and had a difficult time hearing some parts of the dialogue. With the Sennheisers I am able to comfortably wear them for hours at a time on the plane. The noise attenuation works so well you grow accustomed to it. After wearing these a few hours I took them off and couldn't believe the difference.
Pros
Great low frequency noise reduction
Very comfortable, light on the ears and top of the head. They don't pinch like a lot of others, or get hot
Sound quality above average
Cool carrying case Cons
Noise circuit wand can be an irritant, depends what you are doing. On the plane I didn't have any issues.
100$ or more, they are kind of expensive and lack hard bass. For a hundred bucks I'd like it to do everything, which I guess is unrealistic. 5 Stars, buy if you intend to use for travel
Rating:
Summary: Mine made it to Iraq and back in one piece.
Review: I took the PXC-250's on my deployment to Iraq in 2003. After the "dust" settled and we were able to relax for an hour or two in the evening, I'd spend a little time listening to music. The PXC-250 stood up well to the conditions. Of course they aren't exactly rugged and I did make an effort to take good care of them; putting them away in their case every night and cleaning them every once in a while. The combinations Nike Sport ACT-300 and Sennheiser PXC-250 delivered excellent cd quality. The noise reduction unit worked (and still works) well. Recommended.
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