Sony MDRNC500D vs. Sennheiser PXC310 vs. Bose Quiet Comfort 15. Sony MDRNC500D vs. Sennheiser PXC310 vs. Bose Quiet Comfort 15.
PILOTS have been using noise-cancelling headsets for years but it took a while for the message to filter back to the passenger cabin. Now you see people wearing noise cancellers on every flight and the market is crowded.
There are inexpensive, lightweight models that work surprisingly well and fold to the size of a spectacle case. Big names offer noise-cancelling earbuds but so do esoteric brands such as Shure, better known for turntable-related gear.
But it's not all about travel. If you live under a flight path or in a suburb where weekend leaf blowing drives you to distraction, they can improve your outlook on life markedly, especially now premium noise cancellers sound so good.
They're best at blocking constant noise such as jet engines, lawnmowers and the swish of traffic; they are less effective at sudden, sharp sounds. This isn't always a bad thing. It means you can hear in-flight announcements or the phone or the door without much trouble. But the screeching baby behind you, while muted, will remain vexing.
There's trust involved when trying these things. The kind of shops selling them are quiet and ordered, so you'll have to take them outside where it's noisy to test their effectiveness. Maybe you could get the salespeople to run a loud action flick.
Comfort is just as important as sound quality and that's harder to achieve with models that sit on the ears rather than around them, especially for long periods, so don't base your opinion on a 30-second demo. Clamp pressure, weight and headband width and padding all contribute to comfort.
Noise cancellers make sleeping on a plane easier but go for models where the cord can be removed without affecting the noise-cancelling ability. You'll sleep in peace without strangling yourself.
We think you still can't go past the Bose for travelling and the Sonys we've included are the best if you want noise cancellers for home.
Sennheiser PXC310
$499
Rating: 3/5
These fold up cleverly to fit into a supplied pouch about the size of a small paperback. They come with a removable, rechargeable battery pack, which means you can buy another and always have a charged pack on hand (but given a charge lasts 20 hours, you might not need the spare). Charging happens through a USB, so can be done from a computer or the mains. Cables are removable and the on-off switch doubles as a volume control. These sound great until you listen to the other two, when you realise they're a bit top-end oriented and lack the depth and airiness of the others. Noise cancelling is effective but comfort, especially for prolonged periods, is down on the others. They weigh 111 grams.
syntec.com.au
Sony MDRNC500D
$599
Rating: 4/5
Best for home use, these are the biggest, heaviest and clumsiest here. An external power pack (taking two AAs) means there are two plugs. They won't work without the power cord, so sleeping in them becomes cumbersome. There's a switch to interrupt noise cancelling (why not just take them off?), another to turn on artificial-intelligence noise-cancelling mode, an on-off switch and another on-off on the battery pack. But the sound quality is better, by a tad, than the Bose: it's airy and very spacious with excellent detail. There's gorgeous depth with strong and nicely detailed bass. The noise cancelling, with the AI turned on, is the best here. The supplied rigid travel case has room for an iPod. They weigh 209 grams.
sony.com.au
Bose Quiet Comfort 15
$499
Rating: 4.5/5
These fold flat into a supplied rigid case and you'll get your iPod and a spare battery in there, too. They enclose the ear (there's an on-ear model but, being rechargeable, it costs another $100) and with a generous headband and excellent, head-hugging padding, they're easily the most comfortable here and can be worn for as long as you want without annoyance. The single AAA battery will last from Sydney to London and most of the way back. Cables are removable. The sound quality is excellent, with superb depth and spaciousness and crisp definition extending all the way to low bass. But the Sonys sound fractionally better. These do everything well and are certainly the best all rounders here, especially for travellers. They weigh 193 grams.
bose.com.au