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What do we really want from noise-canceling headphones? Simple: We want to tune out the world and hear great sound. And hopefully the “cans” are comfortable enough that we don't want to rip them off our heads after having them on for over five minutes.
These ableplanet NCB300B active noise-canceling headphones fit the bill on all three counts. The noise cancellation is excellent. Put these on, flip the “on” switch, and you'll hear the subtle white noise kick in. Once your music, movie, game or whatever starts up, you are immersed. Using them in the office, I found the noise-canceling to be so effective that it drowned out not only a conversation between colleagues, but also my phone (inches from my head) ringing and, it seems, just about everything else. They make the world disappear so effectively, you better make sure when you start using them that you won't be needed by anyone for awhile, because you're going to be out of commission … blissfully so.
Sound quality is also first-rate, thanks to Linx Audio technology. It's especially strong in the low end-perfect for action movies or video games, which tend to have a lot going on in the bass range. I used them for music listening and was impressed by the overall clarity. And the noise cancellation enables you to hear every bit of the unit's 20 to 20,000 Hz frequency range undistracted.
As noise-canceling headphones go, these are pretty comfortable. I had them on for over an hour non-stop and wasn't in a rush to pull them off. Soft ear pads enable you to slip them on easily and they're not crazy-heavy. Granted, for the iPod generation, anything bigger than earbuds may come as a bit of a shock. But for an active set that holds electronics and one AAA battery, these sit on the head nicely. They'll be ideal for watching a movie (or two) on a long plane trip.
Appreciated features include a nice in-line volume control knob on the cable, a two-pronged adapter for those maddening dual-mono airplane headphone jacks, and a sturdy hard case to carry it all.
Ableplanet's headphones will be a great companion on your next trip, enabling you to enjoy your tunes, flicks or games in peace with high-quality audio. One difference I noticed from other noise-canceling 'phones I've reviewed in the past was that when you turn the noise cancellation, very little audio comes through, so you'll have to power them up and will go through batteries quicker-other units I've tried provided decent audio (without canceling outside noise) even when turned off. But with sound this good, you'll want to use them at their fullest capacity.
Fast facts:
NC300B Noise-Canceling Headphones by ableplanet
MSRP: $129.99
www.ableplanet.com
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