Noise Cancelling Headphones
A fast growing trend in headphones are the Noise Cancelling Headphones designed for use in noisy environments such as planes, trains and...well even noisy work places.
Up until now, if you wanted a quality noise cancelling headphone, you had a choice of three Sennheiser models and a few other models from the likes of AKG and Bose. (Yes I am skipping over the many cheap and nasty products out there)
This year we have a new contender, the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 along with some exciting new Sennheiser models: the Sennheiser PXC 350 and Sennheiser PXC 450 which are both full size headphones, unlike their previous models. This section will help describe the various models, how they sound and how much they cost in Australia.
Sennheiser PXC 150 and PXC 250
The PXC 150 ($249) is the base model in the Sennheiser line up with the PXC 250 ($349) being of the exact same specifications in terms of noise cancelling circuitry and ear pieces. The difference between the two models is that the PXC 250 folds and so it is a little easier to carry around. The finish and 'look' of the PXC 250 is a little more up market as well but essentially they sound the same.
Comfort is where these are great - easy to wear for hours on end on that long flight to Europe, your ears never get 'sweaty' like full size headphones can sometimes do and of course they are much lighter in weight and you can even fall asleep with them on and not be disturbed. But, there are better sounding noise cancelling headphones to be had. Also of note, is the rather large NoiseGard circuitry which is the size of two AA batteries end to end and can not be removed, so if you are using them without noise cancelling turned on, you are stuck with it!
Sennheiser PXC 300
OK so you love the idea of the small sized PXC 250 but you want better sound because you are a more discerning music lover right? Well the Sennheiser PXC 300 ($449) was made for you! It has the exact same size and folding mechanism as the PXC 250, but with improved drivers and a newer NoiseGard Advanced system for noise cancellation.
The sound improvements they have made are in the area of bass response, and they have done a great job. Bass reproduction is very good for a driver of this size and provides a very full sound stage, but it never sounds overly heavy in the bass so it is not bass for bass sake. Nice job Sennheiser, this is a great choice for those looking for an easy to carry, high quality headphone with sound that suits the true music lover.
Sennheiser PXC 350 and PXC 450
As good as the previous models are, some people insist on having a full size headphone when they travel, and to answer that request Sennheiser are releasing two new models: the Sennheiser PXC 350 and the Sennheiser PXC 450. Due to arrive in Australia in June 2007 at prices which will make your eyes pop: $599 and $799 respectively.
The claimed level of noise cancelling on the PXC 350 is 85%, and 90% on the PXC 450 which also features a similar technology to the Shure E500's in that it has a 'TalkThrough' feature. Essentially you do not need to remove your headphones to hear someone talking to you, simply push a button and a microphone is turned on to hear what they have to say.
We will have to wait until they arrive later this year to see how good they sound, but being Sennheiser I am confident they will deliver good quality sound, what it all comes down to is if you have the budget for a noise cancelling headphone at this price point. Bose have been selling theirs for $600 so a better sounding Sennheiser around the same price should do just as well yes? Time will tell. One positive is that the NoiseGard circuitry is now built into the larger earpieces.
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7
It seems strange that a company like Audio-Technica who I consider to be the Japanese equivalent to Sennheiser in that they both make headphones and microphones, has only now released their first noise cancelling headphone.
In terms of size they fit very neatly between the Sennheiser models - yes they are a full ear covering headphone, but they are far more compact that the new Sennheiser models. With this being their first ever noise cancelling headphone, I was keen to find out how well they reduce noise, and with a claimed reduction of 85% I had high hopes.
As I do not travel on planes or trains very often, I can only test them in my office and where I sit is about four feet away from a very noisy in wall air conditioning unit which I liken to a noisy aircraft cabin. So I began the test, I placed them on and found them very comfortable and I have larger sized ears so this was good. I then turned on the noise cancelling circuitry.....wow! The noise from the air conditioner was not reduced, it was eliminated!
This is a better performance than the Sennheiser models which all but removed the noise of the air conditioning. The other thing to note here is the effect the noise cancelling has on your ears. When you try these on without playing music, you are left in total silence. With the Sennheiser models, there is a sucking like effect on your ears that is a little disturbing. Keep in mind this is only really noticeable when music is not playing, but it shows the differences between the two companies technology, and in this respect Audio-Technica win.
Sound from the Audio-Technicas is very good, providing a well balanced spectrum, no obvious peaks in the sound field, I guess 'smooth' is what would sum them up.
Summary
If I had to pick one of these to take with me on my next trip to Europe, it would have to be the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7. They provide better noise cancelling than the Sennheiser models currently available, are beautifully made and provide a smooth and easy to listen to sound. When the new Sennheiser models arrive, they will have to provide substantially better sound quality to justify their substantially higher price and only time will tell.
But, keep this in mind when you make your decision - these headphones are designed for use in noisy environments, environments which are not really conducive to quality listening. This begs the question: Is it worth buying $800 headphones for use in an environment that WILL intrude to some degree on the sound you hear?
Audiophiles will always aim for the best and they will probably still spend the $800 for the high end Sennheiser product, which I admit can be used at home in their not so noisy lounge room as well which goes some way to justifying their expense, but for the average listener, I think the Audio-Technica provides that magic sweet spot of great sound, comfort and incredible value when compared to the other products on the market. Get them now before they realise they are selling them too cheap!
An Update!
OK the PXC 450's have just landed in our lap today, so the comparison with the Audio-Techinca is on! First thing is 'feel', the Sennheiser PXC 450 has a very sold, high quality feel about it, and it feels like the more significant product of the two, which surprises me as the Audio-Techinca is no slouch in that department. The ear cushions are particularly nice, and the whole unit feels really solid, strike one to Sennheiser.
Comfort is the next issue, the Sennheiser's ear cups are substantially larger than the Audio-Techinca's and as such fit over the ear entirely (I have larger ears) where the Audio-Techinca's fit partially on my ears. For those with very small ears both will fit over. So me at least comfort is better on the Sennheiser in terms of over ear fit, but, they feel heavier than the Audio-Techinca's, even though there is only about 400g in it. Also the pressure applied to the head form the rather stiff headband on the Sennheiser's could get a bit tiring after a while so while initial comfort goes to the Sennheiser's, I think long term the Audio-Techinca will win this one, but for now let's call it a draw.
Sound quality is where these two really differ. I said before the Audio-Techinca had a very smooth sound with no 'peaks' anywhere in the spectrum, but after listening to the Sennhsier's, I retract that statement. The Sennheiser has a very 'open' med range and top end but are a little light on in the bass region when compared to the Audio-Techinca. However the Audio-Techinca now sounds like it has a bit of a hump in the upper bass/lower mid area which is very obvious after having the Sennheiser's on. But, when going back the other way, the reverse is true, the Sennheiser seems to have a lack of upper bass/lowe mids, so which is right? Well, in my opinion neither, they are what they are. If you are a bass fiend, get the Audio-Techinca, if you prefer a more open and detailed mid range then the Sennheiser is your headphone, just be prepared for the bass to be a little light on, nothing you can' live with mind you, just a touch down from flat.
And finally, noise canceling, the very reason these headphones exist. Sennheiser claim a 90% reduction, and Audio-Techinca claim an 85% reduction. Well they both seem to remove the same mount of noise to me which is good news. Interestingly enough these new Sennheiser's do not suffer from the 'sucking' effect in the ears when using them without playing music, also good news.
So which is the winner here then? Both! The Sennheiser offers excellent sound quality with better midrange and top end detail, plus a better sound stage than the Audio-Techinca, with excellent noise canceling and extremely good comfort, but it does come at a substantial price over the Audio-Techinca's, which is why they offer such good value for money and that is what you have to decide: is it worth it to YOU, to pay the extra for the Sennheiser, or would you be happy with the Audio-Techinca's? For most people the Audio-Techinca is more than satisfying and to be honest in the noisy environments in which they are intended to be used, the extra upper bass/lower mids may be helpful in overcoming the effects of the noisy air craft cabin. Either way you go, you are getting a fantastic product commensurate with the dollars spent.