Design
The MDRNC11 headphones comprise a pair of bud-style headphones, topped with replaceable silicon rubber tips in three sizes (small, medium and large). We used the medium buds in our testing, and unless you've got incredibly massive ears, you're unlikely to find a size that won't work for you. The buds (and associated noise cancelling microphones) hook up to the main control module of the headphones, that then leads out to a standard stereo jack. An adaptor is provided for in-flight audio using the two-pronged setup that is most common on aircraft. Instructions come in a variety of languages, and the whole kit is remarkably portable thanks to the supplied felt bag.
Features
Setting up and controlling the headphones really couldn't be much simpler. Pop in an AAA battery (not supplied) and then switch the only switch the unit comes with to the on position. A dial on the side controls volume incrementally -- and that's your lot. Sony's rating for the MDRNC11 headphones suggests an average battery life of around 40 hours on a decent AAA cell. If the power runs out, though, you're not left without audio -- you just lose the noise dampening qualities of the headphones.
Performance
Many people using noise cancelling headphones are a tad disappointed when they discover that they don't create a field of absolute silence around you, and if that's what you're looking for, we'd suggest you just opt to go deaf instead -- it'll be quicker. What the MDRNC11 headphones do is analyse the ambient sound around you and send an inverted audio signal through the headphones -- on top of whatever other audio you have going, or just by themselves.
This eliminates most of the lower frequency noise you're likely to encounter, significantly muffling external noise sources. An added side effect we found -- and a not terribly surprising one -- is that it tends to make the audio of whatever it is you're listening to that much crisper and especially that much louder. A word to the wise here -- as they sit in the ear itself, it's worth making sure the volume is quite low when you first insert them -- we didn't and got a real ear blasting for our troubles.
There are studies that suggest that eliminating the low frequency noises that systems like these do can play a significant role in reducing jet lag after long flights, although as that's an affliction that can hit people in widely varying degrees, we wouldn't want to swear that the MDRNC11 headphones can significantly reduce this for everyone. For what it's worth, as they sit within the ear, they act as very powerful earbuds if you just want to block out most external noise.
At AU$299, the MDRNC11 headphones aren't really a casual purchase, but if you're a frequent traveller -- or just frequently have to work in a noisy enviroment where you can't hear yourself think, let alone hear your favourite music playing -- then they're a solid investment.
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conned
17/07/2008, 03:15 AM
rating
2/10
Terrible. I am a freq. flyer and have a pair of uadio technica which work very well. I bought the Sony MDRNC32NX because they are more portable and easier to wear. However, for long flights they are unconfortable. They also do very little for flight noise cancellation, there was only very slight noise reduction
Pros: portable
probably good for normal earphones for a mp3 player
Cons: Uncomfortable for long flights
very little noise cancellation compared to other brands
cord is very short - I had to buy an extension cable so it could reach the plane socket
Did not come with a double socket for the plane.
very expensive ear phones - not for plane flights
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pluto44
07/12/2006, 03:33 PM
rating
9/10
Love my set, bought them in HK for approx $140au. Never had any problems with mine, and yes they do block 85% of the external sound.
Pros: The best small portable noise cancelling head phones I have owned.
Cons: Annoying battery holder which could of been located closer to the plug...
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Matthew
03/11/2006, 12:13 PM
rating
6/10
I really like my set, but rarely use the noise-cancelling circuitry. The rubber earbuds seal really well and that blocks out much of the background noise. The only timeI really switch on the electronic noise-cancelling circuitry is when I'm flying.
Two major gripes though: First, the rubber cups fall off quite easily, and you lose them. You have to buy replacements from Sony. At $25 a set, they are a total rort - they cannot cost more than 10 cents to manufacture. Secondly, the left-channel is now dead on my set, and I'm now out of warranty. For something that cost me $270 less than 18 months ago, this is not good enough. It's $55 just to get a Sony repair centre to look at the problem. The repair cost is additional to this.
Pros: Sound great, good bass reproduction, good at keeping out background noise, very comfortable to wear.
Cons: Cost too much, and Sony treat their customers with utter contempt. Repairs and spare parts cost a fortune.
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Shane
16/10/2006, 10:17 PM
rating
7/10
Mine worked fine
I bought mine from the Sony Building in Ginza for about $A90. For this price, they are obviously great value. The noise reduction was reasonable - maybe about 50% of the constant low humming sound of the plane's engines. Obviously, the cancellation is best for constant sounds. Noise reduction not as good as the Bose, but not as expensive either.
Pros: Definitely reduced noise
Cons: Price listed here is expensive.
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Brian
13/09/2006, 12:33 PM
rating
2/10
Rubbish. Bollocks.
Pros: Rubber earbuds block out some noise
Cons: I don't know what's happening inside this ugly unit, but it wasn't worth my money. The sound quality in a quiet environment is tinny and thin. In a noisy environment, once you turn on the noise reduction, the only effects I could determine were a boost in the treble and an increase in volume. Reduction in noise: none, except that covered by the increase in volume. Not worth a tenth of the purchase price.
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Steve-0
15/09/2005, 09:43 AM
Excellent.
I had very realistic expectations - and though this might annoy some - I bought them at Tokyo Airport for about A$100. So for me they were an excellent purchase. I suggest that the negative comment below mine didn't know how to use them - I was sitting just behind the engines for 12 hours and they effectively blocked 85%+ of the engine noise. I slept on a long-haul for the first time in 15 years.
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anonymus
13/09/2005, 01:18 AM
A waste of good money!
I had great hopes because of the SONY reputation, but they turned out a great dissapointment, and at a very high price! The noise reduction is almost non-existent!
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04/09/2005, 07:46 PM
pricy, work fine
Used them in plane, exelent sound cancelation. Could hear newspaper sounds ten seats away. After 8 hours my ears were a little sore. comment above: you should return phones, must be defect! Difference switched on/off is amazing...
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Warren
09/07/2005, 05:52 AM
Waste of money
Ineffective, buy the Sennheiser unit.
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18/05/2005, 12:45 PM
Good value
I had a pair I really liked, lost them, and bought another. Airplane audio is much crisper and you can tell the difference. Lost the 2nd pair and going to move up to Bose as I hear those work even better...but at a price. Overall, these sold me on moving up in the noise reduction purchases
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