Sony MDR-NC50 Noise Canceling Headphones by Sony
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Digital camera reviews of Sony MDR-NC50 Noise Canceling Headphones
Digital camera Review: Don't buy this product!!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought these headphones to replace the earbuds for my iPod. The whistling sound in the right earphone grows louder and louder with use. I've notced changing to a new battery helps -- for a while, a short while, then the whistling is back. Pushing in on the outer ear cover really sets off the whistle. especially on the right side. As an engineer, I'd say it's a design problem. As a buyer, these are just another pair of earphones with noise cancelling off, so why not get a pair without that feature and save yourself some money?Digital camera Review: Don't trust Sony Customer Service
Summary: 1 Stars
These may be good headphones, but, due to a fatal flaw in manufacturing and poor customer service, I'll probably never know.
Purchased the MDRNC50's to replace older model Sony's that had been very satisfactory. Purchased through Amazon.com from J&R Music World. I did not immediately open the Sony packaging, as I anticipated no problems. When I did finally cut them out of the plastic, I tried to insert the battery and the battery door broke/was broken. Noise canceling feature won't work without battery.
I contacted J&R, who stated that it was past their 30 day window (true) and that they no longer carry the model. They directed me to contact Sony. After lengthy discussions with two different persons in the Phillipines, my only option is to mail my brand new headphones to the Mexican border (Laredo, TX), where they will eventually be replaced with a used, refurbished pair.
For a brand new product, unused and still with all packaging, this is a terrible way to treat customers. Potential buyers should be wary of the problem with the plastic battery compartment door. Persons considering buying other Sony products, like a big screen LCD TV, should read reviews of how they treat new owers with "cloudy screens".
I own numerous Sony products (2 TVs, 2 camcorders, etc) and had been a loyal customer. I've learned my lesson. Other potential customers should form their own opinions but be forewarned!
Digital camera Review: Excellent all round
Summary: 5 Stars
NOTE! There was a reviewer that mentioned his cord woulnd't stay connected. I had the same problem, I'd have to hold the cord in to keep it playing out of both ears. I almost returned them when I accidentally found you have to push the cord in REALLY hard. The jack snaps in much more snug than you're used to. Problem solved!
The sound quality is excellent (I'm an audiophile) and the noise cancellation is superb. I'm using them in my office right (data center) right now, and I can only barely hear my keyboard.
Many people have mentioned the headphones don't crank out enough power, but I think that's crazy. I'm using my iPod at 1/4 volume right now and it's fine. I can't see any reason I'd ever have to go above half volume - particularly when you take into account the noise cancelling.
Digital camera Review: Excellent sound quality, great noise cancellation
Summary: 5 Stars
I also own a Sennheiser PXC 250 headphones, so I have some background for comparison. (My dad is using those) I'll start with some important points people care about when buying noise cancellation headphones:
Hissing - *All* noise cancellation headphones will sound like they're hissing. This is due to the cancelling waves and you cannot avoid it. Even the best will have some hissing, and when you're listening to music, you won't notice it at all. The MDR-NC50's hissing is very subtle, one of the best I've tried. So I would ignore people complaining about the hissing.
Weight/External Device: Like the Sennheiser PXC series some headphones have an external device where the battery goes. MDR-NC50 doesn't have one and uses only one AAA battery, so it's light and there's no clutter. (But the headphones are a little bigger due to that fact)
Battery Life: Most NC headphones can go for about 30 hours. I've been using these headphones on several plane trips, so I guess it's been on for about 30-35 hours. The battery is still going.
Pros:
1 - Great sound quality: I'm no music expert but these headphones are truly amazing. The sounds are deep and 'real'. Unlike Sennheiser the sound quality doesn't change when I turn off the noise cancellation. It's always great.
2 - Great noise cancellation: No NC headphone cancels all the noise, and Sony's do the job very well with minimal hissing.
3 - Detachable cord is very convenient.
4 - Very comfortable. I wear them for 4+ hours with no discomfort. Of course my ears do get a little warm but nothing can help that.
5 - The carrying case is protective and actually useful. It looks and feels like it's well made.
6 - Single AAA battery, and no external device. Long battery life.
(7) - The monitor button is kind of useful, but I don't use it often. It's definitely a plus though.
Cons:
1 - It is a bigger headphone than say Sennheisers, this can be a con if you worry about size.
OVERALL:
Great headphone. It's sounds, feels, fits great and the noise cancellation is excellent. The headphone is robust and carefully designed. If you want a great NC headphone that's under the $[..] line, go for these.
Digital camera Review: Excellent with a few minor flaws.
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought my first pair of Sony headphones several years ago and instantly fell in love with the comfort and sound quality. I had never before experienced comfort wearing a pair of headphones and the sound just never lived up to my high standards until that first pair of Sony's. When the plug broke (of my own carelessness, not the headphones), I had no choice but to search for another set of cans that lived up to the expectations set by that first pair.
I did some mild searching for a year or so but found nothing that lived up to my expectations. It wasn't until I was deployed to Iraq and taking college courses that I decided to look into noise cancelling headphones. I found I couldn't concentrate on the material I was supposed to be reading due to level of noise (ambient and otherwise) that I was constantly surrounded by. I needed something to block it out. So I spent three days searching Amazon, looking for the pair of headphones that could do the job.
I stumbled over these almost by accident. I was looking at other brands but wasn't impressed with the descriptions and reviews or didn't feel like paying $200+ for a name (Bose). Having had good experience with Sony in the past, I decided after much debate to go with the MDR-NC50's. I placed my order and waited. Then I waited some more. Three weeks turned in to four before I finally recieved my headphones. I ripped open the packaging and admired my new pair of cans. They were beautiful. Probably the best looking pair of headphones I have ever seen. Very sturdy in construction. When you lift them, the first thing you notice is how dense and compact they are. To me, this density is usually a good indicator of quality. I've had speakers that were half the size of their competitors but weighed twice as much. The heavier speakers always have better sound and construction than their lighter opponents. So, being surprised by the weight of these cans was a good indicater of their quality.
Having said this, I was severely disappointed when I got around to plugging in the cord. I'm used to having a detachable cord and, truth be told, I find it to be a plus. However, this cord was simply unacceptable. My other pair of Sony's had an 8 ft long, sturdy cord that attached to the left ear phone. The MDR-NC50's have the same setup but the cord is short (only 4 feet long) and thin. It's the same diameter as a regular pair of headphones. This may not be a big deal to most people but to me, it is. The freedom to move around while wearing my headphones is something I quite enjoy. The cups are very well designed and extremely comfortable. I've wore them for several hours at a time and have yet to have any discomfort. Typically, the tops of my ears get sore after wearing headphones for an extended period of time. I haven't noticed that problem at all with these. The cups seem to hug your ears snuggly but not uncomfortably, making wearing these headphones a very pleasant experience.
I finally got around to plugging them in and turning on some tunes. Wow! They sounded great. By far, the best sounding headphones I had ever heard. The bass was full and enhancing, not overwhelming. Treble was crisp and clear and vocals were warm and smooth. Small nuiances were not lost as happens in most headphones. Overall, the sound was beautiful, well blended and pleasing to the ears. And this was without noise cancelling on.
The first thing I noticed when I switched on the noise cancelling circuit with no music was the immediate reduction of ambient noises. The A/C unit, generator, computers, airplanes taking off, all seemed to be muted. But this doesn't mean ALL noise is eliminated. The headphones seem to only eliminate background noises. Sounds like people talking on the TV, while significantly quieted due to the construction of the ear pads, were still present. I had expected to be engulfed in complete silence with the noise cancelling on and was a bit disappointed when this was not so. But all in all, the circuitry does what it's supposed to do: eliminate NOISE, not sound. After a minute of using the noise cancelling without music, I turned turned the music back on.
With the music back on, the main and most noticeable difference is bass. With the noise cancelling circuitry on, the bass is considerably more pronounced, almost overwhelming, and seems to cover up some of the more subtle instrumental parts. For instance, I was listening to John Mayer's "Slow Dancing In A Burning Room". In this song, there are lead and rythm guitar parts. With the noise cancelling off, both parts are noticeable and easy to distinguish over the bass line. However, when you turn the noise cancelling on, the lead guitar seems to fade in to the background, certainly not where it was meant to be, and the bass takes the foreground. I found a simple equalizer change helped offset most of this effect but this can be a nuisance if you have to do this every time you switch the circuitry on or off. Other than that, the sound was very good and I could hear nothing, including voices, outside of the headphones with music on.
Overall, these are very good headphones at a very reasonable price. I haven't noticed the "howling" some reviewers are complaining of when I turn my head with the noise cancelling on. I don't know if it's a defect in their particular pair of headphones or what but it isn't a problem with mine. I would recommend these to anyone who is looking for great sound, comfort and quality from a pair of headphones.