Cancel noise

GIZMO GALLERY

We all use headphones but only a few specifically demand active noise reduction (ANR) headphones. ANR technology reduces the amount of background noise by detecting the unwanted noise and then manipulating sound waves to cancel out the noise.

The Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones, Bose On-Ear headphones, and Sennheiser HD201 promise a competitive audio performance, noise-reduction capacities and above all a comfortable fit. However, the Bose QuietComfort 3 and Sennheiser HD201 are rather impressive when it comes to acoustics and ANR performance.

The audio clarity of Bose QuietComfort 3 was crisp without having to increase the volume or move away from noise sources such as air-conditioners or moving traffic. The QuietComfort 3 headphones are great travel companions.

Available at a list price of Rs 18,900 (exclusive of taxes), the package includes a rechargeable battery (stays alive for a little above 15 hours) and a compact wall charger. The ear cups fold away in the provided carry case and a single-sided cord helps resist tangling.

An adapter is also packed in to help connect the lacklustre airline music systems. You can even disconnect the cord from the headphones to enjoy noise reduction without audio playback. The Bose QuietComfort 3, or so claim the specs, can suppress about 17dB of noise across the range of human hearing. But a whopping price tag is a definite hurdle.

Senheiser HD 201, on the other hand, is retailed at a fraction (Rs 1,725) of the price that Bose commands. Yet, the sound you hear is worthy of equal kudos -- again the airline audio channels came through with an audio clarity that was unexpected, including rich base and treble details that you would expect from a high-end home system.

These headsets were of great help while perusing audio channels either on an airline or while stuck at traffic jams, something that can never be achieved using those airline freebie headsets. Nothing is perfect though, and if you really look for any tangible flaw, it would be the bass that the HD201 lends to your skinny weakling MP3s.

Bose On-Ear Headphones using passive noise reduction methods like fully-enclosing ear cups and sound absorbing materials help remove a lot of unwanted noise but they can be uncomfortable and heavy too.

The Bose On-Ear headphones cannot block-out low frequency noise. The Bose headphones, which cost Rs 8,200 (exclusive of taxes), features a standard-length 46" cable and a shorter 18" cable that attaches to just the left ear cup to add a dash of convenience over conventional Y-cables. The idea is to link the cables together when you need added reach.

Final say Although, Bose has designed an ear cushion that lends a soft outer coating to the listener's ear, hopeful that the headphones remain comfortable for hours, but the headphones do become a tad heavy after a few hours of listening. Here, the Sennheiser headsets work well because they are comparatively lighter.