Crossing out the noise

GIZMO GALLERY

After comparing Bose ‘s headphones with the latest Sony MDR-NC500D digital noise cancellation headphones on a noisy commuter train and a quiet office, we found that yes, Sony has outdone Bose.

Sony’s analog-digital conversion severs away the annoying drone people around you, screaming babies or background conversations. Bose does something similar too but Sony allows for optimisation of the noise cancellation mode to three diverse environments — airplane, bus or train, and office. By simply pressing an artificial intelligence button on the right ear piece it was possible to cut out external sounds effectively. Not to forget, there is also a ‘monitor’ button on the side of the right earpiece that allows you to temporarily turn off the noise cancellation so you can compare the two environments.

One hears an audible noise-cancelling hiss from the Bose, but there’s no such hiss from the Sony headphones. It’s almost like a sound vacuum. Sony’s sound performed best with midrange reproduction. Some heavy bass tracks at higher volumes caused sound distortion, making one throw the headphones off. There is an AC-power recharging cable and an alternative two-AAA battery case to power the headphones when the built-in rechargeable batteries have no juice left.

Bose QuietComfort 3 too includes a proprietary lithium-ion battery, which slips out of the headphones and into a compact travel charger that fits right into a wall socket, obviating the need for annoying wires or cables. The QuietComfort 3, like most other noise-cancelling headsets, generates a slight sense of pressure on the eardrum and that is also because the earpiece is directly on your ear. At Rs 18,900, that’s way too much of discomfort. Or else, you can always shift loyalties to Sony NC500D. Sony’s headphones don’t squeeze your head too hard, but hug it just enough to seal away all that racket.

Sennheiser’s HD 457 is another low-cost option that stands tall as mid range headsets. The powerful bass of the HD 457’s is great for a portable set. These are perfect for an iPod, not an expensive home stereo. The boosted bass response, while annoying at home or in quiet environments, is good for portable, outdoor or noisy environments — which is what they were designed for. With a 2-year warranty, it’s not a bad starter deal. What you gain with HD 457 is a non-fatiguing sound and more detail than you ever thought possible. If you are willing to pay more, then the company has the HD 600s for audiophiles. Most people will probably notice its worth first in the bass it produces.

The HD600s features a comfortable velour ear cups and headband pad, supported by a carbon fibre headband. The result is less spurious mechanical vibration in the headphone giving a clearer and slightly more articulate sound. This is probably a bit more of a headphone than you need if you will be using it with portable MP3 players or as a general-use headphone for the TV.