Aiwa HP-CN6 Noise-Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones

by Aiwa

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000220DCG
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 9, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Keep the outside world at bay and focus on your favorite music or movie with the compact and amazingly affordable Aiwa HP-CN6 noise-cancelling, over-the-ear headphones. They'll help to reduce perceived outside noise by more than 70 percent (up to 10 dB at 300 Hz) so you can hear musical nuances against a quieter background. Perfect for packing away for plane travel or even daily commuting on the bus or subway, the HP-CN6 features a convenient folding design that easily fits in your carry-on bag or purse. It offers an adjustable fit that will even accommodate a hat and tilting earcups for an optimal resting position on your ears.

The headphones' noise-canceling circuit senses outside noise using tiny, built-in microphones and sends an equal-but-opposite canceling signal to the headphone drivers, effectively blocking solid-state (continuous) noise from 40 to 1,500 Hz. It's especially effective on noises like air-conditioning systems, freeway rumble, and airplane engines (from a passenger's perspective).

The switchable noise-canceling circuitry runs for approximately 30 hours on a single AA alkaline battery (with battery housing located just above the right earphone). When noise canceling is off, the headphones continue to function for standard music listening (and with slightly better sound quality). The headphones' neodymium-magnet diaphragms deliver powerful sound.

The HP-CN6 features a mini-jack for connecting to portable CD players and digital audio players, but it also includes a larger jack adapter for home stereo receivers and a dual jack for plugging into airplane seats, enabling you to enjoy the in-flight movie in peace and quiet.

What's in the Box
Headphones, carry pouch, stereo receiver jack adpater, in-flight dual jack adapter, and printed user's manual

Product Description

Keep the outside world at bay and focus on your favorite music or movie with the compact and amazingly affordable Aiwa HP-CN6 noise-cancelling, over-the-ear headphones. They'll help to reduce perceived outside noise by more than 70 percent (up to 10 dB at 300 Hz) so you can hear musical nuances against a quieter background. Perfect for packing away for plane travel or even daily commuting on the bus or subway, the HP-CN6 features a convenient folding design that easily fits in your carry-on bag or purse. It offers an adjustable fit that will even accommodate a hat and tilting earcups for an optimal resting position on your ears.

The noise-canceling circuit senses outside noise using tiny, built-in microphones and sends an equal-but-opposite canceling signal to the headphone drivers, effectively blocking solid-state (continuous) noise from 40 to 1,500 Hz. It's especially effective on noises like air-conditioning systems, freeway rumble, and airplane engines (from a passenger's perspective).

The switchable noise-canceling circuitry runs for approximately 30 hours on a single AA alkaline battery (with battery housing located just above the right earphone). When noise canceling is off, the headphones continue to function for standard music listening (and with slightly better sound quality). The headphones' neodymium-magnet diaphragms deliver powerful sound.

The HP-CN6 features a mini-jack for connecting to portable CD players and digital audio players, but it also includes a larger jack adapter for home stereo receivers and a dual jack for plugging into airplane seats, enabling you to enjoy the in-flight movie in peace and quiet.

What's in the Box
Headphones, carry pouch, stereo receiver jack adpater, in-flight dual jack adapter, and printed user's manual

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for some purposes, March 2, 2005

By 

Matthieu Hausig (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aiwa HP-CN6 Noise-Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones (Electronics)

I've been using these headphones for a while and have been very pleased so far. First the battery life is outstanding. I used the headphones for over a year before the batteries ran out. Others have complained about the fit but I guess I'm lucky in that they don't bother me. There is some hiss when you turn them on and I wouldn't recommend them for quiet listening. In airplanes and on the subway however I have found the headphones to work very well in cancelling noise and the hiss is really not a factor. Sometimes high pitched noise like voices or loud headphones feel like they are amplified. Overall, for subway/bus/plane listening these are a good deal and I recommend them.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT Buy On Headphones That REALLY DO Cancel Out Noise! What's The Catch? There Is None-Just An Incredible Buy!, November 17, 2005

By 

Peter V. Cannice "Peter Vincent Cannice of Sc... (Scottsdale, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aiwa HP-CN6 Noise-Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones (Electronics)

The Aiwa HP-CN6 Noise Canceling, Over-The-Ear, Headphones was made with precision and great attention to the needs of consumers. Having owned the Bose Headphones for over one year, I allowed my Sister to borrow them for a long flight she had to New York. It was a Non-Stop and she was wanting to rest peacefully. So I gave her my Bose Headphones and off she went. Since she enjoyed them so much, I passed them onto her and told her to just enjoy them.

I tried going without a good set of headphones and finally decided that I HAD to purchase a quality set of headphones and needed them soon. I went online and did a great deal of research. In many cases, so many reviewers focused on the Bose-likely because of their large advertising budget. But if you think of it-it can't be too complex to put together a high quality headphone at a reasonable price.

What I immediatelty discovered what that Bose had some competition from a company called Aiwa. Wherever I looked, in my need to find additional technical reviews, I would seem to find the AIWA HP-CN6 Noise-Canceling Headphones. I could not believe that they were priced so affordably so I research that issue. Others had posed that same question and I learned that the ONLY real reason for their lower cost is that they didn't spend the millions of dollars in advertising that BOSE had.

I love all BOSE products and have nothing but good things to say about them. If I HAD to choose something to take up with BOSE-it would only be the cost of their products. However, I decided to purchase the AIWA HP-CN6 Headphones for just under $50.00.

I've had the headphones for almost 3 months and they have done nothing but continually impress me. In my opinion, the AIWA HP-CN6 Over-The-Ear Headphones are outstanding in every sense of the word. I wanted to write a review that would help others with their decision on whether or not to purchase these. In addition, there are sites like [...] that will allow you to read reviews from consumers and compare the competitive prices for them. There is plenty of very technical information that you can read about them. My intention is to allow you read all of that and then to listen to a consumer that has used them for 3 months-on an almost everyday usage.

I consider them to be very comfortable and attractive-as attractive as headphones can come! The only issue that I have had with them is that sometimes you may hear a hissing sound. In my own experience, however, that has been transient and would not be a huge factor in my decision making process.

If you're looking for a good set of headphones that can cancel out most noise, the AIWA HP-CN6 Headphones are a Consumer Best Buy. There are others to choose from, but if you can find these for $40.00 or less, you're getting a high-quality item at a great price.

AIWA has a strong reputation with its warranty and in the past was very helpful with a stereo that I needed serviced. They sent me the receiver and THEN asked me to send mine in for repair. They didn't want me to be without a stereo for any period of time. I appreciated their outstanding customer service and that was likely an additional reason that I took into consideration when buying these headphones.

Thanks for taking the time to read my review. I really hope that at least a portion of it was helpful to you. No matter what-I just hope you find a great set of headphones that you'll be happy with.

[...]

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent noise reduction headphones, rebranded Sony, great at the price, November 9, 2005

By 

David Pearlman "sound fanatic" (Arlington, MA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aiwa HP-CN6 Noise-Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones (Electronics)

Summary:

Great noise reduction headphones for the money. Not as good as my current favorites, Sennheiser PXC-250s (which I also own). Also not as good as $300 Bose cans. But very capable. Good reduction of low frequency steady noise (which is all that any active noise reduction phones can properly deal with). Reasonably comfortable. Construction seems a bit on the cheap side, but they haven't broken yet. For sound quality, they are reasonably good compared to other noise reduction headphones, but mediocre compared to good non-noise reduction headphones. Typical story there.

Note that the predecessor model to these, the Aiwa HP-CN5, were basically identical to the Sony MDR-NC5, but the Aiwa were about half the price. (Sony owns AIWA, and on the back of the HP-CN6 package you'll even see a (c) Sony notice). As the HP-CN6 is a model upgrade from the HP-CN5/MDR-NC5, there is no reason in the world to buy MDR-NC5 given the major price difference.

Strengths:
The battery fits in the headphone band, which means no second in-line box to lug around. That's a BIG convenience compared to things like Sennheiser PXC-250 or Bose.

Very inexpensive for the quality.

Fold down into relatively compact size.

Excellent noise reduction.

Decent (but not amazing) sound. Certainly good enough for any environment where you'd want to use noise reducing phones.

Weaknesses:
Not the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. OK, but not great.

Seemingly cheap construction (but haven't had any problems yet).

Better sound quality options are available at similar or lower prices if noise-reduction is not important to you.