Customer Reviews

Sony Mdrnc22/Blk Noise Canceling Headphone (Black)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I recently compared the Bose QC2 headphones (an obscene $299) with the cheaper Sennheiser PXC-300 ($159.99) and the new Sony MDR-NC22s ($70.00). The Sennheiser's are a smaller design that does not completely cover your ear and comes in a smaller case, which is more convenient for travelling. The Sony's are an in-ear solution, and have the smallest case. All have active noise canceling.

I did my testing in the rear of an Boeing 737. The rear is generally the noisiest location in an airplane. My primary testing criteria was which headphone reduced overall noise the best. I also listened to see which headphone allowed me to listen to music and audio programs (podcasts) at the lowest volume level. I was really hoping that one of the cheaper options would be better than the Bose, but they weren't.

The Bose knocked out the most airplane noise and allowed me to listen to music at the lowest volume level and still hear it. The Sennheiser was next, and the Sony was last. The Sony also suffered from a noticeable hiss noise which you could easily hear on audio programs and music played at a low volume.

In short, if you want the best, it is still Bose. If you want to pay a little less and don't mind that you're not getting the best, the Sennheiser is a good choice. The Sony is a good choice only if you can't afford the Sennheiser and you want to play music LOUD.

My wife has one of the original Sony noise-cancelling earbuds, which were bulkier and more expensive but work quite well. I ended up borrowing them all the time for plane trips, so as we were traveling together, I got a pair of the updated version.

A few general remarks about active noise cancellation. It works quite well on monotonous low-frequency noises (read: airplane engines), but will be pretty useless against "the sound of eight crying babies" (for you Simpsons fans out there). The Sonys are in-ear, so if you can achieve a good seal in your ear canal you get passive damping in those frequency ranges.

Also, pretty much every active noise-canceller I tried introduces a bit of white noise in the treble range --- generally only noticeable if you don't play music through them.

Furthermore, don't expect active noise-cancellers to give great sound unless you're willing to pony up big bucks. I tried the $350 Bose® QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones (which cost five times as much) and while they sound as good as any ANCHs I've ever tried, they can't hold a candle for sound quality to my trusty $40 Sennheiser PX 100 Collapsible Headphones.

Engineers have a saying: "better, cheaper, faster --- pick any two". For headphones one could paraphrase it to: "good noise cancellation, hi-fi sound quality, affordable --- pick any two". Allegedly, the new Sennheiser PXC 450 NoiseGard Active Noise Canceling Headphones give you both superior cancellation and hi-fi sound, but they cost an arm and a leg.

If one keeps these remarks in mind, the Sony MDR-NC22 do pretty much what you can expect. The combination of active cancellation and passive isolation works better than either on its own --- but mine do have a pronounced hiss. Sound quality is decent but not great --- anything that has a strong, busy bass line (so forget Iron Maiden, Rush, or Dream Theater) is clearly too much for them, trebly electronic stuff sounds fairly OK. Again, expect to pay much more money if you want both active cancellation and good sound.

Unlike the bulkier original with its fixed rubber flanges, they have removable in-ear flanges (in 3 sizes), and those got stuck in my ears a couple of times. Nothing scary or dangerous, just annoying --- but this could of course happen with pretty much any in-ear earphones.

Bottom line: I'm keeping them for trips but am not going to use them as general-purpose headphone replacements. One day, I may be able to spend $500 on PXC-450s without feeling guilty...

I purchased the Sony MDRNC10s many years ago and have used the 11s as well (each of which is a predecessor to this model, with, I believe, the same specs--it's the cosmetics which have changed over time). They are nice and indeed eradicate a noticeable portion of low-sound rumble on planes and on the street. I find that I arrive at a destination from a flight less tired, with using these.

Having said that, I've also compared them in-flight to a set of Shure E2C in-ear earbuds with no noise-cancelling electronics (generally available, including at Amazon.com, for $70-$100). I've found that if I fit the Shures with the Shure triple-flange ear pieces (also available here, and which indeed can be fit onto the E2Cs with a small amount of effort, in a couple of minutes, even though not designed for the E2Cs), they exceed the "noise-cancelling" results of the Sonys. With the benefit of being smaller and even easier for travel (no separate electronics case) and no need for battery power. Plus, the Shures are well-recognized good earbud phones off a plane as well, for everyday use, and get great customer support from Shure, a leader in that area (as distinct from, unfortunately, Sony, which will leave customers high-and-dry, in my experience, and whose products, I also unfortunately have found, tend to break down over time while products from other companies will last longer). The only thing to be aware of is that the triple flanges really do go into the ear canal, more so than with the Sonys--some people may not like that, and I have found that the flanges indeed can tickle my inner ear every so often. (Note, in that regard, that the length of the triple flanges can be trimmed, as noted by Shure itself--presumably, they could be made into double flanges so as not to enter the ear as deeply (although I haven't tried that yet).)

In the end, I've found that simple can, indeed, sometimes be better. And this also has saved me from $300 for a Bose (bulkier, especially for travel) headset.

First: I have read some reviews on the NC22 complaining about "weak noise cancellation" and "hiss".

Current noise cancellation technology works on specific frequencies (in the low range, but not very low), on specific types of noises (continuous or cyclic) and has a limited effect (15 to 20 dB).

The circuitry does induce a subtle hiss. And here's why: since neither the earbuds or the noise cancellation can block high frequencies effectively, this hiss, which is made of white noise, helps to mask unwanted sounds. This same principle is used on white noise generators to make an environment seem less noisy.

Of course, for US$ 150 you could get an over-the-ear which will block all sounds so it will have no hiss. But the NC22 goes for less than half their price and is much more discreet to use in the metro or in a bus.

How loud is that hiss anyway? Well, my laptop fan is louder than that (I have tested). If the hiss becomes an issue, it means that the environment is so quiet that you can certainly turn the noise cancellation off.

Plus, if you listen to music instead of just putting the earphones on, the hiss will become unnoticeable very quickly. This is because the brain will ignore weak, continuous sounds in the presence of louder, variable sounds.

But not all hiss is induced by the earphone. Some is residual noise. Objects cutting through air (airplane, trains, cars) will generate noise in a wide range of frequencies. The lower frequencies are cancelled, but the higher remain, and that sounds like a hiss. About that, there isn't much to do, except wait for the next generation of affordable noise cancellation circuits.

I have used the NC22 in a carpool, in the metro, in the bus, in an airplane, and for walking.

I use it with my Sony Ericson W880. Bass is very nice if you turn the MegaBass (Sony proprietary) feature on. Otherwise, it's ok. Other frequencies are good. It sounds pretty much like an EX81 for me.

Walking was definitely the worst experience. If it's windy, even just a little, the microphones (which are external) will capture the sound of the wind blowing on them and the circuitry will try to cancel that. Because this sound is not actually heard by you, only by the mics, this will create more windy sound instead. This is a very unpleasant artifact. The only solution: turn noise canceling off.

The carpool and the bus were about the same. It cancels the engine noise nicely (not totally, tough). Other noises will remain. Some low frequency, rapidly changing noises (e.g. tires on concrete) generate mild high frequency artifacts. The solution: listen to the music a little louder (volume 3 1/2 was enough, I use 2 for the metro).

In the metro, it works very well on the surface, and well enough in the tunnels. In the airplane, it works very well.

On the wishlist department: the circuit could be detachable from the phones. Would make untangling easier. :)

Bottom line: Good product, great value. Don't buy if you plan to use it outdoors.

I needed / wanted a pair of NC Headphones for couple of long airplane rides to Europe. I almost bought another brand that was very cheap, $19.95, but opted to get the Sony 22's , because if nothing else, battery life would be better than the cheapies.

Also, I thought I would return them if they sounded really bad.

Based on other reviews here, I didn't expect much performance unless using them in the NC mode, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Without the NC turned on they sound almost as good as the earbuds that came with the Sony MP3 player (800 series player) , and almost as good as my V-Moda Vibes. They sounded even better with NC turned on.

I ordered a second pair pink) for my daughter.

I do have other versions( over the Ear) of Sony NC Headphones and they don't sound this good. It could be Earbud design of these that make the difference. Based on recent prices on Amazaon and at Staples, Sony may be getting ready to discontinue these phones, so if you want a pair with the Earbud design, grab them now. Best Buy no longer carries the NC22s and they have replaced them with another Sony over the ear design. Fry's Electronics was out of them too.

They are not the most expensive ones out there, but probably the best bang for the buck.

Update - 4/22/08

Just returned from a recent trip to Europe. Used the phones for over 30 hours on 1 AAA battery, and the performance was awesome. Plane was most impressive using the Air France In Flight Entertainment system. Also used on the Eurostar Train London to Paris) and on a tour Bus. I will never travel without these again. I watched six inflight movies and I felt like I was sitting in my living room. Great Job Sony !

Update - 5/5/08

Still using same battery for an additional 10 hours. So now a total of over 50 hours on same battery. Also, used the earphones while running a backpack leafblower and the noise reduction is amazing. Even better than the ear protectors that I had been using.

Update - 09/22/2011 - Still use these headphones and they wtill work great.

The MDRNC22 is Sony's third generation of in-the-ear Noise Cancelling Headphones. The first generation was pretty good and I used them till they finally just wore out several years ago. The second generation was a big disappointment - a step backwards - but this new third generation model is excellent for long plane rides.
After my first Sony's wore out I tried a number of ANC headsets both in and over-the-ear models from Bose, Panasonic, Sony and others. I did find a decent pair of an over-the-ear model that's as good as the Bose but still is bulky to carry and uncomfortable to wear on long flights. When this new Sony model arrived I was pleasantly surprised to hear a tremendous improvement over the older ones and with the comfort of in-the-ear design.
The MDRNC22 performs as well as the Bose when you're on a plane. On the ground, you may hear a bit of hiss but it disappears when you're listening to music. In the air, the reduction of jet noise is as dramatic as any ANC headset I've tried and with the three earbud sizes you can find one that fits to the point of forgetting you're wearing it.
The unit works fine with the airplane's entertainment system and an adapter is included for planes that use a dual plug. I mostly listen to my MP3 player in flight and with a slight adjustment to the player's equalizer, the sound is every bit as good as my Koss standard earbuds.
Battery life is excellent. I'm still on my first battery after more than 40 hours of in-flight use. Storage is easy with the included soft pouch so you can just slip them in your pocket, briefcase or purse. Both my wife and I give these 5 stars and would buy them again.

I've tired any number of noise canceling "earphones", including the Bose units, which I own and use at home. But on long flights, (which I make regularly)these are the best. Small, lightweight, comfortable in the ear canal, and ahhhhhhh what peace. Music is good, and even if the batteries die, they still work as regular earbuds. These take up virtually no "space" in my travel bag, unlike the large over the ear type of noise canceling earphones. I highly recommend these.

If I compare the Sony MDR-NC22 to the Bose QC2 or QC3, I'd probably rate the Sony a 4 to 4.5 stars, because I think the Bose edges them out a little (very little, in my opinion) on noise cancelling. However, they cannot be compared, because the Sony is about a quarter of the price and a small fraction of the size. I compared the Sony with a Philips of around the same size and price (can't remember the model number) and the Sony blew the Philips out of the water. And I couldn't even hear the explosion! ;-)

When I was looking for this kind of thing, I was quite prepared to shell out the $350 or so for the Bose QC3. However, I was mostly looking for it for travel, so I wanted something I could chuck in my bag, but which would still do the job. I've found it.

I have not tried the Bose with music, so although I can't really compare on that front, my experience with listening to music through the Sony has been great. If you listen to music at low volume with noise cancelling on and then turn NC off, the music disappears completely as the noise takes over. I am quite happy with that part of the performance. I also like the easy mute-function, which allows you to hear announcements without having to fumble for your volume- or pause-button.

A previous reviewer has commented on the battery compartment (which contains a lot of the electronics as well, I'd assume) being in an awkward position. I agree with that, but I also realize that they had very little choice about where to put it. Since they're earbuds, the electronics couldn't go up there, as they do with the on- or around-ear models. It would also be very awkward nearer to the jack side, so I think they probably just compromized. There is a reasonable distance between the jack and the compartment, so I normally just clip the compartment to any part of my shirt (not necessarily the pocket). I find it works OK, even on a T-shirt. I didn't find that it pulls out of my ears when the compartment hangs loose, so I assume that is something that will just happen to some people and not to others.

Speaking of battery compartment, I've gotten GREAT performance out of the single AAA battery it requires. I don't know exactly how long it lasts, but it is way longer than I would have expected. I use it quite extensively and I've gone through probably 2-3 batteries since I bought it about 4 months ago.

So, if you're looking for a great-performing, active noise cancelling set of earbuds, you'd probably be happy with these.

I don't have the time (nor the money) to do side-by-side comparisons of all the over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear options. I just knew I needed something affordable to block out noise so I could be more productive on planes and trains.

These headphones do a great job of blocking the general roar of the commuter train -- it's amazing how much lower I can set the volume on my MP3 player with the noise cancellation option on. This has got to be good for my ears.

Don't expect these headphones to block all the noise like you might get with the uber-expensive (IMO) Bose models. On the other hand, you don't have to carry a separate briefcase for these, either. I also don't feel like my head's in a clamp with the in-ear design.

Added bonus: battery life is excellent!

These cannot be compared to a product costing four times as much, and besides, most people won't find that the high-end Bose won't give them four times the value. Also, choosing not to spend more money does not mean "can't afford." In my case, I could more than afford Bose, but I refuse to since I tend to be rough on my hardware (most of my headphones and earbuds last just a few months, half a year at most). I was unwilling to buy even these Sonys, at first.

However, my previous noise-canceling headphones broke, and when I looked at replacements, these Sonys were recommended. They work wonders on my daily commute, drowning out the loud rumble of the commuter train and the subway. The in-ear design provides some passive noise isolation, helping a bit to drown out passengers' conversation (although nothing, not even Bose's best, will silence people who yak incessantly next to you). The noise-canceling does produce a slight hiss, but I find it noticeable only if you're not listening to anything.

I personally prefer a medium-sized "suction cup" style of headphones, which make somewhat of a seal over the ears for passive noise isolation. This is more sanitary, also -- earbuds should be cleaned frequently with antibacterial wipes to avoid giving yourself an ear infection. Headphones also don't get pulled out of your ears. One problem with these Sonys is that if the circuitry becomes unclipped, the weight can pull the earbuds out of your ears. The clip could be stronger, but it will hold if you can clip it vertically.

Nonetheless, I've come to like them very much. The audio quality is excellent, and the noise canceling works excellently for anyone without the most exacting standards.