Aiwa HP-CN5 Noise Canceling Headphone

Other products by Aiwa

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005M1UY
• Item model number: HP-CN5
• Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 16, 2002

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
For too long, accessories have taken a backstage role in the world of performance hi-fi. But not any longer, because now, AIWA is bringing them out into the limelight where they belong. With daring new designs that combine high-tech, chrome-look details and bright, high fashion colors in trendy translucent plastics. With unique products, created to meet the needs of today's demanding lifestyles. Hi-fi or high fashion? AIWA's great looking accessories combine the best of both worlds. Designed to perform, styled to satisfy the senses. A clear case of form and function in perfect harmony.

Tune in to your favorite audio entertainment and tune out the world with these AIWA open-air headphones. Designed for comfort as well as outstanding listening enjoyment, they feature Noise Canceling design, providing 70% background noise reduction. The package includes dual plug adapter for airplane use.

Product Description
For too long, accessories have taken a backstage role in the world of performance hi-fi. But not any longer, because now, AIWA is bringing them out into the limelight where they belong. With daring new designs that combine high-tech, chrome-look details and bright, high fashion colors in trendy translucent plastics. With unique products, created to meet the needs of today's demanding lifestyles. Hi-fi or high fashion? AIWA's great looking accessories combine the best of both worlds. Designed to perform, styled to satisfy the senses. A clear case of form and function in perfect harmony.Tune in to your favorite audio entertainment and tune out the world with these AIWA open-air headphones. Designed for comfort as well as outstanding listening enjoyment, they feature Noise Canceling design, providing 70% background noise reduction. The package includes dual plug adapter for airplane use.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You get what you pay for, February 14, 2002

By A Customer

There are generally three classes of NC headphones...the $50 class, the $100-200 class and the BOSE Quite Comfort, in a class of their own. These are in the $50 NC headphone class and they work great. I had mine for a little less than two years before I lost them. I travel 100% for business and I use them with my laptop DVD player. The open-air design may not block out a lot of noise, but that is a characteristic of the design. Open air designs are also the most comfortable...they do not crush your ears or "plug them up" like earbuds (Sony MDR-NC10).

Anyway, if you do not want $50 open-air NC head phones, please do not buy these then complain; i.e. don't go to the rainforest and complain about rain. Understand what you are purchasing. The NC circuit works great for $50. These are a great NC headphone value. Probably best for use on aircraft.

My only advise is be an informed consumer and understand that $50 NC haedphones will probably not work as well as a $200 or $300 pair. With these, you get your $50 worth and more. Oh, and don't forget them in the seat back pocket of the airplane!

PS - Don't bother with the Sony MDR-NC5, they are the same as these. Save yourself $50 and get the Aiwas.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall good headphones, October 25, 2001

By	"kevliu" (Cedar Rapids, IA USA) - See all my reviews

I bought these headphones for the purpose of reducing backround noise while I fly on airplanes, travel with the band on road trips, and jogging on the treadmill at home. The noise reduction is effective....on the airplane and jogging on the treadmill, the effect cancels out enough backround-noise so that you can actually hear the music. IN regards on traveling on the road..I was on a bus filled with bandmembers...since the headphones are designed to reduce backround noise (and they are open type headphones...so they don't cover the ear from outside sound) and not talking it was less effective. Sound quality-wise they are pretty decent..somewhat lacking in highs but with good bass and a fairly decent midrange. I would reccommend the Aiwa for those who intends to listen to music in enviornments with constant backround noise (such as the drone of the airplane, or the hum of the treadmill motor) and for (money) these were the most affordable noise reduction headphones I could find. Overall a good deal.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars At least they're cheap..., January 1, 2003

By A Customer

The fact that noise-canceling headphone reviews were all over the place made figuring out what to buy kind of difficult. I decided to buy the Sennheiser HDC451s, the Sony MDR-NC20s , and the Aiwa HP-CN5 , and the Etymotic ER-6 , try them all, and then return the three I liked least. Bose makes what are probably the industry standard but they weren't any better reviewed than the others and at ..., I wasn't interested.

Here's what I found:

Comfort: Kind of subjective, but in my opinion they rank as follows: Etymotic, Sony, Aiwa, Sennheiser. The Etymotics are basically earphones built into earplugs, so there's no bulk to worry about when moving around or trying to sleep on a plane. How comfortable they are kind of depends on how you feel about having things shoved in your ears. Of the conventional `phones, the Sony's closed-ear design is more comfortable over long periods. The open-air design of the other two tends to squeeze your ears after a while. The Sennheiser loses because of an inexplicably uncomfortable pad in the top.

Noise Canceling: Etymotic, Sony, Sennheiser, Aiwa. The Etymotics have no noise-canceling circuitry and rely purely on blocking the ear canal to reduce noise. This cuts more noise than the others and does it across the entire spectrum-making it the only one that will silence the kid screaming in the seat behind you. In the conventional `phones, the Sony again benefits from the closed-ear design, passively blocking some high register noise that the others miss. The Sennheisers actually have the most elegant electronics, silencing low hums with less hiss than the other two. Remember that active noise canceling only works in the very low registers-like the rumble of an airplane.

Sound: Etymotic, Sennheiser, Sony, Aiwa. The Etymotics live up to their reputation of being one the best sounding `phones on the market at any price, though they can amplify body noises such as chewing. The Sennheisers sound really muddy with the canceling turned off, but with it on they give fairly crisp sound a bit lacking in bass. The other two remain kind of muddy sounding with somewhat sloppy bass which might make watching movies on a plane a little more difficult. Overall, the Sony and Aiwa don't sound any better than the cheap `phones that came with my MD player.

Convenience: Etymotic, Aiwa, Sony, Sennheiser. The Etymotics fit in your shirt pocket but are definitely harder to get in and out than the others and don't include an airline adapter. The Aiwas fold up quite flat, have the batteries in the headset and have a carrying case. The Sonys fold up (but are still bulky), include a carrying case, and have the battery in the headset. The Sennheisers don't fold, have no carrying case, and have the batteries in the cord. All three conventional units come with airline adapters.

So in conclusion, the Etymotics are pretty much light years ahead of the others, but only if you are okay with having them jammed in your ears (didn't bother me, but my wife had no interest.) The conventional units all have their pluses and minuses, so you'll have to decide what features are important to you.