The MDR-NC6 do a good job blocking out external noise, but they hardly the most comfortable headphones we have ever tried.
Is the world that noisy that we want to shut it off? I have
had this discussion with people who swear by noise cancelling headphones, as I
sit each morning and enjoy my morning coffee in a little café in Teaneck. I get the same
responses from everyone; noisy children, obnoxious people on the train, rude
people on airplanes, and overbearing relatives who cannot shut up at the dinner
table. Not that I am advocating the use of headphones at the dinner table,
because the moment I see an image of a family sitting at the dinner table
enjoying dinner while wearing wireless cans, I am going to pack it all in and
move to the hills.
The dinner table is for political discord, self-deprecation,
and being told that your haircut looks stupid.
Ozzy can wait for later.
Unless the discussion involves political donations to Ozzy’s
presidential campaign.
Noise cancelling headphones are for those moments in-between
when you really need quiet to focus on what matters most; music, money, and
making enough to afford nine nights at expensive spas in the desert.
Sony offers a rather interesting collection of
noise-cancelling headphones, with the MDR-NC6 as the entry-point. Built with
Sony’s usual standards for style and durability, the MDR-NC6 are sturdy, and a
good value for the asking price. They are easy to travel with thanks to their
flat-folding design.
The problem with these headphones is that they are so uncomfortable.
The ear cushions did not sit properly on my ears and I found the headband to be
quite tight on my head. If the targeted audience for these is travelers and
commuters, they really need to work on the comfort issue. On a $50 pair of
headphones, I would expect the level of comfort to be higher.
The MDR-NC6 are designed to reduce ambient noise and create
a quieter environment to enjoy music. They synthesize ambient sound with an
anti-sound signal that is created by the noise cancelling circuitry, which in
theory reduces ambient noise by 10 dB at 300Hz. The claim seems reasonable on
paper, and I did notice an appreciable decrease in external noise while
listening to them. They also operate as passive headphones when the noise
cancelling circuit is not activated.
Are they going to drown out the little kid in 21A who is
kicking the seat of the fortunately drunk schlep in 20A and screaming for some
toy that his parents left behind in Jersey?
No.
The MDR-NC6 are not the last word in midrange purity, but I
think that most people could deal with their overall sonic presentation. They
try very hard not to offend, which makes their sins, ones of omission. The
treble, while not the sweetest I have ever heard on a pair of headphones is not
strident at all and airy enough to make most pop recordings sound quite good.
Do they have the detail of the Grado SR60s? Not even close, but it is acceptable
for a headphone in this price range.
The bass response is good, but it lacks the grip to makes its
visceral impact more impressive. The snap is missing.
Overall, the MDR-NC6 does a solid job at noise-cancellation
and are above average in the sound department. Some improvements to the
headband and ear cushions would make them a far better headphone.
