Sony MDRNC100D Digital Noise Canceling Earbuds

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony MDR-NC100D Digital Noise Canceling Earbuds

• Digital Noise Canceling Technology


• High-quality sound


• Intelligent Auto-Selection


• Ergonomic Design


• Passive Listening


• Convenient Operation


• 3 Earbud sizes


• Battery


• Accessories

Small enough to fit in your pocket, these portable digital noise canceling headphones combine powerful technology with a comfortable earbud design to produce incredible noise reduction with pristine audio. With Sony-exclusive digital signal processing technology, the MDR-NC100D reduces up to 98.2% of ambient airplane, train, or office noise.

Key Features

Digital Noise Canceling Technology

Digital technology provides for optimal noise cancellation with outstanding audio performance. The NC100D reduces up to 98.2% ambient noise when the noise canceling circuit is activated.

Sony Sound

Full, natural sound is reproduced via full digital amplification in concert with a digital equalizer. The MDR-NC100D's large 13.5mm drivers work with digital sound enhancer circuitry to deliver wider frequency response and broad dynamic range.

How it Works

The headphones have an inside microphone on each earpiece that captures the exterior sound waves and works in conjuction with internal circuitry to create an opposite sound wave. Ambient sound is reduced internal by synthesizing with a sound in the opposite phase produced by the noise canceling circuit.

Intelligent Auto-Selection

Noise canceling that is optimized for your environment because not all ambient noise is the same. When you press the Artificial Intelligence (AI) button the headphones will automatically select the optimal noise canceling mode (for aircraft, train or office) based on intelligent analysis of environmental ambient noise.

Passive Listening

Allows audio listening even when the power is turned off. Listening in an already quiet environment? Save the battery for later. Or should your battery run out mid-flight and you not have a spare, you’ll still be able to listen without the noise canceling activated.

Convenient Operation

Easy-to-reach volume and built-in monitor function on the controller allows you to hear surrounding sound without taking off the headphones for flight announcements or conversation.

Comfort

Vertical in-ear style housing and proper fitting earbud sizes allow the large 13.5mm drivers to rest comfortably in your ear.

Long Battery Life

Compact and highly portable, these headphones are ready when you are. One AAA battery can provide up to 22 hours of noise-free listening enjoyment.

Travel Ready

Travel pouch, in-flight adapter, neck-chain style cord with controller (4.9ft), cord adjuster, and a AAA battery included.

Product Dimensions

Driver Unit:

13.5mm, Dynamic, closed, dome-type

Magnet Type:

Neodymium

Frequency Response:

8-23,000 Hz

Impedence:

70 ohms at 1kHz (when power is on) 16 ohms at 1kHz (when power is off)

Sensitivity (db):

110 dB/mW (when power is on)103 dB/mW (when power is off)

Power Handling Capacity

50 mW

Cord Length

1.5m OFC Litz Cord, Neck-chain type

What's in the box

• Operating Instructions


• Warranty Card


• Noise-isolation Earbuds (S x2, M x2, L x2)


• In-flight plug adapter (single/dual)


• Cord Adjuster


• Sony LR03 (size AAA) battery


• Carrying Pouch

Small enough to fit in your pocket, these supremely portable digital noise canceling headphones combine powerful technology with a comfortable ear bud design to produce incredible noise reduction with pristine audio. Sony exclusive digital signal processing technology reduces up to 98.2 % of ambient airplane, train, or office noise.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.2 x 8.2 inches ; 6.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B005LQ67KU
• Item model number: MDRNC100D
• Batteries: 1 AAA batteries required. (included)
  

Price : $149.99

Technical Details

• Large 13.5 mm drivers deliver superb audio quality
• Precision canceling ? reduces up to 98.2% ambient noise
• Intelligent auto noise canceling optimizes performance
• 3 sizes of noise isolation earbuds allow a proper fit
• Lightweight, comfortable ; up to 22 hours of battery life

Customer Reviews

When I originally started looking for noise cancelling earphones, I looked to buy a pair of the Bose QC3's. Because of the reputation of Bose producing high quality products with great stereo sound, we know this comes at a premium price. Initially, I was willing to pay the $349 price until I had the opportunity to hear them. Bose has taken a few steps backwards in sound quality with the QC3 headset. The QC15's are still the best noise cancelling, premium sound headphones on the market....PERIOD.

That being said, and after doing some research, I decided to go with a set of noise cancelling ear buds. My goal was to reduce as much noise as possible while traveling on long flight over seas. So I figured I would try a set of NC ear buds. I already had a set of $50 Sony ear buds that were not NC ear buds, and a few years old. Although they were not noise cancelling, they reduced a lot of the noise and had great sound. So I decided to try the MDRNC 100D headset. The sound great, and 100 times better than the Bose QC3's. Even with the volume maxed out, there was little to no distortion, and the NC feature works great. The stereo sound was also superior to the set I already own. What is also nice is that they are noise reducing as soon as you place them in your ears. Couple that with the noise cancelling feature and great stereo sound, and you a great product. The only downside was the $150 price tag on Amazon and just about everywhere else I looked. I wasn't real crazy about pay that for ear buds, but IF had, they are worth it. The one great thing about Amazon is that they will offer the consumer other buying options from other merchants. I found these at macmall.com for $99 and got them in two days......you can't beat them at this price. The other issue would be being able to control the volume and change songs choices from the NC unit as I can on my old ear buds. Other than those issues, I highly recommend these ear buds. These are the reasons I did not give them a 5 star rating.

Given the price range, this is probably as best you can get unless you are willing to pay more. The item comes ready to go with a AAA battery included. Aside from the On/Off switch to enable active noise canceling, there is a monitor button to temporarily disable all noise canceling and playing music and an AI button to automatically determine the level of digital noise canceling applied

Pros

-Generous cord length, comes with airplane mini stereo plug, different size earbuds to suit your ear

-Fits snug, fairly lightweight

-Audio passthrough when noise canceling is turned off (a major plus when you run out of battery)

-Corded headphones have the ability to amplify noise transmitted physically through the cord (e.g. rubbing against your shirt), these material of the cord minimizes this effect

Cons

-Audible hiss when in noisy conditions - this is common for active noise canceling technology, although a pleasant surprise this is not apparent in low noise environments

-22 hour battery life claim is significantly less than a Bose QC15's 35hr

-Physical interference noise (e.g. standing in front of an office fan, exhaust etc) is still an issue for in-ear headphones

-The AI button while works, I find having to press it far too often - it would be easier to automatically adjust the level of noise canceling based on the environment

-The monitor button brings all external sounds picked up by the microphone and plays it into the headphone, allowing you to hear surrounding sounds without removing the headphone. I find the resulting effect strange and much prefer just physically removing the earbud.

I will be updating this in the next couple weeks including performance in a plane and allowing the earphone drivers to set in from regular use to comment on the sound quality.