Since Bose Corporation was founded in 1964 by then Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Dr. Amar G. Bose, the original philosophies and founding principles have not changed.
Bose maintains an exceptionally strong commitment to research, for it is within the discipline of research that yesterday’s fiction becomes tomorrow’s reality. We strive to identify things which, when made better, improve people’s lives.
But it’s more than just research. We aim for excellence in everything we do. From the way we run our business to our customer service. From the products to the owner’s manuals you’ll use to set them up. In everything we do, we truly believe that “good enough” is merely a starting point.
We’ve taken our commitment and our passion for innovation and applied them to developing unique sound solutions to meet virtually any audio challenge in any application, even the space program. While many of our products are designed for entertainment and home audio solutions, you’ll find Bose sound is prevalent in both the aviation and automotive industries, too.
We’ve also designed professional sound systems for many applications, including stadiums and auditoriums, houses of worship, retail businesses, department stores and restaurants.
Our commitment has served us well. Today, Bose has operations in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, Asia and South America.
The Bose QuietComfort 3s are indeed significantly smaller their predecessors, and they feature an on-ear (supra-aural) rather than the over-the-ear (circumaural) design of the QuietComfort 2s. Impressively, the earpieces employ a cushy memory foam that conforms to your ears nicely, and they do a better job than you’d think of passively shutting out noise, unlike most on-ear models, which tend to let in–and leak out–a fair amount of sound. The headphones are very comfortable, but because the deliciously soft leather pads are pressed right up against your ears, the newer models are going to feel steamier if you wear them in warmer environments. They’re probably not the best choice for workouts.
Perfect traveling companions
Wear QuietComfort 3 headphones when you fly, and you’ll notice a dramatic reduction in engine noise the moment you turn them on. They also fold flat into a small, slim carrying case for easy storage.
Superior audio and comfort
Thanks to proprietary signal processing and the TriPort® acoustic headphone structure, you get rich, clear audio that reveals nuances you might have missed from your favorite music. And the lightweight design means hours of comfortable listening.
Unique technology to cancel noise
Bose Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphone technology electronically identifies, then dramatically reduces noise, while preserving the audio or tranquility you desire.
Quality audio performance made possible by unique TriPort® acoustic headphone structure
Proprietary Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphone technology electronically identifies and reduces noise while faithfully preserving the audio
Fold-flat design allows easy storage in the small, slim carrying case
Custom rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to 25 hours of reliable use per charge; small wall-socket charger also included
Compact on-ear design with proprietary soft cushions for a comfortable fit and critical noise-reducing acoustical seal
Single, detachable audio cable for greater convenience (Remove the cable for noise reduction only)
THE GOOD: Its headphones are a smaller and more compact follow-up to the QuietComfort 2s. They offer a more compact design, extracomfortable cushy foam earpieces, a rechargeable battery, full sound, and effective noise-canceling circuitry, and they fold up for storage in the included carrying case. Additionally, Bose offers a 30-day home trial.
THE BAD: QuietComfort 3s are even more expensive than their predecessors. And when the battery dies, so does the music.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Bose has done a remarkable job of shrinking its popular noise-canceling headphones while achieving similarly impressive sound quality–but that engineering feat doesn’t come cheap.
Silence the world around you with the MDR-NC60 noise-canceling headphones. Sony
Sony : The Sony Group is primarily focused on the Electronics (such as AV/IT products & components), Game (such as PlayStation), Entertainment (such as motion pictures and music), and Financial Services (such as insurance and banking) sectors. Not only do we represent a wide range of businesses, but we remain globally unique. Our aim is to fully leverage this uniqueness in aggressively carrying out our convergence strategy so that we can continue to emotionally touch and excite our customers.
MDR-NC60 headphones help you shut out up to 85 percent of the ambient noise around you, including jet engines, office printers, and subway chatter. These headphones are perfect for work, traveling, or just when you’re trying to sleep in a loud place. The ear-conscious design offers premium comfort, so you can wear them for long stretches without pinching your ears. For added convenience, the built-in monitor switch lets you hear surrounding sound without taking off the headphones.
Up to 85% (16.5dB at 200 Hz) ambient noise reduction
Built-in monitor switch to mute music to listen outside
Premium case
Lightweight 230g
Adjustable, foldable headband
Technical Details
Brand Name: Sony
Model: MDRNC60
Color Name: Black
Headphones Form Factor: Ear-cup
Headphones Technology: Binaural
Item Weight: 1.45 pounds
PROS: cover ears nicely, above average noise cancellation, wire disconnect, overall cost, and so far
CONS: batteries drain too soon, not for bummpy rides, battery drains within minutes, pulsating pressure, occasional feedback
Customer Reviews:
THE GOOD from customer:
Solid NC Headphones, probably the best choice under $300, ( 5 stars)
July 1, 2007
By
Greg Reznik
First a few words about a noise canceling headphones in general. I’m a frequent traveler, flying about 50% of time internationally. I’m not a musician by any means, but I understand that having a pair of good “cans” sometimes is the difference between arriving to your destination wasted or completely relaxed. You owe it to yourself to have a pair of good quality noise cancellers if you travel internationally or coast-to-coast at least 3 times a year. I’ve owned my share of noise canceling headphones, starting from Sony “in-the-ear” MDR-NC11A, then graduating to Sennheiser “on-the-ear” RPXC 250. Finally, I borrowed Bose “over-the-ear” QuietComfort 3 to my conference flight to California and back to Ohio. If you are deciding which general design of headphones to choose – let me tell you up-front that “over-the-ear” design gives you the best comfort you can have on the long flight – hands down. READ MORE
Now in the detail about this particular set. After experiencing the “over-the-ear” design of Bose, I decided to get a pair. But being burned by my previous experiences, I decided to do some careful comparison shopping. After a few weeks of research, I went to the actual store to compare 3 models that I’ve selected: Bose QuietComfort 3 ($299), Sennheiser PXC 350 and ($359) and Sony MDR NC50 ($199). The MDR NC60 Model was not even on my list then, and Sennheiser PXC 450 ($449) being as good as they are (canceling 90% of the noise) was simply too pricy for me.
I’ve tested Bose QuietComfort 3 first. Being so highly advertised, I was expecting it to be the top performer, but was extremely underwhelmed. It performed much better then any of my previous headphones, but it was no match for Sennheiser and it was even worse then Sony, that, may I remind you comes up to be $100 cheaper. On the top of it, I could not find the actual acoustic characteristics for the Bose pair anywhere in the manual. (Since then, I’ve done search on the WEB and I still cannot find them… amazing!). Then I moved on to the Sennheiser PXC 350, and was not disappointed. I almost left the store with that pair in the shopping bag. Cancelling up to 85% of noise, it was an excellent pair. When you turn the NC on – it fills like you suddenly went deaf. The BASS is very punchy and powerful even when the noise cancellation is off. Third on my list were Sony MDR NC50 and they were surprisingly good as well. Not so good with the BASS when NC is off as Sennheiser, and they felt a bit awkward on my head, but the sound quality was better then those of Bose. I was almost ready to leave, when a store clerk showed me a pair of NC60’s and that’s when I was sold – right then and there.
They are as good as they come, canceling up to 85% of noise, with excellent sound quality, and with a good BASS output when NC is off. I’d say that if Sennheiser PXC 350 is better – I could not determine it. After researching this model on the WEB for another week, I’ve purchased it from Amazon for $149.00. I’ve already had my first flight experience with it and let me tell you – I’m not disappointed. Here is the list of Pros and Cons from where I’m sitting…
PROS:
- This is the most comfortable pair of cans I’ve ever tried. The overall fit is very comfortable – I was able to fall asleep on a 3 hour flight. There is absolutely no “suction” effect as I’ve experienced with another phones I’ve tried.
- Both, the cups and the bridge are wrapped up in very fine leather. I read some reviews that some people do not like leather on the headphones as it may cause sweating – I personally never experience that, not with this pair nor with any other headphones I’ve owned. So, even though I cannot say anything negative about that aspect, I might not be the best judge in this case – some people can be more sensitive then others. As far as leather quality and feel – they are as good as they come.
- The unique feature of this model is a “monitor” button that allows you to hear surrounding sounds without turning off the NC or taking the cans off. The only comfort comment I have about this model is that this button is hard to find for someone who’s just beginning to adjust to this set. As I’m getting used to this pair, though, I’m getting much better at it – minor problem with a design in my mind.
- This pair runs on a regular AAA battery, illuminating the need to carry a battery charger and having to worry about how to charge it in Europe. This is a big plus in my books. 1 AAA battery gives you 30 continuous hours of NC; if you think that it is not enough – just take a couple of spare AAAs with you – it is still better then a charger, and sure will be enough for a trip to any destination.
- Overall build is very sturdy, yet easy to adjust to whatever position is desirable. Folds neatly into a carrying case, and as far as “over-the-ear” designed go – do not take much space when folded. Again, if the portability is your main concern – you might want to check out “on-the-ear” designs.
- Sound quality (again) is one of the best ones I’ve tried when it comes to NC headphones for travelers. BASS output is very good with NC on and just slightly worse with it being off (expect it on all NC headphones). I’m listening to all kinds of music and these NC’s perform very good for everything from Cleveland Orchestra to Jimi Hendrix. That being said, if you do not plan to use the NC feature of the headphones and just need something to listen to your stereo at home – you’ll definitely be able to find a better set for less money. Better yet – take this simple test: if speakers for your home theatre system are made by Boss, Sony, or Panasonic – this pair is going to be good for use at home, at work, or on the plane. If, on the other hand, you have Boston Acoustics hooked up to your stereo – you might want to keep MDRNC60 for travel purpose, and for home use pick up a higher end model without NC feature.
- Noise Cancellation feature works great – definitely better then on Bose QC3 (and I’m not kidding). In my opinion it is the best NC you can get for under $300 – as simple as that.
CONS:
- There is only one negative comment that I have about this product. Carrying case that this model comes with is a softer kind which is a big minus in my mind. I like the hard case that comes with Bose QC3: having a harder case allows you to clip it to your laptop bag, for instance, and not to worry about smashing your headphones to pieces as you walk down the isle on the plane. This case I would not recommend to keep clipped to the outside of your luggage, as you can end up damaging your headphones. Also, as a future suggestion to a lonely Sony engineer who might read this review in his spare time – it would be nice if the inside compartment in the carrying case had enough room to accommodate iPod Video (just a suggestion)
NOTES:
- The airplane adapter is “foldable” – that is when you can fold one of two mini jacks “in”. Is it really necessary to preserve 2 millimeters of space when you already have a carrying case? Fixed one would be just fine; instead another possible breakage point is being introduced. I’m not sure how this adopter will be functioning in 3 years if it is constantly “folded – unfolded”, and I’m not going to test it, though, I’ll just keep it “unfolded” all of the time.
- The cable that comes with these headphones connects the actual cup with the stereo mini jack. There is a plus and a minus in this feature for me. I understand the desire to make a cord interchangeable, and I guess some people might want to disconnect the cable so that they can sleep on the plane, but it might backfire if the connection becomes loose over a period of time. I read a lot of reviews and did not see people complain about it, but who knows if this becomes a weak point for me – will I write a review after 3 years of use, or just go and buy another pair?
THE BAD from customer:
March 31, 2008 , ( 1 star)
By
M. Lee
I purchased this today at Sony Style store for $150 (on sale) in San Diego. Testing it in my bedroom with the TV on, I was very impressed with the NC and fit with this headset-for about 10 minutes. Then this bass rumble started in the left side, and became overwhelmingly and annoying loud-completely unacceptable. I switched sides, and it’s definitely coming from the left. If the NC is on, it comes on whether my iPod is hooked up or not. Then I muted my TV (so there’s nothing to cancel), and the rumble is still there. Tried adjusting it many ways and fiddled around with it for the next 20 minutes (it goes away for a few minutes but then comes back) but to no avail. Very disappointed and will return it tomorrow.
Update: In the SonyStyle store, the salesperson said that 1 out of 30 (or so) headsets seem to have this problem. I exchanged this for a new one, and the new one works pretty well in the last several days (4 out of 5 stars now, but Amazon doesn’t let me change the rating after the initial review) and does not have the bass rumble. Hopefully this is a keeper. In all, I would not buy this from a place that makes exchanges difficult, just in case you run into this problem.
Sony MDR-NC500D Digital Noise-Canceling Headphones
Sony’s portable line may very well be the most popular aftermarket earphones.
The MDR-NC500D Digital Noise Canceling Headphones offer solid sound, high-quality construction, plentiful features, and a luxury price tag ($400) to match. These ‘phones aren’t without their flaws, but they’re still a great option for frequent fliers who have cash to spare and a distaste for low-end rumble.
Design
Nothing to complaim about. They’re clearly well made, with an adjustable band made out of thick plastic that’s padded at the top for extra comfort. It can take quite a bit of outward stress without worry that it’ll break, which is a good sign. As is typical with Sony products, the style is quite understated.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) noise canceling with automatic selection between three different environment modes
Internal Lithium-ion battery for up to 16 hours of use, in addition to normal AA batteries, which allow for a joint 28 hours of use
Premium case
PROS: It offer solid sound quality, superior noise cancellation, and a plethora of useful extras, including a battery pack for extended use.
CONS: cannot be used without the noise cancellation activated; the tight fit may be uncomfortable for some users; and it is expensive.
THE BOTTOM LINE: MDR-NC500D Digital Noise Canceling Headphones may lighten the wallet, but they are a great option for frequent fliers and tetchy commuters who need superior noise cancellation.
Beats™ by Dr. Dre™ Studio High-Definition Headphones From Monster® (White)
The Beats by Dr. Dre headphones bring a professional producer’s experience to music fans everywhere.
Less Noise, More Music
Monster’s powered isolation technology actively cuts external noise, so you experience all the rich details your favorite artists want you to hear.
Extreme Comfort
Spacious earcups give you extra room for a higher level of listening comfort. Plush ear cushions covered with ultra-soft breathable materials keep you cool even when the music’s hot.
Advanced Monster™ Cable headphone cable with Quadripole™ 4 twisted pair construction reduces signal loss for balanced sound and clarity.
Additional Features
Made with a scratch-resistant gloss finish, the foldable Beats headphones also offer a compact minijack connector to reduce bulk and an integrated mute button.
All About Sound
Combining extra-large speaker drivers and a high-power digital amplifier, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones deliver super-deep bass, smooth undistorted highs, and crystal clear vocals.
Specifications
Weight: 260 grams
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
Maximum output: 115dB
Requires two AAA batteries (included)
Headphone cable length: 1.3 meters
PROS: This headphone offers a stylish and comfortable design as well as exceptionally crisp audio response. Sound quality is mostly balanced, with warm mids and thumping bass. Included are a nice carrying case and a music-phone-compatible cable.
CONS: Cannot be used without batteries. Glossy black design is very smudge-prone, and a few songs sound harsh. Right earcup rattles while you walk.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The unique and stylish Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones offer solid audio, useful accessories, and a look that’s anything but copycat. For fashion-forward folks with cash to spare, they’re a great option.
