TechKnow review: Noise-cancelling headphones from Sony and Sennheiser
NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
If you're looking for some peace and quiet amid life's hustle and bustle, noise-cancelling headphones could be your salvation. As the name suggests, noise-cancelling headphones don't just muffle the sound of the outside world. They actively listen to those sounds and create inverted sound waves to help cancel out the noise. They can't perform miracles – working better with constant droning sounds like aircraft engines than with the varying sounds of a noisy cafe – so we put them to the test on an Airbus A350 long-haul flight. You don't get a complete cone of silence if someone is talking right next to you, although it helps if you're also listening to music. Both of these headphones support both wired and Bluetooth wireless connections, with a built-in playback controls for your music as well as a microphone for making hands-free calls. The Sennheisers can also plug into your computer as USB headphones. If you need to hear what's happening you can double-tap on the Sennheisers' right ear to let through outside sounds, which is more practical than the Sonys which require you to press and hold your right ear.
VERDICT
Sony's headphones win out here, coming in cheaper yet still outperforming the Sennheisers when it comes to blocking out engine noise on an aircraft. The fact the Sonys are more comfortable also gives them the upper hand on a long-haul flight.
SONY WH-1000X M3 $399
While both benefit from lightweight designs, the Sony headphones don't sit as tightly on your head and have larger cans so they're more likely to sit around your ears rather than on them. This helps make them a little more airy and comfortable on a long flight. Sony's noise-cancelling also does a slightly better job of blocking out the drone of the engines.
SENNHEISER PXC 550 $499.95
The Sennheisers are a little more compact, although their carry case is no smaller than Sony's so they don't take up less room in your travel bag. They add the option of adaptive noise-cancelling, letting you adjust the sensitivity depending on your environment, but its rather disappointing and you can barely hear the difference. Like the Sonys, you get a 30-hour battery life – enough to get you around the world on a single charge.
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These headphones also work with smart assistants, letting you wake Google Assistant on an Android phone or Siri on your iPhone without the need to reach for your phone in your pocket. This is handy when you're walking around town – letting you ask your phone for directions, listen to your messages and dictate replies – but keep in mind that it can be dangerous to walk around the city totally oblivious to the sounds of the outside world.