I have never been a fan of noise-cancelling headphones. You usually need a power source for the noise-cancelling technology, which means remembering to charge it or having spare batteries to hand. The exorbitant price compared to regular headphones was also a turn off. Couldn’t the regular noise-isolating earphones do the job easily enough?
Having tried the Sony MDR-100 ABN noise-cancelling headphones , however, I'm starting to appreciate the benefits. The Sony headphones look good, although they are a little big, so if you want something subtle these aren't for you. Once you put them on, they are comfortable, with cushioned ear cups and a wide enough band so it doesn't feel like it's trying to grip your skull in a vice. They feel reasonably lightweight too.
On one ear cup, you have the noise cancelling controls and a power button, micro USB charging points and the 3.5mm jack. On the other, there is volume and track controls.
Hit that noise-cancelling button and it’s like the world melts away. Digital noise cancelling strips out all the background office noise that manages to leak through the seal on the ear cup. Voices are dulled, though not completely silenced, even the hum of the air conditioning – something so constant you don’t actually realise how loud it is until it suddenly stops – is eliminated. I want to wear these all the time; they would improve my life by at least 75 per cent, and that’s before you even get to the effect it has when listening to music.
Because the device can connect to your iPhone or Android device wirelessly, it can also come in handy as a hands-free kit for making calls, albeit a bit more bulky than you are used to. Two mics – one on each ear cup – look after voice calls when you are connected to your phone. Sound quality was good, for both the call coming in and my sound quality going to the other end. I did feel a bit silly essentially talking to myself though.
You will get about 20 hours out of a full charge but unlike other Bluetooth headphones made by Sony, these can be used in passive mode. There’s a 3.5mm jack so you can hook up the included stereo cable and connect it directly to your music source. If you get caught short, or the Bluetooth signal keeps dropping – as can happen at times – you can switch. However, I prefer the freedom that wireless brings once everything works as it should. I got an occasional drop of signal, but nothing that was too concerning.
Sound quality wise, the Sony headphones support high-res audio, meaning you can have detailed high-quality music once your device supports the standard.
For most people, this isn’t going to be a consideration, but it does give you options for the future.
One thing that may make you think twice is the price. At €289, they are not in the budget bracket, although when you look at what else is available for a similar price, the Sony headphones stand up well. That goes for Bluetooth as well as the wired option, thanks to the headphones using LDAC, which transmits more data than regular Bluetooth audio.
Hit the noise-cancelling button when you are listening to music and there’s nothing to distract you from the audio.
The good
The noise cancelling is amazing. I never appreciated how noisy the office was until I could block it all out with one simple press of a button. Sound quality is impressive too.
The not so good
At €289, they are pricey enough. That may be out of the range of the average Bluetooth headphone user, despite the presence of noise-cancelling technology.
The rest
These headphones can be used passively, so if you are getting low on battery, you can still hook up a cable and keep listening. They come in a range of colours, including a rather eye-watering lime yellow, orange and pink.
The verdict
HHHH
Pricey, but they deliver on sound. Plus the noise-cancelling function makes these a worthwhile investment.
