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Sony MDR-NC500D Headphones Review - Value & Comparisons |
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Published on June 25, 2008 Comment on this |
 Value (2.00) If you're looking for a solid, comfortable pair of noise-cancelling headphones, the Sony MDR-NC500D headphones are a good choice. What they aren't, however, is cheap. At $400, these headphones cost more than either of the Bose noise-cancelling headphones we've reviewed, and they have inferior audio quality as well. These headphones and the Bose headphones are all overpriced for what they do, but the NC500D have the distinct disadvantage of costing the most and offering the least. Does this mean they're bad? No, it doesn't - it just means they aren't a good value, strictly in terms of what you're getting for each dollar you spend.   Pioneer SE-A1000 - The Pioneer SE-A1000 headphones don't have active noise cancellation. In fact, they scored quite poorly on our isolation test. If you were checking out the NC500D headphones for their noise cancellation abilities, the Pioneer SE-A1000 won't be a good alternative. If you're looking for a set of home theater cans, however, the A1000 headphones are a much better option. They have better audio quality overall, although they tend to leak that audio quality into the area surrounding you. This match-up comes down to how you're planning on using your headphones. The NC500D is a lot more portable, especially since the noise cancellation blocks out ambient street noise or the cacophony of public transportation. The A1000s feel more at home in a quiet room where the lack of isolation won't matter much, and the cord is free to stretch out across your floor. Etymotic Research 6isolator - The NC500D headphones beat the 6isolators in terms of versatility. You can take them to the gym or hook them into your home theater setup. The 6isolators win in terms of audio performance, portability, and, strangely enough, overall sound isolation. Yes, even with its fancy active cancellation, the MDR-NC500D headphones can't compete with good ol' double-flanged earplugs. The 6isolators are also less than half the price. Unless you're looking for a home theater set of cans (which could also theoretically be taken out for a walk) or just plain dislike in-ears, the 6isolators are a better option all around.  Sennheiser HD 555 - The HD 555 headphones are a great pair of home theater headphones. They have good audio quality and come at a reasonable price. They aren't as portable as the NC500D headphones, and they certainly don't isolate well. The bottom line: the HD 555s win on their home turf (home theater), but they don't even show up to the away game (away from the home theater). Also, if you're looking for isolation - and it's reasonable since the NC500D has active cancellation - the HD 555s are a bad choice.  Bose QuietComfort 3 - Now we start to get into some meaty comparisons. Who will win, Bose or Sony? Well, in the case of QuietComfort 3s versus MDR-NC500Ds, the QC3s take it, but not by much. The QC3s have the NC500Ds beat in terms of usability and overall audio quality (although the NC500Ds have better frequency response, tracking, and leak slightly less sound). Again, while the QC3s don't win by a gigantic margin, they do offer more than the NC500Ds. Additionally, the QC3s costs $50 less. We recommend the QC3s over the NC500Ds.  Bose QuietComfort 2 - The Bose QuietComfort 2 headphones are also over-ear headphones with noise cancelling. Really, however, the differences between the NC500Ds and the QC2s aren't stark by any means. The QC2s offer slightly better overall audio quality and have an even more insignificant edge in terms of usability. The NC500Ds offer a bit more noise cancellation, as well. The QC2s, on the other hand, demand $100 less for the privilege of its company. Since the NC500D offers roughly the same for exactly $100 more, we recommend the QC2 instead. |
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