Sennheiser PXC 250 Active Noise Canceling Headphones
by Sennheiser
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Our Price: $214.46 Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Buy Used: from $45.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sennheiser PXC 250 Active Noise Canceling Headphones
Customer Review: Getting slightly less than what you are paying for ..
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm a self-styled 'value oriented' audiophile ;) . I bought these at the local Circuit City but returned them after trying for a few days ... I compared them with different head-sets in different settings (while driving, mowing the lawn, on the treadmill, talking to people, watching TV .. etc. etc.). I'm sure they are good, ... but definitely not worth 129 .. I have made a mental limit of 75 for these ... will wait until they fall to that price ... or if I have a long international flight.... whichever comes first .... (and believe me .. they fall to 75-90 every now and then on many web-sites).
Just a quick review for those interested (I guess that's why you are reading it!) ..... They work fine but only for 'reducing' low frequency noise ... they should probably be called "outside bass or selective noise reducing headphones". (Use of the word 'canceling' in their description is a bit misleading and if taken literally can cause utter disappointment). Also, if you switch off the noise canceling... the sound is 'quite' poor (please note the emphasis on poor). The headphones actually use the noise canceling unit to boost the input signals especially bass.
The fanny pack and the baggage (noise canceling unit, its wires and extra AAA batteries) reduce the appeal. By the way, note that the headphones do not cover the ears .. but just get placed on them. Also, as one other reviewer has pointed out, these headphones caused him/her ear pressure build-up. I too noticed this phenomenon a bit .. (but then I'm one of those people who have unbearable pain in the ears during the landing of a flight ..)
Nevertheless, the sound quality is better than an average $30 Sony. You DO get improvement over conventional headphones. Also, as you will notice from other reviews, some people are satisfied with this improvement, while others want more .... it's about your perception and expectations as well. But one thing is for sure ... you are definitely getting a little less in these Sennheisers than what you are paying for (not to mention that Bose rips you off even more!)
Customer Review: Good sound, good bargain. Well worth the money.
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought these headphones to use at work because it's pretty noisy here in cubeville. I had a pair of Sennheiser headphones I'd purchased probably 7 or 8 years ago that finally gave up the ghost--the cord got an unrepairable short near the plug--with which I'd always been happy, so these were replacements. I wasn't willing to spend the 4 zillion that some other manufacturers wanted, but knew it was worth spending at least a little extra money to get something comfortable and with decent sound. I've now owned this pair for several months, and I have been very happy with them.
Without the noise-canceling turned on, the sound from these headphones is a little weak; I was initially a bit worried. With the noise-canceling on, however, the sound is very good. I'd say it was excellent, but I like a little more bass than these can deliver without cranking the volume so high that it causes my ears to bleed. Overall, though, the sound is rich and clear. In addition, the noise-canceling works very well: I sit on the other side of a row of people that are on the phone almost all day--and when they're not, they tend to hold impromptu conferences in the aisle. In the infinite wisdom of my company--I'm a programmer who could use a little quieter environment--I also sit underneath a AC vent. Although the headphones can't cancel the sounds of voices (oh, if only...), I was amazed at how they completely cut out the noise of the AC vent. Add a little music on top of that, and I begin approaching my own state of Zen.
The only downside I've noticed is, like some others have said, the noise-canceling unit is a bit bulky. As a result, I've inadvertently dragged it off of the desk several times, which I'm sure can't be good for the wires. Also--and this may be something common with all noise-canceling headphones--when I turn the noise-canceling on, I get the sensation that the pressure on my eardrums has just increased (kind of like going up in an airplane.) This took a little getting-used-to, but it seems like an acceptable trade-off for the benefits of the noise-canceling technology.
Customer Review: Pros & Cons (Based on real life experiences 12/25-12/30/04)
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros:
1) Portability. The collapsible design can sometimes result in tangled wires, but it is a small price to pay for being able to put a great sounding pair of headphones in your carry-on or backpack without taking up a lot of space.
2) Comfort. The ear shape and texture is soft and the phones overall are lightweight. The ear cup design will NOT completely cover even the smallest of ears, instead focusing most of its force at the entrance to the ear canal. I have listened to these phones for a few hours without feeling inclined to adjust them or take them off completely.
3) Sound. The sound without the Noise Guard turned-on is good. However, for a truly rich sound, I've found they work best with the noise cancel function on. The signal-to-noise improves so dramatically that even in a low-noise environment the experience is greatly enhanced. I can only imagine how incredible the sound would be if the ear cup design completely sealed the entire ear off.
Cons:
1) Battery Pack. This is not entirely a negative, more of a disclaimer. I feel that Sennheiser did a good job of making the pack thin and lightweight. I am about 6' 1" and still have a small amount of wire slack on both ends of the pack (when clipped on to my belt or pant waist), so ease of movement is not an issue. However, a taller person may find that their movement (especially for exercise) would be limited by this design. Lastly, as many other people (including Sennheiser) have reported, the noise cancelling is only effective within a lower frequency range. However, in most circumstances (including airplanes) you will find that the reduction is satisfactory for enjoying everything except the softest of musical passages.
2) Price. Again, this is not a complete negative. If you appreciate great sound and live, work or play in a noisy environment, you should be willing to pay a premium. However, if you simply like to listen to music at home or work, there a numerous high-quality options at much, much lower prices.
Customer Review: Great Bang for the Buck!
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a huge fan of the Sennheiser brand. I bought a pair of Sennheiser PX 100 Collapsible Headphones several years ago, and when I torched those, I bought another pair because I couldn't live without them. I asked for the PXC 250s for a graduation present (thanks mom!), as I am preparing to travel abroad and wanted a quality pair of noise-canceling headphones.
So far, I am extremely impressed with this unit. The noise canceling feature works a lot better than I expected it to (though I haven't taken them on a plane yet). It does add a bit of white noise, but this is negligible when compared to the background noise that the set cancels out. I have a small head, and the headphones fit me perfectly when on the most compact setting. The padding makes them comfortable enough to wear for an extended period of time. The set comes with an airplane adapter (though I think most airlines are using standard mini jacks now), as well as a stereo adapter. All of these goodies are packaged in a double pocket soft shell case, and for a lot less than pretty much any other quality brand out there.
So far, the only cons I have are as follows:
-Unit is a bit bulky, especially if not using the noise canceling feature.
-I prefer the hard shell case of the PX100, especially for travel.
-Sound quality is NOWHERE NEAR that of the PX100s, which have rich lows and clear highs with my 5G iPod. I tried bumping the EQ up to "R&B" to get the bass up with the PXC250s, but they still don't have nearly the sound quality I'm used to with the PX100s. This isn't too big of a hangup for me, because I mainly wanted the noise canceling feature and am willing to sacrifice a little of the sound quality if I can actually hear what it is I'm supposed to be listening to.
In short, I'm very pleased with the noise canceling features and overall performance of the PXC250s, but I'll be bringing my PX100s with me on the trip for everyday use.
Customer Review: Excellent combination of portability and sound quality
Summary: 4 Stars
I own both this headphone and the new $350 Bose Noise Cancellation head phone. Let me share with you my experience with the Sennheiser.
The Sennheiser's collapsible form makes this an excellent travel companion. The packaging is light, the soft mesh bag protects the headphones well from scratches and damage but is also flexible enough to squeeze into a tight space.
The sound quality is mediocre without the noise cancellation feature turned off. With the noise cancellation feature turned on, it sounds like full stereo. Rich bass and clear treble. The sound quality is remarkable for a headphone of this size.
Battery life is excellent. Two batteries will last you many hours. I traveled with these headphones each week; using these headphones with noise cancellation active for at least two hours per flight. It is usually three to four months between battery change; sometimes longer. The carrying case has a zipper section for carrying spare batteries. Very thoughtful feature.
So how is the noise cancellation? It is mediocre at best. Compared to the Bose, it is...well, it is not comparable. The Bose has an over the ear design which combined with their noise cancellation technology makes for a far superior noise cancellation headphone. The Bose takes more space to carry, is about 1/3 the size of most laptops and the carrying case is rigid, which means it is difficult to squeeze into a tightly packed space. The Bose headset does not allow you to use the headset without consuming battery power, which means when you are out of juice, you are also without headphones.
For the money, this is the best choice available. I have used my headphones for over three years. It is still going strong, with only the carrying case showing it's age. When I travel, I almost always bring my Sennheiser because of its performance combined with versatility. The Bose is now relegated to only the turbo prop flights, and only when I need to sleep on those flights.
I hope you find this review helpful.