We got a peek at the new Harman Kardon NC headphones (MSRP $299.95) recently, and based on the smart engineering and design touches and that we saw, they could prove to be an excellent set of noise-canceling cans for travelers and commuters.
The active-noise-cancellation unit is the headline feature here. Harman’s knowledge of manufacturing and testing sound equipment for auto interiors comes into play. The NCs use a two-microphone setup, rather than the one-mic system used on almost all other noise-canceling headsets. It eliminated a good bit of background noise on a busy trade show floor where we previewed the NCs. (As with any noise-canceling set, you can still listen to music even if the batteries die).
REVIEWED.COM: Read a more in-depth review of the headphones[1]
Like a growing number of higher-end headphones, the NCs have a detachable 3.5mm cable—if it frays or tears, you can just replace the cable instead of buying a whole new set of headphones. They also have an in-line remote for smartphone use, and two swappable headbands in different sizes. And if you like to clean your headphones regularly, the ear pads are magnetic and can pop off easily.
These are also some of the most comfortable and portable noise-canceling cans we’ve seen. The plush earpieces are pillow-soft, and can fold inward so that they’re easier to carry in a bag.
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RELATED: Headphones for comfortable air travel[3]
We couldn’t run our lab tests, so we don’t have a detailed breakdown of the sound quality yet. But the sound profile of the Harman Kardon brand tends to fall somewhere between the flat response preferred by musicians and producers, and the “everything loud” frequency preferred by casual listeners.
Given the price, sound performance will play a major role in the NCs’ marketability. If they score well, they could be a more comfortable alternative to Bose’s popular noise-canceling headphones.
For more product reviews, industry news, and more, go to Reviewed.com[4], a division of USA TODAY.
References
- ^ http://www.headphoneinfo.com/content/Harman-Kardon-NC-Headphones-FIrst-Impressions-Review.htm?utm_source=spikes&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=collab (www.headphoneinfo.com)
- ^ http://www.televisioninfo.com/Features/Why-Are-Some-TVs-Better-for-Watching-Sports-Superbowl-XLVII.htm?utm_source=spikes&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=collab (www.televisioninfo.com)
- ^ http://www.headphoneinfo.com/Features/Noise-Cancelling-Headphones-for-Air-Travel.htm?utm_source=spikes&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=collab (www.headphoneinfo.com)
- ^ http://www.reviewed.com/?utm_source=spikes&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=collab (www.reviewed.com)
