My JVC HANC 250 Critical Review

JVC HANC 250 Critical Review by Pat Woltenholme

Noise Cancelling
Sound
Price

Available on Amazon for less than $120 here.

The noise cancellation is really excellent and the box says they can perform 85% noise cancellation. I think this might be a little bit high though. However they do give the Bose range a run for their money. The passive noise cancelling qualities of the ear cups themselves help block out a lot of the sound too. The end result is a very quiet and private sensation. They’re especially effective on planes as most are.

Update: These headphones are currently on sale at Amazon.com through this link.

They feel a little flimsy in terms of build quality when you first touch them, but they are in fact VERY durable and will have no problems with whatever is thrown at them. They are super comfy with nice, thick ear pads and headband. You can easily wear them for hours without any discomfort. Some headphones clamp down on your head and this creates a nasty pressure on your ears after a while but these don’t do that at all. They’re light, soft and comfortable. Their sound is quite good – about what is expected in this price range. The bass is tight, the balance is decent and overall, they sound just fine.

Check out this great video review of the JVC HANC 250:

Get these headphones on Amazon here (cheapest price online)

The carrying case is nice and light and seems sturdy enough to handle any bumps on the road. The fact that they are small is really nice too. Many noise-cancelling headphones are huge and not much fun to travel with. These fold flat really nicely which makes them great to pack into a bag as they won’t take up much space. Also, the fact that the ear cups swivel means that they will fit pretty much any head around.

If you do a lot of traveling or you just don’t want to listen to anybody else while you’re listening to your music, games or movies, the JVC HANC 250 are a great pair of headphones. When you’re on the plane with the usual cabin noise and the conversations around you – all that is gone with these headphones. You’re just left to enjoy your DVD or music in peace.

The Good:                                                |

  • Excellent noise cancellation
  • Light and comfortable
  • Good sound
  • Small

The Bad                                                    |

  • The cable is a little short so if you need to use it at home on the couch, get a cable extension.

These headphones are perfect for:

  • Anyone who travels a lot
  • People who need peace and quiet

Let’s take a look at these headphones’ features:

  • It comes with a ¼” adapter so you can plug it into a larger system when you’re at home. The mini jack or 1/8” jack is for an iPod, iPhone or any other port able device. It also comes with a handy dual mini jack adapter for watching movies on the plane. All you do is snap it on and plug it into the seat’s dual mini jack headphones input.
  • They also have really great battery life. It seems to last forever.
  • If you want these headphones, you can get them cheapest at Amazon.com through this link.

Overall these are a great buy and will last you a long time and give you years of noise-free enjoyment. Get the JVC HANC 250 today. NOTE: Remember to turn off the noise-cancelling feature when you’re not using it.

Pat Woltenholme is a professional reviewer. He wants to make your shopping easy by writing relevant and honest reviews.
Disclaimer: Ordering products through these links will help pay for the weeks spent creating this site.

Do The Bose Quietcomfort 2 Headphones Suck?

Bose Quietcomfort 2 Headphones Review by Pat Woltenholme

Noise Cancelling
Sound Quality
Price

Available on Amazon for less than $450 here.

Not only is the noise cancelling effect really powerful, the actual headphones themselves block out a lot of the exterior sound. So combined with the really good circuitry makes the effect very obvious and effective. You will be very sealed off from any unwanted noise. It seems to work really well on trains, subways or any form of transportation.

Update: These headphones are currently on sale at Amazon.com through this link.

An interesting part of this product is the fact that they offer you a 30-day home trial where you can decide whether or not you like it. This is an interesting move on Bose’s part and I wonder how many actually get sent back. I would imagine that not many do.

Check out this great video review of the Quietcomfort 2 Headphones:

Get these headphones on Amazon here (cheapest price online)

The Good:                                                      |

  • Great noise cancellation
  • Ultra comfortable
  • Good sound

The Bad                                                           |

  • When the batteries die, the music stops playing. 
  • You also have to have the noise cancellation switched on to listen to music. This was an odd choice but not a deal-breaker.
  • Some feel it is too expensive for the quality, I would disagree.

These headphones are perfect for:

  • Frequent travellers

Let’s take a look at the headphones’ features:

It comes with a 1/8th inch extension cable, an 1/8th inch to ¼ inch adapter and an airplane adapter with the dual connector. It also comes with a nice carrying case which fits the headphones perfectly. The ear cups swivel a lot so they are easily folded flat into the case. The case is also nice and small so they are easy to carry around. They are also super-comfortable. A lot of thought has gone into their design and you can feel it right away.

If you want these headphones, you can get it cheapest at Amazon.com through this link.

Yes, these are expensive headphones but the sound quality is way above it’s price range. You’re also paying for the amazing noise cancellation technology which Bose has perfected. These continue to be a staple for many travellers, especially on planes. Bose has learned a lot from previous models and so they now have the noise cancelling circuitry in the actual headphones themselves, no in the cable assembly as some other models do.

Nice job Bose!

With my tests it is clear that Boses’ claim of 35 hours of battery life off the single AAA battery is pretty accurate. The low end is big and deep. It is a very rich experience especially with movies and games. You really feel the thunder on them. They have a slightly warm sound too. You won’t get a piercing discomfort that so many headphones deliver. Overall the sound quality is awesome.

Just take a look at what current owners have to say about it:

Wirenut “wirenutt” ,

At first I felt as though they were a little expensive but I love sound and do have some expensive speakers so I don’t mind paying for quality. Their sound quality and noise canceling are great and I couldn’t recommend them more.

This review is paraphrased for size, view the original here.

Pat Woltenholme is a pro product tester. He tests out products so you don’t have to.
Disclaimer: Ordering anything through these links will help compensate for the hours spent on creation and promotion of this site.

Bose Quietcomfort 3 Review

Bose Quietcomfort 3 by Pat Woltenholme

Noise Cancelling
Sound Quality
Price

Available on Amazon for less than $350 here.

bose quiet comfort 3The Bose Quietcomfort 3 headphones are the next step in quality from Bose. These are designed to be a lighter alternative to some of their other headphones but with comparable sound quality and noise cancellation.

Update: This cam is currently on sale at Amazon.com through this link.

If you’re a frequent flyer or work in a noisy environment you will immediately notice a dramatic difference in the level of ambient background noise. This results in a more relaxing atmosphere.. People report feelings of reduced jetlag, better sleep and less effort to read on planes.

Check out this great video review of the Bose Quietcomfort 3:

Get these headphones on Amazon here (cheapest price online)

The Good:                                                     |

  • Super portable and compact
  • Bose noise cancellation
  • Great sound quality
  • Insane battery life

The Bad                                                         |

  • A small number of people have mentioned that they hurt their ears after many hours of listening.
  • Some people don’t like the case

These headphones are perfect for:

  • People who travel a lot for work
  • Businessmen or women who fly a lot
  • Anyone who needs some silence
  • Factory workers

Let’s take a look at these headphones features:

This is ne of those all-round winning products that just seem to get it right. There are a few niggles from a minority of people but the overwhelming majority love them to bits

Just take a look at what current owners have to say about it:

J Brown,

These Bose QC 3′s are one of my favorite posessions. I use them at home, in Starbucks but their best use is on planes. The battery has never run out on me and the sound is excellent with full bass and huge dynamic range. However I’m not too concerned about the sound quality, it’s just an added bonus. I would recommend these to anyone. Great buy!

This review is paraphrased for size – view the original here.

Pat Woltenholme is a your trusty gadget advisor. His mission is to provide unbiased, honest reviews on popular electronics items to make your shopping easier than ever.
Disclaimer: Purchasing anything through this site will help pay for the many months spent creating and marketing this site. Thanks for the help!

Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B

Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B Review by Pat Woltenholme

Noise Cancelling
Sound Quality
Price

Available on Amazon for less than $120 here.

Audio Technica ATH-ANC7BThe sound quality of the ATH ANC7B’s are really awesome. These headphones still work without batteries, but of course the noise cancelling does not. However, the midrange and treble quality is a little degraded without them. But pop them back in and the sound quality is back to normal. One AAA battery will realistically get you 40 – 60 hours of noise cancellation so it will be a while before you need to replace it.

Update: These headphones are currently on sale at Amazon.com through this link.

They have a nice level of passive noise cancelling too so when you put them on you will immediately feel the outside world disappear even before the noise cancelling circuitry is switched on. This helps a lot. Then once they are switched on it’s very clear how calm and relaxed you can be with these without any distractions. Like many noise cancelling headphones, they also fold flat and fit snugly into the sturdy travel case that comes with it. The earcups on these are large, the earpads and headband are really nice and soft and fit well.

Check out this great video review of the Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B:

Get this camera on Amazon here (cheapest price online)

The Good:                                                       |

  • Super affordable
  • Awesome durability
  • Decent sound
  • Excellent noise cancellation

The Bad                                                           |

  • Sound quality is a little degraded without batteries.

This camera is perfect for:

  • Frequent flyers
  • Anyone on a budget
  • Commuters

Let’s take a look at these headphones’ features:

The Audio Technica ATH ANC7B Noise Cancelling Headphones are a great way to get yourself into a private stress-free bubble when traveling. These are real bang for your buck type of headphones. The sound, build and noise cancellation quality on these is all good to great and at this price it’s pretty amazing. The ATH-ANC7b is the replacement for the ATH ANC7′s.

Just take a look at what current owners have to say about it:

M. Bishoff,

I bought these for a trip to India and they made the trip very pleasurable. These really work. As soon as you turn them on the engines of the plane are almost totally gone. I had them on my head for 40 + hours and I never felt any pain, discomfort or headaches. I’m very, very happy and they definitely make a big difference. Y0ou won’t be disappointed.

This review is paraphrased for size – view the original here.

Pat Woltenholme is a professional gadget reviewer. He wants to make your shopping decisions easier by writing true and honest reviews.
Disclaimer: Buying through these links will help offset the hundreds of hours spent creating and promoting this website. Thanks for your support!

Beats Studio by Dr. Dre

Beats Studio by Dr. Dre Review by Pat Woltenholme

Noise Cancellation
Sound Quality
Price

Available on Amazon for less than $300 here.

beats studio

The idea behind the Beats Studio was to recreate the sound heard by the musicians making the music. Many headphones nowadays are muddy, thin or just lack any sizzle. These however have a very extended treble, deep bass and decent clarity.

Update: These headphones are currently on sale at Amazon.com through this link.

A now legendary collaboration between Dr. Dre and Monster Audio produced the Beats line of headphones. They are known for their huge sound first and foremost as well as for having exceptional street style.

Check out this great video review of the Beats Studio by Dr. Dre:

Get these headphones on Amazon here (cheapest price online)

The Good:                                                 |

  • Insanely big, shiny sound
  • Killer looks

The Bad                                                      |

  • Somewhat expensive
  • Compared to true ‘audiophile’ headphones they lack a little depth

The Beats Studio is perfect for:

  • Hip hop heads
  • Fans of bass-heavy music like dubstep, electro, hip hop or rock
  • Anyone who appreciates good sound

Let’s take a look at the headphones’ features:

For your money you actually get more than just a pair of headphones. Since there is a microphone in one of the cables it can be used as a headset for your iPhone or Blackberry.

Just take a look at what current owners have to say about it:

Paul D.,

I use these to listen to music on my iPhone at work and to shut out the world. The sound quality is amazing and I’ve heard little details in my music collection that I’ve never heard before. They come with great accessories, are super comfy and I like taking calls with them on too.

This review is paraphrased for size, view the original here.

Pat Woltenholme is a pro product tester. He makes your shopping decisions easier by writing real reviews just for you.
Disclaimer: Ordering headphones through the my links above will help compensate for the time spent on this site. Thanks for the support!

Sennheiser PXC 450 Noise Cancelling Headphones

Sennheiser PXC 450 Review by Rob Frankirk

Noise Cancellation
Sound Quality
Price

Available on Amazon for less than $330 here.

Sennheiser PXC450The Sennheiser PXC 450 Noise Cancelling headphones are an outstanding. Sennheiser are already famous for their microphones and now they put all that expertise into their headphones too. To start they invented their own noise cancelling technology called Noiseguard 2.0. Once you put on them on, you can expect it to cut out up to 50 – 90% of the ambient room noise. So if you travel on airplanes a lot you won’t hear all the engine noise. It even does a pretty good job with the conversations and crying babies too.

Update: These headphones are currently on sale at Amazon.com through this link.

The build quality on these headphones is probably the best around. They are solid, durable and have a little weight to them but not too much (these are not breaking any time soon that’s for sure). The foam on the headband and earcups make these very comfortable to wear too. A smart feature they added as well is called Talk-Through. This is useful if someone wants to talk to you. All you need to do is switch the Talk-Through button and you will be able to hear them perfectly. It lowers the volume of the music so you don’t have to pause your music, take off your headphones or disconnect them to have a quick chat. Unlike some of the other models, if the battery runs out, the music still plays. The PXC450 headphones take just 1 AAA battery and lasts for a whopping 16 hours of noise reduction. The Sennheiser PXC 450′s fold really nicely into a small package making them really easy to carry and take with you in an overnight or carry-on bag.

Check out this great video review of the Sennheiser PXC 450:

Get these headphones on Amazon here (cheapest price online)

The Good:                                                    |

  • Outstanding noise cancellation.
  • Great design.
  • Comfortable.

The Bad                                                        |

  • Sennheiser claims their Noiseguard technology can reduce up to 90% of the noise in your environment. This is true, however, keep in mind that this is only in the best circumstances. Expect a more realistic figure between 50% and 80% in normal use. This is still great however.
  • Earlier models were reported to have a ticking sound in the right ear. This has been fixed however.

These headphones are perfect for:

  • Anyone who travels on airplanes a lot
  • Daily work commuters
  • People who use public transport a lot
  • Folks who enjoy peace and quiet

Let’s take a look at these headphones’ features:

Just take a look at what current owners have to say about it:

J Martin,

I travel a lot and I also wanted the for watching movies in peace. I compared the Sennheiser PXC 450′s to 5 other headphones: The PXC 250, JVC HANC250, Audio Technica ANC7, Bose QC2 and QC3. At the end of the day after trying all of these out I couldn’t imagine settling for any of the other models.The PXC 450′s are close to perfect for me.

This review is paraphrased for size – view the original here.

Pat Woltenholme is a professional reviewer. He wants to make your shopping decisions easier by writing good and honest reviews.
Disclaimer: Purchasing products through the my links will pay for the many weeks spent creating this site. Thanks for your support!

Bose QuietComfort 15 Review

Bose QuietComfort 15 Review by Pat Woltenholme

Noise Cancellation
Sound Quality
Price

Available on Amazon for less than $300 here.

bose quietcomfort 15The Bose Quietcomfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones are great for just about anywhere. Excellent for travel, and also good for everyday listening whether you’re at work or just kicking back at home. The soft padding on the earcups makes them very comfortable which is great for long listening sessions. The cushions conform to the shape of your head making a tight acoustical seal that further blocks outside noise.

Update: These headphones are currently on sale at Amazon.com through this link.

They have a very nice, clean and classy design with chrome accents and black headband. The power switch is over on the right and has a green LED which lights up to indicate when it’s on. The plush leather headband and earpieces are really comfortable to wear and are extremely adjustable too. You can easily wear them for hours at a time. The tiny microphones on the outside of the headphones picks up the external noise and replays them on the inside at the opposite phase allowing the annoying noise to be cancelled out. The accuracy and efficiency of these is better than most other headphones out there today. They even beat the Quietcomfort 2′s and 3′s since they have upgraded digital signal processing inside plus they sound better too.

Check out this great video review of the Bose QuietComfort 15:

Get these headphones on Amazon here (cheapest price online)

The Good:                                                    |

  • Best noise cancellation available
  • Immense sound quality
  • Moderate users are replacing their batteries only 3-4 times a year.

The Bad                                                        |

  • Some people may find a strange sensation of pressure on their ears with this model. The chances are slim but if you do find that you’re one of these people, Bose offers a 30 day money-back guarantee so you can just return them.
  • Without the noise cancellation circuitry switched on, you won’t hear any music at all.
  • They are a closed design so don’t expect the airy open sound you get with open designs.

These headphones are perfect for:

  • Frequent flyers
  • Regular travellers
  • Commuters
  • Anyone who needs some peace and quiet

Let’s take a look at these headphones’ features:

The Bose Quietcomfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones will run you about $300 which is obviously quite expensive for headphones. People are quite skeptical and spend a lot of time looking at reviews online but if you really want good-sounding, noise-cancelling headphones, these are the way to go.

Bose has refined their noise cancellation technology. The Quietcomfort 15′s have 2 microphones in each earcup. One is on the outside and the other is on the inside. Here is how it works: Say you’re listening to your MP3 player in an airplane. Inside the earcups you’re actually getting sound from 2 sources: Your music and cabin noise. The outer mic picks up the cabin noise and the interior mic serves as a second line of defense detecting whatever noise slips into the earcups. Sophisticated circuitry creates an out-of-phase signal that cancels out the unwanted noise so that you just hear your music.

The cable that comes with these headphones is kinda different with a few tiny design features such as angled jacks and a special 3-ring tip on the headphone side. And here’s another nice touch: If you don’t want to listen to anything, just remove the plug. They fold flat for easy storage and slip right into this sturdy case which is very handy for travel. So whether you’re working, travelling or just want a little peace and quiet check out the Bose Quietcomfort 15 headphones. You can easily use them as high-tech earmuffs too by detaching the audio cable and just blocking out the world to get some sleep or read a book etc. While the noise cancelliation is excellent you can’t stand next to a busy highway and expect to be able to meditate, but they will block out a lot. So much so that even if a conversation is happening right near you, you won’t be able to understand most of it.

They are also quite a step up in the sound quality department. They are smoother and more balanced than the previous models as well as having a bass that doesn’t get as degraded by the noise cancelling and is definitely more punchy as well. The bass on these while tight and muscular is not overbearing. It’s more balanced and even so if you like hip hop or any bass-heavy music then look at the Beats by Dre. These are clean, balanced and detailed so if that’s what you like then these will deliver in spades. The detail is quite impressive too so you may hear things that you missed before.

The competition are the Sennheisers, the Beats by Dr Dre and a few others but the Bose are a different thing altogether. These are for people concerned about sound and not much else.

Just take a look at what current owners have to say about it:

A. Pomey,

I searched long and hard for the best noise cancelling headphones and when I tried these I was not disappointed. I’ve tried them on flights, music and movies and they are like my own private sound booth. I even use them to mow the lawn. They may be a little expensive but they are definitely worth it.

This review is paraphrased for size ‚ view the original here.

Pat Woltenholme is a pro product reviewer. He wishes to make your decisions effortless by giving you relevant and honest info.
Disclaimer: Ordering via my links will offset the costs spent creating and promoting this site. Thanks for supporting me!