AfterDawn: News

Sony offers digital noise-canceling headphones

Sony has introduced its brand new headphones which it claims to be the first digital noise-canceling set, cutting out a 99 percent of ambient noise by Sony's calculations. The MDR-NC500D product apparently is the first ever headphones set to use digital technology with "Artificial Intelligence". An internal processor automatically calculates the correct cancellation profile to suit the characteristics of ambient noise.

Pushing the "AI Mode" button in normal usage will make the headphones automatically select between three different cancellation modes to suit the surroundings, but manually selecting is also possible increase the "AI" fails. A monitor switch is also included to temporarily listen to external sounds.



Sony advertises the product as being capable of 15 hours operation between charges.

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Written by: James Delahunty @ 7 Apr 2008 21:25

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• 16 comments

• 21Q

  Since I'm not an audiofile I don't see this necessary. I'm fine with my $13 skullcandy headphones.

  7.4.2008 21:39 #1

• tripplite

  the HD wars left a bitter taste in my mouth...if you think you can sooth me with your fancy headphones sony then your dead wrong....

  7.4.2008 22:09 #2

• Hunt720

  Quote:the HD wars left a bitter taste in my mouth...if you think you can sooth me with your fancy headphones sony then your dead wrong.... If thats the case, then you are going to HATE the headphones that the Blu Disc Association just came out with! ;)

  7.4.2008 23:07 #3

• Run4two

  Am I wrong? Aren't noise reduction headphones most useful when either you are in a car or in an airplane? It helps reduce those constant drone sounds. I will definitely look at this as my family will be traveling this summer.

  7.4.2008 23:19 #4

• chaos_zzz

  u post this without a picture come on, i own the mdr-v600 from sony great headphones for studio recordings.
  
  I Recently moved from a house to an apartment now i cannot watch movies using my 7.1 system,this would be an amazing add , i'll read some reviews and see how good they are.
  
  And a hint for those fancy headphones haters, once u hear a great sound u just can not keep listening stuff with 13$ headphones
  
  it's like an ear evolution
  
  Also most sound engineers use Sony Headphones not bose or samson or any other brand

  7.4.2008 23:21 #5

• BurningAs

  Originally posted by 21Q: Since I'm not an audiofile I don't see this necessary. I'm fine with my $13 skullcandy headphones.lol: "audiofile" you mean audiophile. HAHAHA doesn't matter. Those head phone suck. Search for : Etymotic Research ER-4p

  7.4.2008 23:29 #6

• Pop_Smith

  The noise cancellation maybe nice if you're always in a noisy environment but I will just stick with my Shure SE210 Earphones.
  
  Heck for $400 (the price of these Sony headphones see here.)
  
  I would rather buy the Shure SE420's.
  
  Peace

  8.4.2008 00:18 #7

• lxfactor

  Originally posted by Run4two: Am I wrong? Aren't noise reduction headphones most useful when either you are in a car or in an airplane? It helps reduce those constant drone sounds. I will definitely look at this as my family will be traveling this summer.400 a pop.. i hope u plan on only buying one

  8.4.2008 00:20 #8

• Ryu77

  Originally posted by Pop_Smith: The noise cancellation maybe nice if you're always in a noisy environment but I will just stick with my Shure SE210 Earphones.
  
  Heck for $400 (the price of these Sony headphones see here.)
  
  I would rather buy the Shure [url=http://www.shure.com/PersonalAudio/Products/Earphones/SEModels/us_pa_se420_content]SE420's[url].
  
  PeaceThey're two completely different products. The Shure item you posted is a bud style (canalphones) headphone. The Sony item is a circumaural noise cancelling set. Have you ever used this type of headphone? They are truly amazing. You could be in a car or on a plane, as soon as you put them on... It's like an off switch to the outside World!

  8.4.2008 04:30 #9

• nobrainer

  Originally posted by Hunt720: Quote:the HD wars left a bitter taste in my mouth...if you think you can sooth me with your fancy headphones sony then your dead wrong.... If thats the case, then you are going to HATE the headphones that the Blu Disc Association just came out with! ;)@ Hunt720
  
  why are they loaded with DRM that blocks all sound?
  
  
  

  The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
  
  The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
  
  The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above!
  
  The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.
  
  How do you stop anti consumer = its easy purchase only second hand media and avoid their propertarian hobbled by DRM hardware! http://www.boycott-riaa.com/

  8.4.2008 05:56 #10

• lxfactor

  that was rather amusing

  8.4.2008 09:26 #11

• TSRSteve

  Quote:Originally posted by Hunt720: Quote:the HD wars left a bitter taste in my mouth...if you think you can sooth me with your fancy headphones sony then your dead wrong.... If thats the case, then you are going to HATE the headphones that the Blu Disc Association just came out with! ;)@ Hunt720
  
  why are they loaded with DRM that blocks all sound?
  No, they only block copyrighted sounds and competitors adds.

  8.4.2008 09:43 #12

• Ghostdog

  Quote:increase the "AI" fails ?

  8.4.2008 11:35 #13

• BludRayne

  Active noise cancelling like these Sonys modify the sound. I'd rather listen to music that's been unaltered. My Shure e2c do a fine job of passive noise cancelling.

  8.4.2008 12:33 #14

• BurningAs

  To bad Shure SUCKS!

  8.4.2008 13:21 #15

• Pop_Smith

  Originally posted by Ryu77: They're two completely different products. The Shure item you posted is a bud style (canalphones) headphone. The Sony item is a circumaural noise cancelling set. Have you ever used this type of headphone? They are truly amazing. You could be in a car or on a plane, as soon as you put them on... It's like an off switch to the outside World!Yes, the Shure stuff is a earphone (as opposed to the headphone style of the Sony product) but personally even when I wear just those earbuds they block out more than enough noise, without any music coming though them. This is why I compared them to these Sony headphones.
  
  Originally posted by BurningAs: To bad Shure SUCKS!To each his (or her) own I guess, I personally like my Shure stuff better than any product I've tried.

  8.4.2008 14:36 #16