Keep the noise out and the music in, with active noise cancelling headphones…
Noise Cancelling headphones are designed to allow the wearer to enjoy music in a noisy environment without having to crank the volume up to uncomfortable levels. While noise cancelling headphones have a variety of uses they are most popular with frequent travellers.
For this article I tested 3 sets of headphones, ranging from budget to high end, to compare the performance; both in the areas of noise cancellation and musical ability. The Headphones were the Goldring NS1000, the AKG K490 NC and the What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision magazine 5-star reviewed PSB M4U 2. I tested the headphones next to a hi-fi playing at a reasonable volume, maybe not what the designers had in mind but a challenging test nonetheless. While none of the headphones can completely mask the outside sound, when turning on the active (battery-powered) noise cancellation the difference is dramatic to say the least.
Goldring – NS1000
The first I tried were the Goldring NS1000, our entry level over ear noise cancelling beauties. Aesthetically, the headphones were what I would expect from a noise cancelling set. They cover the ears completely and have a very practical design, not too flashy but still good-looking. The Goldrings are very comfortable on the ears and I can imagine with prolonged use there would be very little discomfort. Upon activating the noise cancellation it seems as if outside sounds have become very distant, still audible but far less distracting. I can imagine for air travel these would be a godsend. Musically the headphones were great all-rounders, just enough bass and good levels of detail in the higher frequencies. The performance didn’t make my jaw hit the floor but it was more than sufficient, for travel these would work wonderfully but I couldn’t see them replacing my at-home headphones.
AKG – K490
Next up was the AKG K490. These headphones do not look like a noise cancelling set in the slightest; I had to double check I was looking at the correct set. The AKGs are an on-ear model, a rarity in the noise cancelling market, very lightweight, stylish and foldable too! These phones do away with the AAA batteries found in most noise cancelling models in favour of USB charging allowing the luxury of slim design. When activating the noise cancellation my concerns around the on-ear design were whisked away with the outside noise, the AKGs actually out-perform the Goldrings in noise cancellation quite substantially. I was very surprised to say the least. Musically these perform excellently too, with crisp top end and punchy bass. At the price, these headphones are a steal. If I had to find a fault it would only be that the Goldrings over-ear design is more comfortable for me than the on-ear design of the AKGs, but everyone’s ears are different.
PSB – M4U 2
Lastly I had a little foray into the higher end of the market, with the PSB M4U 2. These are priced at just over double the price of the AKGs, but does the quality match the price point? In this case it’s a definite yes, and then some. These headphones are stunning on every level. The styling, while it may not be to everyone’s taste, just oozes quality, as well as being some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying. The noise cancellation is excellent and the sound quality, in my opinion, is pretty much unrivalled in the price range – even when ignoring the noise cancellation features. The soundstage is pin-sharp and the bass is earth shattering, a wonderful sound. The only downside is that the headphones are rather large, but in my opinion the sound quality more than makes up for this.
To my surprise the headphones all performed exceptionally well for their respective price ranges and depending on your budget, you really do have three solid choices here.
The Goldring NS1000s are ideal for frequent travellers who want a functional design and good sound at a nice price point.
The AKG K490 NCs are perfect for those who want a stylish, lightweight headphone with great cancellation.
The PSB M4U 2s are the choice for those who want excellent cancellation paired with high fidelity audiophile sound.
Author – Luke, Leicester store
