Hitachi Maxell intros noise canceling, battery draining iPod headphones

If short, intense sessions with your iPod are your bag, these new Maxell heaphones might just do the trick. Compatible with your fourth-gen iPod (or your first and second-gen iPod touch) the HP-NC20.IP earbuds offer active noise cancellation from 50-700Hz and noise suppression up to 20dB. Since they rely on the iPod dock for audio and power, you're stuck using the volume control on the headphones themselves, and battery life is significantly reduced -- anywhere from one half to two-thirds. If you're one of those people who never stops rocking, you might want to stick to something a little more passive, headphones-wise. But if you tend to "rock out" in concentrated amounts, these just might be the earbuds for you. Due to hit the streets of Japan on December 12 for a retail price of ¥8,000 (about $83).

[Via AV Watch]

[Larry @ Nov 19th 2008 11:00AM]

My teenagers don't hear me with there current headphones. Noice cancellation is unnecessary at 500db....

[bob sakamano @ Nov 19th 2008 11:10AM]

Are you sure they aren't just ignoring you?

[Precurse @ Nov 19th 2008 11:04AM]

My Sennheiser CX300s use the 'in ear' gel type cushioning. It doesn't provide any noise canceling, but I still have a very hard time hearing ANYONE around me, even with the volume set at a good level. I'm sure on a plane, or in a car, you may see some use for the 'noise canceling', but to be honest, I don't fly in a plane every week...

Anyone else have any input on noise canceling?

[Canoo @ Nov 19th 2008 11:08AM]

I think I would like noise canceling if i tried it. I just hate the fact that it requires yet another power source (or in this case, to piggy back off my ipod's power source)

[Valicore @ Nov 19th 2008 11:53AM]

I'm not a huge fan of active noise cancellation either (especially not when it cuts my DAP's battery life by one half to two thirds, those are some vampire headphones). I had a pair of in ear Shure earbuds and they basically acted like ear plugs. I could hear the music very well and not much else. I think that's a better solution.

[kal326 @ Nov 19th 2008 12:28PM]

I use the inner ear headphones that came with my zune and usually only have the volume up to 7 and in my office I have a hard time hearing my desk or cell phone ring and people trying to get my attention. I don't think for the regular user noise canceling is really needed unless you are in an area with a lot of ambient noise like an airplane or bus.

[wom @ Nov 19th 2008 2:40PM]

For noise "canceling" your best bet is to simply get some nice IEMs, my SA6 give ~26db of isolation with included bi-flange; more with my comply tips (though I don't have a measurement) and they sound *much* better. a Shure e2c variant for ~same price as this would give better sound quality with more DBA of isolation than the noise canceling provides.

[noyp @ Nov 19th 2008 9:22PM]

You guys should turn to passive noise blocking iems.

[Wesley @ Nov 19th 2008 11:12AM]

No thanks, I like my Bose over-ears!

[From My Cube @ Nov 19th 2008 11:52AM]

I had to break your spirit but you massively over paid for yours....I had the bose over ears for two weeks to "test out" on two 10 hour flights...then tested the audio technica ath-anc7...same noise isolation and the same quality of sound if not better

[Sam @ Nov 19th 2008 12:36PM]

yeah but then how would you let everyone know you could actually afford overpriced Bose headphones?

[Wesley @ Nov 19th 2008 1:07PM]

Geez, calm down, maybe I'm a musician and use them for sound mixing and worked all summer for them.

[jorvay @ Nov 19th 2008 1:13PM]

So you're in the industry and you still couldn't be bothered to do some research before buying headphones?

[noyp @ Nov 19th 2008 9:24PM]

But the colored sound probably wouldn't be good for mixing. It would emphasize bass, and not mids or highs.

[noyp @ Nov 19th 2008 9:24PM]

But the colored sound probably wouldn't be good for mixing. It would emphasize bass, and not mids or highs.

[noyp @ Nov 19th 2008 9:25PM]

Gah! My first-ever double post!

[Salsa Shark @ Nov 20th 2008 12:17AM]

Woot! just posted $12.99 RCA noise-cancelling headphones.

And they're every bit as "good" as Bose.

[Wolfticket @ Nov 19th 2008 12:33PM]

This article reads like "they are rubbish because the drain your ipods battery".

For people who want active noise cancelling and can recharge their iPod on a regular basis (ie a daily commute) , the fact that these headphones don't require a separate power source (unlike most [all?] other active noise cancelling headphones), and are presumably more compact because of it, would far outweigh any reduction in battery life.

I wonder if they sound any good.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Nov 19th 2008 12:49PM]

If you've got in-ear headphones you don't need noise cancellation. My Shure E2's have been going for 4 years strong.

Though I guess if you really, really want noise cancellation, this is more convenient than carrying around a massive case full 'o Bose, or earbuds with an external battery pack for the noise cancellation bits. Assuming you don't mind the huge battery life hit on your iPod.

[Alexandre Emond @ Nov 19th 2008 1:35PM]

@ UnixSystemsEngineer
As your last comment, I always agree with your comment. I have just added Shure SE210-k to my Christmas list after reviewing the topic but BEFORE reading your comment.
Good highly portable headphones are of no use in hi noise environments unless you don't care busting your ears at maximum sound level. This is why I wanted small noise cancelling headphones. Shure noise blocking headphones won't drain battery or add an external block. Many user reviews confirmed that it's good at reducing external noise.

[Andre @ Nov 19th 2008 1:13PM]

Doesnt the touch have an estimated 24 hours audio playback? So these headphones will drop that to 12 hours at the most. I cant imagine using them that long.

[ybd @ Nov 19th 2008 4:20PM]

While that is true, even with the 2G Touch's bigger battery that supposedly does 36 hours of Audio playback, video playback is only about 5 hours, and WiFi use is 2.5-3 hours. Cut that in half and you are left with just enough power to turn the device on