If you go for noise cancelling headphones, then some of the models can cost you a pretty penny. So, it is a plus when a company brings the budget friendly headphones in the market. The same thing can be said about the $40 Sony’s MDR-NC7 noise cancelling headphones. The Sony headphones are a mix of stylish looks and handy features. Though you can not expect the $40 headphones to be perfect as far as comfort and antinoise creation is concerned, but the MDR-NC7 offers a passable sound quality with a very compact design. Frequent fliers who dislike the earbuds present in the market, and those with limited funds can the consider earphones to be good option for them.
As far a design is concerned, it is a bit of mixed bag. But that does not mean that they are not good looking. In fact the headphones are fairly stylish. The MDR-NC7 is available in either white or black, and both the models feature understated silver accenting. The earpad design also offers nice alternative to earbuds while still allowing the ‘phones to be folded down compactly for storage and transport. The earphones come with a soft black pouch which is meant for storing and protecting the earphones from getting damaged. The Sony also includes a dual-pronged airline adapter for the rare instance when you are travelling in an older plane which sports those ports.
But everything is not right with the earphones; the biggest issue with the headphones is the comfort. The main reason for this is the headband which is made of hard plastic and lacks is not provided with any padding, so earphones tend to scratch the top of heads after just 15 minutes of wear. Moreover the headphones are also a bit tighter, and this combined with the on-ear style can prove to be uncomfortable after extended wear. Also, the headband doesn’t look to be durable, as it is always an issue with low budget models.
The MDR-NC7’s sound quality is not great but it isn’t that bad also. The sound quality is passable for the price range. The audio sounds clear with reasonably detailed high-ends. If you’re on strict budget and want to have some noise canceling earphones, the MDR-NC7 will do the job for you.
