Sony MDRNC33

They deliver what's expected ! – I bought them 3 years ago, mainly to be able to work in noisy office spaces or to be able to listen to music on the train or on the plane. I needed something that I can always have with me. Over 3 years, I have probably changed the batteries once a year (I don't use the noise cancellation if the environment is not noisy) and they have done exactly what they were supposed to.

Noise cancellation makes a big difference for low pitch background noise (train ride, air conditioning, background chatter, airplane ambiant noise). The sound quality is clear. If treated with a bit of care they should last long (I like good quality stuff but I am also careful with it, my earphones are never at the bottom of my gym bag or on the floor in my car, I always carry them in their little pouch in a place where they are not squashed). If they were breaking down I would probably buy the same again. Hi quality on built, noise cancellation and sound. well finished product. Really light to carry around. The bass are not very powerful, but I still think the sound is quite balanced. Pricy.

Won't fly without them – After spending several years using bud-earphones in an attempt to minimise aircraft cabin-noise, I tried a set of Panasonic Noise-cancelling Hadphones. These were bulky and ineffective. I purchased the Sony MDR-NC33 earphones before leaving on a trip. After using them consistently over the last 10 months they have shown themselves to be effective and reliable.

After approximately 70 hours use, the original AAA battery has shown no sign of running out.

The difference between standard ear-phones and the MDR-NC33 is very easily to notice. The sound quality (given the aircraft cabin environment) is good. The battery pack is easy to clip onto a pocket and as long as you're seated, isn't a too annoying.

The little cloth carry-bag is easy to store and has pockets for your mp3 player and the 2-plug adapter for the aircraft audio-jack that is included with the ear-phones.. Effective, reliable and relatively discreet. Good instructions. A little pricey for bud ear-phones