Sennheiser PXC 150

The PXC150 are the least expensive noise-cancelling headphones from Sennheiser. Their proprietary NoiseGard technology claims to reduce external noise by 70% which would be really cool if it were across the entire frequency range. It actually seems to work best on constant, low-level hum like jet engine noise and performs less well attenuating inconsistent, higher-pitched sounds like loud human speech, street traffic, crying babies, et al. The total external noise reduction is somewhere in the neighborhood of 15-20dB. The PXC 150 has a fairly thin sound but retains acceptable clarity -- although their bass punch is definitely lacking. The overall sonics of "active" noise-canceling headphones leaves something to be desired since their noise-blocking electronic circuitry tends to obscure musical detail resolution, especially in the mids and upper frequency ranges. For audiophiles, the ear canal headphone option offers way superior sound and much better isolation to boot.

A principal difference between the PXC150 and the upgraded models lies in its much more basic, less-padded headband which does not have the ability to fold up like the PXC250 or PXC300 models. The closed supra-aural earcups are fairly small and covered in pleather-type padding material just like the PXC250. They feel very light and comfortable on the head and the noise canceling feature can be turned on & off by a flick of a lighted control switch powered by two AAA batteries. The "Y" cord is terminated to a mini-plug and has a sliding adjustor to snug up the cable. The package comes with two different adapters including a full-size 1/4" stereo jack and the essential 1/8" (3.5mm) double-pronged airplane adapter. A handy carrying pouch is also supplied.