Sony MDR-NC500D review

What you need to know

Reviewed by: Frank Lewis

Reviewed on: 3 February 2009

Tags: Sony, Sony MDR-NC500D, London Underground, London, travel

We like:

Lightweight construction; fantastic noise-cancelling performance

We don't like:

Expensive; weak bass response

CNET UK judgement:

The Sony MDR-NC500D headphones have the best noise-cancelling technology we've ever come across, and their design makes them very comfortable to wear for long periods. The bass response, however, isn't as good as it should be considering the high asking price

Full review:

Sony claims the MDR-NC500Ds are the world's first digital noise-cancelling headphones. By this, Sony means they're the first to have an on-board digital signal processor that intelligently works out which background noises are the most annoying and then works to get rid of them. All this electronic jiggery-pokery comes at a price, however, as the cans will set you back a not-inconsiderable sum of around £260. That's more expensive than a new 16GB iPod touch. Continue Reading...