True Fidelity NC300B Headphones
Score: 90% Developer: Able Planet Device Type: Audio
Function: I've traveled more in the last year than I have in my entire life. Or, at least it seems that way - especially when numerous travel-related badges began to show up on my Four Square account. I've always been an ear bud person, but anyone whose been on a plane - particularly when sitting near the engine -- will tell you they're horrible. You hear something, but much of the sound is lost in the dull whine of the engines. While I'm glad to have a little down time (traveling is great, the process of traveling... not so much), I really wish I had the chance to test out the True Fidelity NC300B headphones. In fact, the more I used them, the more I wish I'd had a set all along.
Performance: The True Fidelity NC300B Headphones are the total package, at least when they're in the package. They come packed in a durable plastic case, complete with a rubber security band to hold the headset in place while in transit. Also included in the case is a small mesh bag containing a ¼" stereo jack and an airplane adapter for those really odd dual-prong jacks found on airlines. I've had good luck getting my ear buds to play nice with the armrest jacks, but once or twice I've been stuck using the cheap three-dollar set. A cord with a volume adjustment knob and 3.5mm stereo jacks on each side also accompanies the set. I wasn't sure about the detachable cord, but quickly grew to love it. Wrapping up headphones is always a pain, so the ability to easily wrap up the wire is a real convenience. It also prevents having the set pulled off your head if the wire gets caught on something. The headphones feel great and the sound is amazing. Whether using my PSP, DS or even my iPhone, I was continually impressed by the clarity. I was surprised by how much punch some game's soundtracks produced. While I'm not likely to go through my entire library to see what I may have missed the first time around, I'll definitely use the headphones in the future. The noise-cancelling switch is easy to flip on and really helps with clarity. It doesn't completely eliminate all noises, but will take care of a good deal of background noise you might encounter. Higher pitched sounds (rain on metal, high-tones in background music, higher-pitched voices...) will still bleed through, but based on anecdotal evidence, it should be enough to take care of pesky engine noises. With most of the sound out of the way, it's really easy to tune out the bits that are able to work their way in and enjoy only what you want to listen to. The True Fidelity NC300B Headphones worked great on all my audio devices, including my iPhone, PSP, DS and sound system, but I really wanted to test them out with my camera/ microphone setup. When filming at E3, noise is a major issue. I had a pretty good headset plugged into the camera to monitor sound levels from the microphone, but making adjustments was really difficult considering the amount of noise pouring through the headset and microphone. Though I wasn't able to test the set in an E3 environment (next year, though...), the headphones worked rather well with my setup. I had to work through a low hiss, more on this later, but was able to train myself to listen for what was coming from the headphones and what was coming from the microphone.
Features: State-of-the-Art Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) Hard Shell Protective Carrying Case 3.5mm Stereo Jacks with Volume Control Knob 1/4 Home Stereo Adaptor Airplane Adapter
Drawbacks & Problems:: Before reviewing the True Fidelity NC300B Headphones, Geck0 warned me the set he'd previously reviewed the Lost-Cauze Linx Audio Gaming Headphones (link below) and had an issue with picking up certain frequencies. The process that cancelled sounds was actually picking up some sounds. Since my brain has an easier time processing technology via Bat-gadget comparisons, the headphones would - on rare occasions -pick up and enhance sounds, turning them into something Batman would probably use to listen in on Gotham (Privacy does not concern The Batman). Sadly, the True Fidelity NC300B Headphones didn't come with this feature, so whatever caused it was either fixed or I wasn't able to produce the same conditions. I had a hard time finding flaws, but they do exist. Without the noise-cancelling switch engaged, sound doesn't sound nearly as crisp or powerful. It's muted, flat and a lot of sound is lost in a muddy mix of highs, lows and everything in between. You can still hear whatever you're listening to, but not without upping the volume. I also noticed the white noise I observed while using my microphone was non-existent without noise-cancelling activated. Still, it only happens when there's nothing playing and I can't imagine someone buying this set and not using the noise-cancelling feature. The feature also requires one AAA battery to work, but I'm still on the original battery after nearly two weeks of near-daily use. The True Fidelity NC300B Headphones come with a number of bells and whistles, but none of that would matter if they weren't comfortable. After a few days of break-in time, the headphones felt good. However, I do warn against using them outside (at least when it's hot outside) or you're exercising. The seal on the muffs is really tight; my ears became uncomfortably hot and there was a lot of sweat. The True Fidelity NC300B Headphones aren't flawless, but a still a great set of headphones. It's great for gaming and general listening, earning them a spot in my "Geek Pack," but I doubt I'll use them when working out or during physical activity.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Related Links: Game Vortex's Review of Lost-Cauze Linx Audio Gaming Headphones
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