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Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones
The MDR-NC40 noise-cancelling headphones from Sony provide a pleasurable listening experience for travel, or around the house. The lightweight foldable design features an adjustable headband and comfortable ear cushions to provide a comfortable, low-pressure fit.
Active noise cancellation technology helps to dramatically reduce ambient noise by up to 80 percent. The headphones operate for up to 40 hours on a single AAA battery. If desired, the noise cancellation can be switched off, allowing you to use the headphones without a battery.
Large neodymium drivers provide a rich, detailed sound response that puts you right in the middle of your music. A convenient airplane adapter is included for in-flight listening, and a carry case makes storage and portability a breeze.
- Lightweight, foldable design
- Soft, comfortable ear cushions
- Active noise cancellation technology reduces up to 80 percent of ambient sound
- Operates for up to 40 hours on a single AAA battery
- Can be used battery-free without noise cancellation
- Neodymium drivers for excellent sound quality
- Standard 3.5mm mini plug and airplane adapter for wide compatibility
- Convenient carrying case included
| Type | Noise-Cancelling |
| Frequency Range | 14Hz - 22kHz |
| Impedance |
68 Ohms (NC On) 30 Ohms (NC Off) |
| Sensitivity |
102dB (NC On) 100dB (NC Off) |
| Maximum Input Power | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Connectors | 3.5mm Stereo Mini Plug with Airplane Adapter |
| Cable Length | 4.9' (1.5m) |
| Weight | 2.8 oz (80g) (Including Battery) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 28 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
96%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Comfortable (26)
- Compact (20)
- Lightweight (18)
- Great sound (14)
- Good value (11)
Cons
- Flimsy construction (3)
Best Uses
- Travel (20)
- Portable devices (14)
- Music (12)
- Home audio (9)
- With my computer (9)
- Primary use:
- Personal (20), Business (4)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Traveler (14), Audiophile (6), Gear head (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (15)
Most Liked Positive Review
I would buy this product again and again
In terms of audio quality, it is interesting the difference that the little AAA battery can have. When switched off, I'll admit the headphones sound a little underpowered and definitely do not pick up...Read complete review
In terms of audio quality, it is interesting the difference that the little AAA battery can have. When switched off, I'll admit the headphones sound a little underpowered and definitely do not pick up on low end sounds very well. However, with a flip of the noise-cancelling switch, the bass response is greatly enhanced (I assume that sony is also amplifying some of the frequencies as well as using noice-cancelling strategies here), and the sound is very full and rich. You can also hear the effectiveness of the noise-cancelling by leaving the cord unplugged and switching the power on and off. I never though I'd get such nice sound from such small headphones.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Very not durable & other problems
Cons:
Using them for about 2 years with ipod nano.
Noise cancelling is not enough for me, tested at:
plane - though they are cancelling alot of noise, good enough ...Read complete review
Cons:
Using them for about 2 years with ipod nano.
Noise cancelling is not enough for me, tested at:
plane - though they are cancelling alot of noise, good enough amount of noise still reaches ears;
public transport (busses & subway) the same.
Most bad about these headphones is their bad durability. Ear-phones are falling from screws holding them, one side broke where ear-phone connects with metal part of headband.
+ they are not suitable for use during rain/wet weather.
Overal conclusion
Good for listening music on the go during good weather and at home;
Good sound quality (I like their bass with noise cancellation On)
Not recommend for frequent travelling due to non-durability and not enough noise-cancelling and recommendation not to use in wet weather. Also my ipod nano produces not high enough sound for noisy enviroments like subway to overlap train sounds or our bus motors, required Headphone Amplifier when used in public transport (not planes).
Reviewed by 28 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Compact
- Good Bass
- Great Sound
- Lightweight
Cons
- Uncomfortable after long
Best Uses
- Portable Devices
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
- NR is great
- some discomfort on the ears after long usuage on flight
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Good Bass
- Good Value
- Great Sound
- Lightweight
Cons
- Flimsy Construction
Best Uses
- Home Audio
- Music
- Portable Devices
- Relaxing
- Traveling
- With My Computer
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
Plan on using the product at home when I don't want to make too much noise. Purchased a 10' extension. Turning the power on Really makes a difference in the sound quality. Having the mute feature is very helpful. Little flimsy, but got on sale at a great price.
- Primary Use:
- Listening to iPod
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Audio
- Music
- Portable Devices
- Traveling
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
They are great for adults and kids (very light earphones) for any type of travel. Keeps most ambient noise out and provides good fidelity. Packs up in its own pouch for storage.
- Primary Use:
- Traveling
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
As other reviewers have noted, these headphones sound very good when the noise cancelling is switched on. When switched off, they sound pretty bad. But I still give them 4.5 stars out of 5, because they sound so good with NC on, and are comfortable and compact. I will just leave the NC on whenever using them, no big deal.
I'd love to know exactly why the sound improves so dramatically when turning on the NC. Other NC headphones don't have such a difference between NC on and off. Maybe its the price to pay for such great sound when its on. I own some AKG NC 480 headphones and the Sonys sound better, and are much cheaper than the AKGs.
The monitor button is a nice touch - a switch for temporarily shutting off all sound and NC.
Well done Sony!
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Good Bass
- Great Sound
- Lightweight
- Stylish
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
Folds so easy to pack.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Great Sound
Cons
- Unattractive Design
Best Uses
- Home Audio
- Relaxing
- Traveling
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
Good Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Good Bass
- Lightweight
Cons
- Flimsy Construction
- Too Much Ambient Noise
Best Uses
- Music
- Portable Devices
- Relaxing
- With My Computer
- Working
- Working Out
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
Cons:
Using them for about 2 years with ipod nano.
Noise cancelling is not enough for me, tested at:
plane - though they are cancelling alot of noise, good enough amount of noise still reaches ears;
public transport (busses & subway) the same.
Most bad about these headphones is their bad durability. Ear-phones are falling from screws holding them, one side broke where ear-phone connects with metal part of headband.
+ they are not suitable for use during rain/wet weather.
Overal conclusion
Good for listening music on the go during good weather and at home;
Good sound quality (I like their bass with noise cancellation On)
Not recommend for frequent travelling due to non-durability and not enough noise-cancelling and recommendation not to use in wet weather. Also my ipod nano produces not high enough sound for noisy enviroments like subway to overlap train sounds or our bus motors, required Headphone Amplifier when used in public transport (not planes).
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
We are using these during a live mix while they do not block out all ambient noise they do a great job and allow us to mix for recording during live events.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Durable
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
They totally cancel out all of the noise around me and I live in a cube farm so that is important. And they look cool. Buy these - I am pretty sure you will love them.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Good Value
Cons
Best Uses
- Portable Devices
- Traveling
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
Good sound, easy to use works great.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Good Value
- Great Sound
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Portable Devices
- Traveling
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
The MDR-NC 40 headphones are a perfect add-on for the iPad, small enough to travel. The sound quality is great
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Good Value
- Stylish
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
Excellent Price - 40% less than Sony site.
Light and comfy.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Durable
- Good Bass
- Good Value
- Great Sound
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Audio
- Music
- Traveling
- With My Computer
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
The headphones live up to the reviews. They are compact enough yet sufficiently large to wear comfortably for extended periods of time. Noise canceling works fine.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Good Value
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Audio
- Music
- Portable Devices
- Traveling
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
These babies rock! They are very comfortable and work well. The sound must be amplified with the noise-cancelling switch on given the marked improvement in the bass. Really pretty remarkable for earphones of this price. Thanks Sony and thanks B&H for carrying them available!
- Primary use:
- Personal
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Good Value
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not exceptional sound
Best Uses
- Traveling
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
for the price, it works as expected. It cancels out back ground noise such as ventilation fan or engine noise on a road trip. I have not had the chance to take it onto a light yet but based on the other usage, i am sure it will do the job.
It's fairly comfortable to wear.
I gave it 3 stars because
1. sound quality - I am no expert, but the sound quality did not impress me. I was hoping for a little more I guess. It's not bad, just not exceptional
2. durability - I have been very careful in using it, but I am always in fear of tugging the wires too hard breaking it. It didn't give me confidence that it was build to withstand a lot of usage on the go. So if you are only using it on trips while sitting down, it's perfectly fine. but if you want to use it walking around, i'd say it would not withstand that type of usage.
Overall, it's a good value and works as I expected.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Great Sound
- Lightweight
Cons
- Cord Too Short
- Could cut out more noise
- Placement of battery pack
Best Uses
- Coffee shops
- Traveling
- With My Computer
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
I work in busy coffee shops sometimes actually doing sound editing, and the noise can be great. So I decided to try noise cancelling headphones. These are better than the on-ear non-cancelling headphones. The headphones are comfortable and they cover the ear well so there is some passive sound elimination as well. The lower droning noises are adequately cancelled, and things like voices are taken down a notch, not as significantly as I had hoped. These do help though. Also like the carrying case. The sound is not very good when they are not turned on. And the cord could be longer and the turn on module could be better placed.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Good Value
- Great Sound
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Traveling
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
Great sound. Great for travelling. Great price. [...] All around....great!
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Great Sound
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Music
- Portable Devices
- Traveling
- Working
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
The headphones are very useful coming in the small carry case. I particularly like the way the fold up so are easy to fit into any bag when not in use. The sound is very satisfactory.I am enjoying using them, because of their comfort and good sound.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Good Bass
- Good Value
- Great Sound
- Lightweight
- Stylish
Cons
- Poorly constructed hinges
Best Uses
- Home Audio
- Music
- Portable Devices
- Relaxing
- Traveling
- With My Computer
- Working
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
I owned a pair of these headphones before. I use them every night at work for approximately 8 hours a night, 5 nights a week. The noise cancellation in these headphones is the best I've found for this price. The only negative I have encountered with these headphones is that the hinges break after about a year of continuous use. The manufacturer only provides a warranty for the first 90 days. The hinges shouldn't wear out that fast if you don't use them as much as I do. The noise cancellation requires one AAA battery; I can get by on one battery for at least week, so that's a good 40 hours or better of use before needing to replace the battery. They come with their own carrying pouch and an airplane adapter. There are 2 pockets sewn inside the carrying pouch; one holds an extra battery and the other holds the airplane adapter. They are lightweight and the most comfortable I have found. The sound is really good as well. Better bass than I have found in other pairs of headphones. Overall, these headphones are really good for the money. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bought another pair.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Comfortable
- Compact
- Durable
- Great Sound
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
- Music
- Portable Devices
- Relaxing
- Traveling
- With My Computer
- Working
Comments about Sony MDR-NC40 Noise-Cancelling Dynamic Stereo Headphones:
We do quite a bit of traveling, and we all know how loud a plane ride can get with engine noise, kids screaming, etc...Well, we put these on and viola!!! The noise was reduced to a mere fraction of what it was. But then we turned on the actual noise cancellation capability and double viola!!! These things are a MUST if you do any kind of travel or activities that distract from your listening experience...
The cord is plenty long enough, they're light and comfy, and the sound quality is stellar...
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-20
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Batteries & Power
- Price: $1.99
-
- Original: $16.95
- Save: $1.69
- Price: $15.26
Cables
- Price: $4.79
Adapters
- Price: $1.29
Stands & Support
- Price: $19.90
Earpads & Comfort
- Price: $16.10
What's in the Box
- Carrying Case
- AAA Battery
- Airplane Adapter
- Battery Box and Cord
- Limited 90-Day Warranty on Labor
- Limited 1-Year Warranty on Parts
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