Out of the Box
Our review unit came in retail packaging. Inside the box you’ll discover the headphones, a protective case, a five foot 3.5mm audio cord with inline volume control, a 1/4″ stereo adapter, and a dual prong airline adapter.
A black, hard shell carrying case with Able Planet logo holds the headphones, the accessories, and the cords in place comfortably and securely when not in use. The case opens completely, making it perfectly easy to get in and out of. When stored, the NC300Bs are separate from their 3.5mm cord. Having a detachable cord is really handy and it reduces the chance that your cord will get damaged. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s worn a pair of headphones in the office, only to accidentally damage the cord by rolling over it with my chair and getting it caught in the wheels. With the NC300Bs, that’s still certainly possible, but a good tug on the cord will pop it right out of the ear cup, not unlike Apple’s magnetic power cord design on their laptops. In any normal usage, there is no concern of the detachable cord falling out of the headphones as it clicks firmly into place on the bottom of the left ear cup.
Not having a permanently attached cord makes storing the headphones easier, but AblePlanet also added a ninety degree swivel ability to the ear cups so that they can lay flatter and take up less space. This isn’t an uncommon feature in headphones, but it’s one that you like to see included in any headphones you’re considering for purchase. Besides making the headphones easier to transport, it makes using them in more convenient because it allows you to keep one ear tuned in while the other exposed to the environment. I do this all the time with my current Aiwa headphones: one ear jamming with headphones, the other ear free to pick up chatter in the office.
Getting back to the design of the storage case, a space in between the two ear cups exists to store your detached five foot 3.5mm cable. A five foot cable works out rather well for most situations so I think AblePlanet made a good choice here. I’m not sure if they sell other cables of different lengths, but that’s just another nice feature about having a detachable audio cable — being able to replace it if you need to. The five foot audio cable contains the in line audio adjustment dial, too. It’s located about 18″ off from one of the ends.
Finally, on the top inside cover of the case, you’ll notice a small, detachable mesh pouch. This is attached to the top inside cover of the case with Velcro. Within the mesh storage pouch, you’ll discover a 1/4″ home stereo adapter and a dual prong airplane stereo adapter – very handy indeed.
Design and Functionality
So what is Linx Audio, anyway? I didn’t know either until I went to the AblePlanet website. Turns out, Linx Audio is an awarding winning technology that AblePlanet has created that aims to provide the fidelity and clarity of the source without having to subject the user to a high volume. The goal is to provide high quality audio — be it music or speech — at a volume level that isn’t harmful to one’s hearing and that people of any hearing level can enjoy. That’s something I can get behind.
I’ve already touched on several elements of the design, but the most important point I want to make is that the NC300Bs look and feel of durable quality. I liked the feel of the smooth black finish coat and the leather for the ear cups and headband are soft and comfy. A small, raised AblePlanet logo appears on both ear cups and is the only part of the headphones that’s shiny, which I like as well.
Earlier I mentioned that the left ear cup has the 3.5mm jack on it. The right ear cup contains both the single AAA battery slot and the On/Off sliding switch. The battery compartment is neatly tucked away on the top of the right ear cup. A plastic snap enclosure keeps the battery secured. On the back of the right ear cup, you’ll notice the On/Off slider switch. There is also a small, circular red light that lights up whenever the headphones are set to On. The slider switch is stiff and offers good resistance and feedback; given that, and its position, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll inadvertently slide the switch.
The adjustable headphones look good and feel great, even after a couple-three hours of constant use. They’ve got a solid look, they feel like they’re going to last for years although only time can tell, and they’re comfortable — no complaints so far.
Now in terms of function, I wasn’t as swept away, but I’m still pleased — especially when you consider the going price for these. First, a couple of tech specs for you: frequency response range is the full hearing range for humans, 20Hz – 20,000Hz, and sensitivity at 1 kHz is 115 dB (Off); 121 dB (On). The Active Noise Canceling works with or without anything plugged into the 3.5mm jack. So, if you’re just wanting to tune out some sound, you can put these headphones on, sans any cords, flip the On switch, and enjoy some relative peace. Of course, normally you’ll have the cord hooked up and some kind of audio playing through the headphones. Without the Active Cancelling turned on, the audio is low and requires that you turn up the volume to get much enjoyment. Unless your battery is out, there’s not much of a reason for having the Noise Canceling turned off, and the product works best with it on.
I conducted a variety of real world tests involving different sources of audio and different environments. Tests included listening to various genres of music, speech from movies, and several iPhone games, while situating myself in different environments (hotel lobby, in a vehicle as a passenger, semi-crowded room, etc.) I could definitely notice a difference between these any any non-noise canceling headphones I have. Being able to keep the volume of the source at a lower level while still getting the fidelity is one of the fundamental goals of noise cancellation tech and without being an audiophile, I think AblePlanet did well here.
You’d expect at least that much performance and it’s here, but don’t expect a complete blackout of external noise. These are relatively low end headphones on the grand scale of all active noise canceling options, afterall. So while the noise cancellation works pretty well (again keeping in mind the price point and class that the NC300Bs are in), the worst part about the NC300Bs is how much audio escapes the ear cups. I didn’t even notice this until I was told by someone in the same room as me that they could hear my music/iPhone games, etc,. very clearly. This may not be a concern depending on what application you plan to use these in, but it can be a deal breaker for some. If you’re seeking privacy not only from external noise but to external noise, these aren’t the headphones you’re looking for.
Other than that, I’ve been happy with the design and performance of the NC300Bs — to the summary…