On sound quality, the Maxell product fared somewhat better.

PLUS

• Inexpensive
• Reasonably good sound
• Excellent cable design

MINUS

• Only fair noise cancellation
• Uncomfortable for big ears

The chief virtue of Maxell's circumaural NC-IV headphones, the top model among three noise-cancelling products the company offers, is the price: they list for $130. This is a great bargain when compared to the Sennheiser 450s and our control unit, the Bose QC2s.

While the NC-IV ear cups are slightly small than other cups, they were too small for my long, old-guy lugs. The bottom edge pinched the ear against my skull. Circumaurals typically fit a little tighter anyway because the pressure is meant to be taken by bone, so they were uncomfortable for me. But a woman or small-eared man might not have the same problem.

The poor fit meant air pressure inside the cup was not a problem, but also compromised passive noise reduction. Hence, overall noise-cancelling effectiveness of the NC-IV was not as good.

On sound quality, the Maxell product fared somewhat better. Predictably, given the price, it was weak on sound quality, but not by as large a margin as might be expected. Bass response, typically the weakest link with headphones, was pretty good. The sound was certainly acceptable, but not as detailed and realistic as the more expensive competition.

I liked the cable on the Maxell headphones. This is not a minor point. The Maxell cable puts the wire inside a flexible, nylon string-like sheath that appears to be twist-, crimp- and yank-proof. The cable also has a three-position volume control that lets you quickly turn volume down, saving taking the phones off when you need to hear somebody speaking to you.