Best Noise-Canceling Headphones For MP3 Players - Able Planet Clear Harmony ($299)
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These new headphones are a clear competitor to the Bose Quiet Comfort Series. At first glance, the Able Planet Clear Harmony headphones look very similar to the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 headphones, and they are similarly priced as well. Internally, though, these headphones are very different from the Bose models.
The Clear Harmony headphones are an over-the-ear design headphone with a very cool internal feature, patented by Able Planet, called Linx Audio. Able Planet says that the Linx Audio feature will "enhance sound quality, improve speech clarity, filter undesirable sound, reduce distortion, restrict electromagnetic interference, and increase perceived loudness without actually increasing the volume." They use this same technology in hearing aids. Overall, this feature gives these headphones better sound quality and less outside interference. As a matter of fact, these headphones are able to reduce outside noise by 18 decibels, which is very good.
A nice advantage of the Clear Harmony headphones over the Bose series headphones is that music can be played through the headphones whether the batteries powering the noise-cancellation feature are working or not. In the Bose Quiet Comfort Series headphones, the batteries must have power, otherwise the headphones will not work. The Clear Harmony headphones will work whether the 2 AAA batteries are powering the noise-cancellation feature or not.
Like the Bose models, the Clear Harmony comes with a 2-prong adapter, for airplanes, and a carrying case. The included chord also features an in-line volume control.
These headphones are on a par with Bose in terms of comfort and sound quality. They may even have a slight edge over Bose in the sound quality department. The problem is that nobody knows about Able Planet yet, so they may have trouble selling these headphones at such a high price. Most people would opt to fork over $300 for a pair of Bose headphones, rather than a relatively "no-name" company.
Next: Ultimate Ears Super.FI 5 Pro ($150) >>
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