| Heil Quiet Phone Pro Active Noise Cancelling Headphones – Less Expensive, Top Performance By Steve Kruschen, The One and Only Mr. Gadget® ©2009 All Rights Reserved November 19, 2009 – I was not familiar with the Heil brand of noise cancelling headphones including these $170 Quiet Phone Pro headphones, but I always listen to the advice from Bob of the C. Crane Company, the best and most honest catalog retailer I know. So, when Bob said to take a listen to these, I did!
They appear to be conventional over-the-ear headphones, similar to so many others. The headband is comfy over the top and each cup folds up for nicely collapsible stowage when not in use. The right cup holds the single AAA alkaline battery (not provided) that powers the unit for over 50 hours, so these are quite efficient. The left cup has the On/Off switch, volume control and cord input. The earcups themselves are soft and comfortable as well as cushioned. If the battery is drained or not installed, or with the switch Off regardless of the reason, sound still flows, but without the noise cancellation. Not all competitors can do this, which is shameful.
The coiled cord that comes with these headphones can stretch beyond 10 feet, but that would be pushing it a bit. What really counts is how they sound! As plain old headphones, they are great. No, I cannot quantify this for you. I will say that they sound just as good as some of the comparably priced plain headphone models around Gadget Central. They also sound rich and full compared to some higher-priced models tested, but none of these has the noise cancellation properties. None of the under-$100 non-noise cancelling headphones around here sound as good as these. Switching on the noise cancellation creates an amazing low noise zone in your head. They are stated to do their job best with frequencies below 400 Hz. To you and I, this is just a number, so how do us common folk relate to what these headphones do with the noise cancellation engaged? The technology is active noise cancellation as opposed to passive noise cancellation. Active technology involved electronics. All such headphones have a microphone in each earcup listening for sound in a particular range. When the objectionable sound is detected, the electronics introduce in a certain way and in a specific time a kind of anti-sound wave that counters the noise that is to be cancelled. When these two waves meet, quiet is the result. The sounds tend to cancel each other out. This is a very simplified explanation of how the technology does what it does. Passive noise cancellation refers to headphones and primarily in-ear earphones that block outside sound by a physical seal. These in-ear products use ribbed silicone or a sound deadening foam, similar to what is used to stick on your ears so as to not go deaf at a loud rock concert or the shooting range, to best keep out outside sound. Then the electronics are free to deliver the desired sound into the ear canal. I tried these Heils as I watched TV. Switching on the electronics, the room’s background sound, though I had not noticed it before, seemed to fade. I tried doing as is written about on the Heil Website and I turned on the TV in the next room AND in the room where I was sitting, with only a small wall between us. The other room’s TV audio was significantly diminished against the sound closest to me. Note that I was listening without being plugged into the TV. I was just using the noise cancelling circuitry to decrease ambient sound outside the earcups. What an interesting demo! Listening to my iPod at home provided the opportunity to sample the technology and product with the sound inside the earcups as well as ambient outside sound. It was glorious! However, there was not much objectionable background noise. I can only imagine how they’d do for someone wishing to listen to music while on a riding mower! Imagine what they would do for someone on a riding mower without the music, who just wanted a quieter ride. I wanted to check on their performance for travel. I am just about to leave on my annual High Tech Holidays with Mr. Gadget® 15-city media tour, but I wanted to get this to you before leaving. We are in the computer age, so I searched online for background aircraft cabin noise that I could blast in my office and determine how these Heils would do! I found all I needed here and here. Go ahead and crank these up! These sounds were just what I needed to compare the Heils to the “higher priced” noise cancelling headphones. I chose the Heils for all around performance, comfort AND value. I will take them along on my next round of travels and let you know if I feel differently. I would have preferred if they had come with a bag or case in which to tote and protect them, but that is a minor distraction. The storage bag is available for those in need for $25 from Bob. I have my own padded bag!
In addition to the long and high quality coiled cord, these Heil Quiet Phone Pros come with a straight six-foot cord with both ends also 1/8-inch mini stereo plugs AND a 1/8-inch to ¼-in phone plug adapter. Use this adapter when plugging in to equipment with that larger jack. In summary, and where it counts, the Heil Quiet Phone Pro noise cancelling headphones deliver excellently, and at better price than competitive models I have tried. For the traveler you know who would benefit from quieter, more peaceful flights, they are a great gift. For home users who listen to music, operate a Ham radio rig or who would benefit from the quiet these deliver, they are a great gift. Click online to www.CCRadio.com or call the friendly, helpful folks at the C. Crane Company at 1-800-522-8863 to order or to ask any questions! You’ll be glad you did. |
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