Creative HN-700 noise-cancelling headphones reviewed

At under $70, Creative's HN-700 noise-cancelling headphones are significantly cheaper than similar offerings from Sony and Bose. But do they really work? Can they really make using, say, your Zen Micro (hey, may as well pair them with another Creative prod, right?) as much fun on the subway or in an airplane as in your living room? According to Trusted Reviews, the answer is a resounding yes. The site tried out the phones, and found that the system "not only works, but works superbly." The reviewer submitted the phones to his own homegrown test, standing under a loud air conditioner and flicking on the noise-cancellation switch, which he said "completely eradicated the noise, cocooning you in an ambient noise free zone." The review also highlighted the fact that the phones fold and also approved of Creative's removable cable, which lets you sub out the built-in one for a longer version if, say, you want to hook these up to a home theater system from the other side of the room.

[Via Digital Media Thoughts]

[mrdelayer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

first post.

[Snappy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Good job Creative! Now, maybe they should start having it bundled together with their Zen mp3 players instead of letting it out cheap? :)

[Wallkill @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I need to get one of these. My Etymotic ER-6i is doing a good job, but it gets dirty too quickly.

[Ypoknons @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Electronic noise cancealling (active) headphones generally isn't quite as good at cancealling sound at the upper frequencies as passively sealed headphones. If you want a cheap sealed phone, the AKG26P or Senn HD201 might serve you just as well at <$50.

[tacotaco @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

They look like an all around knockoff of the Bose ones.

[Bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Well, tacotaco..that does tend to be Creative's latest marketing scheme: See what sells and fail in replicating it. Although, I do think they make superb speaker/headphones. The players could use some work!

[Jared C. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I have used my Philips HN050 headphones for close to 2 years now. I bought them because they were behind the ear and noise-canceling, but was really suprised at the sound quality. Not a bad price either(about $30).

[JimTomas @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I second getting Sennheiser HD201. Want quality & performance:price, avoid Bose.

[eric cumbee @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Wow those really do look nice and the price is hard to beat. I know what is going to be on my christmas list. and by the way to poster #1 the whole first post thing is stupid as hell.

[010111 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"and by the way to poster #1 the whole first post thing is stupid as hell."

agreed.

i bet if every single one of his entries on his blog were first and second and third posted to death... he would think it was slightly less amusing.

[fanboy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

doesnt these types of headphones cause sweating?

[Angus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"doesnt these types of headphones cause sweating?"

In my experience, yes.

Hopefully the next step for this type of headphone, they'll come out with built-in AC or cooling fans of some sort. And with the noise-cancellation, you can't hear em! =D

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

where can u buy these in Canada?

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I would really like to know how much they weigh, as well as the level and quality of its audio and active noise reduction. The bottom line, the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 headsets are incredibly lightweight(6.9oz), and have the best audio quality I have ever tested on the line of noise reduction headphones. Bose wins in 3 key areas,
Comfort,Audio, and Noise Reduction. You pay for what works best!

[Ypoknons @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Well Mark, if you enjoyed the Bose, there's so much more you could try out there ... AKG 271S, Senn HD280 etc...

[Revrant @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I personally won't ever buy Sennheiser again, went through two pairs, one a cheaper gaming-aimed headset, the other one a higher grade HD model, both of them were terribly uncomfortable, they CLAMPED down on my head, instead of you know, using the damned Headband, it seems they prefer to cut off circulation to your Scalp. I think I just have a rather large head though.

These look alright though, I'm never buying another set of Headphones until I can afford the Audio Technica A900s, it's a grand, luxurious pipe dream, but I enjoy the thought.

Good luck to Creative, that makes three lines of quality hardware, they need to work on their freggin' Software though.

[Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I tried to RTFA, but it was only a page of adverts. Anyone got a (gulp) *review* of these headphones that I could read?

[President of iPod Accessory Makers Assn @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Welcome to the Party, Creative.

Seriously.

[dim5 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

This might seem like an ironic question (from both a branding and size perspective), but would an iPod Nano have the power to drive headphones like these?

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Yes, I'm sure it would. Since Creative intends for these to be used out of portable devices (like their own Zen Micro), the phones likely have low impedance, meaning that they can be driven to high volume levels from relatively weak sources (like portable devices). In order to implement the noise-cancelling, however, the headset takes batteries (which you'll need to replace from time to time).

[Nate @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I'm sorry.. what's the story here? There are dozens of noise cancelling headphones out there for under $70. I bought a pair _three years_ ago. Compared them directly to a friend's bose headset, and they both cancelled noise equally. Sure, they didn't have the sound quality of the bose, but they also cost 1/5th the price of the bose. So um... yeah, another noise cancelling headset. Woo.

[Pete @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I travel a LOT. Used to have the original bose. Someone actually broke into my car to steal them. They were the only thing missing. I just cannot stomach the cost again.

Ok, so here is the question. Where the hell can you buy these? Compusa, Staples, Best Buy, Office Depot, Buy, and NewEgg have never heard of them. Even a Google search turned up only places in the UK

[Eric P @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

When someone tracks down a place to buy these, please post here!

['Cenzo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Hey Nate (of post #21);
With your logic, what's the point of reading 99% of Engadget's entries? I've already heard about cell phones, MP3 players, robots, and all the other technology they tell us about - what's the point, you ask?! Sheesh.

So what if you bought headphones three years ago? I was using a cell phone back in 1985. Does that mean that technology shouldn't improve? Compaines that exist to sell products should just give up because someone came out with a competing item? Your attitude is elitist and irritating. Go away.

[Isaiah @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

They are here at http://us.creative.com/shop/ But it says that they are not out yet. When they do start to sell them, you should be able to grab them at www.hifi.com as well.
No Highs, no lows, Must be Bose!

[andrew_y @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

These aren't released yet in the US, if you checked the US Creative site.

[CAT @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Any comments on the Plane Quiet headphones?
Many thanks

[Colin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I bought a pair of these in Japan. They are really awesome, lightweight, and comfortable to boot (and they smoke my friend's old $500 pair of Sony NRs). Plus the cord is replaceable, and that's always the first part to go bad. I wear these things wherever I go now. Bravo, Creative.