The Sennheiser name is respected in the professional audio community, so we were looking forward to our review of this consumer product. Sennheiser has been making high-quality audio equipment since 1945. The Sennheiser PXC 350 headphones, originally released in 2007, are ideal for people who want uninterrupted sound quality. The physical design of the PXC 350s in addition to their outstanding range of sound frequencies and prolonged battery life are the reasons we found this product to be among the best noise-canceling headphones we reviewed. We liked them so much, in fact, that we gave them our TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award.
This headset uses NoiseGard technology to identify surrounding noise and create a signal that will cancel it out. In addition to active noise cancellation, the physical design of the headset helps block unwanted exterior sound. The Sennheiser PXC 350s can also play in passive mode, when it isn't using the active noise-canceling function. Because of the superb sound isolation and cancellation, you will be able to keep your decibel levels low while still enjoying your music.
Some noise-canceling headphones require batteries in order to function at all. When the batteries in those types run out, your only option is to buy more batteries. The Sennheiser PXC 350s have a passive play option, which means they can be used as regular earphones even after your batteries run out. Plus, even when they're not actively canceling the noise, they will still keep a lot of ambient sound out because of their around-the-ear padded design.
This headset has an impedance of 150 ohms when in active mode and 750 ohms when passive. They will draw more power when they are in passive mode because they aren't using the batteries required for active mode. They also have a sensitivity of 108 dB, which means they can play at high volumes without background static or hissing.
Attenuation is the process by which sound waves decrease in intensity. This Sennheiser headset has a design that gives you a maximum attenuation of 32 decibels, which is significantly more than any other headphones we reviewed. This statistic means the ambient noise around you can be reduced by up to 32 decibels when this audio accessory is in passive mode. When active, this headset claims the NoiseGard noise compensation blocks up to 85 percent of unwanted sound.
These are made with top-quality materials to make sure your listening experience is a pleasurable one. The around-the-ear circumaural ear pads give you a comfortable and snug fit. Also, in case of any accidental damage, the ear pads are replaceable. The Sennheiser PXC 350 headset weighs 8.1 ounces without the cord. This makes them a little heavier than other noise- canceling headphones on this site, but the padded, adjustable headband will help make the extra weight barely noticeable.
The two AAA batteries that you will need to power the active noise-cancellation are included. At full operation, the PXC 350s have an operating time of just under 50 hours. This is one of the longest playback times we found in our review. It does use two batteries at a time, but you will be replacing them less than many of the other products that only use one battery. Extended operating time is another reason why we found these headphones to be superior to others.
The single-sided cable of the Sennheiser PXC 350s measures 4.6 feet long. This cord is detachable. A long cable is important because it gives you plenty of room to move around. A short cord can make you feel like you are tethered to the audio source. In addition, the cable features integrated volume control so you can control the decibel level without having to pull the MP3 player out of your pocket. It also means you can mix and match the sound levels on your audio source and your headset so you can get the audio experience that's best for you.
These headphones will connect to your audio source with a right-angled 3.5 mm audio jack. This is the standard size for most audio ports. In case you want to listen to the in-flight movie, they come with a two-prong adapter for airplane use. The PXC 350s also come with a 6.3 mm TRS connector so you can plug them into a more powerful audio source, if that's what you have. This kind of connective versatility is important for any pair of earphones.
A collapsible design allows these noise-canceling headphones to be stored easily. They also come with a protective carrying case, so you can bring them along in your carry-on luggage without worrying about accidental damage. The foldable design and the transporting case make it so you can bring superior sound along with you on any trip.
A two-year warranty is included when you purchase this Sennheiser headset. This is double the coverage of any other brand of noise-canceling headphones on our site. You are required to submit a proof of purchase to Sennheiser in order to be covered by the warranty.
Sennheiser's website offers a variety of support in case you have any issues. If you lose the manual for your PXC 350s, both the instructions for use and the product sheet are available on the product page.
A wide range of sound is important for any audio accessory, and the Sennheiser PXC 350 headphones do not disappoint. The wide frequency range gives you more sound than you could possibly need. They are also able to reduce ambient noise up to 32 decibels while in passive mode, which is more than any other set we reviewed. The Sennheiser PXC 350 headset continues to hold up the good name of Sennheiser and should be your first choice when looking to buy noise-canceling headphones.
