First impressions are good, David. The packaging is very nice, and includes a carry case for the phones, which I wasn't expecting, plus 3.5 jack adapter, and battery.
The audio lead attaches separately to the phones, and is very short, so unless using at, for example, a PC, when you are sitting next to the source, an extension would definitely be required.
I find the phones very comfortable to wear. However, I have a big head (stop it!
), and they are at their 'largest' adjustment, so anyone with an even bigger head than mine, might have a problem with them not sitting comfortably on the ears.
It seems that the noise cancellation facility is not really optional. There is a switch on the side to turn the phones on and off, and with this switched off, the sound is very muted, although there is still sound there. Switch on, and the phones come to life! The sound is crisp and clear, and the stereo soundscape is well defined. Bass is not booming, but this can be boosted by adjusting the source, if required. Treble is highish, but not tinny, and just as I like it, for rock music, which is what I tend to listen to most.
One thing I have noticed is an audible hiss when the noise cancellation is turned on, which can be heard during the silence between tracks, but doesn't detract from the audio quality when music is actually playing. I would have thought that the idea of noise cancellation was not to hear anything when nothing is playing, but perhaps a slight hiss is normal for this type of phones?
All in all, I am well please with these phones, and for fifty quid delivered, they are a bargain, and certainly an improvement on my old Technics cans.
