CNET editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
OK
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 10/20/2008
- Released on: 10/22/2008
Flying the friendly skies has sure gotten a lot more enjoyable with the advent of portable media players, but frequent fliers realize it takes more than a decent MP3 player to deal with nuisance-ridden travel. A good pair of sound-isolating earbuds or noise-canceling headphones can do wonders when it comes to escaping into your own world of personal entertainment. Of course, active noise-canceling sets can cost a pretty penny, which is where the Able Planet Clear Harmony NC200 headphones come in. The pair is sold on Amazon for around $60--a palatable price if we ever saw one. You'll sacrifice top-notch sound and build quality, but the portability and comfort may make it worthwhile for some.
Like any travel-friendly headphones worth their salt, the Able Planet NC200 headphones can be compacted down, measuring roughly the size of a very large fist when completely folded. A soft pouch is included in the package, which can itself fit into just about any bag, thanks to the fact that it is not hard-sided. That said, we've seen better cases, ones that actually offer some protection while still maintaining a compact size. Also, while we appreciate the smooth finish Able Planet added to the headphones' exterior, they still have a decidedly plastic feel. Moreover, the build does not strike us as high-quality for a few other reasons, as well. First, it is extremely difficult to get the battery compartment, which is concealed in the top of the right earcup, completely closed when a battery is inside. The latch that holds it shut is decidedly janky. Also, the bit of silver accenting on the outside of either earcup was scuffed before we even started to use the headphones.
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