Noise-cancelling headphones head-to-head test

Both models make different claims about the amount of noise-elimination they can deliver. Denon claims a reduction in outside noise of up to 99 per cent, while Sennheiser says its cans remove a more modest 85 per cent of bass rumble and noise.

Passes the airport test

So much for the hi-fi magazine verbiage from the manufacturers - how do the two pairs of 'phones perform in the real world? With Motorhead’s No Class and Running up that Hill by Kate Bush playing on the office Walkman, both units performed well in various locations. We tried an overland train station - actually on the train - and an airport for good measure.

Now, the actual percentage of the outside noise you can still hear when the noise-cancelling circuitry is engaged is pretty impossible to measure in a test like this. But we can say that enough of the outside world was cut out so that enjoyment of the music was greatly enhanced on both pairs.

Eliminates almost all external noise?

We'd put the Denon set slightly ahead on pure noise-cancellation, but not as much as the different official percentages might have you believe. In more general performance terms, both headphones deliver clean and well layered sound with a decent level of depth. However, we did find the Sennheisers sound field to be a little deeper, delivering better bass with a really nice 3D feeling overall.

Verdict

Both these sets of headphones are strong performers, but in the end we'd have to say the Sennheiser PXC-350 has the egde over the Denon AH-NC732. The Denons out-perform their rival pair for portability, design and bundled add-ons, but the Sennheiser set delivers a more pleasing sound overall. For noise-cancellation, real ears won't pick up much difference between the two. More to the point, the older PXC-350s will set you back a lot less than the new AH-NC732s will. ®