Sony XBA NC85D Review | 93 Data compared

The CNET review of the Sony XBA-NC85D concludes that these noise-canceling in-ear headphones are highly disappointing, largely because their mediocre performance fails to justify their exorbitant $499.99 retail price. On the positive side, the review highlights an innovative, "boxless" engineering design that manages to integrate both the noise-canceling circuitry and rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries directly into the earpieces. This eliminates the clunky, dangling external battery control boxes found on most competing models of the era. Additionally, the headphones feature a convenient proprietary charging system utilizing an included USB dongle that plugs straight into a computer. Despite the engineering novelty, the headphones suffer from severe drawbacks in execution, design, and audio fidelity. The primary cons noted by the reviewer include big, chunky, and unusually bulky plastic earpieces that feel uncomfortably heavy and unsecure in the ears. Performance-wise, the active noise cancellation is criticized for being only marginally effective, and the audio quality falls flat due to thin sound staging and weak bass compared to cheaper models in Sony's own lineup. To make matters worse, the headphones fail to output any passive...

The CIO review of the Sony XBA-NC85D details an impressive engineering milestone that ultimately fails to deliver practical value. On the positive side, the review praises the earphones as the world's smallest and lightest of their kind. By utilizing micro-sized Balanced Armature (BA) Drivers, Sony completely eliminated the need for a bulky, separate external audio control box. This architecture allows the earphone structure, rechargeable battery, microphone, and digital noise-cancelling circuitry to be seamlessly housed inside the tiny earpieces themselves. Additionally, the full-range single BA driver delivers audio that is distinctly cleaner than conventional earphone drivers, and the product ships with highly useful accessories including a rigid travel case, an airplane adapter, a cord adjuster, and a clothing clip. However, the major downsides and an exorbitant $499.99 price tag prevent the reviewer from recommending the product. A chief complaint is the mediocre performance of the active noise-cancelling features, which are only marginally effective at blocking background sounds. Users cannot manually shift between the three specialized environmental profiles (airplane, commute, office) because the toggle system is entirely automated. Audio playback quality feels...

The Sony XBA-NC85D review from PCMag UK highlights a major milestone in earphone engineering, as it is the first-ever in-ear noise-canceling pair to completely eliminate a bulky, in-line battery box. Instead, Sony managed to integrate all the noise-cancellation circuitry and the rechargeable battery directly into the compact earpieces themselves, utilizing a specialized USB dongle for charging via a computer. On the positive side (pros), these earphones are lauded for being exceptionally comfortable and secure-fitting. Furthermore, they deliver an effective, automatic three-mode active noise cancellation system optimized for environments like airplanes, trains, and offices, while offering an accurate, clear, and nearly flat audio response at moderate listening volumes. However, the review points out several significant drawbacks (cons) that compromise the product's value proposition. At a premium direct price of $499.99, the earphones suffer from noticeable distortion on deep bass tracks when the volume is pushed past 75 percent. Additionally, they lack a passive playback mode, meaning you cannot stream any music if the internal battery runs dry or if you turn the noise cancellation off. Lastly, the circuitry introduces a continuous,...

The Sony XBA-NC85D noise-canceling in-ear headphones fail to live up to their premium $499.99 price tag, delivering disappointing results across design, audio quality, and utility. On the positive side, the headphones feature a clever design where the rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries and noise-canceling electronics are integrated directly into the earpieces, completely eliminating the need for a bulky, external battery box. Users can conveniently juice up the internal batteries using an included proprietary USB stick adapter through a laptop, which provides up to 20 hours of playback on a single charge. However, the cons heavily outweigh these minor conveniences. The matte-and-glossy black plastic earbuds are unusually large, chunky, and fit insecurely in the ear. This poor fit is exacerbated by a loose attachment mechanism that causes the silicone eartips to slide off the earpieces easily. Performance-wise, the automated "Artificial Intelligence Noise-Canceling" circuitry is marginally effective at best, introducing a distracting background "operational noise" while struggling to block out subway and bus traffic. Sound quality is equally subpar for a high-end audiophile model; because it relies on just a single balanced armature...

Sony XBA-NC85 Review Summary The Sony XBA-NC85 is a pair of high-end active noise-cancelling earphones that successfully eliminates the bulky, traditional in-line battery pack by miniaturizing all circuitry into the earpieces themselves. Weighing just 6 grams, they remain lightweight, comfortable, and stable enough for gym use, despite protruding slightly from the ears. The audio performance is highly impressive for balanced armature headphones, delivering a well-rounded sound signature with present bass, crisp high-ends, and a warm mid-range that uncovers subtle musical details across various genres. Furthermore, its active noise cancellation performs admirably across its three environment-specific algorithms, effectively cutting out office noise, public transport chatter, and low-frequency aircraft engine hum. However, this level of complex miniaturization comes with notable downsides, primarily a very steep launch price of £375. A significant functional drawback is that these earphones cannot pass audio passively; if the battery dies, they will not play music at all until recharged via the bundled USB flash-drive-sized charger. Additionally, while the fast three-hour charge delivers a generous 20 hours of playback, users may still notice an unmistakable, high-pitched background hiss...