Because C.Crane Company does not make Heil Quiet Phones, I would like to thank them for sending me these headphones to review. Without their support this review would not be possible. If you like this review and are interested in purchasing these headphones then please visit their web site for purchasing options.
Headphones have been around forever, but it was not until recently that they have been made with the ability to cancel sounds. Noise canceling headphones claim to offer a better experience while listening to music, movies or any other audio. Heil’s Quite Phones are some of the least expensive on the market, but as you will see in this review low price does not always mean low quality.
Features
- Soft leatherette cushions
- 50 hours of battery life
- Reduces noise under 400Hz
Design
There are several qualities about these headphones that really stood out to me when I first saw them. In their box you will immediately notice that the actual speaker parts are twisted to lay flat and provide better storage. I don’t know if other brands of headphones do this, but it impressed me. One of the things I have always disliked about big headphones is trying to find a place to put them in a bag or suitcase. With the ability to fold the speaker parts down flat I don’t have to worry about them getting bent out of shape or breaking during transport. Inside the box you will also find a 1/4″ stereo adapter.
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The other noticeable design choice is the battery compartment for the battery that powers the noise canceling feature. This is a small cylinder that is located about half-way up the cord. It takes one AA battery and slides open. It is very compact, but I have a complaint about the placement. Since it is located right in the middle of the cord it is hard to find a place to put it. Since I primarily used them while sitting at my desk, the cord was streched out from my speakers to my head. Because the battery compartment was in the middle it would constantly fall off the desk and the weight of the box would make the headphones pull to that side. If the box was closer to the plug, then it would not fall off the desk. Also if you were walking around with these you could tuck the box into your pocket and not have to worry about the cord going to your head being too short.
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The power switch for the noise canceling is located on the back of the left speaker. Above the switch is a small green light. The light indicates if the noise canceling is on or off. This is an ok place to put the switch because you can always reach it. The only problem is that you don’t always know if it is on or off. Because the light is behind your head you have to take the headphones off in order to see it. If they placed the light and switch on or near the battery compartment then you could easily look at that and see if they are on.
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Performance
Now your probably asking, “can’t you tell that they are on because it is canceling the noise?” The answer is yes and no. The headphones only cancel noise that is under 400Hz. The human voice and most other sounds are well above 400Hz. These headphones were designed to block out the sounds of computer fans, airplane engines and other artificial mechanical noises. When I wore these headphones I had a hard time telling if they were on or off unless I was near a computer or something else making a high pitched noise. I could easily have conversations and hear cars go by and dogs barking. You also get used to the lack of high pitched noises, so you my forget that they are on and you have to take them off and see if you hear any new noises.
I also tried these out on a TV/VCR combo while watching a movie. I noticed that if I had the noise canceling turned on while rewinding or fast forwarding then the headphones would emit a little pulsating sound. It was very faint but I could definitely hear it. This could easily be coming from the TV or the headphones. When I turned off the noise canceling the pulsing sound went away which makes me think it was the headphones.
Whenever I turned on the headphones I also felt a slight pressure on my ear drums. I credit this pressure to the extra canceling frequencies that my ear is trying to process. It does not make the headphones uncomfortable, but it is noticeable.
The headphones do a good job of canceling out the higher sound spectrum. If you are sitting next to a computer or traveling on an airplane you can definitely tell a difference. Even if you are not using the noise canceling feature, they are still a very comfortable pair of headphones and they sound great.
Another thing I noticed that I wanted to mention is that if you have the noise canceling turned on and the battery dies, then the headphones stop working. You have to turn off the noise canceling or replace the battery before you can hear out of the headphones again. I would think that the headphones would automatically switch off if the battery died.
Conclusion
These are great headphones with or without the noise canceling ability, and for about $99 you are getting them for a great price. Because you are going to get about 50 hours of battery life out of them, you can be sure that you will not be replacing the battery any time soon. If they would fix the placement of the battery compartment then that would make them better. So if you are in the market for a new pair of headphones and you don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend, then I would highly recommend these.
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