Design and features:This home/studio-style over-ear model's closed design and electronic noise-canceling feature reduce both outside noise and sound leaking out into your environment. The headphones work with or without the noise-canceling feature being turned on, and you can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music. (You can remove the detachable cable audio when the headphones are being used for noise reduction only). The headphones have high sensitivity with the noise-canceling feature activated, and medium-high sensitivity when it's off; either way, the headphones can provide satisfying volume levels even with lower-powered portable audio devices. The Linx Fusion NC2000BCM has an inline volume control, plus an integrated microphone and player function controls that are compatible with iPads, some iPods, and some iPhones and some other cell phones. The call connect/disconnect button can be used with some iPhones and some other cell phones. But the headphones may not operate properly with some non-iPod players or other audio equipment. One unusual feature of this model is a supplemental user-adjustable skin/bone sound conduction feature dubbed "ViviTouch 4D Sound Technology," which adds a sense of vibration along with conventional sound. The Linx Fusion has earcups that swivel flat for travel and storage, and comes with a USB charging cable for its rechargeable battery, a mini-plug-to-1/4-inch-plug adapter, a mini-plug-to-airplane-jack adapter, and a carrying case.
Sound quality: The Linx Fusion NC2000BCM delivers good overall sound and very good active noise reduction. With the active noise canceling feature turned on the overall character was mixed - warm bass with cool midrange and treble. Bass has good impact but is a bit prominent and lacks some definition, and midrange is a bit thin, dry, and gritty. Treble seems extended, but is prominent and sizzly. Overall sound is somewhat open, but with compressed dynamics. The ViviTouch 4D feature does provide a tactile bass sensation that some may like, but it doesn't improve sound quality. With the noise-canceling feature turned off the sound quality drops a bit but still stays in the good range: Bass sounds the same, but the midrange becomes muffled and treble becomes a bit smeared, and upper treble rolls off. Also, while the sound becomes closed-in, the dynamics improve to decent and the overall character becomes warm. The headphones provided very good noise reduction on a wide range of noise, with the most reduction occurring on low-frequency noise. We were able to hear a faint hiss in quiet environments when there is no higher-frequency audio content to mask it.
Comfort: We found that these headphones produce a sense of moderate pressure around the ears, and the earpads might feel hot and/or sticky after prolonged use.
