Design and features:The headphones work with or without the noise-canceling feature being turned on. You can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music. The headphones can be cord connected to audio devices; when cord connected they have medium sensitivity regardless of whether the noise canceling feature is turned on or off, so they can provide satisfying volume levels when used with home audio equipment and all but the lowest powered portable audio devices. The MDR-ZX750BN has an integrated microphone and volume, music player function, and call connect/disconnect controls that work with paired Bluetooth devices. Additional features include a detachable 47-inch long audio cable for wired use, three active noise cancellation profiles with the optimal profile claimed to be automatically selected with the push of a button, NFC Bluetooth pairing, and earcups that swivel to flat for ease of carrying and storage. This model comes with a USB charging cable and a storage bag.
Sound quality: We found the MDR-ZX770BN provides very good active noise reduction. With this model we found that turning the noise canceling feature on or off did not effect the sound in Bluetooth mode. When used as a wireless headphone it delivers sound quality that falls in the very good range - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks. The overall sound can best be summarized as sizzly and somewhat bassy. Bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is prominent and somewhat boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is fairly even, but slightly gritty, edgy, and distant. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended, but prominent and sizzly - sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying. While the sound has a decent sense of liveliness it is somewhat closed-in -- sound-wise it is somewhat obvious that you have something covering your ears. When wire connected with the noise cancelling feature turned on the sound quality, while still good, drops noticeably and becomes fuller, slightly muffled, and more closed in. When wire connected with the noise cancelling feature turned off the sound quality drops to fair and becomes more muffled than when wired connected with the noise cancelling feature turned on. The noise reduction performance is in the very good range, but it varied in quality and character depending on what direction the noise was coming from. With the noise cancellation feature automatically optimized, the worst case performance (which reduces ambient noise overall but lets in more low pitched noise) was for noises coming from the sides, and the best case performance (which reduces ambient noise overall but lets in more high pitched noise), was for noise coming directly from in front or behind.
Comfort: We found that these headphones produce a sense of moderate pressure around the ears. The ear pads might feel hot and/or sticky after prolonged use.
