Design and features:These earphones can be used wirelessly with Bluetooth devices or can be cord connected to standard audio devices. When Bluetooth connected the noise-canceling feature is always on; when cord connected they work with or without the noise-canceling feature being turned on. You can use the noise-canceling feature without listening to music. When cord connected the earphones have medium-high 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 even lower-powered portable audio devices. The ATH-ANC100BT has an integrated microphone and volume, music player function, and call connect/disconnect controls for use with paired Bluetooth devices. This model comes with five pairs of ear pieces in various types and sizes, a detachable 22-inch long standard audio cable extension, a USB charging cable, and a carrying pouch.
Sound quality: We found that the ATH-ANC100BT provides Excellent active noise reduction and that it sounds the same regardless of whether the headphones are Bluetooth or cord connected or if the noise cancellation feature was turned on or off. 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 be summarized as fairly even but a little washed out. The bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) has good impact and goes fairly deep, but is a bit prominent and boomy. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is a touch thin, slightly hazy, and somewhat grainy. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended, but slightly sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying). This model does a decent job of recovering the room ambience of a recording (the sense of the acoustic space in which the audio program that's being listened to was recorded). The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is somewhat open--sound-wise it almost seems like you don't have anything plugging up your ears. These earphones provide Excellent noise reduction with low frequencies reduced the most. When the noise cancellation feature is turned on an extremely faint hiss can be heard in very quiet environments when there is no audio program material to mask it.
Comfort: As typical of in-ear models they produce a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening that might be uncomfortable for some. They fit and stay in place with no problem as long as the electronics/control module is clipped to clothing or otherwise supported, otherwise it pulls on the earphones and is heavy enough to pull them out of place. The sound of the earphone connecting cable rubbing on clothing may be heard through the earphones by some users.
