Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I ordered this product after testing a set of noise-canceling headphones in a local gadget store. The headphones I tested in the store (not by this manufacturer) were quite effective in canceling out the ambient noise of the retail environment. I dreamed of what a set could do in my too-noisy office. I've got motor noise from the ventilation system, conversations of passers-by, and key clicking from nearby offices. I received the Aiwa HP-CN5 today eagerly. However, I find that they do nothing to attenuate the motor noise - but make it seem as if the noise is within my head. I still hear the conversations in my neighbor's office just as loud, and just as much key-clicking. Audio quality for music is no better than my old, cheap headphones that came with my CD player. These may go back. I don't know if this set is defective or this design is poor, but I'm unlikely to buy another set without testing in advance.
Update: I didn't return these. After more use, I learned that I had to place the right speaker very precisely over my ear to get the cancellation effect rather than a reinforcement of sound. This requires a calibration step where I have to turn the volume down and move the headphones to minimize the ambient, before turning volume back up. Not impressive, but better than my initial opinion.
Rating: 
Summary: Average headphones.
Review: I purchased this pair of headphones back in August 2003 for $3 at a now defunct store. The audio quality is slightly improved, but after months of heavy and repeated use, the noise cancellation became just annoying. The audio seems to shift more or less to the right earpiece when the processing is turned on. What I did like the headphones is the increased bass response, but in turn the circuitry is not sophisticated enough save battery energy.
The big problem is the wearability of the headphones, the design compresses the top of the ears - which can be painful after minutes of usage. Also, the paint isn't exactly durable, but the interesting part is the cream/beige underlying plastic color shows. A good use for the headphones is running lawn equipment, to reduce some engine noise (which is relegated to this task now [snickering]).
This model is replaced by HP-CN6, a slight update to the HP-CN5 but at today's prices ($30+/-). This revision drops the translucent coloring that lasted for a couple of years in the market and replaces it with a spray of matching silver coloring and updated badging. After company acquisition, Aiwa is now Sony's "value brand". One of Sony's noise canceller headsets are based on this model, and also other brands.
Rating: 
Summary: What a joke
Review: I rarely am so displeased with a product that I'll go out of my way to write a negative review of it. In this case I'm that displeased. The noise canceling technology of these headphones consist of "white noise" generated in the headphone speakers, intended to drown out other sounds. Great idea, but if I want to listed to the hiss of white noise I'll hold a seashell up to my ear and tell myself I can hear the ocean. Replacing one type of noise with another is not helpful.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Headphones
Review: I read alot of bad reviews on this product but decided to buy them anyway because the price was right ($$$$ used). I don't know what the complaints are about. These are really good sounding headphones & they do block out a major portion of the noise around you. I use headphones to listen to music while I mow the grass. Normally I have to play the music very loud (bad for your ears) to be able to hear it over the mower. The headphones sound good without noise cancel on. When I turn on the noise reduction the music simply gets louder & clearer. Nothing else. No other sound. Just clear music. I am now able to mow away with my music at half the volume (makes me look forward to mowing the grass almost). With the music off & the noise reduction on all I hear is a very quiet slight hiss but I don't know why you would wear them without music playing anyway. I didn't find them uncomfortable on my ears. The headband is a bit odd looking but I think everone looks kinda funny with headphones on so no big deal to me. The headband seems sturdy enough for the price. I don't see it breaking unless you abuse it.
I don't know how these compare to the really expensive headphones but personally I don't wear headphones for listening to music in my home. I listen through my speakers. These are a great buy (I would pay full price for them). Music quality is good & they cancel alot of the background noise as they are supposed to. Best $$$ bucks I have spent in awhile.
Rating:
Summary: Great Headphones
Review: I read alot of bad reviews on this product but decided to buy them anyway because the price was right ($$$$ used). I don't know what the complaints are about. These are really good sounding headphones & they do block out a major portion of the noise around you. I use headphones to listen to music while I mow the grass. Normally I have to play the music very loud (bad for your ears) to be able to hear it over the mower. The headphones sound good without noise cancel on. When I turn on the noise reduction the music simply gets louder & clearer. Nothing else. No other sound. Just clear music. I am now able to mow away with my music at half the volume (makes me look forward to mowing the grass almost). With the music off & the noise reduction on all I hear is a very quiet slight hiss but I don't know why you would wear them without music playing anyway. I didn't find them uncomfortable on my ears. The headband is a bit odd looking but I think everone looks kinda funny with headphones on so no big deal to me. The headband seems sturdy enough for the price. I don't see it breaking unless you abuse it.
I don't know how these compare to the really expensive headphones but personally I don't wear headphones for listening to music in my home. I listen through my speakers. These are a great buy (I would pay full price for them). Music quality is good & they cancel alot of the background noise as they are supposed to. Best $$$ bucks I have spent in awhile.
Rating:
Summary: Do you want the battery imprinted on your head?
Review: I read and heard the hype of noise-cancelling headphones and how they will make my life much better. So, i went out and bought/researched most of the top selling headphones. The Aiwa model (HP-CN5) is the most value priced. But, it has a buzz when you turn on the noise-cancellation, and i certainly think that most of the noise-cancellation is being achieved by increasing the volume than anything else. Also, the battery slot is awkwardly placed above the left earpiece, and it thus constantly budges against my head.The Sony MDR-NC11's are quite uncomfortable, and cost nearly 3 times as much as the Aiwa model. The manual said that the noise-cancellation will work only if the earbuds are fitting "snugly," and from my experience it seems that the snugly fit of the earbuds is what cancels more noise than the noise cancellation technology. I must say, however, that these are the most stylish, sleek and portable headphones of the lot. Sadly, their noise cancellation is nominal, and not worth it for the pain of "snugly" fitting earbuds for extended periods of time. The third model i tried was the Sony MDR-NC20, which is the most expensive of the lot. It is definitely more comfortable than the previous models, and also has passive noise cancellation due to the closed loop cushion design around the ear. However, it will get uncomfortable when worn for long durations due to the small earcup design. In Summary, all three of these headphones cancel noise by adding a "buzzing" sound when noise-cancellation is turned on, and by increasing the volume of the music if plugged to a CD player. I would suggest using your money on a better CD player, and get comfortable headphones without the noise cancellation feature. Let me suggest Koss UR-20 or Koss UR-30 for beautiful sound quality and comfort, and the Koss THE-Plug or Sony Fontopia for ear bud type models. All cost less than 50 bucks! Enjoy, and i'll head to the stores to make all the returns! :(
Rating: 
Summary: they work for me
Review: I really can't complain about these. They accomplished what I was looking for, which was cutting down the engine drone on a 5 hour flight. I did not experience the discomfort that others seem to have, as a matter of fact, on my return flight I was able to grab the center 4 seats on the airbus, flip up the arm rests and take a nap while wearing them plugged into my shirt pocket. I also used them to reduce the ambient gibberish and un-intelligible announcements in the airport waiting lounges, again just connected to nothing. I did not buy them for music or computer use, but just to be more comfortable on the 1 or 2 trips a year.
Rating:
Summary: Low cost noise cancelling headset - but not for bald people!
Review: I recently picked up the Aiwa CN5 headset from radio shack (~$$$) and was pleasantly surprised at how a low-cost NC headset could perform. I also use higher-end ones when flying my plane, but they are WAY too bulky for portable electronics (CD/DVD) on commercial flights. Anyway, Aiwa headset sounds fine, but has no padding on the plastic band which scrapes my hairless head top! Bring along a felt pad or something or it will get annoying very quickly! All-in-all, I'd recommend picking up a set.
Rating:
Summary: Low cost noise cancelling headset - but not for bald people!
Review: I recently picked up the Aiwa CN5 headset from radio shack (~$$$) and was pleasantly surprised at how a low-cost NC headset could perform. I also use higher-end ones when flying my plane, but they are WAY too bulky for portable electronics (CD/DVD) on commercial flights. Anyway, Aiwa headset sounds fine, but has no padding on the plastic band which scrapes my hairless head top! Bring along a felt pad or something or it will get annoying very quickly! All-in-all, I'd recommend picking up a set.
Rating:
Summary: Read the reviews here before buyings
Review: I should have read some of these reviews because most of them are right. The good and bad. First the bad: 1. They hurt after a while. I've gotten used to wearing them but they still make my ears sore after a while. The folding design and the thin padding are the problem. 2. Another person mentioned a buzzing sound when turning on the noise cancelling switch. Mine started to do that after a while and now I can't use the noise cancelling option. It's feedback from microphone and maybe the mic got dirt or some water in it. Who knows? 3. I think the sound is poor and could be a little better. I've used other headphones that sound better. 4. They seem as though they could break pretty easily. You have to be careful folding/unfolding them because they feel as if you tug too hard they could snap. 5. They don't sit all that well and sometimes fall off when looking down. Plus they look sort of silly on your head because of the folding design. The good: 1. They did help reduce the noise when they didn't start buzzing after a while. 2. They fold up which is great for the traveler. 3. The price is right. So you have to ask yourself - are these right for me? I'm going to try another pair like the Jensen's that also fold and have the ND feature. I know I could spend a lot more and get a better headphone (the Bose are awesome if you are willing to pay that much. For frequent travlers - spend the extra money because they are worth it). Maybe I will have to fork out the extra $ if I can't find one at around the same price as the Jensen/Aiwa.
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