When the New York City subway is your primary mode of transportation, you need the ability to insulate yourself from the subway performers and the loud, inappropriate conversations taking place around you. The Sony MDR delivered a modicum of peace, using its AINC to block out the majority of the hustle and bustle of the MTA. Unlike regular ANC, Sony's AINC technology analyzes ambient noise and chooses the best noise-cancelling mode to block it out completely.
Using its built-in set of microphones, the headphones pump in white noise, blocking ambient sounds. With just the AINC enabled, the loud group of teens standing next to me on the subway was immediately muffled. I could still make out what they were saying, but at least I could pretend there was some space between us.In between the bawdy banter, I also heard a persistent hiss created by the headphones' noise-cancelling technology.
The sound faded into the background the longer I wore the cans, but it's definitely noticeable.
The BackBeat Pro's ANC did a better job of isolating me from offending conversations. However, the QuietComfort 25 headphones still reign supreme as a silent oasis, creating an almost perfect vacuum of silence that rendered everyone around me mute.