Asus has introduced the NC1 headphones set, characterized by an innovative system of active noise cancellation, an extremely light weight and a high level of audio quality. We examined the features and noted the advantages and disadvantages of this solution.

[VERSIONE ITALIANA]

ASUS derives by the last four letters of Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology which represent the inspiration to art and learning. Asus appropriates the strength, the creative spirit and the purity symbolized by this mythical creature, royal and agile, always pushing forward to new heights of quality and innovation with every new product developed.

ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (ASUS ®), founded in 1989 in Taiwan, is now a major player in the hardware market. For several years the world's largest producer of mainboards, ASUS has gradually expanded its business to produce several high-tech products: notebooks, which is now in the top seven world producers, video cards, which is the first brand for sales, and to follow optical devices, broadband solutions, servers, Pocket PCs, networking products, LCD displays, mobile phones, PDA phones, digital home solutions, GPS, Ultra Mobile PCs. Among the factors that contributed to its success is surely the Advanced Research and Development department of the company, which currently employs nearly 3000 highly qualified engineers with the aim to increase more and more the quality levels of its products.

As for the offer within the ASUS headphones, we found both headsets and headphone. Among headsets are currently two models: CineVibe and HS-1000W. The headphone offer instead is made ​​only by the product covered by this review: NC1.

Specifications

1. diameter: 40 mm
2. material: neodymium magnet

Here are the general characteristics of the product instead:

1. Stunning audio even in noisy environments
2. Designed for those who want high-quality audio on the go
3. Automatic detection and deletion of sounds, including aircraft engines, and railroad noise, up to 18 dB, with 87% efficiency.

1. only 130 g in weight and a folding design for easy transport
2. the use of padding in breathable material contribute to user comfort during long shifts

1. 100 hours of battery life with a single AAA battery with ANC enabled: twice as much as other rival headphones with ANC technology
2. Great sound quality even without power: enjoy music while you save the batteries.

1. Big speakers from 40 mm in diameter, neodymium magnet for a dynamic and powerful sound;
2. Frequency Range: 16 Hz ~ 22Khz
3. Distortion (THD): <= 0.01%

1. carrying case;
2. two-pin adapter for air travel;
3. 6.3 mm adapter.

1. Remote control for volume control, mute option, and control of active noise reduction.

Packaging and bundle

Package Contents:

The headphones come down to us in a very compact package, which we found to be extremely tidy. We note immediately the salient features of the product, shown in white and bright yellow on it, on all sides. The image of the headphones is glossy black, so as to shop up the background, also black, but dull.

     

Opened the package, we notice the presence of an additional black box, which contains inside a case that says "ASUS", covered with a protective coating.

Inside there is also printed material, consisting of a quick installation guide and details of the Asus warranty.

   

After removing the case from the box and removing the plastic wrap, we can see that it contains the NC1 headphones and the two adapters. The opening of the case happens thanks to a hinge and it seems that everything is organized for maximum convenience in transportation.

       

The included adapters are a 6.5-mm one, for use on devices that need jacks of this size, and a two-pin one, for the use of headphones on the plane. Surely they have watched the versatility to provide a range of uses that were as large as possible.

 

We come then to analyze the headphones themselves.  They show since the first sight extremely compact, so to maximize the portability. This is possible thanks to two points of connection to the brace, allowing the bow to fall back into the same ear, so as to minimize the footprint. We also note the extreme lightness and subtlety of the arch and the pavilions and in general a design intended to have a product more compact and lightweight as possible. Be noted that the cable connecting the headset is fairly long, 1.8 meters, then not leaving the comfort of use in different fields from MP3 players and similar, that is, using the PC or television. Along the cable there is a remote control with the ability to make various adjustments and which houses the battery.

Note the gold connector, for better audio quality:

The remote is compact. On the front we find the word "ASUS" and a button for the "mute" function.  On the back we have a openable slot, including the battery. Still, on one side is the slider for the volume and the on/off switch to enable or disable the active noise reduction.

 

The pavilions are, as we have already mentioned, foldable within the bow, so as to reduce the space to a minimum. To use the headset, simply turn them down. We note the presence of 2 top leatherette upholstery, beneath the bow, the size of which seem really small. Especially the fact that both ears are connected each by a wire to the main cable.

 

Here is the detail of the joint system to rotate, as said, the earphones.

The bow is very tidy, has a number of details: the ASUS writing on the outside, on the inside the model name and under it the serial number of our sample.

 

On the upper side of the bow shines through, underneath the black plastic cover, in part absent here, the metal core that provides strength yet extremely light to the bow.

This is also noticeable when we are going to adjust the length of the bow for use, depending on the size of our head. For this we have, in fact, special hinges, located on the inner face of the bow, on both the right and left side. Pulling the bow at the level of them this will expand in length, showing the metallic material that constitutes it.

On the external side, laterally on the right and left side, just above the hinges to adjust the length, we note the presence of the letters "L" and "R", designed to indicate the correct direction in which to wear headphones.

 

We come finally to describe the pavilions. Note how the outside appears largely of metal, mirror polished. On the inner we have the internal paddings in leatherette, in breathable material, which seem not abundant in size, but is still very comfortable and effective. At the center, on the bottom, we have the cloth-like material designed to protect the speakers.

 

The pavilions are made up of four layers, two of which covered with leather-like material; going out we found plastic and then metal.

Impressions of Use

Sound quality and versatility

We connected the headphones to a PC and we tried them in gaming, movies and listening to music. Subsequently, we also tested them on a Sandisk Sansa Clip MP3 player and an electronic keyboard, so to try using the 6.3 mm adapter. What emerged is that was a really high quality sound, a very clean sound and without any audible distortion. The ability to use active noise reduction in every case of use makes it possible to "isolate" from the outside in a rather effective manner. If we have to find defects, we can say that especially in the use of film/game the lack of a subwoofer and 5.1 surround sound can be a lack.

Remote control

Much compact, is used to control a number of essential functions: mute, volume control and on/off of the active noise reduction. It seemed very comfortable and well-functioning, especially the volume seems very sensitive and able to adjust the volume in a very wide range of decibels. The mute function is activated by holding down the corresponding button: dropping back it to hear the audio. With regard to the battery housed inside the remote control, it must be said that it is necessary to have the ANC function, i.e., the active noise reduction feature. In the absence of it is always possible to use the headphones, but only in passive mode, i.e. without this feature. Battery life with ANC turned on is about 100 hours.

Active Noise Reduction

The enabling of this mode, possible via the appropriate switch, is signaled by a red LED on the remote control. We have verified that this function is actually very efficient. Ambient noise becomes very little noticeable. Surely it is not only a useful feature for those who want to use these headphones to the PC, so as to minimize, if you have not very quiet fans, the discomfort derived from them, but also for other uses for which these headphones are designed: travel by air or by other means, typically very noisy. The disadvantage of this solution is necessary to point out is that there seemed to increase the sound pressure, not so high but still perceptible. Besides this, when there is no sound playing, with this feature enabled there is a noticeable background noise, evidently produced to reduce the perception of environmental sounds, absent, however, when this mode is disabled by the button on the remote control.

Ergonomics

The NC1 seemed to us a very ergonomic product. Surely the lightness is their big plus, allowing you to take them for long periods without having any kind of fatigue given by weight. Good the way in which they fit the user's head, being the bows very flexible and adjustable through the special hinges.  The pavilions, we have to say that do not fully cover the ear of the player isolating them from the outside, but the impression when wearing headphones is a good sense of winding and insulation from the outside. Returning to the bow, it must be said that the two pads at the top in order to reduce head contact with the plastic appeared to be very minimal. However they are more than enough, given the extremely light weight of this set.

Conclusions

Performance:
Quality/Price ratio:
Overall:

The Asus NC1 headphones are a great kit. We were hit by the extreme lightness and compactness of this kit, it is clear how is an ideal product for people used to listen to music or for those who use the notebook on the road. At the same time, ergonomics, and high sound quality make it a good product for many other uses. The lack in the field for PC gaming may be that of a microphone, which limit their use, if not combining a microphone, in online games or chat. Another lack may be that of a subwoofer, without which is difficult make the bass powerful enough. Probably these features were not included simply because the scopes of use of these headphones are designed for other than the specific field of PC gaming. Given the many innovative features of the product reviewed, in addition to the extreme attention to detail and quality construction, however, we can not exempt to attribute to him the XtremeHardware gold cup. The NC1 is available nationwide at the average price, in our opinion competitive, of 55 Euro.

PROs

CONs

• Lack of strong bass and / or subwoofer
• No microphone

Thanks Asus for the sample supplied to us for testing

Giacomo Tufo

Translated by Marco Comerci