When I reviewed Nocss $70 NS200 Aluminum ( Macworld rated 3.5 out of 5 mice ), I found that the Swedish companys penchant for minimalism had resulted in a clean, but somewhat generic, design and that the sound quality, while unobjectionable, wasnt particularly compelling, either. Nocs recently sent Macworld the companys new $100 NS400 Aluminum, which represents a step up in price and performance.
Like the NS200, the NS400 is a canalbud-style headset. Canalbuds generally split the difference, in both design and price, between traditional earbuds and true in-ear-canal (canalphone) models. Since they fit partially in the ear canal, canalbuds block some external noise, and they aim to form an acoustic seal that improves bass performance. However, they dont block as much sound as true in-ear-canal models, and, as with those models, getting a proper fit can be tricky, the cord can produce unwanted microphonic noise in a listeners ear, and using the headset function can be weird due to the occlusion effect of having your ears plugged while talking. (See our in-ear-canal headphone primer for more details.)
The two models similarities go beyond their canalbud design: From a visual standpoint, theyre so similar that you might mistake them for being variations of the same model. Both feature small, bullet-shaped metal earpieces, capped by silicone eartips and attached to a small, rubbery cable. The right half of the NS400s split cable features the same Apple-style three-button (volume up, volume down, and play/pause/call/end) remote/microphone module found in the NS200, with the same three, almost identically shaped buttons. Like the NS200, the NS400s microphone sounds good overallloud and clear with above-average performance, but missing some of the depth that makes the iPhone 4s internal microphone sound more natural. The package includes four pairs of silicone ear tipsone small, two medium, and one largeand a shirt clip, but it doesnt include the carrying case that came with the NS200 when we reviewed it.
So, then, whats different between the two models? On the outside, the NS400s earpieces are constructed from titanium, which I found more handsome than the NS200s aluminum housingsthe titanium helps elevate the NS400s design. The NS400 comes in black and white models, which each feature titanium-gray earpieces but differ in the color of the eartips, cable, and inline remote.
More important, the NS400 upgrades the NS200s drivers (the tiny speakers inside) with a titanium coating, which makes them stiffer and, in theory, should improve sound quality. Indeed, in practice the drivers provide a noticeable upgrade. High-frequency sounds are better defined, while midrange frequencies are more detailed and bass is tighter (which also benefits other parts of the spectrum and gives a more-spacious sound). However, the NS400 isnt perfectbass is still somewhat bloated (and louder than Id prefer), and the NS400 doesnt draw me into the music as well as the more natural $90 Spider Realvoice ( Macworld rated 4.5 out of 5 mice ), or the more accurate $99 Etymotic mc3 ( Macworld rated 4.5 out of 5 mice ). On the other hand, I found the NS400s midrange and high frequencies to be an improvement over those of the $80 Maximo iP-595 ( Macworld rated 4 out of 5 mice ), though the iP-595 offers tighter, cleaner bass.
Macworlds buying advice
While I found the Nocs NS200 to be a little bland, the NS400 represents an improvement in looks and sound that more than compensates for the $30 price increase. There are better sonic values around this price point (although the NS400s street prices are often substantially lower than the list price), but the NS400 will appeal to anyone looking for good headphones that match their Apple products.
R. Matthew Ward got a little nostalgic for the bygone days of the titanium PowerBook G4 while writing this review. In addition to regularly contributing to Macworld, he writes about audio, Apple, and other cool stuff on his personal blog.
