Quiet.
He can not do magic as its market companions also. But even without music is mostly quiet. The remaining noise is slightly more present compared to Bose, but this little flaw makes the sound up for three times. The frequency response of MDR-1RNC is not quite as good as that of his brother without noise canceling, yet so convincing that I have my Bose QC15 buy an expensive replacement pads (35, - will it have Bose). Because the sound in this plastic part is exactly like its workmanship - not so good.
But back to the Sony MDR-1RNC. When unpacking it fun. The first impression: Fills up on very valuable. Looks very valuable. The package comes almost to the Apple product zoom - but the yes you throw away rather. What remains is very good accessories in a pocket into which you can stow your headphones when traveling. The bag is made of synthetic leather and provides limited protection against blunt force from the outside. But traveling is one yes rather wearing the headphones and not stowed in the trunk. The cables are substantially thicker than the Bose - quality overall also. A longitudinal ribbing of the cable to ensure that they are not easily entangled. Whether the ribbing or more of the cable diameter of 3mm well with the corresponding stiffness ensure is secondary.
The MDR-1RNC is difficult. It weighs 333g with its firmly integrated battery. But just quality comes at a price. In this case, the Sony 136g is "more expensive" than the Bose. That the battery is not removable and the MDR-1RNC can not be operated with standard batteries is not so bad, because it can reproduce, unlike the Bose QC 15 without any energy sound. The size is then not so good, but if you really want to listen to something, you can, after all. The charging jack, a micro USB port on the right earpiece shell is somewhat tricky to open and also connecting to the cable course supplied could be easier. But when I think about it now, I realize that that does not bother me because I do it so rarely.
The switch for the active noise canceling is not just large and easy to find - somehow typical Sony. But with regular use you quickly learn how to activate the MDR-1RNC. Pretty (but unnecessary) is the "Bading" which sounds after switching on. Likewise haptic getting used to is the remote control in the microphone cord. At first I stopped the music or a phone call ended when I wanted to adjust to control the volume. But also because you get used to.
I have a small head (hat size 57), do not wear glasses and have short hair (2cm) and is able to report anything negative to comfort the MDR-1RNC. My work days are often very long and I'm wearing the MDR-1RNC least six hours a day, five times a week. In addition several times on and taking off and switching on and off.
Whether the outside good quality and workmanship after one or two years still speak for MDR-1RNC remains to be seen. But I am very confident that the Sony MDR-1RNC will not let me down. He makes me now for four months very good services.