I use for 2 years almost every day a Bose QC 15. Since this addition to the undisputed good noise canceling some big disadvantages (bad "haptics" viiiel too long cable, no sound when battery is empty, the Bose-typical, heavy bass sound ) I have long been looking around for a replacement and had to have for the first time the hope found with the MDR 1RNC such.
Noise Cancelling
I have to say that I use the headphones in a rather untypical usage environment, namely in a really pretty quiet university library. Train or air travel, for which they have actually done, experience the headphones pretty rare for me.
However, just the certain requirements, in which the MDRs have now unfortunately been proven over the Bose as totally unsuitable. While the filtering constant low-frequency sounds succeed excellent two headphones, the canceling of the MDR failed with everything else completely. Papiergeraschel, girl trying to whisper and it can not (and giggle so - Bibbewohner know what I mean) everything goes completely unrestrained by the MDRs through.
Now high-frequency and variable sounds are never the core competence of noise-canceling headphones have been - you have to keep the Bose but benefit the just still handy to bustling do best. If I will sit up STILL. Until the next cell phone rings.
The fact that the low-frequency "noise" even with the Sony disappears, everything else remains but, precisely this peace does not return a. And that's for the premium over the basic model MDR 1R just not enough, especially since Bose now for many years shows that it is better.
Because I wanted to rule out that it is up to me, I have in this regard made a little comparison test: play Various excerpts from background noise for 30 seconds on the plant (aircraft cabin, library, pedestrian area, canteen ...) and the volume reduced so far until I with the Bose can not hear anything more. Then the whole thing again on the same volume with the Sonys and again one hears a lot: in particular voices are virtually undamped audible after the Bose has she really completely eliminated.
Sound
To make it short: The Sony's are much more neutral, more precise and thus probably for most of humanity better. I am on the Bose sound got used so I was really impressed as opposed to the now not really bad Bose still goes here. But that is a MDR1R for less money also can give.
Comfort
This is for the MDR then unfortunately finally over. Despite much larger volume of the ear cups is in close. The Bose feel very airy, the Sony's are felt in several places in my ears.
Add to this the weight. Of course it's silly to complain about the haptics of Bose and then (which are raised in terms of perceived quality, in fact, beyond any doubt) at the Sony to complain about the weight. But it does nothing, the Bose weigh felt half and in that the focus is through the durable construction strap Sony earlier, the resulting tilting moment must forward (in my head shape) by a greater pressure on the ears to compensate for what is uncomfortable and still not quite succeed.
Processing
The really positive thing you can say about the Bose here is that you with me now over 2 years daily (!) By keeping use easily. But they look and feel like from the gumball machine, which is pretty impressive for 349.
The Sony's are here as I said completely different and much better, but with the price of the (too) high weight.
If I aufhabe the headphones I have not see them - who just wants to be nice to buy Beats)
Conclusion
One thing first: we are talking about 2 excellent products and all criticisms are true First World problem of headphone range. Sony makes much better than Bose, the processing is great, the MDR look great and feel good too on, the cables are in the length and quality super (Bose here an absolute total failure, even if - as I said - for 2 years holds).
Still more must come when Noise Cancelling. With all bad thing you can say about Bose, one must admit that they have technology really under control. Even in the market for high-priced headsets for pilots with NC makes Bose much better than for example. Sennheiser (about their consumer headphones with NC is nothing really good reads)
In particular, because the Bose anything but doubt are raised I am very disappointed of the Sony. The QC 15 are now really give really long enough in the market to itself as a rival effort and time to assemble something better, especially considering the now truly impressive freedom in pricing, which opens the market segment of high end headphones.
Consequent buy recommendation can then be derived: If you want noise canceling, can not avoid Bose. Who just want good headphones can at least save the fee offered there at the moment NC at the other manufacturers.
