A while back, our audio guy here at Unfinished Man did a review on the KRK headphones and did a quick comparison with the Bose QC15 and Beats by Dr. Dre even though they are not exactly in the same category. I’ve used all three headphones that I just mentioned and the Bose QC15 is hands down my favorite from that list. I love the sound cancelling feature and of course the great sound quality those headphones produce. Although they are GREAT for indoors and airplanes, there is no way in hell I will wear such large headphones out in public. I see all these guys with their Beat by Dr. Dre and brightly colored SMS Audio headphones (50 Cent’s brand) out in public, rocking these things and looking like a bunch of jackasses. Too bulky, dumb looking, and not my thing…especially out in public.

I recently picked up a pair of the PS 20 NC earphones from Phiaton and what I really like about these earphones is that they have the noise cancelling feature but are not bulky over-ear headphones like the Bose QC15. I actually never knew that in-ear headphones with noise cancellation even existed.

This past couple of years, I’ve done a lot of flying and the Bose have been very useful to me but at the same time also a bit of a pain as they are bulky. When you travel, you want to carry as little as possible and this is where the PS 20 NC earphones come into play.

The PS 20 NC by Phiaton are compact and the noise-cancelling technology it features can usually be found in earphones which are larger and more expensive. The noise cancelling unit uses one AAA battery which is included with the PS 20 NC earphones and the noise cancelling unit is actually not much bigger than the AAA battery itself. The noise cancelling unit features a clip which can be used to secure on your shirt, jacket, or pants.

Unlike most noise cancelling headphones (including my Bose QC15), when the battery on the Phiaton PS 20 NC earphones is drained, you can still listen to your audio thanks to the “EverPlay” technology. This is a pretty convenient feature, especially if you listen to music at late hours of the night and don’t feel like getting up to replace the battery.

Phiaton claims that the PS 20 NC earphones are capable of blocking out 95% of the outside noise which seems optimistic for a $129 pair of earphones but you will be pleasantly surprised at how well they block out those background noises. And then throw in the fact that you will have your own music playing as well. With that combo, no outside noise exists. The earphones also feature a “standby mode” which allows you to hear outside noise with a push of a button. Just don’t tell you wife that feature exists and you can continue to ignore her nagging even if you really can hear it with that button.

The sound quality on these earphones is also quite impressive and a lot better than I was expecting. The mid ranges and high ranges are very clear and you may even notice elements in some of your music that you didn’t know was there. The bass on these earphones could use some work but the perfect earphone doesn’t exist. The PS 20 NC earphones continue to deliver even when the volume is increased while some other brands start to break-up.

The Phiaton PS 20 NC earphones comes with 4 silicon tips (XS, S, M, L), velvet carrying case, airplane adapter, and 1 AAA battery. Owner’s manual and registration card are also included in the box. I would definitely recommend the Phiaton PS 20 NC earphones as they offer noise cancellation and quality sound for a lot less money than the other guys. These earphones are available in black or white. The suggested retail price is $129 but they are currently $99 on Amazon.

Phiaton PS 20 NC Earphones Gallery