Sony MDR-NC22 or MDR-NC60?

[BIGHMW]

I have both of these 2006-07 model NC phones from Sony, including a Japan Edition version of the NC60s (because of the Japan-only 0.5m remote-friendly cord), and if had to rely on only one of these great sets of cans, regardless of their SQ, which one would you recommend?

Please note that I also own the U.S. EX71SL, as well as the EX85SL, EX90SL N.U.D.E EX Monitors, and D777SL Altus HDs (all those are the Japan Edition, due to the aforementioned shorter cord).

[Richard]

I'm not sure I follow the question, if you have both already, I can only assume you are looking to get rid of one? I have both the NC60 and the NC22. The SQ on the NC22 is a bit better than the NC60, but the NC60 are more durable. You said "regardless of SQ" so I guess in that case it comes down to the durablilty of the NC60 versus the portability of the NC22. I only use NC phones when I travel and not really for home listening. Despite them being larger I prefer the NC60 due to the build quality plus they come with a nice leather case that you can fit a small player in if need be.

[BIGHMW]

I'm not sure I follow the question, if you have both already, I can only assume you are looking to get rid of one? I have both the NC60 and the NC22. The SQ on the NC22 is a bit better than the NC60, but the NC60 are more durable. You said "regardless of SQ" so I guess in that case it comes down to the durablilty of the NC60 versus the portability of the NC22. I only use NC phones when I travel and not really for home listening. Despite them being larger I prefer the NC60 due to the build quality plus they come with a nice leather case that you can fit a small player in if need be.

I was only posting an opinion poll, but thanks.

Actually, I would prefer to keep both (and will at that) because sometimes I might want to switch in between the two as some music better fits one or the other, or sometimes it would be more for convenience as well as SQ between the two of them, When I am at work, I sometimes like to use the NC phones (or IEMs) at work to shut out the outside world, or when I go on walks whenever use of my inline skates (such as during wintertime) is not possible, just to shut out traffic noise or outside noise, however for my inline skates I prefer the open-air EX85SLs to go with my designated unit for them, the RH710 and MC55ELK remote.

When at home or in other envioronments I prefer to use the open-air EX85s or EX90s, or the D777SLs for a matter of SQ, as those have a bit better overall SQ than the NCs.

As for the leather case, yes, I have seen how Ishii put togeher his RH10 with a pair of NC50s (I assume they are the Japan Edition), perhaps I could put together either the RH710 or RH1 with my NC60s for a pictorial (to be soon aired right here on both the MDCF and the ALC) even though my main portable unit is the NH700, of course.

Thanks for clearing my thoughts for me, I won't be selling any of my phones anytime soon (except maybe the stock bundled ones that came wth my units perhaps), as I am in no financial crisis enough to sell any of my good cans or IEMs, after all I have started collecting phones as well as units and remotes just like the rest of us, and it doesn't hurt to have a variety of ear candy as well as PMP's, in this day and age when electronics give up the ghost much faster than in years past.

[Richard]

Sorry, I guess I was reading a little too much into your original post. But to sum up if I could only have on of the 2 I would stick with the NC60's.

[BIGHMW]

Well, I will admit that portable is more convenient, and in that case the NC22s would prevail, plus they do sound better, featuring a bit more bass and less shrill than the NC60s (the shrilling on them kind of reminds me of the EX71 IEMs IMO), and in that case the NC22s would prevail too.

Also, at 41 years old, and especially with 13 years in the music business and having not worn ear protection both on stage and at live shows, my hearing isn't what it used to be, and lucky for me at my work we are required to wear protective earplugs (or ear muffs) due to a very noisy environment, and since getting my job back in August, and as a result of having to use the plugs/muffs, my hearing has somewhat improved to the point where I can turn down the volume on my Walkman (from 20-22/30 to 16-18/30), and the impedence of the NC60s, which is twice as much as the NC22s (40 ohms for the NC60s compared to the NC22s low 20 ohms in active mode) is indeed a turn off from them (and other cans) as well, as because of the NC60s high impedence I have to boost the volume and that is not too good on my somewhat-improved hearing. Also ear plugs/IEMs are more discreet and can be worn in any weather and with a hat or bicycle/inline skate helmet (or hard hat, another required item at work) or any hair style at that.

Also, sometimes durabilty may not be an issue in this case, especially if there is bulk involved, and this is where cans just won't do. Also, on another thread I posted involving the D777SLs (and most other cans at that) Guitarfxr was right, the higher impedence of cans (minimum 24 ohms as opposed to IEMs 8-16 ohms) as well as SPL sensitivity (in dB) is indeed an issue when it comes to the lifespan of the PMP used with it, as today units "give up the ghost" much faster than the ones, from say, ten years ago, and running them at a higher volume (which runs the amp at a higher temperature) wears down the life of a unit to the point where we here on this board need more backups and reserves of our main units more than ever for the reason just mentioned.

Those are why after the response on this thread that and also considering the issues with my hearing, I would keep the IEMs if I had to have one or the other, except for recording studio use where isolation and focus are keys to making a good album for sale to your fans. Basically for Walkman use I would go for IEMs while for home and studio use I would go for cans. It is just a matter of the proper application to use them for, I think that is the key there.