---
product_id: 68977671
title: "MDR-NC40 Noise Cancelling Headphone (Black)"
brand: "sony"
price: "€ 315.18"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
category: "Sony"
url: https://www.desertcart.es/products/68977671-mdr-nc40-noise-cancelling-headphone-black
store_origin: ES
region: Spain
---

# Compact folding design Active Noise Cancellation Lightweight for travel ease MDR-NC40 Noise Cancelling Headphone (Black)

**Brand:** sony
**Price:** € 315.18
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🔇 Silence the noise, amplify your focus.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** MDR-NC40 Noise Cancelling Headphone (Black) by sony
- **How much does it cost?** € 315.18 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.es](https://www.desertcart.es/products/68977671-mdr-nc40-noise-cancelling-headphone-black)

## Best For

- sony enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted sony brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Comfort That Lasts:** Pressure-relieving urethane cushions ensure all-day comfort during long work sessions or flights.
- • **Sleek Compact Folding:** Foldable closed-back design fits effortlessly into your nylon carrying case for seamless portability.
- • **Universal Compatibility:** Plug and play with any device featuring a 3.5mm jack—from laptops to smart speakers.
- • **Immersive Noise Cancellation:** Block out distractions with high-quality active noise cancellation, even passively when powered off.
- • **Travel-Ready Lightweight Design:** Weighing just 0.75 lbs, these headphones are your perfect in-flight companion without the bulk.

## Overview

The Sony MDR-NC40 is a lightweight, wired noise-cancelling headphone designed for professionals on the move. Featuring active noise cancellation, pressure-relieving urethane cushions, and a compact folding design, it delivers premium sound clarity and comfort for long flights and workdays. Compatible with a wide range of devices via a 3.5mm jack, it’s the ultimate travel-ready audio gear for the discerning millennial manager.

## Description

Shut out up to 80% of the ambient noise around you with the MDR-NC40 noise canceling headphone. Great for work, traveling or just when you're trying to sleep in a loud place, they provide a calming atmosphere no matter where you are. The pressure-relieving cushion offers premium comfort, and the lightweight, folding design makes storing them a breeze. Includes a premium travel case and "AAA" batteries.

Review: Surprising reviews, in short, a good headphone... - I am really surprised that this headphone gets average-to-bad reviews. Considering that I have both PXC-250 and PXC-300, I really enjoyed this one, and for now, more than those two. It is one of the most comfortable headphones I have used, regarding the noise canceling ones. It fits on the ear quite well, and unlike the Sennheiser ones I don't need to correct its fit, after I move my head a bit. Sennheiser ones barely fit on the ear, but for the MDR-NC40 you don't really need to adjust its position to make it fit. That also means it is more sensually-hidden to my conscious. It packs really well, and its bag is as protective as the sennheiser ones, so, as long as you are careful enough the lack of perfect protection shouldn't be a big deal. At least, while trying to minimize its size, there is almost no risk to break it, and you don't need to restart the process... Regarding the sound quality, I think it is fairly good. I tried a few sub-genres of rock, mostly the following bands, T. Rex, Massive Attack, Pixies, Stone Roses, Floyd, Caravan. So for these bands, it performed quite well, so I am guessing any heavier types will lead to quite satisfactory performance too. I do hope it will do the same for the softer genres too (classical, new age, etc.). Since the general sound quality is good, I am guessing that to be the case. Regarding the noise canceling performance, I think what it says as ~14db NR is a fairly accurate number. I bought this to use in a cubic farm, and it cancels most of the noises related to the machinery. It performed better than PXC 250, unexpectedly. Most likely the passive reduction is higher to compensate for the lower active noise reduction (ANR). For the speech related noises, I didn't have a chance to try this, but I don't expect too much. Because even the higher performing ones do fail in this area: they reduce the noise to a certain level, never completely get rid of it. So, this one will do similar. But, one good point of this headphone is the amount of hissing it introduces when the noise canceling is active. It is quite less than what I expected, where the expected refers to what the Sennheiser similar models produce. It also has some nice features, like not boosting the sound when you turn on the noise canceling (it first lowers the audio, then increases to similar or same level). It also has a button to momentarily turn it off, in case you need a second break to hear something outside your noise reduced world. In short, at ~$60 price, being an on-the-ear model, this is a really good headphone. And I do recommend it to anyone interested in buying a noise canceling headphone to use in a mid-to-low noise environment.
Review: With equalization, splendid sound- noise reduction adequate - Out of the box, as a critical listener I give these headphones three stars, since the bass is very strong but the highest treble is weak. However, with frequency compensation, I give five stars for the excellent sound. This headphone can give audiophile quality sound, if the treble is turned up in playback. The bass response is flat, tight, and goes down beyond the lowest note on a bass guitar. I heard 32 Hz organ pedal notes with these headphones! The midrange is neutral and flat, but will not be appreciated unless the high frequencies are boosted. I achieved excellent sound by adjusting the frequency response of the music played into the phones. You can do this best with a free software program such as Audacity, but you could also use the equalizer on your player. Many of the Sansa mp3 players have them built in. I got the best results by reducing tones 50 Hz and lower by 3 dB, tapering up to flat at 100 Hz. The high end was smoothly boosted from flat at 2.5KHz to +4dB at 6.3KHz, continuing to +7dB at 12.5KHz, and +12dB at 22KHz. With this equalization the sound was splendid, and I could easily hear the subtle difference between my personal CDs ripped with Nero and those ripped with "Easy CD Ripper". The noise reduction of the headphones was as specified at 10 dB reduction of ambient noise. This was enough to reduce the noise of a cheap treadmill so that I could listen to music without blasting my ears. It also had the same effect on a noisy upright vacuum cleaner. The noise was reduced, not eliminated. On two airplane trips, sitting near the front of a 737, the noise was reduced enough so that I could listen to music if I turned it up slightly from my normal quiet-background level. In a rental 2011 SUV, the noise was reduced for better listening. My conclusion is that the noise reduction is sufficient, but not outstanding. Battery life is specified as 40 hours, and I believe it! I ran my 1.5V battery down to 1.1V, and the headphones still worked fine. These headphones fit snugly against the ears, but the pads are comfortable. These are on-the-ear, not over-the-ear headphones. I don't listen for more than an hour at a time, so I am not bothered by the snug fit. I would recommend these headphones both for casual listeners to use out of the box, and for more critical listeners to use with frequency compensation for excellent sound.

## Features

- Lightweight, Noise-Canceling Headphones For Long Flights
- Passive Operation Even When Power Is Off
- Pressure-Relieving Urethane Cushion For Comfortable Fitting
- High quality noise canceling
- Compact Folding

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Control Type | Media Control |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Item Weight | 0.75 Pounds |
| Carrying Case Material | Nylon |
| Antenna Location | Travel |
| Compatible Devices | Laptops, Desktops, Tablets, Telephones, Smart Speakers, Televisions, Music Production Equipment, Cellphones |
| Cable Features | Retractable |
| Additional Features | lightweight |
| Enclosure Material | urethane |
| Specific Uses For Product | Travel |
| Headphone Folding Features | closed-back |
| Earpiece Shape | Rounded |
| Headphones Ear Placement | On Ear |
| Carrying Case Color | Black |
| Style Name | Retro |
| Theme | Audio Equipment |
| Color | Black |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Headphone Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| Frequency Range | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 30 Ohm |
| Noise Control | Active Noise Cancellation |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Sony
- **Color:** Black
- **Ear Placement:** On Ear
- **Form Factor:** closed-back
- **Impedance:** 30 Ohms

## Images

![MDR-NC40 Noise Cancelling Headphone (Black) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wmzO8nT7L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Surprising reviews, in short, a good headphone...
*by A***A on June 6, 2009*

I am really surprised that this headphone gets average-to-bad reviews. Considering that I have both PXC-250 and PXC-300, I really enjoyed this one, and for now, more than those two. It is one of the most comfortable headphones I have used, regarding the noise canceling ones. It fits on the ear quite well, and unlike the Sennheiser ones I don't need to correct its fit, after I move my head a bit. Sennheiser ones barely fit on the ear, but for the MDR-NC40 you don't really need to adjust its position to make it fit. That also means it is more sensually-hidden to my conscious. It packs really well, and its bag is as protective as the sennheiser ones, so, as long as you are careful enough the lack of perfect protection shouldn't be a big deal. At least, while trying to minimize its size, there is almost no risk to break it, and you don't need to restart the process... Regarding the sound quality, I think it is fairly good. I tried a few sub-genres of rock, mostly the following bands, T. Rex, Massive Attack, Pixies, Stone Roses, Floyd, Caravan. So for these bands, it performed quite well, so I am guessing any heavier types will lead to quite satisfactory performance too. I do hope it will do the same for the softer genres too (classical, new age, etc.). Since the general sound quality is good, I am guessing that to be the case. Regarding the noise canceling performance, I think what it says as ~14db NR is a fairly accurate number. I bought this to use in a cubic farm, and it cancels most of the noises related to the machinery. It performed better than PXC 250, unexpectedly. Most likely the passive reduction is higher to compensate for the lower active noise reduction (ANR). For the speech related noises, I didn't have a chance to try this, but I don't expect too much. Because even the higher performing ones do fail in this area: they reduce the noise to a certain level, never completely get rid of it. So, this one will do similar. But, one good point of this headphone is the amount of hissing it introduces when the noise canceling is active. It is quite less than what I expected, where the expected refers to what the Sennheiser similar models produce. It also has some nice features, like not boosting the sound when you turn on the noise canceling (it first lowers the audio, then increases to similar or same level). It also has a button to momentarily turn it off, in case you need a second break to hear something outside your noise reduced world. In short, at ~$60 price, being an on-the-ear model, this is a really good headphone. And I do recommend it to anyone interested in buying a noise canceling headphone to use in a mid-to-low noise environment.

### ⭐⭐⭐ With equalization, splendid sound- noise reduction adequate
*by P***N on February 24, 2011*

Out of the box, as a critical listener I give these headphones three stars, since the bass is very strong but the highest treble is weak. However, with frequency compensation, I give five stars for the excellent sound. This headphone can give audiophile quality sound, if the treble is turned up in playback. The bass response is flat, tight, and goes down beyond the lowest note on a bass guitar. I heard 32 Hz organ pedal notes with these headphones! The midrange is neutral and flat, but will not be appreciated unless the high frequencies are boosted. I achieved excellent sound by adjusting the frequency response of the music played into the phones. You can do this best with a free software program such as Audacity, but you could also use the equalizer on your player. Many of the Sansa mp3 players have them built in. I got the best results by reducing tones 50 Hz and lower by 3 dB, tapering up to flat at 100 Hz. The high end was smoothly boosted from flat at 2.5KHz to +4dB at 6.3KHz, continuing to +7dB at 12.5KHz, and +12dB at 22KHz. With this equalization the sound was splendid, and I could easily hear the subtle difference between my personal CDs ripped with Nero and those ripped with "Easy CD Ripper". The noise reduction of the headphones was as specified at 10 dB reduction of ambient noise. This was enough to reduce the noise of a cheap treadmill so that I could listen to music without blasting my ears. It also had the same effect on a noisy upright vacuum cleaner. The noise was reduced, not eliminated. On two airplane trips, sitting near the front of a 737, the noise was reduced enough so that I could listen to music if I turned it up slightly from my normal quiet-background level. In a rental 2011 SUV, the noise was reduced for better listening. My conclusion is that the noise reduction is sufficient, but not outstanding. Battery life is specified as 40 hours, and I believe it! I ran my 1.5V battery down to 1.1V, and the headphones still worked fine. These headphones fit snugly against the ears, but the pads are comfortable. These are on-the-ear, not over-the-ear headphones. I don't listen for more than an hour at a time, so I am not bothered by the snug fit. I would recommend these headphones both for casual listeners to use out of the box, and for more critical listeners to use with frequency compensation for excellent sound.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ MDR-NC40 better audio, weaker noise cancellation than Sennheiser PXC 250
*by A***S on September 26, 2009*

My trusty Sennheiser PXC 250 headphones died the other day and I replaced them with a pair of Sony MDR-NC40's based on a favorable Consumer Reports review. The trade-off was immediately clear after my first flight with them. The Sonys sound noticably better in terms of audio quality and richness of sound, but the Sennheisers did a better job reducing the noises associated with jet travel. I'm a very frequent flier and I'm very hard on my gear. The Sennheisers took a serious beating for about three years before they broke down; they owed me nothing when they died. The Sony's feel like they are of a similar build quality. The Sonys use a single battery vs. the dual battery in the Sennheisers. The Sony case is fatter than the Sennheiser case and doesn't fit as well in the seatback pocket on most aircraft. The Sennheiser case and general folding design is better and more convenient, but the Sony is fine. In general, I suspect that I'll get accustomed to the better sound quality of the Sony headphones and be even more disappointed if I compare them with the Sennheiser audio quality in a month or two. The price is about the same, the build quality seems comparable. One oddity with the Sonys: the single stereo plug doesn't make good contact with the audio jack on a Blackberry 8330 resulting in mono audio when listening to music, but if you use the clever single/double airline adapter, it sounds fine. When used with the headphone jack on a Macbook Pro, it was fine. The Sennheisers never had any of these quirks. But it isn't a significant issue as the adapter is stored in the case with the headphones so you'll rarely be caught without the adapter being handy. My ears get sore from earbuds, both of these headphones are comfortable although my ears are happy to get them off after about 6 hours. I have used the Sennheisers in a noisy hotel room before and was able to sleep with them on, the Sony's have a similar fit so comfort isn't an issue. If you're looking for lightweight, compact active cancellation headphones for a price that won't make you cry if you lose them in your travels, either pair will do the job. The price points are low enough that if you try one and you're disappointed with either the audio quality or the noise cancellation, just buy the other one. They are good examples of different strengths in very similar products.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Sony MDR-NC40 Noise Cancelling Headphone (Black)
- Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
- Sony MDR-ZX310AP ZX Series Wired On Ear Headphones with mic, Black

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*Product available on Desertcart Spain*
*Store origin: ES*
*Last updated: 2026-02-27*