Our Verdict
The Fidelio NC1 make decent everyday headphones. They have an above average sound quality. They're compact and robustly built for an on-ear design. They're also versatile enough for loud environments thanks to their solid noise isolation performance. However, the on-ear design is not for everyone.
- Comfortable "on-ear" design.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Lacking volume controls.
- Slim, potentially fragile build quality.
- Treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to positioning.
Above-average for neutral listening. They have fairly well balanced audio reproduction that's sound good with most tracks. But their closed back design limits soundstage.
Suitable for commuting. They will block some of the ambient noise on a train or bus, but it may not be enough for the noise of an international or local flight. However, their compact design, case, and sturdy frame make them easy to carry around on any trip.
Decent but not optimized for sports. They're lightweight and not too bulky but unfortunately they're too unstable for running or strenuous exercise.
Above-average for office. They block enough noise so that you won't hear the ambient chatter of the office. They also don't leak much, but they're are audible at high volumes.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Oct 02, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
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Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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