APRIL 2020 MACWORLD 115The left ear cup has the ANC switch, while the right has volume
controls, power, and USB charging.components versus
plastic.
If you’re willing to
give up some of
those things, the
Mixcder E9 deliver
very good sound and
active noise
cancellation at a
price that won’t bust
a modest budget. Do
they perform as well
as a $350 set of ANC
cans? Nope. But they
sound darned good for $70 ANC
headphones.
SMART DESIGN TRADE-OFFS
The Mixcder E9’s build quality is consistent
with a budget-oriented pair of
headphones, but you will encounter a few
high-value design choices. The lower part
of the headband and the ear cups are
made of plastic, for instance; but the
click-adjustable headband is fabricated
from a more durable metal. And the
headband is wrapped in imitation leather,
but the underside has just enough
padding. That said, I found that the
headband did apply a slight bit of pressure
on the top of my head after long listening
sessions. The E9 are relatively light, with
mild clamping pressure.
The ear cups themselves are
generously padded. The foam padding
doesn’t keep its shape, however, and
collapses quite easily. This led to the
grilles over the drivers sitting closer to my
ears than I prefer. I tend to feel that
over-the-ear headphones form a more
stable igloo around my ears. As a result
of this fit, the Mixcder E9 left me fatigued
after long listening sessions. And on a
couple long trips, I needed to take them
off several times.ERGONOMICS
The Mixcder E9 are ergonomically well
designed. The right ear cup has volume
controls, power, and a Micro-USB
charging port (I would have preferred
Mixcder follow the connection trend to
USB-C). But the buttons are slightly raised
and well suited for tactile use. I never
found myself second-guessing which