116 MACWORLD APRIL 2020
PLAYLIST REVIEW: MIXCDER E9The E9 folds for easy travel.
button I was pressing. There’s no support,
however, for digital assistants such as Siri
or Google Assistant.
The left ear cup has a switch for turning
active noise cancellation (ANC) on or off,
and there’s a 3.5mm analog input for wired
applications.
SURPRISINGLY TRAVEL
FRIENDLY
The Mixcder E9 are surprisingly travel
friendly, although the folded footprint isn’t
as compact as much more-expensive
models from Bose and Sony. The ear cups
do fold flat, however, so you can carry the
headphones in a supplied, smartly
designed hardshell carrying case.
And I really liked the nylon-covered
case, which includes an elastic band to
keep the headphones in place. They won’t
fall out if you unzip the case in a rush with
the headphones upside down. My only
comment is that Mixcder should have also
provided an internal pocket for
accessories. I’d call that a missed
opportunity that I hope the company will
address in the future.ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION
When it comes to consumer ANC
headphones, in my experience, there’s
Bose, Sony, and—everyone else. Yes, the
technology gap is that big.
That being said, for $99 (and a street
price that’s even lower), the Mixcder E9’s
ANC is solid, but definitely not first class. In my
testing on trains and city streets, the Mixcder
E9 eliminated or significantly reduced HVAC
noise, outside sounds, and train
rumblings. I didn’t have the opportunity
to test the Mixcder E9 on an airplane
during my review period.
How effective the Mixcder’s
ANC was depended on the
environment. If you’re someone
who is primarily concerned about taking
the edge off HVAC-related noise that
dominates most travel, you’ll generally be
well-pleased with the E9.
That said, the Mixcder E9 won’t
completely eliminate all HVAC nose, the