A rarity among active noise-canceling headphones, Sony's MDR-NC22 model sits inside your ear, is relatively compact, and pumps out pretty good audio. That said, it does have its share of shortcomings.

In the active noise-cancellation realm—where actual circuitry, not just foam sealing up your ear, is used to eliminate ambient noises—in-ear models are much less common. Currently the Bose QuietComfort 3, a supra-aural (on-ear) pair, is the reigning champion in terms of noise reduction and comfort. Even so, when it comes to audio performance, the QuietComforts aren't my favorite. Believe it or not, the MDR-NC22 in-ear sounds better than the Bose offering. I like the phones' low-end response, and its midrange frequencies seem a bit clearer.

Alas, no one has been able to duplicate the coveted Bose noise-cancellation recipe yet, Sony included. Though the MDR-NC22 manages to cut out a good chunk of the surrounding ambient sound, it suffers from a common deficiency: It replaces outside noise with a slight internal hiss. This sound is similar to the soft hiss you may have heard on cassette tapes in between songs. It's certainly not offensive, but it's definitely noticeable, and the Bose product does not have the same issue. For $250 less, however, the $100 MDR-NC22 is a more realistic choice for those wishing to eliminate a little noise for a lot less money.

My primary complaints about MDR-NC22 rest with its design. As a rule, I dislike any headphones that have clips, because I always seek to streamline my accessories and keep the amount of clutter my gadgets create to a minimum. Naturally, I was bummed to find that in order to include active noise cancellation on an in-ear pair, a clip that includes all the circuitry is necessary. Sadly, when not attached to an article of clothing (say, a shirt or jacket), this clip simply dangles in-line on the headphone cable, tugging at your ears uncomfortably and eventually yanking your 'phones right out. Thus, I understand the need for a clip, but I really wish it didn't have to be there.

A more pertinent complaint, however, is that the clip lacks a volume control. I feel that if you're going to take the trouble to clip this thing onto a pocket or shirt, you should at least get a volume control as part of the deal. All the clip has is a Power button and a Monitor button. The former controls only the noise cancellation: You can still listen to music when the circuitry is off—something Bose still hasn't figured out how to do (on the other hand, no one has yet figured out how to match Bose's superior noise cancellation). The Monitor button mutes the audio in your headphones and deactivates the noise cancellation so that you can converse and hear things around you without popping the earphones out. This feature is not like a remote that also pauses your content—music will keep playing—but I still think it's handy.

The Sony MDR-NC22 offers a comfortable, secure fit. Those who don't mind clips and are scared off by the QuietComfort 3's price will find this in-ear pair an appealing noise-cancellation option. In the future, when noise-cancellation circuitry gets smaller and will fit into, say, a lightweight capsule on the cable, that's when these in-ear-style headsets will really take off.