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.

Read the full review: Sony MDR-NC22