LINNER NC90

| Over-Ear | Bluetooth | Active Noise Cancelling |

? LINNER NC90, the newest headphone from the brand that sits as their flagship model.

The LINNER NC90 features 40mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth v4.1, active noise cancelling, aware monitor mode and touch controls.

LINNER is a brand that was funded through a Kickstarter campaign and has later grown their catalog into a fair amount of models, such as the:

• LINNER NC80
• LINNER NC50
• LINNER NC25

The headband structure is constructed in metal while the cups are made of plastic. The cushions and headband are covered with PU leather and are well-padded.

The overall aesthetics are clean and elegant with a small size (for an over-ear headphone). The design, shape and style reminded us to some of Bang & Olufsen headphones such as the B&O Play H9i, B&O Play H7.

You can buy the LINNER NC90 in:

• LINNER NC90 black
• LINNER NC90 red

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LINNER NC90 Review

Tests & Scores

Advanced Features

The LINNER NC90 features include advanced options such as:

• Adjustable Noise Cancelling: ANC can be set to Medium, High or Off with the dedicated button
• Monitor Mode: allows to listen your environment and can be easily activated by pressing and holding the touch control on the right earpiece
• Touch controls: the back plate of the right earcup is a touch sensitive multifunction button
• Auto-off: the unit will turn Bluetooth off when plugged with the 3.5mm cable
• Prompt voice alerts: the headphone will inform you with prompt voices the status of the headphone and of the battery charge, NC setting.

Operation & Control

The LINNER NC90 has 4 physical buttons and a touch sensitive multifunction one that allow you to do the following:

Touch Button:

• A press and hold: Activate monitor mode
• A double press: Play, Pause music or Answer calls

Power Button:

• A press and hold: Turn on and enter pairing mode
• A single press: Play, Pause music or Answer calls

Volume UP Button:

• A single press: Volume up by 1 level
• A 1 second press and hold: Skip to next song

Volume Down Button:

• A single press: Volume down by 1 level
• A 1 second press and hold: Previous song

NC button:

• Single press: Activate ANC and switch between High, Medium and Off settings.

LED Status Light: Each earcup of the LINNER NC90 has one tiny LED light. The one placed on the right cup informs the status of the headphone such as pairing mode, on, off, low battery; while the LED light on the left earcup informs the status of the noise cancelling settings.

Charging: The LINNER NC90 is charged through the micro USB port. A full charge takes 2.5 hours and grants 34 hours of playback in wireless mode with noise cancelling turned off.

Pairing: Pairing and operation was easy and quick – we did not have any issues while trying to pair and connect the unit to any device.

Weight

LINNER NC90 weight in Ounces and LINNER NC90 weight in grams.

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Accessories & Packaging

The LINNER NC90 unboxing results in a soft pouch, 1x 3.5mm cable and 1x charging cable. The unit comes inside a modest-sized packaging with cut-offs to better fit and protect the unit.

^8_/10

Bass & Sub Bass

Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Off

The LINNER NC90 bass has noticeable mid-bass punch and very deep sub-bass. Their profile is energetic with plenty of depth and mid-bass as to cover any music genre.

With an EQ there is a crazy empowering of their depth.

^_8/10

Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Medium

The LINNER NC90 bass shows a huge increment of mid-bass punch and depth.

Their already strong bass response now gets crazy empowered, adding even the most bass-hungry tracks

With an EQ there is a mild basshead rumble and impact but their sound will become bass-only.

^_8.25/10

Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC High

The LINNER NC90 bass sounds nearly identical as in “Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Medium” mode.

^_8.25/10

Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC Off

Used wired with it’s BT off and NC off, the bass of the LINNER NC90 sounds mostly equal as in “Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Medium” mode.

^_8.25/10

Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC Medium

In this mode, the LINNER NC90 bass gets an insane amount of punch and depth, reaching even mild rumble and impact but their drivers can start to distort if you dial up the volume setting on your device – with probable risk of damaging the drivers.

^_8.25/10

Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC High

The LINNER NC90 shows no sound difference between this mode and “Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC Medium” mode.

^_8.25/10

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Mids & Vocals

Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Off

The LINNER NC90 mids exhibit medium-moderate amount of mid-bass bleed, non-distant male vocals and very crisp and clear higher mids.

Some harshy peaks can show up depending on each track.

^_7.5/10

Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Medium

On this modes, the headphones shows much warmer mids, with fuller sounding vocals but with more pronounced mid-bass bleed.

Higher mids remain very crisp and clear with the same harshy peaks presence.

^_7.5/10

Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC High

The LINNER NC90 mids show no sound difference between this mode and “Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Medium” mode.

^_7.5/10

Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC Off

On this mode, mids sound very similar to “Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Medium” mode.

^_7.5/10

Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC Medium

The insane amount of bass added in this mode also adds much stronger mid-bass bleed, making them a very bass-centered sounding headphone, yet male vocals fight back and are able to not sound distant.

Important to note that in this mode there is a huge increment of volume output (approximately 30% to 40% more)

^_7.25/10

Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC High

There is no difference in sound between this mode and the aforementioned.

^_7.25/10

Highs & Treble

Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Off

The LINNER NC90 highs provide a good amount of brightness and detail for normal consumers – there is a darkish tint on them but most non-audiophiles will not worry much about it.

Sibilance is not an issue with them, despite some possible piercing peaks – depending on each track.

Using an EQ, there is a noticeable addition of brightness and detail.

^_7.25/10

Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Medium

The LINNER NC90 now shows a noticeable darkening feel due to the stronger bass boost added but still achieve to resolve some detail and provide some brightness.

Their fatiguing peaks will become more frequent with stronger piercing highs.

^_7/10

Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC High

The LINNER NC90 highs sound nearly identical as on “Wireless – Bluetooth On – NC Medium” mode.

^_7/10

Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC Off

In this mode, highs resolve a fairly good amount of detail and will offer sufficient brightness for normal consumers – expect a darkish tint and some rolled-off tendencies.

Piercing and sibilant peaks are not present, giving them a non-fatiguing sound.

^_7.25/10

Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC Medium

The huge increment of bass also invades their highs, making them much more congested, yet they are able to offer some detail.

^_6.5/10

Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC High

In this mode, their highs sound as on “Wired – Bluetooth Off – NC Medium” mode.

^_6.5/10

Sound Leak

The sound leaking out of the LINNER NC90 is substantially low and not very hearable unless you dial up the volume quite a bit.

^7.75_/10

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Sound Isolation

The passive sound isolation provided by the LINNER NC90 is slightly stronger than on many average headphones but it is not champ on this area.

Nonetheless, the LINNER NC90 is equipped with noise cancelling technology to a actively reduce surrounding noises. Their ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) makes use of a feed forward and feedback double microphones system (something that we have seen on the Bluedio T6 Turbine), which supposedly improved the ANC performance.

Moreover, the LINNER NC90 offers 3 ANC settings: Off, Medium and High and a further Monitor Mode. We measured the efficiency of each mode which most efficient reduction resulted in an averaged -20dB and a maximum peak of -25dB.

We also tested and measured them while on Monitor mode, which proved to be a true mode and not a gimmick – our measurements revealed sound reduction stronger than 40dB at it’s most efficient range and -12dB (aprox.) in the lowest end (see the frequency response curves below)

^7.5_/10

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Comfort

The LINNER NC90 are, overall, light but with a robust feel thanks to the good plastics and metal headband structure.

The cups tilt, freely rotate and can lay fully flat; this makes improves their fit while also allowing an easy transport and carry.

The headband and pads are soft and have a pleasant protein leather finish that results in a comfortable wearing experience.

^8.75_/10

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Response to Equalization

The NC90 showed a fairly efficient response to EQ that helped them out to clean and tidy up their mids and the excess of mid-bass bleed or it could be used to insanely power up their bass.

^8_/10

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Size & Fit

LINNER NC90 size and LINNER NC90 fit.

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Scores

LINNER NC90 Scores

• Design - 9/10
  9/10
• Bass - 8/10
  8/10
• Mids - 7.5/10
  7.5/10
• Highs - 7.25/10
  7.3/10
• Sound Leak - 7.75/10
  7.8/10
• Sound Isolation - 7.5/10
  7.5/10
• Comfort - 8.75/10
  8.8/10
• Response to EQ - 8/10
  8/10
• Value for Money - 8/10
  8/10

Summary

AWARDS

Pros

• • ✅Strong and very deep bass

✅ Fairly clear lower mids (ONLY while on Bluetooth mode and with Noise Cancelling turned off)

✅3 ANC settings

✅ANC can be used in BT mode and in wired mode

✅Detachable cable

✅ Informative prompt voice messages

✅Monitor mode can be activated on-the-fly

✅Touch controls

✅Clean and pleasing design

✅34 hours on a single charge

✅Can be used in wired mode even with no battery charge

✅Very light weighted

Cons

❌ Right and left channel were unbalanced (possibly an issue of our unit)

❌ Sound output is not very strong in Bluetooth mode

❌ Sound quality can deteriorate on some modes

Conclusion

•  The LINNER NC90 are aesthetically attractive headphones with comfortable fit, good construction and varied noise cancelling and monitor modes. Their sound can be transformed from a less invasive bass into a richer and much more powerfully bassy sounding headphone by activating their NC.

 

8/10

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LINNER NC90 Frequency Response Curve

Red= Bluetooth On + NC Off / Blue= Bluetooth On + NC High / Green= Bluetooth On + NC Medium / Purple= Bluetooth On + Monitor Mode

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LINNER NC90 Technical Specifications

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LINNER NC90

8

SCORE

8.0/10