Do Sony MDR-ZX110NC Headphones Work Without a Battery?
Back to my Sony MDR-ZX110NC ownership story
Short answer: yes. Sony’s operating instructions say the MDR-ZX110NC will automatically switch to passive mode when the battery is empty.
What do you lose without the battery?
You lose the powered active noise-canceling function. Sony also warns that the sound characteristics can change in passive mode.
Can you keep listening if the battery dies on a trip?
Yes, assuming the headphones are still plugged into an audio source. That is a useful difference from wireless headphones that may become unusable when their rechargeable battery is exhausted.
Why do the specifications list two impedances?
Sony lists 220 ohms at 1 kHz with power on and 45 ohms with power off. The headphones present different electrical behavior when the active circuit is operating versus passive mode.
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The exact model in my Amazon history is the Sony MDR-ZX110NC.