Unzipping the hard case to check out Audio Technica’s new ATH-ANC9 QuietPoint headphones, you expect no less bang for buck performance and value from the Japanese audio company’s latest version of its excellent noise cancelling cans.

It has been almost five years since the impressive ATH-ANC7 arrived on scene to spoil the party for more expensive rivals (Bose, take note) and Audio-Technica followed it up a couple of years later with a slightly updated ATH-ANC7b.

The ATH-ANC9 that has just been released doesn’t rock the boat as far as the looks or sound go, but it comes with a number of enhancements like better noise cancellation. Oh, there’s also the obligatory microphone for the iPhone crowd to make their calls.

Yet, the most impressive part of the package, surely, is still the sound. Hearing this and comparing it with other noise cancelling headphones, you remember why you are buying headphones for – the music, not the fancy features.

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You can actually walk through the halls without squeezing past sweaty people – well, in most parts – at this year’s Comex show at Suntec City.

At nearby Raffles City, there was even ample parking – many empty lots – at about 6pm on Friday when I visited this year’s third quarterly computer and electronics bazaar.

So, what are the good deals that Techgoondu recommends you check out? I’d say the usual stuff were in store – large-screen TVs and portable hard disks – but there were one of two surprises, like Audio Technica’s headphones.

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