Sennheiser HD 450BT Headphones Review: Affordable Cans
Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones Review: Good value for money, with some limitations
"Impressive features, style, and noise cancellation are an affordable option for price-conscious buyers."
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Sleek, understated style
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Excellent battery life
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Good build quality
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Solid noise cancellation
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Smooth, clean bass reproduction
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Inconsistent tone signature
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No automatic pause or ambient noise mode
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App / EQ not useful
High-end travel cans like the indelible WH-1000XM3 from Sony are becoming an essential necessity for commuters and travelers. But if you can't spit out $ 300 to $ 400 (or can't find a good sale), it's possible to purchase a pair of wireless cans that offer the same benefits – from active noise canceling to deadly battery life and sound – , for less?
Headphones like the Sennheiser HD 450BT hope to make the argument that you can spend less and still get a lot. And on paper, the latest iteration is a good case. The magic value of $ 200 (450 BT) offers noise reduction, a full 30 hours of battery life and many other functions with a capital letter "V". However, before you click the "Buy" button, you want to know exactly where the rubber for these middle-class cans meets the proverbial road.
The look (and feel) of luxury
If there's one thing you can clearly say about the HD 450BT, it's that it looks like this. The 450BT is in matt black and has soft silver accents to break up the monotony. It makes the "business traveler" look cold and offers just enough style points to keep you from falling asleep. In other words, their aesthetics match most of the flagship headphones, including the Sony pair mentioned above.
Riley Young / Digital Trends
In addition, the matt plastic ear cups and headband of the 450BT feel just like the comfortable ear cushions, which are wrapped in inviting synthetic leather. The only limitation is the padding on the underside of the headband, which feels much less comfortable when touched than you would like for a long flight or constant commuting. That said, although the band didn't rock my head in pillow-like goodness, it never felt uncomfortable even after I had worn them for a few hours. The only little problem I am going to offer is that I wish the ear pads were only a shade wider, but it didn't bother me.
Keys on keys
Instead of adding expensive touch controls, the HD 450BT uses an all-button control system. Overall, it works relatively well, but there is a real learning curve. Technically speaking, there are only four buttons on the right auricle. However, this includes three multipurpose buttons, including a power / ANC button, a volume rocker, and a multi-button that does everything from answering calls to skipping tracks.
It is this last key that turns out to be the most annoying as you move through the sequence. Not only is it a bit of a hassle when skipping songs (I found that a quick flick of the thumb works best), skipping backwards from what is logical. If you move the key forward – towards your face – you actually jump back and vice versa. After more than a week I usually don't have it anymore, but I still mix it occasionally.
The voice assistant feature is a great addition, but there is something strange to keep in mind. I'm actually glad Sennheiser made this the only single-function key, but it seems to happen to do two things. When you tap for voice support, the headphones also pass on ambient noise. The strange part, however, is that there doesn't seem to be any other way to do this, which means you have to take off your headphones if you want to hear things like train or flight attendant announcements. I hope this is something that Sennheiser addresses in a firmware update.
The entire range of functions would have been reserved for first-class headphones just recently.
Even without transparent sound, a number of features are impressive, including instant access to the voice assistant, battery life for a longer flight (and more expensive headphones like the 700 from Bose), solid noise cancellation, aptX support for compatible devices and much more , Such a range of extras would have been reserved for top-of-the-range headphones recently.
What you don't get
While the HD 450BT is above its weight in the feature section, there are some useful ones that you will definitely miss. First, there is no automatic pause that is useful for quickly pausing music when you remove an ear cup, and you can also thoughtlessly turn off the headphones without worrying about battery drain.
After getting used to this feature from the WH-1000XM3 to Apple's AirPods, I had to keep reminding myself to pause the music.
In addition, the Sennheiser Smart Control app is pretty useless for these headphones anyway. The only real function is an EQ, but I'll give you my audio engineer certificate (I have it somewhere, I think) if you can figure out how to use it. As an esoterically shining band, it is not manageable to properly tune the sound. How about a basic parametric or graphic EQ, folks?
A mixture of passive and active noise reduction keeps outside interference out.
noise control
Although I couldn't use the HD 450BT for the traveling Holy Grail – a long flight – I can report that they do a solid job in a variety of settings to keep unwanted noise away. This seems to be due to a clever combination of passive isolation and active noise cancellation, which keeps your listening sessions unrestricted and outside annoyances at bay.
Riley Young / Digital Trends
The comfortable cushions in themselves block a lot of unwanted hustle and bustle, while noise cancellation adds an extra layer to fairly effectively suppress engine humming and other booming noises. While they're not a replacement for the WH-1000XM3 – which even offers additional pressure control for extra points – or one of Bose's top picks in the genre, the 700 or the QC35 II, the HD 450BT is sure to give your trips some peace and quiet ,
Decent (albeit inconsistent) sound
Since these are Sennheiser headphones, the strangest part of my HD 450BT experience was the inconsistent sound quality that I experienced during my listening sessions. First of all, let me say that the headphones offer a balanced, relatively detailed sound and also present instruments without "masking" well, which means that instruments are rarely lost in the mix.
I particularly like the bass reproduction of the 450BT. For someone who hates bass-heavy cans, they are perfectly reserved, yet present the tone and color from kick drums to bass guitar with power and clarity. Paul McCartney's exquisite bass tone on Something shows itself in all its soft, chocolatey splendor. And while the bass never gets overwhelming, it hits hard where it is needed for hip-hop and electronic tracks.
The presence that I expect from Sennheiser in the medium and high range is missing here.
The strangest thing about the 450BT is the mixture of a bright shimmer on acoustic instruments and vocals and a lack of presence in the middle range. The combination gives some recordings too much tinsel (and too little body) in instruments and vocals, while others are draped with a foggy taste.
While the lighter color affected most of the tracks, a prime example of the latter can be heard in Vampire Weekends Married in a Gold Rush. Danielle Haim's voice is depressed in the mix, while her first appearance sounds much more like "Fshared a moment in a cafe" than "Shared".
Riley Young / Digital Trends
This was also not always the case. Some songs were played so clearly that I had to pause over my previous grades. But overall, the presence that I expect from Sennheiser in the middle and high range is missing, as is the reddish warmth of the lower mids, which is something of a Sennheiser specialty.
You could say that I find the sound quality of the HD 450BT hard for its price, and if so, I'll take the heat. In fact, you can often buy a pair of our favorite wireless cans in-store right now, the WH-1000XM3, which rightly sneaks into this test over and over again for just $ 250. And frankly, they outperform the HD 450BT in terms of clarity, instrumental definition, soundstage and level of detail.
For most titles, the HD 450BT does a good (if limited) job of delivering the goods, and less picky listeners are likely to be happy.
warranty
Sennheiser grants a generous two-year warranty on most products, including the HD 450BT. More information is available on the Sennheiser website.
Our opinion
The Sennheiser HD 450BT isn't the best value in the industry, but at just $ 200, the impressive features, stylish look, and solid noise cancellation are a good option for those in high-end travel cans want to dive in without high end price.
Is there a better alternative?
If you can look for a business, yes. Whether it is the WH-1000XM3 or the QC35 II, it is the aging guild of travel boxes that offers the best value for money these days. Is that Sennheiser's fault? I would say no, and every new pair of cans will charge a premium for headphones that have been in the tooth for a long time. With a 30 hour battery and plenty of style and comfort, the HD 450BT is worth considering.
However, if you want to make a splash in this highly competitive segment, you have to give people every reason to throw the flagships away, and the HD 450BT isn't quite there.
Should you buy them
If $ 200 is your ultimate budget cutoff (or even a stretch), yes. Their noise cancellation and extra long battery alone are enough to get them talking. However, if you can sneak a little higher, it is worth looking for a sale of the flagship models, as this is where the serious value lies. At least until the next models arrive and they are discontinued.
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