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amazon Sennheiser HD 450BT reviews
Offering great Bluetooth sound, Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones are also good at noise cancellation at a bargain price.
It’s no secret that noise-canceling headphones cost much more than their standard $300 counterparts. At a price of $199.95, Sennheiser’s HD 450BT headphones offer good value, considering models with top-class ANC such as the Bose, which costs around $400. Basically, these are excellent-grade noise-canceling headphones for $200, good Bluetooth sound, adjustable EQ, comfort, and effortless controls.
Design
Available in black or white, the HD 450BT over-ear headphones feature generously padded memory foam earpads for all-day comfort. The semi-matte finish carries with it a clean and stylish look, with most of the controls remaining discreetly on the side panels. Inside each cabinet is a 32mm dynamic driver which covers the frequency range from 18Hz to 22kHz. The headset supports Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC, AptX, and SBC codecs.
The right side panel of the right earcup houses the power/pairing, playback, track navigation, volume rocker, and dedicated voice assistant buttons. The power button doubles as the ANC button depending on how long you press it (two seconds to power on, short press to turn ANC on or off). An audio cable is included 3.5mm jack located on the top of the side panel, as well as a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable for the USB-C port also on this panel.
The audio cable can be used passively when the headset is completely powered off, or the audio cable can be used when the headset is on, and ANC is on. The difference in sound quality in these situations (compared to Bluetooth audio) is negligible.
The Sennheiser Smart Control app for Android and iOS features user-adjustable EQ and provides firmware updates for the headphones. Instead of the usual sliders for EQ, you drag a dot to different areas of the screen to achieve more bass, mids, or highs. Regardless of this slightly less intuitive design, it still works, and you can save presets.
You also get a remarkably compact travel bag. It flattens into a very slim shape when not in use and expands to accommodate headphones and folded cables.
Sennheiser estimates battery life at around 30 hours, but your results will vary with your volume level and ANC usage.
Performance
The HD 450BT headphones offer good noise cancellation for the price. They add as much hiss to the equation as the most affordable ANC headphones, and they eliminate a wide range of lower-frequency rumbles, so those noises on planes and trains are greatly reduced. High frequencies are less controlled — the earpads themselves provide passive noise isolation, but you’ll still hear loud knocks and ambient chatter. If someone is playing nearby music at high volume, the bass-related content in the audio will be significantly replayed, but you’ll still hear higher frequencies and more mid-range content.
There’s a slight difference in audio performance when ANC is on, but it’s incredibly subtle — some tracks sound brighter. Given the headphones’ relatively low price tag, this is a surprise – very few ANC pairs under $200 offer quality noise cancellation, and the HD 450BT does a commendable job.
The MEMS mic array allows for superior clarity. With the recording of the file on Voice Memos in iPhone 8, every single word we heard was understood very distinctly, with very minimal Bluetooth distortion and fair depth of bass. What is more, another advantage of such mic setups is in-ear monitoring of one’s voice, translating to one’s speaking at more natural conversational levels in turn, much less mic distortion, and clearer overall signal.
In terms of sound quality, tracks packed with a ton of bass, such as The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” force the headphones into deep bass where it just creeps in without being overbearing. At the highest volumes, the bass is not distorted, and at lower volumes, it retains its strong and full characteristics without overwhelming the mix.
“Drover,” by Bill Callahan, lets us better understand the general tonal nature of the recording, with a less heavy bass presence in the mix. The drums are round and actually full but do not reach the strange thunderclap territory. Callahan’s baritone fills the mids and lows but is perfectly loaded with high mids to keep it clear and defined. Percussion hits higher; textures sound brighter and clearer: what a perfectly balanced notation.
Advantages
Very strong noise cancellation for the price
Good sound performance
Can be put into passive mode via cable or wired mode with ANC activated
User-adjustable EQ
Disadvantages
Very good noise cancellation, but not quite top
where can you get a Sennheiser HD 450BT online
SENNHEISER HD 450BT Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Headphone with Active Noise Cancellation – 30-Hour Battery Life, USB-C Fast Charging, Virtual Assistant Button, Foldable – Black: Buy it now
Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.
