The Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC proves that one does not need to spend a lot of money to enjoy a pair of decent noise cancelling headphones. Bose used to dominate the noise cancelling headphone market with the QuietComfort 25 model, but the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC proves to be a worthy competition, offering impressive noise cancellation technology and supreme sound quality.

The Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is one of the leading affordable noise-cancelling headphones available on the market, offering the proprietary NoiseGuard technology of the brand without compromising audio quality. This product can offer awesome sound quality whether you are playing music or watching movies. If you are shopping for a pair of headphones that are effective in tuning out noises from the outside world and still make audio sound great, we recommend the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC.

Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC Design

At a glance, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC looks ordinary and you will see that this classic black headphones has a brushed aluminum accent that looks a bit tacky. However, there’s a reason for that – noise cancelling headphones are known to be a traveller’s best buddy, so Sennheiser made sure that it can survive the wear and tear in the luggage department.

The Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is also recommended for people who want to travel light. Weighing at just 238g, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC can surprisingly deliver comfort with its thick cushions and closed earcups.

The design of the narrow ear cup of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC ensures that the wearer can feel comfortable when it is worn on the neck, which is an essential factor when falling in line at airport or terminal queues. A volume rocker is located on the right earcup, together with a track change slider and a slot for micro USB battery charging. Although Sennheiser uses wireless Bluetooth, it still offers an audio cable in the box and a 3.5mm stereo jack.

As an additional information, the volume button on the right ear cup also serves as a toggle button for Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC NoiseGuard active noise cancelling technology. It is notably a little bit tricky to carry out the three second hold to activate this tech and may entail a few trial and errors.

Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC may not be as durable in quality compared to its rivals but it wins the hearts of travelers for being lightweight. The travel pouch is also not as premium as expected; it is made of nylon and is soft and small. It may not be as protective as the cases of Sony and Bose but it is a great space saver and would work great for a person who likes to travel light.

Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC: Performance

To fully maximize the performance of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC, you need to use them in a noisy environment like in a commuter train, on a busy terminal or on a high-traffic street. When used in noisy environments, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC uses the NoiseGard noise cancelling technology to support dual omnidirectional microphones to monitor the ambient sound which is electronically cancelled out.

Based on sound quality, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC performs well and provides audio solutions at an affordable price tag. It offers a well-rounded and detailed stereo sound when connected wirelessly to a smartphone via Bluetooth. The Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC provides a more rounded audio than Bose QC35 but not as crisp as that of the Sony MDR-1000x.

The Noise Gard tech of Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is not only effective but it’s also delivered in a better pricing package compared to Sony and Bose devices. In addition, the volume of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC can go very high without experiencing any distortion.

The battery life of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is also at par with Bose and Sony, offering around 20 hours of playback on a single charge. If anything, the only issue that we can pinpoint is the lack of ventilation of Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC earcups. Users who are on a warm plane or humid train may tend to get hot ears with this pair of headphones.

What We Love: Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC

A decent pair of noise cancelling headphones can really influence the decision to purchase, especially if the purchasers are constant travelers who visit foreign countries. In addition, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 HD BTNC is a favorite among travelers, with its travel-friendly design and comfort. The combination of narrow cushioned earcups and NoiseGard technology effectively block out sound.

Room for improvement: Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC

There’s no doubt about it, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is competent enough to match its rivals, but of course, there are still a few features that could be better. First off, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC has no volume dial on the ear cups. It’s also missing a no-call button that can silence the music should you need to make a conversation or order an additional glass of champagne from a flight attendant.

The NoiseGard activation button also has room for improvement and the headband can also improve by having more padding and ventilation. As mentioned earlier, hot ears can be an issue for wearers who are visiting tropical countries or riding a warm plane or train.

Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC: Our Final Say

The Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is an ideal pair of noise cancelling headphones that can last for a long time. It is also a good choice for a traveller who is looking for cheaper alternatives to Sony and Bose. The Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is powered by NoiseGuard tech and has a travel-friendly design which makes this pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones close to perfect.  

Think of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC as an effective pair of noise cancelling headphones with similar features of Bose but with a more affordable price tag and a more musical sonic ability. This merchandise is also easier to travel with, thanks to its super lightweight design that works like a real champ whether you are in a plane, a commuter train or sitting at your office desk.