Let’s face it, not everyone can afford a premium, wireless noise cancelling pair of headphones. Thankfully, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 exists, giving budget conscious listeners a chance to enjoy a high quality pair of headphones at a more affordable price than similar in-house models or from other brands like from Bose and Sony.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 Design and Comfort
The straightforward look of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 is worth noting and we also like its understated matte black finish, making it eerily similar to the Bose QuietComfort 35. Technically, what Sennheiser did was to cut some design corners to get to a lower price point. The majority of the frame of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 is made of plastic and the earpads are made of a plush memory foam. The covering material is made of synthetic leather that isn’t as luxurious and breathable as real leather found on high-end, premium headphones in the market.
Don’t expect to get a fancy protective case for you to store your headphones. The good thing is, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 is foldable and can nicely fit into a canvas case. At 238g, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 is lightweight and comfortable. It fits snugly on the ears and head but you may need to make some adjustments after you’ve worn it for several hours. It’s safe to say that the Sennheiser HD 4.50 is comfortable but not as comfortable as Sennheiser’s PXC 550, Sony MDR-1000X or Bose QuietComfort 35.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 Connectivity
In terms of Bluetooth connectivity, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 performs well and users have no issues pairing or re-pairing them with different devices. The controls are located on the right earcup of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 and they are easy to navigate by feel.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 Noise Cancellation Technology
The Sennheiser HD 4.50 is marketed to offer noise cancellation but based on experience, the noise cancellation isn’t really that strong compared to the performance of other headphone models. However, for its price, this model offers a fairly effective NC performance and effectively muffles sound while adding only a very subtle, almost dismissable hiss. The Sennheiser HD 4.50 also comes with an NFC tap-to-pair tech for selected supporting devices.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 Sound Quality
For a wireless noise cancelling headphone with an affordable cost, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 is a great steal. Of course, don’t expect the sound quality to be at par with other Hi-Fi Sennheiser models, but this model can actually deliver high calibre audio that’s either at par or even better than other wireless noise cancelling headphones in the $200 price range. The bass is also powerful and offers good definition while the treble has a charming sparkle that works harmoniously with the midrange sounds that sounds natural and warm. If anything, the openness and clarity are the weak points of the Sennheiser HD 4.50, where audiophiles can point out something missing in the upper treble. Nevertheless, the overall sound signature of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 works well with a wide variety of music genres.
The Sennheiser HD 4.50 performs well as a headset. It has a sidetone feature that allows users to hear their own voice while they are on a call. Most headphones sold at this price do not offer this feature, so yes, this is one of the perks that the Sennheiser HD 4.50 can offer.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 Battery Life
The battery life of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 is marketed to go for 19 hours with noise cancelling and Bluetooth turned on. This is actually fairly decent compared to similar headphones in the market.
Users can opt to listen to their favorite music, watch their favorite TV shows or YouTube videos through wired mode or wireless. Going wired comes in handy when listeners want to relax and plug into an in-flight entertainment system. We didn’t really notice a big difference in sound quality when using the Sennheiser HD 4.50 wired, but going wired is one of the most effective solutions to save you some precious battery life, so if you are a traveller, choosing the wired option is a good call.
Final Verdict: Is the Sennheiser HD 4.50 worth buying?
If you want to own a pair of Sennheiser headphones but don’t have the budget to spend $350 or more, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 is worth a shot. While it’s not really as high-performing or as comfortable as other premium headphones in the market, you’ll still enjoy the features of this noise cancelling model.
The noise cancelling is effective and you can enjoy the option of using the Sennheiser HD 4.50 wired or wireless. You can purchase the Sennheiser HD 4.50 at Amazon.com. For more product information, you may visit the official website of Sennheiser.