Sennheiser HD 450BT – Review 2020
It’s no secret that noise-cancelling headphones cost a good deal more than their traditional counterparts. Priced at $199.95, Sennheiser’s HD 450BT headphones are far from inexpensive, but they cost considerably less than leading ANC (active noise cancellation) models like the $400 Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. For half that price, Sennheiser’s pair offers above-average ANC performance and excellent Bluetooth audio. Add in adjustable EQ, a comfortable fit, and easy-to-operate controls, and you get the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy for $200, as well as our Editors’ Choice.
Design
Available in black or white models, the circumaural (over-ear) HD 450BT headphones feature generously cushioned memory foam earpads and an overall comfortable fit. The semi-matte surface has a stylish, uncluttered look, with most of the controls subtly relegated to side panels. Internally, each enclosure houses a 32mm dynamic driver delivering a frequency range of 18Hz to 22kHz. The headphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0 and supports AAC, AptX, and SBC codecs.
The right earcup’s side panel houses controls for power/pairing, playback, track navigation, a volume rocker, and a dedicated voice assistant button. The power button doubles as the ANC button depending on how long you press (two seconds for power, a quick press for ANC on or off). An audio cable is included for the 3.5mm jack located on this same side panel, as is a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable for the USB-C port also on this panel.
The audio cable can be used passively, with the headphones completely powered down, or it can be used with the headphones on and ANC enabled. The difference in audio quality in these scenarios (versus Bluetooth audio) is negligible.
The Sennheiser Smart Control app for Android and iOS has user-adjustable EQ and provides firmware updates for the headphones. Rather than typical sliders for the EQ, you drag a dot to various areas of a screen to achieve more bass, mids, or highs. Regardless of this slightly less intuitive design, it works, and you can save presets.
You also get a remarkably compact travel pouch. It flattens to a very thin profile when not in use and expands to house the folded headphones and cables.
Sennheiser estimates battery life to be roughly 30 hours, but your results will vary with your volume levels and your ANC usage.
Performance
The HD 450BT headphones deliver solid noise cancellation for the price. They add as much hiss to the equation as most affordable ANC headphones do, and they eliminate a solid swatch of lower-frequency rumble, so those noises on planes and trains will be tamped down significantly. High frequencies are less controlled—the earpads themselves do some passive noise isolation, but you’ll still hear loud typing and nearby chatter. If someone is playing music nearby at high volumes, the bass-related content in the audio will be dialed back significantly, but you’ll still hear the higher frequencies and much of the midrange content, as well.
There is a slight difference in audio performance when ANC is enabled, but it is exceedingly subtle—some tracks sound just a touch more bright. Given the headphone’s relatively low price, this is nitpicking—very few ANC pairs below $200 offer quality noise cancellation, and the HD 450BT do a commendable job.
See How We Test Headphones
The MEMS mic array offers excellent intelligibility. Using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 8, we could understand every word we recorded clearly, with very little Bluetooth distortion and even a hint of bass depth. One great aspect of the mics is they give you some in-ear monitoring of your own voice, which generally leads to speaking at more natural conversational levels, which often leads to less mic distortion and a clearer overall signal.
When it comes to audio performance, on tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the headphones delivers powerful low-frequency response without going overboard. At top volume levels, the bass doesn’t distort, and at lower levels, the lows still sound robust and full without overwhelming the mix.
Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass in the mix, gives us a better sense of the general sound signature. The drums on this track sound wonderfully round and full without venturing into unnaturally thunderous territory. Callahan’s baritone vocals are rich in the low-mids, but receive the ideal amount of high-mid presence to maintain clarity and definition. The higher-register percussive hits and acoustic strums are bright and crisp, and overall, this is a wonderfully balanced sound signature.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives a perfect blend of high-mid presence and low-frequency fullness—the attack of the loop is clear, and the hits pack a nice thud, too. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are delivered with solid bass depth—we hear their ominous rumble, but it’s not pushed to the fore and doesn’t overwhelm the mix. The vocals on this track are delivered with excellent clarity, and without much added sibilance.
Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound excellent through the HD 450BT. Lower-register instrumentation is pushed forward in the mix, but subtly. Purists may not love it, but it gives the mix a little more richness at times, and never takes away from the crisp, clear presence of the higher-register brass, strings, and vocals. These are the rare headphone that boost bass subtly and maintain an ideal balance throughout, without the mids sounding scooped.
For the price, the headphones deliver audio beyond expectations—there may be EQ in the app, but it’s not likely going to be necessary for most users to reach for it. Out of the box, there’s bass depth, balance, and clarity. Sure, the sound signature is sculpted and not completely flat, but if that’s what you’re after, the EQ can get you close.
Conclusions
Sennheiser’s HD 450BT headphones are easy to operate, comfortable to wear, and most importantly, they sound great. Compared with the identically priced Sony WH-CH710N, they deliver slightly better ANC and far better audio performance. We’re fans of the $270 Marshall Mid ANC, which can now be found for closer to $200, though again we give an edge to the HD 450BT. If you want the best ANC on the market, the aforementioned Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are still the best option, but they’re double the price. For $200, Sennheiser’s HD 450BT headphones are a steal, making them our new favorite budget-friendly pair, and earning our Editors’ Choice.
Sennheiser HD 450BT Specs
Type | Circumaural (over-ear) |
Wireless | Yes |
Wire-Free | No |
Phone Controls | Yes |
Connection Type | Bluetooth, Stereo 3.5mm |
Water/Sweat-Resistant | No |
Removable Cable | Yes |
Active Noise Cancellation | Yes |
Boom Mic | No |