HD 4.50BTNC

"the HD4.50, while not as bass heavy as the Kraken, was extremely cleaner, suddenly my music sounded so much better, the bass wasn't overly heavy, it was *just right*, and everything sounded so beautiful and clean."

Users generally find the sound quality to be clean and well-balanced, with good bass that isn't muddy, though some note a slight recession in mids and a dislike for the treble.

"The 4.50 aren't comfortable. The 4.50 are a bit smaller than say the Bose NC headphones, so they press up on your ears, which after 30 minutes your ears are going to be sweating and depending on your ears, they might be sore."

Comfort is a significant issue, with multiple users reporting discomfort, pressure on ears, sweating, and high clamping force, especially during long listening sessions.

"Battery life is mind-blowing."

Battery life is consistently praised as impressive, with users noting they have never managed to drain it even with ANC on.

"the plastic feels sturdy, controls are well thought out."

The build is generally described as compact and sturdy, though one user mentioned the headband falling apart after 7 years, requiring tape.

"No AAC."

The headphones offer Bluetooth and the option to use a cable, but lack AAC support and have been noted to have a beeping sound when adjusting volume.

"NoiseGard has a huge impact on the sound of the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC and it’s not a positive one either."

Sound quality is generally praised as good for the price, with a pleasant midrange, but is notably degraded when ANC is active, losing bass and clarity.

"The HD 4.50 BTNCs felt a little tight, but my hat size is large -- 7 3/4 -- so they probably won’t feel so snug to most people."

While initially comfortable, many users report discomfort during extended listening sessions due to tightness, lack of headband padding, and earcups that can get warm.

"Battery life is over the top, haven't had any incident where the headphones run out of juice."

Battery life is consistently praised as excellent, meeting or exceeding advertised hours for both ANC on and off modes.

"The build quality on the headphones is pretty good, but when you first hold them it may feel like they’re a little flimsy."

The build is generally considered decent and lightweight for portability, but some users report issues with the plastic materials and earpads degrading over time.

"The microphone is luckily able to pick up the voice very effectively, so I was always heard clearly by the person I was calling."

Call quality is described as good, with clear voice pickup, but some users note that the microphones can pick up too much ambient noise, and the lack of sidetone is a minor complaint.

"It did take us a while to figure out that the volume button on the right ear-cup also toggled-on Sennheiser's NoiseGuard active noise-cancelling tech – and it is a little tricky to perform the three-second hold needed to activate it."

Features like Bluetooth, NFC, and the option to disable ANC are appreciated, but the controls can be confusing, and the proprietary cable is a drawback for some.

"The sound quality was quite good for a wireless noise cancelling headphone. The bass is powerful with good definition. The treble has some sparkle, and the mid-range sounds fairly warm and natural."

Users frequently praise the sound quality, noting a good balance with punchy bass and clear mids/highs, though some find it slightly less refined than higher-end Sennheiser models.

"The only two things I can complain about in the comfort aspect is that this opening right here is too small it kind of crushes your ear your ear can only fit half way in but otherwise it kind of blends right on your ear."

Comfort is a mixed bag, with many users finding the earcups too small or tight for long listening sessions, leading to discomfort and ear fatigue.

"These have been great for me. I’m still at 100% battery on my first charge after over 10 hours of listening. Did the Germans include a nuclear power source?!"

Battery life is consistently reported as excellent, often exceeding the advertised hours and easily lasting through long flights or multiple days of use.

"The majority of these headphones is made out of plastic, but their build quality is very good."

The headphones are predominantly made of plastic, which some users feel detracts from a premium feel, though they are generally considered durable enough for their price.

"The only other bad thing I can think about this headphone is the microphone it's so bad don't use it for like talking on the phone it's Tenny if that's important before you know"

The microphone quality is frequently cited as a significant drawback, with users reporting it to be poor and not recommended for phone calls.

"The other thing that's not supposed to happen but it does happen anyway super surprising is that it can actually connect simultaneously to two devices or so my iPad and my phone at the same time I don't have to disconnect it"

Features like Bluetooth connectivity, NFC pairing, and the option to use wired are appreciated, though the controls can be confusing and the proprietary cable is a minor annoyance.