Sennheiser, the German audio house giant, has been consistently producing applaudable headphones at prices that will not break your bank. At under $300, both headphones are high-quality and can meet your everyday music-listening needs. However, there are definitely differences in specifications and designs between models. New does not always mean better. Here’s my comparison of the Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT vs HD 4.50 BT.
It’s A Tie for Design
The HD 4.50 comes with a rectangular canvas pouch while the HD 4.40 comes with a silky cloth pouch. The canvas pouch definitely offers more protection against hits and bumps, but the cloth pouch smooth texture looks classier. Both headphones have the same ergonomics, though the HD 4.50 has a bright silver accent while the HD 4.40 is more understated in muted grey. There is a huge distinction in the stitching of the ear pads: the HD 4.50 stitches are hidden so the edges are smooth, while that of HD 4.40 is very noticeable and looks less appealing. One wins in the pouch design while one wins in stitching – it’s a draw for design.
HD 4.50 Triumphs in Noise Cancelling
In noisy environments, the active noise cancellation technology in the HD 4.50 plays a big role in listening to music on-the-go. It ensures that the audio details are not washed out by ambient noise. The HD 4.40 loses out in noise isolation which is pretty obvious when used outdoors. Termed as Noise Guard system, the HD 4.50 has two microphones that pick up and measure ambient sounds to cancel them out using phase inversion. If you listen to music indoors most of the time, then this distinction will not make much difference for you.
HD 4.40 is the Winner for Audio Quality
When tested with top-charter pop songs, both headphones produce rich sounds with deep, thumping bass. The sub-bass and bass resonate with power for both headphones, though the upper treble is not as clear when using the HD 4.50. The mids are warm and comparable for both. Overall, the HD 4.40 still produces better, more refreshing sounds than its newer counterpart.
Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT and HD 4.50 BT are available now at $239 and $299 respectively. singapore.sennheiser.com/
