Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC

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Today I examined two pairs of headphones with noise-canceling and built-in buttons. Sennheiser PXC 550 vs HD 4.50 BTNC has a completely different sound, although they both are closed back and wireless.

Features

The impedance of Sennheiser PXC 550 is 490 Ohm which is incredibly high compared to the second pair of headphones. Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC has only 18 Ohm. In contrast, its sensitivity is quite similar. The model PXC 550 is 110 dB sensitive, while its rate in the case with HD 4.50 BTNC is 113 dB. Also, there is a marked difference between levels of frequency response, as the first device works within 17 Hz - 23 kHz and the second one — 18 Hz - 22 kHz.

Both headphones support aptX and NFC. Despite all the good points, their battery life is relatively short. Sennheiser PXC 550 works 20 hours and the battery life of Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is 1 hour less. Without a noise-canceling function, they can work 30 and 25 hours respectively. For charging you have to spend 3 hours in the first case and 2 hours in the second one. A battery-free listening mode is available for both.

Sound

Speaking of the sound of Sennheiser PXC 550, the bass-hungry may crave a little more. However, the benefit is that no nuance is too subtle or fleeting to escape the headphones` attention – and it is turned into the overall sonic picture deftly, without undue emphasis.

The sound of Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC is super crisp and vibrant. Its balanced sonic profile offers a full and rounded sound without sounding overprocessed.

Comfort and design

Their weight is almost the same. Sennheiser PXC 550 weighs 227 g and HD 4.50 BTNC — 238 g. The appliances are foldable and have an adjustable headband for comfortable use. Also, they have a built-in microphone and you get each device with a detachable cable.

Sennheiser PXC 550 pros and cons

Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC pros and cons