Short answer: the Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #192 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.6/5, at $118.90. The Sennheiser HD 450BT ranks #204, rated 2.3/5, at $69, $49.90 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones, and the HIFIMAN HE400se, ranked #18 at $109, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X is the better-sounding pick. The open-back design gives a spacious, airy presentation, and the 48 ohm impedance with 100 dB sensitivity works directly from a phone or laptop. The catch: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 9 dB below target and a 16 dB dip near 7.2 kHz removes cymbal and sibilance detail, so the sound is dark and veiled.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 450BT: Wireless with active noise cancelling, about 30 hours of battery and Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Low Latency. Watch for: A deep 15.7 dB dip near 4.4 kHz and presence about 8.5 dB low make vocals recessed and distant.
Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $49.90 saving on the Sennheiser HD 450BT is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X | Sennheiser HD 450BT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $118.90 | $69.00 |
| Ranked | #192 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #204 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 44 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.75 dB standard deviation | 3.64 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.10 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.56 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 56 Hz (-10.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 48 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 108 dB SPL (1 kHz, 0 dBFS) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (235 g) | 0.5 lbs (238 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 18Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
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- Sennheiser HD 450BT vs Logitech G Pro X
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The Two Headphones In Full
Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X: $118.90 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open-back design gives a spacious, airy presentation, and the 48 ohm impedance with 100 dB sensitivity works directly from a phone or laptop. At 235 g it is light for a full-size headphone. The lower midrange is within half a dB of target, so the body of voices and guitars sounds natural.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 9 dB below target and a 16 dB dip near 7.2 kHz removes cymbal and sibilance detail, so the sound is dark and veiled. Sub-bass is about 9 dB low under 60 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble. Open backs leak sound and give no isolation. The Anker Soundcore Space One has a higher rating at a lower price.
Full Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X review and specifications →
| Released | 2012 (14 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.75 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 48 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 56 Hz (-10.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.10 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (235 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +7.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 132 Hz | -4.4 dB | 0.44 |
| Peak | 8,349 Hz | +6.5 dB | 1.37 |
| Peak | 1,295 Hz | -3.9 dB | 1.00 |
| Peak | 2,506 Hz | +4.7 dB | 1.39 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,177 Hz | -3.9 dB | 5.95 |
| Peak | 3,282 Hz | +3.3 dB | 5.84 |
| Peak | 2,773 Hz | -1.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 4,931 Hz | +1.7 dB | 6.00 |
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Sennheiser HD 450BT: $69.00 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: Wireless with active noise cancelling, about 30 hours of battery and Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Low Latency. It also has a wired mode and a built-in microphone at a modest price. Bass from sub-bass through 200 Hz is within about 1 dB of the Harman target, which suits warm tastes.
Cons: A deep 15.7 dB dip near 4.4 kHz and presence about 8.5 dB low make vocals recessed and distant. Treble from 6 to 16 kHz is also 4 to 7 dB under target, so the sound is dark and lacks sparkle. The HyperX Cloud II is rated higher for less money.
Full Sennheiser HD 450BT review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.64 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 44 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sensitivity | 108 dB SPL (1 kHz, 0 dBFS) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.56 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (238 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,417 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.56 |
| Peak | 3,855 Hz | +8.3 dB | 1.65 |
| Peak | 151 Hz | -3.0 dB | 1.14 |
| Peak | 6,571 Hz | +3.5 dB | 1.15 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +5.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,215 Hz | -2.8 dB | 4.27 |
| Peak | 374 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.79 |
| Peak | 656 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.31 |
| Peak | 41 Hz | -0.2 dB | 1.75 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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