Short answer: the HyperX Cloud II, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #113 of 134 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $47.48; the Sennheiser HD 450BT ranks #127, rated 2.3/5, and costs $69, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 134 over-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Sony MDR-ZX310 instead, ranked #45 at $77.09.
The HyperX Cloud II is the better-sounding choice. A built-in microphone and a closed-back design make it a ready-made gaming headset, and the 60 ohm impedance with 98 dB sensitivity means it runs easily from a PC or console. The catch: A deep dip of roughly 15 dB near 4.2 kHz hollows out presence, so voices and the attack of instruments sound recessed, while a peak of about 9 dB near 8.6 kHz adds a sharp, sizzly edge to cymbals and sibilance.
Why pick 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 HyperX Cloud II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sennheiser HD 450BT and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| HyperX Cloud II | Sennheiser HD 450BT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47.48 | $69.00 |
| Ranked | #113 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones | #127 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 44 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.60 dB standard deviation | 3.64 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.56 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 60 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB SPL/mW | 108 dB SPL (1 kHz, 0 dBFS) |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 18Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | - | 0.5 lbs (238 g) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency |
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- Koss KPH40 vs Koss Porta Pro
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
HyperX Cloud II: $47.48 Amazon eBay
Pros: A built-in microphone and a closed-back design make it a ready-made gaming headset, and the 60 ohm impedance with 98 dB sensitivity means it runs easily from a PC or console. The large 53mm driver delivers bass about 4 dB above the Harman target, which suits listeners who want punchy explosions and a warm, bass-forward presentation. Sub-bass and the lower midrange sit close to target, so the low end is fuller without being muddy.
Cons: A deep dip of roughly 15 dB near 4.2 kHz hollows out presence, so voices and the attack of instruments sound recessed, while a peak of about 9 dB near 8.6 kHz adds a sharp, sizzly edge to cymbals and sibilance. Treble above 6 kHz runs about 4 to 5 dB hot, which can become fatiguing at higher volumes. The HyperX Cloud Alpha has a higher rating at a lower price.
Full HyperX Cloud II review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.60 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 53mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB SPL/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.74 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
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 | +4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 170 Hz | -7.0 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 271 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.58 |
| Peak | 3,828 Hz | +5.4 dB | 3.60 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -4.8 dB | 0.58 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,085 Hz | -3.0 dB | 3.98 |
| Peak | 2,378 Hz | -1.9 dB | 2.78 |
| Peak | 3,700 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.71 |
| Peak | 1,123 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.29 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sennheiser HD 450BT: $69.00 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) |
| 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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons