Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 450BT, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #204 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.3/5, at $69; the HIFIMAN HE-R9 ranks #210, rated 1.6/5, and costs $79, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones; for better sound, the Mackie MC-250 ranks #54 at $89.99.
The Sennheiser HD 450BT is the better-sounding choice. Wireless with active noise cancelling, about 30 hours of battery and Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Low Latency. The catch: A deep 15.7 dB dip near 4.4 kHz and presence about 8.5 dB low make vocals recessed and distant.
Why pick the HIFIMAN HE-R9: Listeners who want a big bass boost get one, with the 60 to 200 Hz range about 8 dB above target and sub-bass extending to 20 Hz with no roll-off. The catch: A preference score of 28 in oratory1990’s measurement reflects a heavily skewed tuning, with bass and low mids swelling over the midrange so voices sound muffled and boomy.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 450BT. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HIFIMAN HE-R9 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 450BT | HIFIMAN HE-R9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69.00 | $79.00 |
| Ranked | #204 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #210 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 44 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.64 dB standard deviation | 4.30 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.56 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wireless and wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Sensitivity | 108 dB SPL (1 kHz, 0 dBFS) | 100 dB |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (238 g) | 0.7 lbs (328 g) |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 35kHz (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 | No |
| Impedance | - | 32 ohms |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sennheiser HD 450BT:
- HyperX Cloud II vs Sennheiser HD 450BT
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X vs Sennheiser HD 450BT
- Koss Porta Pro vs Sennheiser HD 450BT
- Sennheiser HD 450BT vs Logitech G Pro X
- HIFIMAN HE-R9 vs Razer Barracuda X
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN HE-R9: $79.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Listeners who want a big bass boost get one, with the 60 to 200 Hz range about 8 dB above target and sub-bass extending to 20 Hz with no roll-off. The closed back keeps sound in and outside noise out. At 32 ohms it runs straight from a phone or laptop.
Cons: A preference score of 28 in oratory1990’s measurement reflects a heavily skewed tuning, with bass and low mids swelling over the midrange so voices sound muffled and boomy. A 7.6 dB peak near 8 kHz next to a 4.8 dB dip near 10 kHz makes treble uneven. At 328 g it is heavy for a closed headphone, and the Logitech G Pro X carries a higher rating.
Full HIFIMAN HE-R9 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.30 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (328 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 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 | +5.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 127 Hz | -7.4 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 1,761 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.80 |
| Peak | 448 Hz | +6.6 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.69 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,215 Hz | +3.4 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 3,235 Hz | -5.0 dB | 3.16 |
| Peak | 258 Hz | -1.6 dB | 4.22 |
| Peak | 205 Hz | +1.2 dB | 3.57 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons