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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize excellent sound quality for music and don't need wireless capability, the Audio Technica M50x could be the better choice as it's highly regarded for its sound reproduction. However, it lacks features for modern conveniences such as a microphone, wireless connectivity, and active noise cancellation. On the other hand, the Sennheiser 450BT provides a balanced performance across various use cases, including calls and meetings, gaming, and air travel, and it offers active noise cancellation, a built-in microphone, and wireless capability with a long battery life. If versatility and modern features are high on your list, and you want to save some money, the Sennheiser 450BT might suit you better. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Audio Technica M50x
- Very good for music
Advantages of the Sennheiser 450BT
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.5
6.2
The Audio Technica M50x is very good for music, while the Sennheiser 450BT is only fair.
Gaming
6.3
8.8
The Sennheiser 450BT is very good for gaming, while the Audio Technica M50x is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.4
6.9
The Sennheiser 450BT is only fair for phone calls, while the Audio Technica M50x is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.0
7.9
The Sennheiser 450BT and Audio Technica M50x are both good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Sennheiser 450BT is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
5.3
9.1
The Sennheiser 450BT is excellent for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica M50x is poor.
Battery
N/A
27.5 Hours
The Audio Technica M50x does not have a battery. The Sennheiser 450BT has 27.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$149
$90
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Audio Technica M50x has a price of $149 and the Sennheiser 450BT costs $90.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
7.8
8.1
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser 450BT to be very good for TV and video, while the Audio Technica M50x is good.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Audio Technica M50x and Sennheiser 450BT both have very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica M50x and the Sennheiser 450BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica M50x | Sennheiser 450BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$149 | $90 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2007 | February 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.5/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 6.1/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 27.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 2.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 294.8 Grams | 240.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audio Technica M50x
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | October 2022
"Good sound is timeless. It doesn’t matter that a number of years have passed since the ATH-M50x came out because it still works well. Since this wired headset doesn’t rely on batteries or Bluetooth technology, it’s bound to outlast its wireless counterparts. The no-nonsense performance, fit, and comfort of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x make it worth picking up."
Sennheiser 450BT
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | March 2022
"The Sennheiser HD 450BT is a very good pair of headphones for the price, noise canceling is good and sound quality is great—quite rare at this price point. Like any product, this headset isn’t without its faults."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica M50x or the Sennheiser 450BT
About Audio Technica
Audio Technica is a 60-year-old, Japan-based, professional audio equipment manufacturer. They started off making phonograph cartridges and have expanded their scope of products ever since to include extremely popular models of microphones and headphones. They have been the official audio equipment supplier of several editions of the Summer and Winter Olympics and every edition of the Grammy Awards since 1998.
About Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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