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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for exceptional audio fidelity and can afford a higher price, the HiFiMan Arya Stealth might be your choice, offering expansive soundstage and detail, ideal for critical listening. However, they are larger and may not be as portable or as versatile for casual use, lacking features like a microphone or active noise cancellation. The Sennheiser 450BT, on the other hand, is a more budget-friendly option and better suited for commuting and casual listening, with added convenience like wireless connectivity, built-in microphone for calls, and noise cancellation, but they won't match the Arya's audiophile-grade sound quality. 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 HifiMan Arya Stealth
- Best in class for music
- Excellent for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser 450BT
- Very good for gaming
- Excellent for air travel
Key differences
Music
10.0
6.2
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the Sennheiser 450BT is only fair.
Gaming
7.1
8.8
The Sennheiser 450BT is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is good.
Phone Calls
5.1
6.9
The Sennheiser 450BT is only fair for phone calls, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is poor.
TV and Video
9.4
8.1
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent for TV and video, while the Sennheiser 450BT is very good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
9.1
The Sennheiser 450BT is excellent for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth is poor.
Battery
N/A
27.5 Hours
The HifiMan Arya Stealth does not have a battery. The Sennheiser 450BT has 27.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$649
$139
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has a price of $649 and the Sennheiser 450BT costs $139.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser 450BT has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.1
7.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HifiMan Arya Stealth to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser 450BT is good.
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How the HifiMan Arya Stealth and the Sennheiser 450BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Arya Stealth | Sennheiser 450BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$649 | $139 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2018 | February 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 10/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.2/10 | 8.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 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 | 2.5/10 | 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 | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 408.2 Grams | 240.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HifiMan Arya Stealth
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | October 2022
"The Arya can easily be end-game headphones for 99% of consumers, satisfying most audio desires. Priced well above USD$1000, the Arya are obviously and gloriously not for the mass market consumer; they are designed and built by enthusiasts for enthusiasts – especially those who view their expenses on this level of gear as investments."
Sennheiser 450BT
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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 HifiMan Arya Stealth or the Sennheiser 450BT
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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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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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