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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize overall sound quality and noise isolation for focused listening sessions or frequent air travel, opt for the Sony WH-1000XM5; they also offer superior build quality with added features like app customization and longer battery life. However, if cost is a considerable factor and you need headphones for calls and meetings or gaming, the Sennheiser 450BT provides great microphone quality, low latency, and is still suitable for music and TV, albeit at a lower price point and with fewer premium features. Both are over-ear, closed-back headphones with active noise cancelling, but the Sony has arguably the edge in sound quality and noise isolation, whereas the Sennheiser stands out for value and specific uses like gaming. 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 Sennheiser 450BT
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Excellent for air travel
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony WH-1000XM5
- Very good for music
Key differences
Music
6.2
8.2
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is very good for music, while the Sennheiser 450BT is only fair.
Gaming
8.8
5.6
The Sennheiser 450BT is very good for gaming, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Phone Calls
6.9
5.5
The Sennheiser 450BT is only fair for phone calls, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
6.0
The Sennheiser 450BT is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is only fair.
TV and Video
8.1
5.8
The Sennheiser 450BT is very good for TV and video, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is poor.
Battery
27.5 Hours
40.3 Hours
The Sennheiser 450BT has 27.5 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has 40.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$90
$398
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Sennheiser 450BT has a price of $90 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 costs $398.
Build Quality
8.0
8.8
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sennheiser 450BT both have very good build quality, though the Sony WH-1000XM5 has somewhat better build quality.
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Key similarities
Noise Reduction
9.1
9.1
The Sennheiser 450BT and Sony WH-1000XM5 are both excellent for noise reduction.
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How the Sennheiser 450BT and the Sony WH-1000XM5 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Sennheiser 450BT | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$90 | $398 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Sennheiser | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2020 | May 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.2/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.9/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.1/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.1/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 27.5 Hours | 40.3 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2.3 Hours | 3.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.2 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 240.4 Grams | 249.4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
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."
Sony WH-1000XM5
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Headphonesty
Kazi Mahbub Mutakabbir | February 2023
"The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the best Sony Bluetooth headphones so far and one of the most well-rounded Bluetooth headphones around. Look no further if you need class-leading ANC with a mostly inoffensive sound signature. Just be ready to pony up the price premium."
Get a great deal on the Sennheiser 450BT or the Sony WH-1000XM5
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.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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