When you're a person who loves music and movies, a crucial aspect to enjoying them is the sound quality. As much as possible, I always aim for the best way to hear my tunes or listen to the effects of the latest blockbuster. So, I was happy when the Sennheiser HD 4.5 BTNC fell into my lap.
BTNC stands for Bluetooth Noise-Cancelling, and yes, it's exactly as advertised. Even in the noisiest part of the mall, the Sennheiser HD 4.5 BTNC takes you to a completely different space devoid of outside noise. You don't need to blast your device to full volume just to block out the ambient noise (I swear, noise-cancelling tech will save your auditory senses in the loing run). The negative here is that you'll need a heightened sense of your surroundings—especially when you're walking in public places. Or...well, just take them off if you're mobile. That just spells trouble…
The Sennheiser HD 4.5 BTNC is a great-looking pair too. They have a version with a metal accent that highlights the build quality and makes it look extra premium. It feels solid, with a vibe that makes me believe it can withstand abuse.
The headphones come with an around-ear design and ear cups that wrap around the ears—it fits like a glove. The ear cups on their own make for really good passive noise-canceling and, like the comfortable design of the headband, you can wear it for hours and you won’t feel like your head is put inside a vice grip.
In the box, you can find a micro USB cable for charging, a 3.5 mm audio cable (handy for travel), and a black protective pouch. The manual says that the headphone’s battery will last 25 hours and I was able to get something close to that. Think 25 hours of battery life!
Connecting the headphones to my iPhone is a cinch, too. It even has NFC so Android users would have a much easier time pairing the Sennheiser to their smartphone. Controls are on the right ear cup, which makes everything much easier to navigate and you can even use it to answer calls.
But physicality is one thing, sound quality is another. Thankfully, Sennheiser delivers. The bass is really strong, and the treble is exceptionally clear. NoiseGard, Sennheiser’s proprietary noise-cancelling technology, is quite effective in bringing out the sound of your music. With the ambient noise cancelled, the sound you'll hear will mostly come through the headphones and, when I listened to all kinds of music, the headphones perform with aplomb each time. Bravo.
