The ear cups on the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones have an ergonomic shape, but there isn’t much room for average to above-average ears to fit comfortably. Some users have even reported that these headphones fit more like on-ears than over-ears. While that’s annoying, it does make the headset more wearable than the expensive Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. However, the ear pads can always be replaced, which is good news for hobbyists and anyone looking to upgrade from leatherette. ..
We tested the headphones with a constant volume of 75 dB(SPL), and the battery lasted 27 hours and 2 minutes. That’s a bit less than the claimed battery life of 30 hours, but still exceptional and more than necessary for a typical handset. When the battery runs out, it’s easy to recharge via the included USB-C cable. There is no quick charge feature, so you’ll need to allow two hours to fully charge the headphones. ..
The Sennheiser HD 450BT is a mid-range headset with active noise cancellation that reproduces low-frequency sounds half as loud when ANC is enabled than when it is disabled. This change is audible, but you can definitely get better performance with other headsets that cost just a bit more, like the Sennheiser PXC 550-II. When using the headset outdoors, wind and noise from passing cars were less pronounced, but both sounds remained clearly audible.
The Sennheiser HD 650 is a great option for those looking for a passive isolation headphone. The headphones are able to block out the mid and high frequencies, which makes it difficult for ANC to suppress unpredictable sounds like speech. Additionally, the headphones fit well and there are no gaps between your head and the ear pads, which results in sound quality that Sennheiser is known for. ..
Sennheiser has always been a reliable brand when it comes to making good sounding headphones. They stick to their roots with a few minor deviations that make for an enjoyable and appealing sound. The bass is a touch louder than the mids, but not so loud that it’s hard to make out voices. Another emphasized range is between 450Hz and 3kHz, where the main instrumental tones can be heard.
