Audio Review: Sennheiser HD449

Sennheiser’s take on the entry-level of the high end headphone market. Whats it like to own? How does it sound like? Is it any good? Well read on more to find out.

Retailing at just $119 – $139 depending on which country you are from, the Sennheiser HD449 can be considered a high end consumer headphone or an entry level audiophile headphone.

With your $130, you’ll get:

1. Sennheiser HD449 headphone
2. Headphone carrying pouch
3. 3.5mm 1m extender
4. 3.5mm to 6.5mm adaptor

BUILD QUALITY

The HD449 is quite well built, albeit a bit plasticky. Pretty light as well! It can take a beating, if you don’t mind the rough plastics after that. The cups are quite large and even fits my large ears, no worries with comfort there. Design wise, it is quite pretty with its kinked headband and chromed Sennheiser nameplate. It is quite a subtle design, it doesn’t really stand out in the public but its stylish enough for people who actually takes notice of it, to admire it.

Durable and comfortable

SOUND

Upon first listening to the HD449, you wouldn’t be really impressed by it. It sounds rather dull and boring with some distortion in the high ends. But of course, it is normal for every headphone to sound rubbish on first use but after some burn in (playing music through it for at least 20 hours straight), the HD449 sounds much better and nicer.

Bass is rather lacking, it is there but, its rather subtle. Tracks with thumpy bass are well represented, but, you won’t get the subwoofer feeling as you would with other headphones like the Sony MDR-X10 or any Beats headphones for example. If you are looking for detailed bass, the HD449 will suffice. If you are bass-crazed teenage junkie, look elsewhere – Beats for example (just stay away from good headphones, you will hate them).

Where the HD449 lacks in bass, it more than makes up for in midrange and treble. The midrange and treble is the pièce de résistance of the HD449. Listening to tracks such as Welcome Home, Son by Radical Face and Kiss From A Rose by Seal, the HD449 creates an orgasmic-like listening sensation. The amount of midrange and treble and the clarity of it all is just staggering. Its a feeling that you only get with much higher end headphones/IEMs such as the Grado or the Westone 4R.

SETUP

No need to bother with amplifiers with the HD449. Its amply powered by the source alone. By all means, just use it with whatever device your music is in, be it an iPod, an Android phone or a DiscMan. I personally use this HD449 with my excellent first generation iPod touch. The Wolfson DAC in the first gen iPod touch compliments the HD449 really well.

SUITABLE GENRES

Great!

• Jazz
• Country
• Classical
• Pop
• Band music
• Vocals
• Rock
• Vocaloids (if you consider this a genre)

Shite

• R&B
• Rap
• Hip hop
• Dubstep

CONCLUSION

Looking for a great headphone for use on the go? Don’t listen to Dubstep or Rap? Not a bass-crazed teenager? The Sennheiser HD449 will give you great company, just as it has given me great company for the many long bus rides i’ve taken to and fro from home and school.