Our Verdict
The MM 450-X are compact noise cancelling headphones ideally for traveling and commuting. Sadly, lacking a strong isolation performance, they're best used as everyday casual headphones.
- Lightweight, compact design.
- Great audio reproduction.
- Uncomfortably small ear cups.
- Weak, flimsy build.
Average-at-best for critical listening. They have a decent sound but a poor soundstage. They won't reproduce high-res audio with the clarity and detail of an open back design.
Mediocre for commuting. They're compact and easy to carry around but don't block much noise.
Not ideal for sports, They're lightweight compact and wireless. However, they're a little unstable for high-intensity exercises.
Decent for office use. They'll only reduce a little bit of office chatter but on the upside, they don't leak much.
Average for home theater use. They have a better sound than the MM 550-X, and a relatively low latency performance with aptX enabled. however, they'll still have a noticeable delay, and they're not the most comfortable headphones to wear for long movies.
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Test Results
The MM 450-X are small, flimsy-looking headphones. They are fragile, and their understated design is a little unexciting compared to other on-ear models. The black color scheme is given a bit more flare with silver highlights from the metal frame, the headband, and the Sennheiser branding. They do stick out a lot laterally when on the head, which conflicts with their compact, understated aesthetic.
The on-ear design of the MM 450-X isn't comfortable for everyone. They're lightweight, flexible, and the ear cups swivel, providing a little more comfort. However, the lack of padding on the headband and the ear cups feels a little uncomfortable and fatiguing after long listening sessions. The headband exerts a noticeable amount of tension on the head in an attempt to keep the headphones stable but also causes discomfort over time.
Button layout and functionality is decent but cramped. The controls can be found on the right ear cup and include noise cancelling, Bluetooth, volume, call/music and track skipping. The cramped layout, however, is disappointing, as it becomes bothersome to use if you have larger fingers. The tactile feedback could also be improved.
The MM 450-X are decently stable headphones. They stay in place during casual listening sessions. They're compact and lightweight, which prevents them from swaying too much during moderate physical activity. However, they're not designed for sports and will slip off your ears while running or doing high-intensity activities.
The MM-450-X are more compact than typical on ear headphones. They are very portable and fold up into a smaller format to transport easily. They will comfortably fit in jacket pockets, purses and backpacks without taking too much space. They maybe a little too wide for regular pant pockets but they won't be too cumbersome to carry on your person.
Comes with a soft case that will protect the headphones from scratches and minor falls. However, the soft fabric and won't shield the headphones from heavy physical stress or water damage. The case also adds quite a bit of bulk to the headphones which is slightly disappointing.
Build quality is sub-par. The compact, small design does not feel sturdy or durable, and the many joints are susceptible weak points. On the upside, the metal frame through the headband is relatively flexible and can handle a fair amount of stress.
- Sennheiser MM 450-X Headphones
- Audio cable
- Carrying case
- USB cable
- (EU) power adapter
- (UK) power adapter
- (AU) power adapter
- (US) power adapter
- Airline Adapter
- 1/8" to 1/4" Adapter
- Manual
Decent overall results. The passive isolation is quite impressive, considering these are on-ear headphones. The active cancellation is decent too, achieving average results in the bass and mid regions.
Very good performance. These headphones leak little sound, as is expected from on-ear headphones.
The Sennheiser MM 450-X have a decent line-sight range but deliver a surprisingly stable connection up to 40ft when the Bluetooth source was placed in another room. This makes them good wireless headphones to walk around your house or a moderately sized office without necessarily carrying your Bluetooth source on you. They won't be the farthest reaching outdoors in direct line of sight but this is not a significant issue for most listeners. Unfortunately, their hold to pair procedure and lack of NFC makes them a little tedious to switch between devices.
The MM 450-X have better battery life than the MM 550-X but take a bit longer to charge. They won't be the best headphones to take on long road trips or lengthy flights, but you get about 7 hours of use when all the features are enabled and at regular volumes. Unfortunately, their auto-off feature is a bit slow at 60 minutes so don't forget to turn them off to save power.
