Sennheiser’s affordable Bluetooth headphone models have been given an upgrade. The HD 350BT and HD 450BT are now replacing the HD 4.40BT and HD 4.50BTNC. Though the new models look strikingly similar to the originals, some major improvements have been made. At $120, the 350BT is Sennhesier’s new entry level Bluetooth model. What can you expect in terms of sound and design? Let’s take a look in this Sennheiser HD 350BT Review.
Sennheiser HD 350BT Review
IN the BOX
FIT
Though not perfect, the fit of the 350BT is noticeably more comfortable than it is on its predecessor, the HD 4.40BT. The clamping force isn’t as tight, which was a major complaint voiced by owners of the 4.40BT. That being said, the 350BT may not feel entirely forgiving, especially if you have a massive head. The earpads, though plush, feel firm on the ears. So, the design is more “no frills” than it is luxurious. But I had no serious problems with comfort after an hour or two of wear. Just don’t expect fluffy clouds against your ears.
DESIGN
Controls and Functionality
Using the buttons on the right earcup, you’ll be able to control the standard functions, including play/pause, track skipping, volume control, call answering/ending and voice assistant activation.
Battery Life and Charging
Sennheiser has upped the battery life of this Bluetooth model. The 350BT’s offers 30 hours of battery life. The older model, the HD 4.40 only provided 25 hours of playback. The other nice upgrade is the USB-C charging connection, which means faster charging and better headphone longevity.
Call Clarity
Call clarity was less than excellent. The caller’s voice sounded a little distant, and the caller admitted that the resolution of my voice was subpar as well.
Extra Features
Using Sennheiser’s Smart Control App, the HD 350BT allows you to control equalizer settings. This is a huge plus for headphones this affordable, as there are very few other equally priced wireless headphones on the market that will offer this feature.
SOUND
Before reading on, it may be important to note that the max volume levels may be too low for some listeners. Careful, kids! You probably shouldn’t listen at volumes louder than the max volume on these cans. But I did notice that compared with other Bluetooth headphones in this price range, the 350 BT has quite a weak maximum volume level. So, folks with tinnitus, beware.
Lower Frequencies
I think Sennheiser intended the bass to be a crowd pleaser. The low end is not so conservative as to offend those with a taste for bass, but at the same time, it won’t scare off folks who have an aversion to this frequency range. The bass offers punch in all the right circumstances. Pop reveals sufficient bass impact, and rock tracks have some satiating warmth. It’s also relatively clean and grippy for a headphone in this price range. And listening to acoustic instruments, you’ll get a pretty realistic portrayal of timbre and tone.
Middle Frequencies
When it comes to midranges, I only ever have two pet peeves: absent low mids or extremely boosted high mids. Luckily, the 350 BT avoided both. Though the midrange isn’t particularly forward, the lower middle-frequencies are audible, while vocals stop short of stealing the show. As a result, the sound feels full, and the arrangement feels natural. So, if you like a no bull$%!# balance, the 350 BT will be sure to please.
It should also be noted that, in this case, Sennheiser presents quite a thin sound, especially when you compare the 350 BT to the very rich (and much higher priced) Momentum 3. So, those looking for a particularly voluptuous profile should keep looking. That being said, with this kind of lightweight sound, separation tends to be good. And this is true for the 350 BT. Heavy arrangements sound cleanly layered (try Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish”), and there’s plenty of definition in guitar strums. In fact, a tidy headphone like this is perfect for both, funk and folk.
High Frequencies
Again, the 350 BT presents an entirely inoffensive sound signature. As such, you won’t hear any brightness in the highs. A little snap, yes. But no glitter or sparkle. At the same time, the high frequencies didn’t seem unnaturally blunted. And instruments like violins were still able to reach peaks in treble without losing too much substance. However, don’t expect a huge amount of charisma. Vocals, for example, felt neither light and airy nor thick and velvety. They just sounded, well…Sensible.
Soundstage
Quite spacious, though the imaging is what impressed me the most. Plenty of height, and even the subtler gradations in depth were apparent, which is uncommon for a wireless headphone in this price range. So, you will get that colorful 3D feel in tracks that spread instruments across the soundscape.
PROS and CONS
Pros: Well balanced and very clean sound; longer battery life than its predecessor; equalizer control.
Cons: Volume will not be loud enough for some; call clarity could be better.
SUMMARY
In terms of sound quality, the HD 350BT performs beautifully. Easy on the ears and very tidy for this price point, there’s little to complain about. However, this isn’t a headphone you can rock out too. The volume just doesn’t get loud enough to make your nipples vibrate. But if you’re the sensible type who listens at reasonable volumes, you should be okay. My only other complaint is the mediocre call quality. So, all in all, the HD 350BT is a pretty good deal. I just wasn’t blown out of my chair.
You can find these headphones for the best price here:
Sennheiser HD 350BT at Audio 46
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Are these better than Sony XB700 ?