A lot of people cannot boast about the audio quality of their $100 headphones because many headphones in this price bracket offer very forgettable sound. But Sennheiser provides pedigree and the Sennheiser HD 350BT didn’t disappoint. These Bluetooth headphones give premium headphones a good run for their money with the outstanding audio experience they offer. Is sound quality enough to make the HD 350BT worth your attention and cash? Let’s dig in and see!
Sennheiser HD 350BT Review
Design and Build
There is a close semblance between the design of the noise-canceling HD 450BT and that of the HD 350BT headphones under review. You’ll need to take some time to learn all the onboard controls found on the Sennheiser HD 350BT. Few buttons and switches are crowding the right ear cup, this makes the HD 350BT experience a lot less intuitive than what you get from some Bose and Sony products. Of course, once you have managed to memorize the controls, The HD 350BT will be like putty in your hands.
The Sennheiser HD 350BT headphones offer more comfort than the Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones. There is less intensity with the clamping force of the HD 350BT which allows users to enjoy these headphones for at least two hours straight. Their earcups aren’t very flexible but you can roll them up towards the headband to make them more compact. The package from Sennheiser doesn’t include a carrying pouch so it is up to you to acquire a headphone case if you don’t want them to get scratched easily.
With the easy-to-use Sennheiser app, you can easily customize the sound profile on these headphones using the custom EQ module on the app. There is also an option to enable transparency hearing mode which allows you to enjoy a quick conversation with a friend or simply be aware of your environment. If you don’t want to hear a notification each time you turn off your headphones, simply configure voice prompts. The ability to receive firmware updates is a very important feature of any headphone app and Sennheiser smart control app offers you this option.
Sennheiser HD 350BT Performance and Sound
The Sennheiser HD 350BT headphone works via Bluetooth 5.0. It works with several Bluetooth codecs such as AAC, SBC, aptX Low Latency, and aptX. Most gadgets do not work with aptX LL, however, a significant number supports aptX, AAC, or a combination of the two. On other hand, SBC is supported by nearly all Bluetooth gadgets. However, it’s unfortunate that the HD 350BT model does not possess an input of 3.5mm, therefore the whole high-resolution feel will be impossible as a result of your use of FLAC files with the headphones.
The Bluetooth multipoint has problems similar to that of other Sennheiser Bluetooth headsets, messages from the auxiliary device are hardly sent to the HD 350BT model while music is being played from the main device. A singular occurrence that suspends playback from the main device is usually a phone call received from the smartphone and it can easily be remedied by a firmware update.
The Sennheiser HD 350BT model has been subjected to steady 75dB(SPL) production, and it stayed as long as 33 hours, 49 minutes with just a single charge. This is no ordinary feature considering that the regular battery life is 30 hours. Similar to the Sennheiser HD 450BT model, this headphone doesn’t allow for speedy charging, two full hours are needed to charge it using USB-C.
Sennheiser has always been known for quality sounding headsets and the Sennheiser HD 350BT model is no exception. They possess near-excellent frequency feedback via the midrange and bass frequencies. You will experience a slight dip around 200Hz, however, it’s not a cause for worry as it barely reaches the boundary of human hearing (3dB). A second sensational and strategic fall which decreases normally existing unpleasant resonances in the ear duct occurs from 3-5kHz.
Noise and disturbance from your background are blocked completely due to the fit and thick padding. Discussions are blocked out too, and no one can hear whatever you are listening to. Note that the HD 350BT model does not possess active noise cancellation features, so you will have to ensure that you check for proper fitting before purchase. This way you can be sure of effective audio feedback. Confirm that there is no gap in-between your ear and the ear pads, if not, noise might filter in from your background making it hard for you to comprehend details.
Final Thoughts on Sennheiser HD 350BT
Everything on the Sennheiser HD 350BT headphones is spot on! You can’t argue with the sound quality and they offer high-quality Bluetooth codec Support, a feature you don’t meet easily at this price range. If you aren’t bothered about the unavailability of automatic ear detection, then you will enjoy these portable headphones very much.