Between the Hiearcool L2 vs. Naztech I9 vs. Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC; Which is the better pair of headphones?
Here it is ladies and gentlemen. Three highly popular headphones side-by-side facing off. While each pair has its standard ups and downs, they also have their own unique benefits.
Depending on what you’re looking for in a pair of headphones will determine which of these might be the best choice for you. After extensive research, personal experience, and reviews; We formulated an in-depth comparison between each one. May the battle commence!
But first…
What Makes A Pair Of Headphones Good?
- Sound Quality: How good the overall audio quality of music, phone calls, or video.
- Comfort: The ability to remain comfortable for extended periods of time without itchiness, annoyance, or ear pain.
- Build Quality: The overall durability and longevity. Able to withstand harsh conditions for extended periods of time.
- Noise Isolation/ Active Noise Cancelling: If any at all, how well the active noise cancelling or noise isolating abilities are.
- Battery Life: How long the battery life of the pair of headphones is at a full charge.
- Added Features: A few examples of added features headphones offer can be Bluetooth capabilities, built-in AI assistant, headphone controls, built-in microphone for phone calls, flexibility, rotatable ear cups, etc.
We compared and contrasted each of these factors for the Hiearcool L2, Naztech i9, & Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
Sound Quality
Especially for music listeners, the overall quality of sound is a massive factor in finding your perfect pair of headphones. There are various factors that impact a pair of headphones’ sound quality.
Hiearcool L2
Sound quality-wise, this pair will surprise you. In my opinion, the Hiearcool 2 sounds better without the noise-cancellation feature. When ANC is turned on, the sound quality needs a bit of EQ to bring it back to life. However, many people do not recognize the audio difference between the two. Most believe it sounds great either way. They have a decent bass response, as well.
Naztech 13797 I9
These headphones have decent sound quality. In my opinion, slightly better than the price. Due to its 40mm neodymium drivers, you will be pleasantly surprised with its solid bass response. Overall, I give it a 6.8 out of 10 for sound quality.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
These produce very clear and crisp sound quality. It is evenly balanced between frequencies while the bass isn’t overbearing. I also like how loud these headphones can get. Sennheiser created an app called CapTune that comes with the purchase of these headphones. It allows you to better EQ the headphones to find your exact taste of how you want it to sound. While I’m more than impressed by the flat EQ sound without the app, Captune certainly has a setting to fit just about anyone’s needs.
Overall, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC provides the best sound quality.
Comfort
The ability for headphones to remain comfortable for extended periods of time without itchiness, annoyance, pressure, or ear pain. Considering many people use headphones for commute, air travel, or work; Comfort is a vital factor.
Hiearcool L2
In terms of comfort, I give it a 9.1 out of 10. The soft protein earmuffs are hardly recognizable once you put it on. After a while, you’ll possibly forget they are there. It is super light and comfortable for extended periods.
Naztech 13797 I9
These headphones are very comfortable. The oval-shaped ear cups cover the entire ear and don’t apply pressure. You are easily able to wear these for extended periods without annoyance. It has a padded headband and extra soft earpads. Overall, I give it a 9.2 for comfort.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
In terms of comfort, I give these a 9 out of 10. They were not the most comfortable at first. After about 30 minutes, they loosened up and felt like nothing was there. However, These are comfortable for small to medium-sized heads and ears. I don’t recommend them for anyone with a bigger head or pair of ears.
Overall, the Naztech 13797 I9 is the most comfortable pair on this list.
Build Quality
What good are your amazingly sounding headphones if they break in a few months? The overall durability and longevity are crucial for any investment you make. Especially for those who need headphones for commute, it’s crucial they’re able to withstand vigorous traveling conditions consistently.
Hiearcool L2
The build quality is much more robust than most headphones in this price range below $60. While there are a few plastic parts, it’s mostly made out of metal. The earcups swivel 90-degrees, and the headband is adjustable for added convenience. Unfortunately, you are unable to fold them.
Naztech 13797 I9
Don’t let the pictures fool you; these are pretty tough and well-built for the low-price. However, I don’t recommend sleeping with them. In case you toss and turn, these headphones don’t do too well under pressure for extended periods. Overall, the build quality is acceptable for the price.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
To be entirely honest, I’m not a huge fan of the overall build quality. There have been too many complaints of these headphones breaking one way or another. Don’t get me wrong, these headphones feel durable and tough. However, on the electronic side, there are many issues for their longevity.
Overall, the Hiearcool L2 has the best build quality.
Noise Isolation/ Active Noise Cancelling
Don’t be confused between active noise cancelling and noise isolation headphones. They are both entirely different. Noise-cancelling technology is very unique. Unlike noise-isolating headphones, noise-cancelling headphones do not eradicate outside noise by physical insulation. Within the ear cups, they have a mini microphone that picks up the outside environmental noise. It then triggers a frequency entirely opposite to the outside ambient noise. Thus, canceling out most outside ambient sound.
Hiearcool L2
These headphones offer decent active noise-cancellation. The noise cancelation is good for the low price. Not great, but good enough for most situations. It reduces 25dB of the low frequencies once turned on.
Naztech 13797 I9
I was pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of these headphones can eliminate most ambient noise for the low-price. Without a doubt, these have great active noise cancelling for the price. Many people claim these headphones stand toe-to-toe with other pairs double the price. If you’re looking for comfy ANC headphones for the plane below $60, these may be the ones for you! The only downside is the leak a lot of noise at high volumes.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
To activate the noise cancellation mode, you must hold both volume buttons at the same time. While it’s a bit harder to activate the ANC than most headphones, it’s most definitely worth it. The noise-cancellation one of the best on this list. After all, this is also the most expensive pair on the list.
Overall, the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC has the best active noise cancelling.
Battery Life
Battery life is an overlooked subject when speaking about over-ear headphones. Obviously, the only headphones that have a battery life are those which are wireless. Many headphones on the market do not have wireless capabilities. But for those who do, a more extended battery-life becomes a convenient factor.
Hiearcool L2
These headphones have incredible 40-hour battery life. Only 5 minutes of charge gives you 1.5 hours of battery life. A full charge requires 2.5 hours of charging.
Naztech 13797 I9
These headphones give you a great battery life of 30 hours.
Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
They give you a decent 20-hour battery life.
Overall, the Hiearcool L2 has the most extended battery life of the three.
Added Features
Here we summarize each pair of headphones and talk about some of the added features.
Hiearcool L2
The Hiearcool is an affordable pair of noise-canceling headphones running under $60. With Bluetooth 5.0, they have secure wireless abilities. They have a built-in mic to make and receive phone calls. The call quality is decent and gets the job done. These headphones are one of the highest-rated on the market for the affordable price. With the purchase, you get a travel case, micro USB cord, and an auxiliary that is a bit shorter than I would prefer it to be.
Naztech 13797 I9
These have a great built-in microphone for clear phone calls. On the Naztech i9 are a few controls; Pause/play button, skip song button, previous song button, ANC, on/off switch, volume, auxiliary port, and micro USB charging port. To connect the headphones to Bluetooth, you must hold down the play button. If you need headphones with the very best ambient and plane noise cancelation abilities for the cheapest price, look no further than these!
Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
It gives you the option to use it wireless with Bluetooth 4.5 or wired with an auxiliary. The wireless range is up to 20 feet. These headphones have a built-in mic for phone calls; however, the call quality isn’t very good.
Similarities Between The Hiearcool L2 vs. Naztech I9 vs. Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC
- All cover the ear
- All have Bluetooth wireless
- All have a built-in mic for phone calls
- All are very popular
- All are highly-rated and reviewed
- All have ANC capabilities
Our Winner
Keep in mind that our opinion is not the end all be all. Like mentioned earlier, everyone has different needs, requirements, and budgets for their headphones. However, our winner is the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC considering its great active noise cancelling and sound quality.
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