Sony is known for not only making great sounding headphones, but headphones that are easy to use in everyday life. The Sony MDR XB450AP are a perfect example of this. If you’re looking for a pair of lightweight and comfortable headphones with great bass for less than $50, these might be the ones to get.
That being said, they won’t be the perfect choice for everyone which I’ll cover in this review as well.
Currently, these headphones are just under $50, which is a very attractive price especially considering they produce more bass than other headphones costing twice as much.
Accessories, Design & Features
So I’ll start out by showing you the accessories and then give you a closer look at the design and features.
Accessories
The only thing included with the headphones are a manual.
Design, Features & Build Quality
Regarding the design, the XB450 is very sleek looking and is available in 5 different colors (black, red, blue, white and yellow). It has an attached 1.2m long flat cable that’s attached to each earcup and terminates in a right-angle, 3.5mm connector. The cable includes an inline mic which you can use for phone calls or gaming.
The earcups to swivel left to right which is useful for finding a more comfortable fit while wearing them. This also allows them to lay flat on your chest when you’re wearing them around your neck and it makes them easier to pack for portable use. There is a small air-port located on the top of each ear-cup which allows the bass to be punchier sounding.
The headband uses a click adjustment to make the headphones larger or smaller. There isn’t any padding on the headband but it’s wide enough to distribute the weight of the headphone without causing any discomfort on the top of your head. The headband is made of a durable plastic which allows you to bend and flex these without breaking them.
Though these have a plastic feel to them, overall they are still built fairly well for a budget headphone.
Features
Regarding the features, a mic is included on the headphones so you can have conversations with people on the phone or over skype, etc. The mic quality is ok but great. Over time the quality of the mic can fade a bit and sometimes people can have a little bit of a harder time hearing what you’re saying.
Comfort
The comfort of the XB450 is something that really sets them apart from other on-ear headphones. They have a moderate level of compression which gives a nice snug feel. They’re light wearing though, which prevents ‘hot spots’ or discomfort building where the headband rests on your head.
The foam padding used is very comfortable and provides a soft, plush feel against the ears. The padding also has enough strength that it holds up over time and doesn’t start to compress against your ears. When the padding starts to compress too much you can start to feel the plastic housing behind the padding which becomes more and more uncomfortable the longer you wear them. But you don’t have that issue with the XB450. They stay comfortable hour after hour so you can have extended listening sessions with these without a problem.
Now if you’re not normally someone who likes the feel of on-ear headphones or if you have sensitive ears, then you may find these start to become uncomfortable after an hour or so of use. But, compared to other on-ear headphones, these are one of the more comfortable options on the market.
Noise Isolation
Regarding noise isolation, these are above average for an on-ear headphone and do an excellent job of blocking out surrounding noise. They actually do a better job over the previous Beats Solo. So you can hear what you’re listening to even in a noisy environment. They also don’t leak much sound so you can use them with the volume turned up and not bother anyone else around you.
Sound Quality
The sound quality overall is good, and better than you’d expect for a pair of budget headphones under $50. What’s most impressive is the bass. C The bass is deep, impactful and nicely emphasized to give you a punchier sound, without distracting from the mids and highs.
If you enjoy listening to any type of music that has low bass notes then these really shine. Listening to more contemporary genres like dance, electronic, EDM, rap and hip-hop allows you to really feel the music. The deep bass notes you feel with these headphones really brings this type of music to life. Watching movies and gaming gets the same benefit every time there’s an explosion or low rumbling. You’ll feel it a lot more with these compared to other headphones.
The mids are slightly muffled and a bit laid back. The same can be said of the highs. If you don’t do any type of EQ adjustment, the mids and highs have enough detail and voices sound natural enough, but they do come across a bit weak sounding. But if, if you adjust the EQ settings by boosting the mids and highs a bit then these really come to life.
So overall, if you prefer a sound signature that emphasizes the bass so that you can really feel it, then you’ll really enjoy these.
Comparison to other headphones
Now compared to the Beats Solo HD’s, these have more clarity and the bass sounds cleaner as well. The Solo HD’s sound more one-dimensional by comparison whereas the XB450 gives you more layers of detail, particularly in the low end.
REASONS TO CONSIDER SOMETHING ELSE
Even though these headphones would make a great choice, they still won’t be perfect for everyone.
First, if having the bass emphasized is not a priority or if having good detail and clarity in the mids and highs is important without having to adjust the EQ settings then you probably won’t enjoy these.
Next, do to the bass emphasis these headphones don’t sound as good with genres of music like jazz and classical. So if you’re primarily interested in this type of music you would want to choose a more neutral and balanced sounding headphone.
Also, if you’re not normally someone who like wearing on-ear headphones or if you have sensitive ears then you may find these get uncomfortable after a relatively short period of use and therefore, should probably go with something else.
BUT OTHERWISE
But otherwise, what really sets these headphones apart from other on-ear headphones in this price range is their ability to produce a substantial amount of bass, while still sounding good in the mids and highs as well. So if you prefer the smaller form factor of an on-ear headphone and if you enjoy being able to hear and feel the bass more than you will really enjoy these.