If you have a budget of $100 or INR 7500 and have shortlisted Sennheiser HD 4.40BT to be your new daily driver for music and movies in 2021, then you are in for a treat. Sennheiser HD 4.40BT is company’s entry into budget premium wireless Bluetooth headphone segment.

Sennheiser HD 4.40BT was launched back in 2017. In 2020 company has released the upgraded version dubbed as Sennheiser HD 350BT and it comes with some improvements and new Bluetooth technology. With the updated version available, now the question is, is it worth buying Sennheiser HD 4.40BT in 2021?

With strong audio performance, good built quality and a excellent price tag, Sennheiser HD 4.40BT is a definite contender even in 2021 compared to other Bluetooth headphones in the segment.

That said, there are some caveats that you need to consider before making a purchase that we try to unearth in this Sennheiser HD 4.40BT review.

Design

The HD 4.40 BT offers an over-the-ear design that helps with better comfort and offers sound isolation from background noises. The matte black finish gives an elegant look and protects it from getting scratched easily.

The earpads are plush and offer good comfort for hours of listening. However, the headband left us wanting for more as over longer listening periods, you start feeling its presence. Thankfully, the headband is adjustable with a smooth hinge mechanism for easier adjustability.

HD 4.40 BT features an NFC tag on the left side of the earcup. The inclusion of NFC is a handy feature. Moving on, on the right side earcup’s side panel, you will find the physical control buttons. There is a power button – long press to power on/off – long press to put it in pairing mode.

You have a single button for playback pause/resume, forward and backward – this button also manages phone calls and summon voice controls. There is a dedicated volume rocker, followed by a 3.5mm audio jack, micro USB port to charge the headset and a built-in microphone. All the physical buttons work as they should and get the work done without complicating the layout.

In the box, you get a carrying pouch, a micro USB cable and a 3.5mm to 2.5mm AUX cable. While the 3.5mm audio port for wired listing is a boon, it misses out on inline remote control and mic. It means when connected using the 3.5mm cable, you can’t use headphone’s microphone and physical control buttons.

It is important to note that this headphone is not built for running. But, you can take them for a walk around town with reasonable comfort. Travelling with the headphone is comfortable as well, although a hard carry case would have made it more portable.

Performance

If you like bass, you will certainly like what the Sennheiser HD 4.40BT has to offer. Every track I have listened to sounds excellent. Apart from the extra punch of bass, it also plays high and mids very well. That said, bass on these cans are not on the level of Sony Extra Bass headphones.

The audio output on different music tracks like acoustic, live tracks, and rock/pop sounds crisp and clear, at least in the segment. And if you don’t like the default sound signature, you can always download the CapTune app to tinker with EQ. Although, chances of getting the app to detect your headphone can be challenging at times.

The NFC chip on the left side of the earcup is a useful feature. Turn on NFC on your smartphone, and a gentle tap on the NFC tag will turn on the headphone. Tap once more, and it will disconnect and power off the headphone.

However, occasionally it takes more than one attempt to power on the headphone with NFC. Tap a few times, and that should power on the device.

The volume levels on the headphone is good when connected to a smartphone. It is even better when connected to your PC. Keep the levels at 70%, and you will get strong audio performance with excellent bass depth and solid high-frequency clarity.

With dual omnidirectional mics, the call quality on these headphones is above average. The recording quality is decent, and the caller can understand the conversation without any issues. However, the mics can sound a little far away. Overall, the audio quality is on par with other headphones in the segment and above.

Battery Life and Connectivity

Sennheiser claims a battery life of around 25 hours for these cans. The battery life lasted for over 22 hours in our testing, with the volume being close to 60-70%. Depending on the volume level, your mileage may vary. You can check the remaining battery percentage in the Bluetooth device section of a PC or smartphone.

It takes about 2.5 hours to fully charge the device, which is reasonable for 20+ hours of battery backup. If you run out of juice when travelling, simply plug in the included AUX cable, and it will sound like any other standard corded headphone from Sennheiser.

The Sennheiser HD 4.40BT comes with multi-device connectivity. You can have it paired with more than one device at the same time. Furthermore, it connects automatically to the nearest paired device unless you have manually disconnected the headphone.

Sennheiser HD 4.40BT Gaming Performance

Bluetooth headphones are not ideal for gamers, as the audio lag is clearly noticeable making it harder to listen to enemy footsteps. When connected via Bluetooth, we experienced the usual audio lag/delay with FPS games like COD Mobile and Warzone.

This issue, however, was resolved quickly after connecting the included AUX cable. In wired mode, the headphone offers consistent quality during the gameplay. The enemy footsteps are crisp and clear and give you a good idea of the surrounding.

That said, when in the wired mode, you cannot use headphone’s built-in microphone and rely on your smartphone’s or external audio source to chat with your teammates.

Conclusions

The Sennheiser HD 4.40BT is an excellent pair of headphone that sounds incredibly well, even for 2021 standards. The lightweight design and soft earcups offer comfortable listening over a long duration. The bass is good, so are the mids and lows.

Sennheiser has also placed the playback controls at the right place, making it easier to operate. If you are considering to enter into the territory of high-end Bluetooth headphones without breaking your bank, Sennheiser HD 4.40BT is an excellent choice for everyday use.