Before I can get into the review, let me just tell you what Sennheiser advertises with the Sennheiser HD 4.30:
- Exceptional sound with precise acoustic response and dynamic bass
- Closed circumaural design for maximum comfort
- Robust, foldable headband for easy storage on the go
- Integrated 3-button smart remote with in-line microphone
And boy, do they deliver in such a spectacular fashion.
Design
The HD 4.30 has a very simple design. It’s not too flashy or out there, but it’s simple and elegant. It’s excellent for users who don’t want to attract too much attention and just want a superb listening experience. Furthermore, it comes in two colours, giving consumers the option to buy either black or white.
The headphones do appear to be rather bulky, but they don’t feel too heavy when you put them on. The cushioned ear pads are extremely comfortable and don’t hurt the ears at all, even after hours of playback.
While the HD 4.30 isn’t a wireless headset, this doesn’t bother me too much. I don’t mind wires – in fact, I might just prefer them. The detachable AUX cable that comes with the headset has convenient volume controls, which also allows for playback control as well as picking up phone calls, while also encasing a built-in microphone. I personally prefer any pair of ear/headphones to have a volume control especially if I’m on the go. Detaching the cable and folding the headphones allows you to stuff them in a little pouch as you travel!
Performance
“The HD 4.30 lets you experience the power and the quality of the Sennheiser sound anytime, anywhere. Featuring a closed-back over-ear design it creates an exceptional soundscape with precise acoustic response and a rich dynamic bass.”
The headphones deliver such a flawless performance and left me visibly stunned. Of course, this is Sennheiser and they always do impress. But with each new device they come out with, I always find myself surprised and happy.
Even though the Sennheiser HD 4.30 can get significantly loud, I’ve found that they don’t leak out too much sound. The earpads just kind of isolate the music around your ears, and while the people around you might get a little taste of that music, it’s not too loud where they’d find themselves wanting to tell you to lower the volume on your pop-punk music that you love to blare out loud. As for noise cancellation, the headphones do a fantastic job immersing you into all your favourite sounds, blocking out any surrounding nuisances.
And that bass. They weren’t lying when they said it delivered a rich dynamic bass. Every time I test out new ear/headphones, I have go-to songs to test out the bass.
Let me just tell you that listening to ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ on the HD 4.30 is a spiritual experience. The bass is highly amplified without distorting Mercury’s distinct vocals and boosting all elements of the track equally.
The acoustics are pretty astonishing acoustics as well, as promised. I highly recommend just sitting near a window and listen to Dreams by Fleetwood Mac (you know, for the aesthetic). It’s going to transport you into a different reality where you’re about to break up with your significant other – even if you don’t have one. The vocals of the song are so crisp and stunning, and I just fell in love with Stevie Nicks’ voice all over again.
The Sennheiser HD 4.30 does a fantastic job at taking you elsewhere. The sound quality is so wonderful that you just feel like you’re living the reality of the artist you’re listening to, and I 100% love it when headphones are able to do that.
Even listening to Pop and/or Hip Hop tracks (Body Moves – DNCE, Summertime – Rizzle Kicks & DJ Jazzy Jeff) makes you feel as though you’re at a party where the music surrounds you and just captures everyone there.
Comfort
Like I said before, the Sennheiser HD 4.30 are extremely comfortable. You can wear them for hours on end (although, that’s not recommended for any headset) and still be content. I found that I didn’t have to move them around at all while I sat with them on for a couple of hours. They were comfortable for the entirety of my music experience.
The Sennheiser HD 4.30 headphones from Sennheiser (AED 399) is guaranteed to please a lot of listeners, and I highly recommend checking them out for yourselves if you ever get the chance.
Check out our review of the Sennheiser PXC 480 Headset.
