Hifiman TWS450
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𝐇𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐖𝐒450 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖:
Aside from the full-sized HE-R9 headphones I covered in my previous review, today I’d like to introduce another product from HIFIMAN - the budget HIFIMAN TWS450 True wireless earbuds. These are entry-level True wireless earbuds with a compact design and Hi-Fi sound.
The HIFIMAN TWS450 were officially introduced on HIFIMAN’s Twitter account in April 2024 and went on sale for just $39, making them one of the most affordable options in the company’s lineup.
I’ve already gone into detail about HIFIMAN as a company in my previous review, so to avoid repetition, here’s a quick quote from that piece:
IceIceberg said:
I’ll only add that HIFIMAN’s headphones have a truly unique sound signature that sets them apart from any other brand. This distinctiveness makes their products exclusive in the world of audio gear. When reviewing the HE-R9, I caught myself experiencing something new and unfamiliar, unlike anything I’d experienced before. HIFIMAN knows how to surprise with its creativity and professionalism, which is one reason they’re so highly regarded worldwide.
Now let's get back to today's review hero. The HIFIMAN TWS450 are budget-class wireless dynamic earbuds featuring AI integration, ENC noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and splash resistance rated at IPX4. The earbuds are equipped with audiophile-grade dynamic drivers, which, according to HIFIMAN, “produces clear, three-dimensional sound that immerses the listener in a world of music, movies or games.”
The earbuds have a compact body and ergonomic shape, making them ideal for various scenarios: home use, sports, or running in the rain. With their IPX4 water resistance, you won’t have to worry about sweat, moisture, or raindrops, a practical feature that makes the TWS450 a solid companion for an active lifestyle.
The earbuds can function as a headset, thanks to a built-in microphone and ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation), which blocks external sounds during calls. They also feature touch controls, which I’ll cover in detail in this review.
The claimed battery life is up to 5 hours of continuous playback, with an additional 20 hours from the charging case, which I will test and report back to see how they perform in real life.
All in all, it’s an impressive set of features in such a small form factor and at such an affordable price. Let’s move on to the full review, starting with the specifications.
Hi, and thanks for taking the time to read my review. I really appreciate it!
I’m Vlad, a former semi-pro FPS player, mainly in CS:GO, and now an audiophile and reviewer of audio devices.
My passion for music started with a classic Japanese Panasonic boombox. Later, I got my first headphones - Koss Porta Pro, which I absolutely loved. I spent years listening to music on those and the Sennheiser CX200. Back then, my playlists were filled with Linkin Park, DMX, Dr. Dre, and Eminem. Hip-hop and rap captivated me, especially the deep, rumbling bass and the distinct rap-style delivery.
Now, I consider myself a music enthusiast who enjoys a wide range of genres, from metal to classical music, choosing what to listen to based purely on my mood.
When it comes to sound, I prefer a neutral-warm V-shaped tuning. I appreciate a rumbling, well-defined bass and would consider myself more of a basshead than a treblehead. In the midrange, I have a particular fondness for male vocals, as I find them the most engaging and essential in modern music. What do I dislike? Harsh treble, a lack of bass, and a narrow soundstage.
You can learn more about me in my portfolio
I’m Vlad, a former semi-pro FPS player, mainly in CS:GO, and now an audiophile and reviewer of audio devices.
My passion for music started with a classic Japanese Panasonic boombox. Later, I got my first headphones - Koss Porta Pro, which I absolutely loved. I spent years listening to music on those and the Sennheiser CX200. Back then, my playlists were filled with Linkin Park, DMX, Dr. Dre, and Eminem. Hip-hop and rap captivated me, especially the deep, rumbling bass and the distinct rap-style delivery.
Now, I consider myself a music enthusiast who enjoys a wide range of genres, from metal to classical music, choosing what to listen to based purely on my mood.
When it comes to sound, I prefer a neutral-warm V-shaped tuning. I appreciate a rumbling, well-defined bass and would consider myself more of a basshead than a treblehead. In the midrange, I have a particular fondness for male vocals, as I find them the most engaging and essential in modern music. What do I dislike? Harsh treble, a lack of bass, and a narrow soundstage.
You can learn more about me in my portfolio
I would like to thank HIFIMAN for providing me with the opportunity to test and review this product. Your support makes this review possible. I am very grateful to you and your team. Many thanks to you!
Disclaimer: My review is my personal, honest opinion about the product. I don't receive any income for conducting reviews and I don't participate in any affiliate programs. All thoughts expressed in this review are purely subjective and may not coincide with your own impressions. Trust your ears!
You can purchase the HIFIMAN TWS450 from:
HIFIMAN Official Site: https://www.hifiman.com/products/detail/340HIFIMAN Store: https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/tws450.htmlHIFIMAN Amazon US Store: https://a.co/d/iEG04AfHIFIMAN Aliexpress Store: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006754905289.html
- Dynamic Driver Configuration;
- Bluetooth 5.3;
- Audio Codec: SBC, AAC;
- Transmission Distance: ≥10m;
- IPX4 Water Resistant;
- ENC Noise Cancellation;
- Battery Life: 5 hours Uninterrupted Listening + 20 hours Total Battery Life;
- Weight: 3.5g;
- Price: 39$.
- Earbuds themselves - HIFIMAN TWS450;
- Charging Case;
- Silicone eartips (S / L);
- Type-C Charging Cable;
- Quality certificate.
The HIFIMAN TWS450 comes in a compact box designed in a light, white color scheme that matches the earbuds themselves. The packaging is minimalist, emphasizing cleanliness and simplicity. On the front of the box, you’ll find images of the two earbuds alongside the charging case, the HIFIMAN logo, and the model name. As usual, the back of the box features specifications and a brief information about the manufacturer.
Inside the box, the charging case is neatly placed in a plastic tray, accompanied by a small packet containing additional ear tips, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and a quality certificate with the production date of my specific unit.
The charging case feels pleasant to the touch. It’s made of matte, textured plastic that resists fingerprints and is colored white. The surface is grippy, and the shape is sleek and rounded, with the HIFIMAN logo on the front. The case opens like a jewelry box, revealing the earbuds securely nestled in their designated slots, with R/L indicators to simplify the process of putting them on. On the bottom of the case, there’s a flat platform for stable placement on surfaces. The earbuds are held firmly in place inside the case with strong magnets, ensuring they don’t wobble or fall out, even if the case is turned upside down.
The earbud cases of the HIFIMAN TWS450 are made from two pieces of matte plastic. They are compact, roughly the size of a hazelnut, yet feel solid and reliable. All components are precisely crafted, and the build quality gives a monolithic impression. Nothing wobbles, rattles, or creaks, which is pleasantly surprising, especially considering the budget class of this device.
The design of the HIFIMAN TWS450 is minimalist and understated, in line with HIFIMAN’s philosophy. On the front of each earbud, a gray HIFIMAN logo is subtly recessed into the panel, serving as the touch control surface. On the back, there’s a short but sufficiently wide sound nozzle with a mesh inside, along with a compensation hole. A 2-pin charging connector is also located here. On the side of the earbuds, you’ll find a light indicator for activity along with subtle R / L markings to help with orientation, though these are unobtrusive and don’t disrupt the clean aesthetic.
Touch controls are implemented via taps on the logo area. The response to touches is crisp and clicky, making it easy to use on the go. A double tap on either the left or right earbud activates the "Play/Pause" function or answers/ends a call. A long press (2 seconds) rejects a call or activates the voice assistant. A triple tap on the left earbud skips to the previous track, while a triple tap on the right earbud skips to the next track.
The control scheme is simple and functional. No frills, just the essentials and well executed.
The HIFIMAN TWS450 stand out with their compact size and universal, ergonomic shape, making them suitable for most users regardless of ear size. The inner side of the housing is shaped with gentle, wave-like contours that follow the natural anatomy of the ear, ensuring the earbuds sit securely and comfortably.
The fit is deep and snug. The earbuds stay firmly in place and don’t slip out, even during active movement. You can confidently wear them while working out, running, or cycling without worrying about them falling out. Their sleek, low-profile shape means they don’t stick out from the ears, so you can comfortably wear them under a hat, hood, or even with glasses.
In my small ears, the earbuds fit securely and tightly, without any risk of slipping out. Even during long listening sessions, I didn’t experience any discomfort. No redness or irritation, just a well-designed fit that disappears once in place.
As for passive sound isolation, it’s decent, blocking about 70-80% of external noise. Thanks to the tight and deep fit, I could barely hear ambient sounds. This set effectively blocks external noise, and even the low rumble of the metro or a bus was significantly reduced. Great job, HIFIMAN, this is exactly the kind of isolation you expect from earbuds with excellent anatomical fit.
Battery life
Each HIFIMAN TWS450 earbud is equipped with a 35mAh battery, while the charging case has a 330mAh battery. According to HIFIMAN, this provides 5 hours of playback on a single charge, plus an additional 15 hours from the case, resulting in a total of 20 hours of usage or three full charging cycles. The earbuds take 1.5 hours to fully charge, and the case requires 2 hours.
In reality, the performance aligns closely with HIFIMAN’s claims. Unfortunately, the earbuds arrived completely discharged, and it took just under 2 hours to fully charge them, as specified. When connected to a device, the earbuds provide a voice prompt indicating the battery percentage, which is very convenient for checking the battery status without using apps.
After 2 hours of continuous listening at medium volume, I noted that the earbuds’ battery level was at 55%, which roughly matches the official figures. The earbuds charge quickly in the case, offering an additional hour of use after just 20 minutes of charging. With the charging case always at hand, you don’t need to worry about the device running out of power unexpectedly.
Keep in mind that battery life decreases significantly during calls. When using the built-in microphone for conversations, you can expect around 2.5 to 3 hours of usage per charge. This is typical for TWS earbuds and something to consider if you frequently use them as a headset.
In terms of sound, the HIFIMAN TWS450 delivers a typical airy V-shaped presentation with fast dynamics, a warm tonality, and a light, fun tuning. Let’s take a look at the graph.
We can see a boosted and emphasized sub-bass with a peak around 70-72dB, followed by a smooth roll-off into the midbass, reaching around 60dB at 80Hz. This suggests that the sub-bass will set the tone for the entire low-end region.
Then, there’s a smooth and even transition to the midrange, which is recessed at around 55-57dB. This indicates that the mids will be less emphasized, but the character of this region’s presentation is intriguing.
The transition to the upper mids features a gradual rise starting at 2kHz, peaking at 73dB around 3.5kHz. This strongly hints at a pronounced upper midrange, which helps bring clarity to vocals and energy to instruments, essentially "rescuing" the otherwise recessed mids.
In the presence region (4kHz–6kHz), there's a noticeable dip. This should tame sibilance and reduce harshness, though at the cost of some microdetail.
Then we have two noticeable peaks in the brilliance range - one around 6.5kHz and another near 10.5kHz. These add sparkle, air, and a touch of crispness to the overall presentation.
Finally, there's a gradual roll-off after 10.5kHz, with a slight lift around 16kHz, which gives the overall sound a subtle sense of openness and transparency.
Quite an interesting graph, isn’t it?
In reality, things are simpler. The deep sub-bass notes are clearly audible, influencing the fullness of the midbass. The midbass itself is dense and punchy. The mids are warm, full-bodied, melodic, and quite natural, with a bright and accentuated transition to the upper mids. The upper mids are well-defined, vibrant, and colorful. The treble is bright, clean, and transparent but does lose some detail.
This is clearly a typical HIFIMAN tuning approach: deep and dense bass, a dip in the mids with an emphasis on the upper mids, and bright treble.
The earbuds pair exceptionally well with ambient tracks, electronic tracks, instrumental pieces, hip-hop, and live performances. However, in rock and metal, they may lack weight in the mids and detail.
Imagine yourself on a secluded beach, in a light and carefree atmosphere, listening to the sound of waves, birds chirping, and palm trees rustling. That’s exactly how the HIFIMAN TWS450 sounds, bright, airy, melodic, yet easy and relaxed.
Sub-Bass: Truly deep and distinct, with a slight loss of detail. The sub-bass is prominently accentuated and manifests through a bassy, dense rumble. In certain moments, sub-bass notes feel like a bass punch to the face, it’s genuinely impactful. The sub-bass comes across as aggressive and fast, building up instantly, reaching maximum depth at its peak, and dropping off just as fast. Nevertheless, the duration is sufficient to fully experience the depth and energy of this region.
To showcase the sub-bass, I used "Rumble" by Skrillex feat. Fred again.. & Flowdan. This track perfectly highlights the deep and rapid sub-bass delivery especially under high-speed dynamics, showcasing how the earbuds handle deep, dense attacks without smearing.
Mid-Bass: Punchy, powerful, resonant, dense, and deep. The midbass feels like an extension of the sub-bass, drawing much of its energy from that region, and its character remains just as impactful but faster, with added depth. The midbass is positioned at the edges of the soundstage, but this doesn’t make it secondary. On the contrary, it peaks quickly and bursts to the forefront with rapid speed. The bass is detailed, with impressive resolution. In heavy tracks, it holds its own without getting lost, though it’s not overly controlled.
To describe the midbass, I chose the track "Bugg'n" by TNGHT. It vividly showcases the depth and scale of the bass, highlighting its resonant character and fast delivery. This is an ideal track to demonstrate the midbass in the TWS450, and they performed admirably.
Lower Mids: Melodic, bassy, velvety, and energetic. There’s a noticeable presence of heavy notes in this region, lending the sound richness and density. Nevertheless, the tonality remains musical and varied. Male vocals are delivered softly and velvety, while instruments in this range sound energetic and natural.
Mids: This region shows a noticeable dip, with the V-shaped sound signature fully evident. However, this doesn’t make the mids dull or lifeless. It lacks some energy and is slightly pushed to the background, but the sound retains naturalness, body, and a light warm coloration. Instrument timbres sound full-bodied, albeit with a slight loss of energy.
Male vocals feel lively, but again, the lack of energy slightly mutes them, resulting in a loss of vocal micro-details. This presentation style makes these earbuds a good choice for more emotional and dynamic vocals but not for those seeking maximum nuance.
Female vocals share similar characteristics to male vocals. They are sparkling, at times feminine and refined, but also suffer from a lack of micro-details and energy. If you enjoy diving into subtle vocal intonations and nuances, this might be a compromise.
Upper mids: In contrast, this region experiences a surge of energy, with the sound becoming airy, bright, sparkling, and colorful. This range seems designed to rescue the underwhelming mids, and does so effectively. The upper mids are tastefully accentuated, avoiding harshness while restoring scale and clarity to the imaging. You’ll notice more air between instruments, a livelier soundstage, and an overall sense of breathing in the music, all thanks to this region. It effectively compensates for the midrange’s shortcomings, making the presentation cohesive and musically rich.
To demonstrate the midrange, I chose "Young, Wild and Free" by Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa feat. Bruno Mars. This track, with its warm and relaxed delivery, perfectly showcases the melodic richness and weight in the lower mids while highlighting the expressiveness of the upper mids. As a result, the track unfolds voluminously and vividly, with diverse vocals and instruments gaining airiness and dynamics, especially in the upper midrange.
Treble: Bright, piercing, sparkling, and transparent. The character of the treble here is defined by a piercing brightness, with a slight sharpness at the upper peaks, delivering clean and transparent notes without graininess or sibilance. However, I’d say there’s a lack of extension and detail, causing vocal sounds to feel less sustained and instruments to decay quickly.
To illustrate the treble, I chose the track "Alive" by Sia. This track stands out with its powerful high-frequency vocals, which sound bright with sharp peaks, almost piercing the ears like needles.
The HIFIMAN TWS450 creates a spacious and airy soundstage, extending in depth and width, with less emphasis on height. This soundstage is built thanks to the accentuated lows, particularly the pronounced sub-bass. If we imagine the frequency range as layers on the stage, the bass occupies the outermost edges, followed by the lower mids, instruments, vocals, and treble, which are positioned closest to the stage.
Instrument separation is decent for TWS earbuds but not exceptional. These are definitely not analytical earbuds, there’s some layering due to the powerful sub-bass, which overshadows the lower mids and parts of the midrange. This creates a muddy effect in complex, bass-heavy tracks.
Imaging is also not top-tier. I found it difficult to precisely pinpoint the localization of specific sounds in space, though I could roughly determine their direction. Based on this, I wouldn’t recommend the TWS450 for gaming, especially competitive games, where precise sound localization is critical.
- vs Apple AirPods (1 gen):
I’d like to compare the HIFIMAN TWS450 with the AirPods first-gen, which I’ve been using since 2018.
The AirPods are a true classic among TWS earbuds. These in-ear buds with a stem and a thoughtful shape that sit securely in my ears.
The TWS450 are also in-ear buds, compact and stemless, which makes them feel less secure in the ears compared to the AirPods.
However, the TWS450 has significant advantages: IPX4 water resistance and ENC noise cancellation technology. Additionally, they cost more than half the price of AirPods. On the other hand, AirPods have weaker sound isolation due to their open design but excel in fit comfort, especially for those who dislike eartips.
When it comes to sound, AirPods offer a balanced, versatile signature with a slight emphasis on the midrange. This is a pleasant, melodic sound that many users are already familiar with. The TWS450, in contrast, provides a more audiophile V-shaped sound with an emphasis on sub-bass, upper mids, and treble. Let’s break down the sound in detail.
Bass: The TWS450 has a more pronounced, deeper, and punchier bass with a focus on sub-bass. In AirPods, the bass is more restrained, resonant, and controlled but lacks depth and scale.
Mids: AirPods deliver natural, smooth, and melodic mids, with pleasing vocals and instruments. The TWS450’s mids are more recessed but still full-bodied and tonally warm, coming alive primarily in the upper mids.
Treble: The TWS450’s treble is brighter than that of the AirPods, sounding more piercing, cleaner, and more transparent. In comparison, the AirPods’ treble is darker, restrained, and at times even muted.
Soundstage: The TWS450 creates an airy, deep, and wide soundstage with decent separation, though imaging can feel slightly blurred. The AirPods have a more intimate soundstage with clearer boundaries, better separation, and precise imaging. They excel in accuracy but fall short in scale.
Both models provide around 5 hours of playback on a single charge, which is perfectly acceptable for daily use.
In summary, if you’re looking for compact, affordable TWS earbuds with excellent sound isolation, audiophile-grade sound, and HIFIMAN’s signature emphasis on bass, upper mids, and treble, the TWS450 are a solid choice.
However, if you prefer an Apple product with seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem, a thoughtful shape, comfortable fit, and a universal, familiar sound without sharp accents, the first-gen AirPods are still a decent option.
The HIFIMAN TWS450 are budget TWS earbuds equipped with an audiophile-grade dynamic driver and a solid set of built-in features.
The earbuds feature a compact housing, minimalist design, secure and snug fit, and excellent sound isolation. Among their features are ENC noise cancellation for clearer calls, touch controls, and IPX4 water resistance. They offer 5 hours of playback on a single charge, which is a respectable result by today’s standards. Wireless connectivity is handled via Bluetooth 5.3, with support for SBC and AAC audio codecs. Yes, there’s no Bluetooth 5.4 or LDAC codec, but come on… $39 for these little gems is a fantastic deal.
They sound high-quality and audiophile-grade despite their miniature form factor. The sound is a typical V-shaped presentation with an emphasis on sub-bass, upper mids, and treble, featuring HIFIMAN’s signature tuning that brand enthusiasts will appreciate. The bass is deep and dense, heavily influenced by the sub-bass, which feels physical, adding weight and scale. The midrange is slightly recessed but sounds full-bodied with a warm tone. The upper mids are bright, vibrant, and energetic, bursting with life. The treble is bright and piercing, like a needle at its peaks.
The soundstage is airy and wide with good separation but average imaging. These are not analytical or monitor-grade earbuds, but at this price, compromises are expected.
In conclusion, the HIFIMAN TWS450 are affordable TWS earbuds with distinct HIFIMAN’s sound signature, a fun yet audiophile-oriented tuning, compact form, comfortable fit, and solid battery life. They’re an ideal companion for both active lifestyles and home listening at just $39.
Introduction
The HIFIMAN TWS450 is an entry-level true wireless earphone designed for listeners who want an affordable yet engaging sound for a very budget friendly price. While HIFIMAN is better known for their planar magnetic headphones, It aims to deliver a pleasant sound and reliable everyday usability for casual listening.
Test equipment:
– Iphone 16 pro
Test Tracks
– Samara Joy – Tight
– Immanuel Wilkins – Fugitive Ritual, Selah
– Kandace Springs – Devil May Care
– Samara Joy – Guess Who I Saw Today
– Gregory Porter – Dry Bones
Build & Design
The TWS450 takes a straightforward approach when it comes to design. The earbuds are compact, lightweight (around 3.5 grams each). Their construction is clearly tuned towards portability and comfort rather than luxury, but the fit is secure enough for commuting, working out, or daily use.
The charging case is minimalistic and pocket-friendly, with a soft-touch finish and magnetized lid. It feels robust enough for everyday carrying. The earbuds are rated IPX4 for water resistance, meaning they will survive sweat and light rain, perfect for gym sessions or outdoor activities.
Features & Connectivity
The TWS450 offers Bluetooth 5.3, providing stable connections and relatively low latency for general use, including casual gaming or video streaming. There’s no active noise cancellation (ANC) onboard, but the earbuds do support Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) during phone calls, helping to reduce background noise when speaking.
The touch controls are responsive and cover basic functions like play/pause, track skipping, volume adjustment, and call management.
Codec support includes SBC and AAC, which will be sufficient for most users, but the lack of high-resolution codecs such as aptX or LDAC might disappoint more audio-focused listeners
Sound Performance
Sound-wise, the TWS450 delivers a V-shaped tuning, with a clear emphasis on bass and treble.
Bass
The bass response is solid, reaching deep enough to give music a satisfying sense of weight and energy, but don’t expect wonders here, their budget, not flagship IEM’s
Mid
The midrange is slightly recessed, which gives vocals and instruments a more laid-back character. Voices come through clearly, though they don’t sit as forward as they might on more neutral-tuned IEMs. This isn’t necessarily a flaw, as it fits the overall easy-going sound signature.
Treble
The treble offers good clarity, however, at times, the high frequencies may come across as a touch sharp, depending on the track and volume. Listeners sensitive to sibilance might notice this with certain recordings.
The soundstage is modest, as expected. The stereo separation is decent enough to avoid a congested presentation. Imaging is sufficient for general music listening, although it won’t rival wired IEMs or audiophile-grade headphones. (Which is more than logical ofcourse)
Battery Life
The TWS450 offers around 5 hours of playtime on a single charge, with the case providing about three additional charges, giving a total of roughly 20 hours of use. While it doesn’t lead the class, this is more than enough.
Conclusion
The HIFIMAN TWS450 has a egg-cellent price performance ratio, for those who prioritize budget, over technical perfection. Its lively tuning, stable connectivity, and comfortable fit make it an easy recommendation for casual listeners or anyone looking for an affordable backup pair of wireless earbuds.
It lacks some modern features like ANC and high-resolution codec support, but considering the price, it delivers where it matters most, fun and engaging.
Want to read more reviews, check out my website at JJAZZIFI
The HIFIMAN TWS450 is an entry-level true wireless earphone designed for listeners who want an affordable yet engaging sound for a very budget friendly price. While HIFIMAN is better known for their planar magnetic headphones, It aims to deliver a pleasant sound and reliable everyday usability for casual listening.
Test equipment:
– Iphone 16 pro
Test Tracks
– Samara Joy – Tight
– Immanuel Wilkins – Fugitive Ritual, Selah
– Kandace Springs – Devil May Care
– Samara Joy – Guess Who I Saw Today
– Gregory Porter – Dry Bones
Build & Design
The TWS450 takes a straightforward approach when it comes to design. The earbuds are compact, lightweight (around 3.5 grams each). Their construction is clearly tuned towards portability and comfort rather than luxury, but the fit is secure enough for commuting, working out, or daily use.
The charging case is minimalistic and pocket-friendly, with a soft-touch finish and magnetized lid. It feels robust enough for everyday carrying. The earbuds are rated IPX4 for water resistance, meaning they will survive sweat and light rain, perfect for gym sessions or outdoor activities.
Features & Connectivity
The TWS450 offers Bluetooth 5.3, providing stable connections and relatively low latency for general use, including casual gaming or video streaming. There’s no active noise cancellation (ANC) onboard, but the earbuds do support Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) during phone calls, helping to reduce background noise when speaking.
The touch controls are responsive and cover basic functions like play/pause, track skipping, volume adjustment, and call management.
Codec support includes SBC and AAC, which will be sufficient for most users, but the lack of high-resolution codecs such as aptX or LDAC might disappoint more audio-focused listeners
Sound Performance
Sound-wise, the TWS450 delivers a V-shaped tuning, with a clear emphasis on bass and treble.
Bass
The bass response is solid, reaching deep enough to give music a satisfying sense of weight and energy, but don’t expect wonders here, their budget, not flagship IEM’s
Mid
The midrange is slightly recessed, which gives vocals and instruments a more laid-back character. Voices come through clearly, though they don’t sit as forward as they might on more neutral-tuned IEMs. This isn’t necessarily a flaw, as it fits the overall easy-going sound signature.
Treble
The treble offers good clarity, however, at times, the high frequencies may come across as a touch sharp, depending on the track and volume. Listeners sensitive to sibilance might notice this with certain recordings.
The soundstage is modest, as expected. The stereo separation is decent enough to avoid a congested presentation. Imaging is sufficient for general music listening, although it won’t rival wired IEMs or audiophile-grade headphones. (Which is more than logical ofcourse)
Battery Life
The TWS450 offers around 5 hours of playtime on a single charge, with the case providing about three additional charges, giving a total of roughly 20 hours of use. While it doesn’t lead the class, this is more than enough.
Conclusion
The HIFIMAN TWS450 has a egg-cellent price performance ratio, for those who prioritize budget, over technical perfection. Its lively tuning, stable connectivity, and comfortable fit make it an easy recommendation for casual listeners or anyone looking for an affordable backup pair of wireless earbuds.
It lacks some modern features like ANC and high-resolution codec support, but considering the price, it delivers where it matters most, fun and engaging.
Want to read more reviews, check out my website at JJAZZIFI
A simple compact TWS from Hifiman with a V-shaped sound signature
The Hifiman TWS450 is an entry-level true wireless earbud offering. With a price tag of around €40, and a sleek minimalist, pocket-friendly design there is a lot to like about the TWS540. But how well do they perform in practice and how do they stand up with the competition in this very crowded TWS market.
Note: Thanks to Hifiman for providing the TWS450 for this updated review. If you want to check out more details about the TWS450 check out Hifiman’s product page
So, I was extremely impressed with the sound from my previous Hifiman TWS, the Svanvar Wireless LE review here. I was curious as to what else Hifiman can do in the TWS market especially at the lower end of the market.
And now having listened to the TWS450 for the past month and comparing it with some other TWS in its price range, I thought I would share my findings. But before I get into the details, lets see what you get out of the box:
Design and Build
The TWS450arrives in a nice small box:
Opening the box you see that the TWS450 sports a minimalist, stem-free design with a pebble-shaped charging case.
Taking everything out of the box:
There is plenty of room inside the case for larger third party eartips:
The earbuds themselves are lightweight at just 3.5g each, ensuring comfort even during extended listening sessions.
The IPX4 water resistance rating adds durability, protecting against sweat and light precipitation, making the TWS450 a great option for workouts and outdoor use.
Features and Technology
While the TWS450 lacks Active Noise Cancellation technology, but did I find it works very well using passive isolation, especially if you get the right eartips, block out most of the background noise in my shared working space and on public transport. But let’s look at the other technologies used:ENC Deep Noise Cancellation during Calls
Using an ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) algorithm, the TWS450 effectively filters out background noise during calls, making communication in noisy environments much easier. I found it worked very well almost as good as the Svanvar Wireless LE provided an excellent experience during calls. It also beat the competition at this price, including the Moondrop Space Travel, Rose Technics Earfree i5 and considering they used a “Stem” design as against the earbud design of the TWS450 I thought this was pretty impressive.Low Latency Bluetooth 5.3
The Bluetooth 5.3 chip ensures stable connections and low latency, making the TWS450 a good choice for video streaming and casual gaming. Pairing is quick and seamless, and the earbuds maintain a strong connection throughout use.Note: The TWS450 supports only SBC and AAC codecs so we are lacking some of the newer high definition bluetooth codecs but given the retail price of the TWS450 I can understand not licensing these more expensive codecs.
20-Hour Battery Life
Battery life was solid, offering 5 hours of continuous playback on a single charge and up to 20 hours total with the charging case. While not class-leading, it’s sufficient for daily use. The compact case charges quickly, ensuring minimal downtime.Touch Controls
The TWS450 includes intuitive touch controls for playback, volume, and calls:- Double-tap either earbud to play/pause.
- Triple-tap the left earbud to rewind or the right earbud to skip tracks.
- Press and hold for 2 seconds to activate your device’s voice assistant.
The controls are responsive, with a slight audible click for feedback, but they might take a little getting used to for precise operation.
Note: There is no Mobile ‘Companion App’, I can understand that many people do not ever use these apps and Hifiman typically focus their R&D costs on improving the default sound quality.
So, having a simple and effective touch controls and as you will see a good default sound quality mostly make up for a lack of App configuration.
Sound Quality
The TWS450 punches well above its price class, delivering a fun V-shaped sound signature with good punchy bass and some great treble detail typical of the ‘Hifiman sound’ though some people might find the treble a little too much. The soundstage is more spacious than I expected for this price and far ahead of the other TWS I have tried in this price range, and imaging is precise, making these earbuds a great choice for diverse genres of music, but I would especially recommend these for Rock, Hip-hop or Pop music, but less so for Folk or Jazz genres.Bass
The low end is punchy and controlled without becoming overpowering, offering a very satisfying bass without muddying the mids.Mids
While the midrange is recessed typical of a V-shaped sound signature, it is still a very smooth midrange. I still found the TWS450 provided excellent clear vocals, and it worked great listening to podcasts.Treble
The treble provides excellent airy-ness but avoids harshness, even at higher volumes. It provides enough sparkle to enhance instrument separation, creating a lively fun listening experience. While I did not find it sibilant I can imagine some people might find this level of treble too much.Comfort and Fit
The compact, stem-free design ensures a secure and comfortable fit both for my larger ears (with the right Eartips) and when my wife who has very small ears used the smallest eartips. Thanks to their lightweight build, the TWS450 remains comfortable during extended listening sessions. So, experimenting with ear tips is recommended for the best fit and especially for sound isolation.I personally find an “earbud” design more comfortable than the “stem” design (typically used by Airpods Pro). Thoguh this will be very subjective. but compared to say the “Rose Technics Ceramics X” see photo below, I found the TWS450 lighter and therefore more stable in the ear and easier to wear for longer periods.
Here are the larger sized Rose Technics so you can see the TWS450 is a much smaller design:
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Specifications and Measurements
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Weight | 3.5g per earbud |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| ENC | AI-powered Environmental Noise Cancellation |
| Battery Life | 5 hours (earbuds), 20 hours total with case |
| Latency | Low-latency mode for stable connections |
Frequency Response
You can clearly see the v-shaped sound signature in the frequency response graph below:
But what is probably not as obvious is that the bass is mainly sub-bass (rather than mid-bass) to the midrange even though its recessed will be clear and the treble does add a lot of sparkle to the sound.
Distortion
To test the distortion I really pushed the SPL and mostly the TWS450 performed well with a very low THD value though some inaudible peaks in the treble:
And the distortion as a percentage:
Comparisons
So this comparison graph clearly shows the V-shaped sound of the TWS450, but also you can see how the TWS450 matches the much more expensive Hifiman Svanar Wireless LE in the treble:
The other TWS in this comparison go for a more analytical ‘reference’ sound with less bass and much less treble detail.
Rating
I have given the Hifiman TWS450 a very pragmatic 4-stars, I think Hifiman have made the right compromises to keep the price down yet deliver a well executed simple TWS with a engaging V-Shaped sound signature. The lack of full ANC, high-res codecs and any EQ capabilities means for those wanting more advanced capabilities will probably look at some more expensive TWS but those wanting a simple out of the box experience will be happy with the comfort and sound of the TWS450.Conclusion
The Hifiman TWS450 offers good sound quality and decent comfort in an affordable, compact package. While it lacks some premium features like a companion app or ANC, its V-Shaped tuning and effective ENC make it a good choice in this price category. Perfect for casual listeners, commuters, and anyone looking for a simple comfortable budget-friendly entry into the Hifiman world.