I'm so excited because, let's face it, if you're shopping for truly wireless earbuds on a budget, you've probably got these in your shortlist. This is the fifth generation of Sony's WF-1000XM5. They've been great for many generations. I spent most of my time with the XM3s—they were already awesome—but I can see a lot has changed since then. Even compared to the XM4s, there are some noticeable improvements.
Today, I'm going to talk about the new Sennheiser HD 550, and no, you're not experiencing déjà vu. The HD 505 came out recently, and I will be comparing it to that model later. What is similar, though, is that this is still the 5-series chassis, and a lot of the improvements that came with the HD 505 are still present with the HD 550. So, what makes the HD 550 different? Well, for one, the price is a little bit higher. The HD 505 was selling in the US for $269.99, and this guy sells for $299 USD. So, there's a bit of a price bump, but now we're getting closer to the HD 600 series, like the HD 600, HD 650, and of course, the HD 6XX, which is only $199 in the US typically. Again, I will be making comparisons to those as well as the HD 490 Pro later in this review.
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What's Included
The HD 550 comes with a couple of things:
- A travel bag, which is identical to the one you get with the HD 505.
- A single 2.5mm multi-pole connection on the side, which plugs into the left side of the headphone and locks in just like the HD 505 and 560s before it.
- A 3.5mm adapter that screws on, exposing a 3.5mm connection.
- A better box compared to the HD 505, which has a brown box.
The rest of the savings went into a slight sound quality difference. The HD 505 had that copper color, which I actually liked because it added a splash of color. The HD 550, on the other hand, takes a more traditional approach with a monochromatic look, which I think will please more people in general.
Build and Comfort
One of my favorite improvements that the HD 550 has over the HD 560s is the reduced clamp force. The HD 550 and HD 505 are within a few grams of each other in weight, which is excellent. It's a pretty massive reduction in clamp force, and because this is lightweight and the ear cups are rather large, this is a very comfortable headphone to wear, especially for long periods of time. The pads are quite breathable as well, and it's an open-back design, so you don't have that plunger effect. This is a really good endurance headphone as far as comfort goes.
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The HD 560s was pretty comfortable, but it had mixed reviews because it squeezed your head quite firmly. The HD 550, on the other hand, has greatly reduced clamp force, and it still rotates and pivots up and down, with a telescoping yoke. This still has that leatherette padded headband that wraps all the way around, and the ear pads are the exact same on all three models, which means you get about 70mm of height, just over 40mm of width, and slight variance in depth.
Objective Sound
Now, let's talk about the sound. The HD 550 has a different driver baffle compared to the HD 560s and HD 505. They made several changes, including a different screen, a different impedance, and a slight change in the diaphragm material. All of this was in pursuit of better sound quality, or at least what they were trying to target. The HD 560s is the most exciting sounding of the three, with punchy bass and a forward, bright presentation. The HD 505 tamed the HD 560s sound just a little, making it more comfortable to listen to. The HD 550, however, is the best version of everything because it blurs the line between the 500 series headphones and the legendary 600 series.
In terms of frequency response, the HD 550 has a really nice linear bass response, with a slight roll-off, which is common for dynamic open-back headphones. The mid-range presentation is flat and clean, with a little bit of a recess in the pinna range. The driver matching is excellent, and the HD 550 has a more tame 2-3kHz presentation compared to the HD 505. This makes it much more in line with my personal preference, as it's easier to listen to for long periods of time.
Subjective Sound
Subjectively, the HD 550 is one of the best headphones I've heard for the money. The mid-range presentation is near perfect, and it has a little bit more bass extension compared to the HD 600 series. The bass delivery is excellent, with more sub-bass extension, and the treble is relaxed enough to be enjoyable without being harsh. This is a headphone that can handle a wide variety of genres, from EDM to acoustic music, and even movies. It's a solid all-around performer.
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Compared to the HD 505, the HD 550 is only $30 more, and the mid-range presentation is pretty much perfect. It's the best-presented mid-range I've heard on a headphone in a long time. The HD 6XX has always been my favorite headphone for mid-range timbre, but the HD 550 comes close, with a little bit more bass extension. This is a stellar launch, and I wish Sennheiser had released it alongside the HD 505 so consumers could have had more options to choose from.
Gaming Performance
When it comes to gaming, the HD 550 is my favorite Sennheiser headphone, even over the HD 800s with EQ. The HD 550 is very easy to pinpoint audio cues, making it great for both immersive gaming and competitive FPS. The soundstage is wider than the HD 600 series, but not as wide as the HD 560s. However, it's not as punishing to listen to, making it a great choice for long gaming sessions. The HD 490 Pro is a close runner-up, but the HD 550 takes the crown for overall gaming performance.
Final Thoughts
The Sennheiser HD 550 is one of the best values in audio right now. It's a headphone that doesn't require EQ, and it works great for music, movies, and gaming. The only thing I wish Sennheiser had done was release it at the same time as the HD 505, as some people might feel a bit irked that another 500-series headphone came out so soon. However, the HD 550 is a fantastic headphone, and if you're looking for one headphone that does it all, this is a great choice.
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