Review: Sennheiser's PXC 550 Wireless Headphones Should Put Bose on Notice

[MacRumors]

Last month we looked at Bose's wireless QuietComfort 35 noise-canceling headphones ($350) and came away with the feeling that - at least for those willing or able to test premium waters - Bluetooth-based audio fulfillment was finally a possibility.

So it would be remiss not to turn next to rival premium headphone maker and well-regarded German audio company Sennheiser to see what it has to offer in the wireless noise-canceling space.

Sennheiser has dipped its toes into the NC market before with the PXC 250-ii, PXC 450, and its lauded wireless Momentum series, but the firm announced its flagship PXC 550 travel cans ($400/£330) in an almost direct response to Bose's QuietComfort transition to Bluetooth, which makes comparisons here inevitable. First though let's look at the design and features of the PXC 550 headphones on their own terms.


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Article Link: Review: Sennheiser's PXC 550 Wireless Headphones Should Put Bose on Notice

 

[eRondeau]

I just bought a set of Bluetooth headphones from Monoprice, normally $50 but on sale for $20. I think they sound great so far and the overall convenience of BT vs. wired is obvious. I'd absolutely love to put a $350 set on my right ear and a $20 set on my left ear and compare their sound quality "live", playing the same signal source at the same time. That would tell the tale of the tape, so to speak.

 

[mavis]

Terrific. In the meantime, I'm still waiting on premium BT connected IEMs - ideally an adapter for my Sennheiser ie80s, like what Westone makes for IEMs with MMCX plugs.

 

[dmelgar]

I have a big review on Amazon. I like these headphones but have a couple of issues not mentioned in this article.

1. I find them less comfortable than the Bose QC35. The headband is narrower, firmer and rounded making the weight of the headphones rest on a narrow strip on your head thats less comfortable than the wider, softer, flatter headband of the QC35.

2. One of the best features to me of the PXC-550 is that you can turn off noise cancellation if you'd like. Better yet, there's a mode where it can pipe in voices from outside. This is awesome and noise cancellation still works. This is amazing for listening to announcements on a plane. The roar of the engines is still gone but you can hear the announcement clearly. However, for me I'd like to be able to sometimes hear co-workers in case something is going on I should listen to. This mode stops the music. I wish it would not stop the music. This would make a world of difference to me.

Other than that, they're excellent headphones.

 

[ogirginc]

IMO, they look very ugly compared to QC35.

 

[2457248]

another review i've read despised the touch controls, stating accidental play/pause as soon as he took them on/off, or worse put them around the neck. anyone has an experience to share?

 

[Telos101]

I have a big review on Amazon. I like these headphones but have a couple of issues not mentioned in this article.

1. I find them less comfortable than the Bose QC35. The headband is narrower, firmer and rounded making the weight of the headphones rest on a narrow strip on your head thats less comfortable than the wider, softer, flatter headband of the QC35.

2. One of the best features to me of the PXC-550 is that you can turn off noise cancellation if you'd like. Better yet, there's a mode where it can pipe in voices from outside. This is awesome and noise cancellation still works. This is amazing for listening to announcements on a plane. The roar of the engines is still gone but you can hear the announcement clearly. However, for me I'd like to be able to sometimes hear co-workers in case something is going on I should listen to. This mode stops the music. I wish it would not stop the music. This would make a world of difference to me.

Other than that, they're excellent headphones.

Tha article covers your second point, I think.

I wanna know how these rate against Sony's new MDR-1000X 'Bose killers'!

 

[keysofanxiety]

I wanna know how these rate against Sony's new MDR-1000X 'Bose killers'!

Not well, I'd wager. The MDR range is butter for audio quality. Absolutely love the MDR-7506s.

 

[Born Again]

I have a big review on Amazon. I like these headphones but have a couple of issues not mentioned in this article.

1. I find them less comfortable than the Bose QC35. The headband is narrower, firmer and rounded making the weight of the headphones rest on a narrow strip on your head thats less comfortable than the wider, softer, flatter headband of the QC35.

2. One of the best features to me of the PXC-550 is that you can turn off noise cancellation if you'd like. Better yet, there's a mode where it can pipe in voices from outside. This is awesome and noise cancellation still works. This is amazing for listening to announcements on a plane. The roar of the engines is still gone but you can hear the announcement clearly. However, for me I'd like to be able to sometimes hear co-workers in case something is going on I should listen to. This mode stops the music. I wish it would not stop the music. This would make a world of difference to me.

Other than that, they're excellent headphones.

does the pxc-550 filter out voices better?

I have the bose QC35s and im really unimpressed with the NC with voices on a plane.

 

[profets]

Sennheiser does a good job with headphones. I bought my first over ear Bluetooth headphones from them 5 years ago on some crazy sale. PX360BT was the model I think. Still using them without issue. Never any delay and quite comfortable.

 

[Daws001]

I just bought the QC35s last week and they're so good. If I was allowed to wear headphones at work I'd be wearing them now.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Glad ANC finally has some decent competition. However, these looks too thick for me to consider. I don't like headphones that make me look like Mickey Mouse. I love the thin look of the Sony MDR7506. When they manage to fit ANC and BT into something like that, I will be interested.

 

[calzon65]

I admit wireless is cool, but I still wish Apple did not remove the 3.5mm jack.

 

[CFreymarc]

Owned a pair of Sennheier's for a few years and they sound as good as the day I first used them.

 

[turbineseaplane]

These and the Bose (and the new Sony's) are just so completely overpriced.

 

[AbSoluTc]

Really enjoy when it comes to audio, everyone is an aficionado. Audio opinions are so varied it's crazy. Get what works/sounds best for you and be done with it.

 

[Sefstah]

$350 and up for wireless headphones that dont sound as good as $125 ATH-MX50? No thanks. BT still has a way to go before it can compare to the good old cord. Adding noise cancellation doesn't improve the sound. All its doing for me is draining the battery faster. Hopefully someday BT will improve, NC will be more standard, and the price will drop below $200.

 

[Ankaa]

Thanks for the review, this is certainly an interesting pair of headphones. I was planning on getting the Q35 at some point, but now may actually take a closer look at these. Especially them being lighter and being able to turn AN off, are good arguments.

However, with the way you turn them on or of, I'm a little concerned. So far, I've never put my headphones (Bose user here) flat on the table, I also like to wear them around my neck from time to time. So I guess, there's no way to turn them on/off manually? That would have been nice if one had the choice...

Also, I have to admit, they do look kinda weird... the looks don't appeal me, yet and weren't it for the review, I'd totally skipped over them in the shop.

 

[JD92]

Are you sure the iPhone defaults to SBC as its Bluetooth codec? I'm pretty sure the iPhone defaults to AAC, as long as the connected headphones support it.

 

[MH01]

How was the performance wired?

 

[commander.data]

I admit wireless is cool, but I still wish Apple did not remove the 3.5mm jack.

It's interesting that this PXC 550 has a 2.5 mm jack on the headphone and provides an adapter cable to 3.5 mm. I wonder if Apple should have switched to the 2.5 mm jack in order to get some space savings while still retaining analog output support? But I guess that was too much of a compromise that wouldn't satisfy anyone since the space savings would be modest and would still require most people use a dongle to connect existing 3.5 mm headphones.

 

[4ubrey]

$50 more for:

• Less battery performance that the QC35 (QC35 20/40 vs PXC 550 20/30)
• Same ANC
• Arguably uglier design
• Bigger storage case
• Non-replaceable battery

Why would anyone do this?

 

[Telos101]

Are you sure the iPhone defaults to SBC as its Bluetooth codec? I'm pretty sure the iPhone defaults to AAC, as long as the connected headphones support it.

I may be wrong but I don't think the PXC 550s support the AAC codec (it's a non-mandatory AD2P profile) so an iPhone would default to standard SBC if you tried to connect a pair. It's a good point though because the QC35s do support AAC, which is meant to be better quality...

Man. I wish standards were ACTUALLY standard.

 

[Bistroengine]

I'm getting really annoyed with $400+ headphones that are still made with cheap plastic and fake leather. If you're spending that amount of money on a pair of headphones give us something thats not going to break from extended wear and tear. ESPECIALLY these headphones where you're constantly flipping the ear cups in and out to turn them off and on.

 

[timmyh]

How was the performance wired?

Very decent wired, but required a couple more bars of volume to match Bluetooth output level.

It's true that the PXC's don't support the AAC codec, which is why my iPhone defaulted to SBC. But I still thought they had a better overall sound than the QC35's (which apparently do support AAC), so that could be to do with the physical drivers etc.