There are only so many headphones one person with two ears can test before running out of ways to describe the listening experience without using a combination of … Crisp. Clear. Crystal-like. So, why did I decide the new Sennheiser HD 550 deserved a spot on my new reviews list?
Well, given the swirling rumours that my favourite muso, Mariah Carey (queen of high notes and higher expectations) was scheduled to surprise Aussies on her next global tour, I downloaded MC’s greatest hits and slipped on this headset to find out if they offered a special way to hear my favourite songbird supreme hit her highs. Spoiler: it’s giving Glitter. In a very good way.
To start, the moment you settle the Sennheiser HD 550 over your head, it feels like you’ve booked your ears front-row seats to the most intimate concert of your life. Imagine the opportunity to score front-row seats (nay, all-access pass) to Ms Carey’s concert and connect to the emotional core of your playlists in person. Sennheiser HD 550 + 1 point.
Next, these things are light. In fact, at just 237 grams, they are as easy as an MC pop bop. (A daydream to wear, if you will). The clamping force is blissfully chill, snug and supportive. Sennheiser has nailed the comfort brief, meaning you can wear them for hours. Which I did – listening to “Mariah Carey’s Christmas Album” front to back twice. Even though it’s not even June!
The Sennheiser HD 550 have also nailed the sound stuff. Kind of a big deal if you want to listen to an artist with a vocal range spans five octaves. Powered by a custom 38mm transducer from Sennheiser’s own facility in Ireland, the HD 550 delivers an ultra-revealing, detailed sound that’s smooth without being syrupy. The frequency response is wildly impressive – from a rumble-you-can-feel 6 Hz to a crystalline 39.5 kHz, with less than 0.2% distortion. If we’re going to continue with the Mariah Carey analogies, you might say the sound is like a “fantasy” come true!
Finally, one of the most impressive features of the Sennheiser HD 550 is the price. Although Sennheiser built the HD 550 for audiophiles, it doesn’t carry itself with the diva antics of a device that typically costs twice as much. In fact, at $479.95, it’s got that sweet-spot magic: affordable enough to feel justifiable (and probably less than I’ll be forking out for Mariah Carey tickets!). But, tuned with the kind of finesse you’d expect from a brand that’s been crafting audio gear longer than most of us have been alive.
Musical-loving magic aside, the Sennheiser HD 550 are also surprisingly gamer-friendly. Lag-free spatial awareness? Tick. Modular design? Tick. Comes with a swappable cable, 3.5 mm jack, and a 6.35 mm adapter for versatility? Tick, tick, boom. Want to hook them up to something fancier down the line (like Sennheiser’s HDV 820)? You’re covered.
In short, the HD 550 is for the music nerd, the gamer (and the movie buff and the podcast binger…). Basically, the anyone-who-uses-their-ears type. And yes, we’ve only got two ears, but if you’re going to treat them to an evening with Mariah – without forking over four figures for front row tickets – then they are an excellent way to do so
