Quick Summary
Sennheiser's new HD 550 open-back headphones have a more relaxed fit than other 500-series models, making them ideal for long listening and gaming.
They're also priced reasonably for "audiophile" over-ears, at £249.99 / $299.95 / about A$514.
Sennheiser has announced a pair of open-back headphones for "audiophiles and gamers" that promise to punch well above their price tag.
The new HD 550 over-ears are designed for long listening sessions and lengthy gaming sessions, with a super light weight build and impressive specification.
The 500 Series are Sennheiser's mid-range over-ears, designed to deliver much of the fun of the higher-end 600 Series for less cash.
The transducers are Sennheiser's own 38mm design, made in its specialised facility in Ireland's Tullamore – a town that makes both headphones and whisky, two of my favourite things.
The frequency range is a sweeping 6Hz to 39.5Hz, with less than 0.2% total harmonic distortion, and impedance is 150 ohms. As with other wired headphones, gamers get a lag-free experience. Sennheiser says the detailed sound stage also delivers superb spatial awareness.
Comfortable listening for long sessions
These are open-back headphones, which are generally regarded as delivering the best sound of any headphone design – the downside is that they also leak a fair bit of audio, so they're perhaps not the best choice for making friends on the bus. For home listening however, open-back is very much a good thing.
The HD 550 pair have been designed with a "more relaxed" clamping force than other 500-series headphones, and they're light too at just 237g. The metal earcup covers are ventilated and the headband is soft-touch for comfort.
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Like their stablemates, the HD 500 are modular with easily swappable earpads and cables. The supplied cable is 1.8m with a standard 3.5mm stereo jack and a 6.35mm adapter.
The new HD 550 headphones will be shipping in April and can be pre-ordered now for £249.99 / $299.95 / about AU$514.