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.
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.
