Sennheiser HD 550 evaluation|Computer Gamer-Latest New 2025
You can’t fail with a pair of Sennheiser earphones for pc gaming. They’re punchy in all the ideal areas and light-weight adequate to be comfortable over extensive periods, that makes them a dab hand for video clip pc gaming for hours. The Sennheiser HD 550 are no various, which talks about why they’re also the very first collection of headphones Sennheiser is pitching straight to gamers past the company’s long-lost video clip pc gaming lineup.
The brand-new HD 550 have all the makings of a superb Sennheiser headset. I have actually used the older HD 650 for many years on my video gaming gear and the HD 550 truly feel instead familiar. That’s a good concept; it has faux-velour ear pads that truly feel the very same on your ear and these are affixed to largely-open steel mesh ear mugs for the full open-back experience.
If you’re brand-new to the globe of high-grade earphones, open-back describes the back of the earcup being open, generally with a steel mesh as holds true below, to provide a huge and aerated soundstage. This tends to bring about a a lot more natural audio than the option, closed-back. Closed-back earphones do have their advantages. They’re usually skilled for sound privacy and suffer less audio leak that makes them far better for noisy environments or taking out of your house, nonetheless they’re not as for resilient easy-listening as open-back.
As a set of wired, open-back earphones with a mid-to-high resistance, the HD 550 aren’t mosting likely to be fantastic for taking outside. You might drive them conveniently sufficient with a small amp, yet your next Hefty steam Deck earphones, these are not. They are mostly targeted at the desktop computer group, and resting at a workdesk is where you’ll obtain one of the most out of them for pc gaming.
Sennheiser HD 550 specifications
Driver: 38 mm
Regularity action: 6 Hz– 39 5 kHz
Insusceptibility: 150 ohms
Full harmonic distortion: < 0. 2 % (1 kHz/ 90 dB SPL)
Weight: 237 grams
In bundle: earphones, 1 8-metre cable w/ 3 5 mm jack, 3 5 mm to 6 35 mm adapter, drawstring bag
Rate: $300 | ₤ 250 |EUR 300
Coming with a 1 8- metre cable and a 3 5 mm jack, you don’t have to anxiety over compatibility with a wide-range of tools. It’ll connect into the rear of your pc gaming computer merely terrific, or using the front panel(though I would certainly constantly advise the straight back link). This cable television finishes in a single link on the headset, a twist-to-lock jack web link, which is just one of the crucial differentiators from the HD 650 with a web link on either earcup. The HD 650 also includes a lengthier 3-metre cord.
A fully commited amp is much better for pressing these earphones. In which situation, the contained 3 5 mm to 6 35 mm adapter comes in useful. I have really hooked the HD 550 roughly my Schiit Magni and Modi pile for screening, yet you need not difficulty with all that if you do not wish to spend the added cash money. You can use a whole lot much less and acquire comparable outcomes. I have in fact made use of these connected in straight to my motherboard and they’re easily loud enough to video game with.
I have actually pressed them close to an unpleasant quantity with my motherboard but it had not been possible to go any type of type of above that. I’m a little bit careful concerning paying attention at high volume degrees and this was almost workable. So, primarily, if you truly like to crank the sound, you will likely need an amp. Otherwise you’re most likely all great.
The HD 550 audio wonderful. Seek to the frequency comments graphes offered by Sennheiser and you can see a moderate development on the lower bass frequencies contrasted to the HD 599 and that shows up also contrasted to the HD 650 s. It’s still a Sennheiser headset, nevertheless, so you shouldn’t anticipate thumping bass to rattle your bones. It’s a subtle adjustment for a little bit much more punch at the low-end, yet visible enough when switching over in between the HD 550 and HD 650
Though what’s likewise visible is the somewhat scratchier treble response on the HD 550 While focusing on All I Need by Maribou State, it’s just refined, yet in the a lot extra dynamic Round To Ya Speaker by Anaïs, it develops a touch far more unpleasant listening. That’s perhaps even more of a praise to just exactly how easy taking note the HD 650 are. Probably that’s to do with exposure of the earcup on the HD 550, which is a little reduced by a layer of foam and a smaller mesh contrasted to the bigger, foam-free HD 650 Though with different motorists(38 mm vs 42 mm), it’s tough to place it to merely something.
This isn’t a hinderance to playing computer game with the HD 550 It’s quite gripping in something like Hunt: Face-off. Fire an efficient rifle and the sound puncture the hubbub of the zombie-infested world a lot a great deal extra on the HD 550 compared to the HD 650 The HD 550 is remarkable for this sort of video game.
That’s a pretty certain image yet, a lot more extensively, the HD 550 audios superb. The mid-range is most definitely excellent for whatever you toss at it, and it does not truly feel especially lacking in bass reaction, either.
Onto comfort and it’s no surprise that this lightweight headset does not withstand you over long term time periods. Sennheiser has it at 237 grams for that reason do I– bang-on dimension there, Sennheiser– and that ventilated frame suggests the deluxe additional padding does not need to do much to remain comfortable. It is pretty glamorous however, with those faux-velour ear pads and leatherette-clad headband pillow.
The headband cushion is the one location where this headset a little loses to the HD 650 in my publications, which is a better fit on my most likely to its tapered cushioning, yet that might simply be me. The weight of the HD 550 prevent this from ending up being any longer of a problem, nonetheless. They’re still very comfortable.
Onto rates and the HD 550 is quite darn low-cost by audiophile needs at $300 / ₤ 250 / EUR 300 That’s a lot contrasted to several of the greatest video pc gaming headsets, and the lack of mic may be a dealbreaker for some, nonetheless we’re speaking a set of earphones right here, and for a wide variety of reasons you could intend to choose these up over your typical fare. The primary one being audio premium quality and convenience.
Yet the Sennheiser does have rivals in this space. There’s the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro that our Andy, a specialist audio fan in a previous life, really went crazy concerning in his endorsement. Those featured a mic for $ 330 / EUR 300 Afterwards there are the Audeze Maxwell , which include Planar Magnetic drivers, and I do not mean to disregard those for both paying attention to songs and playing video games– they’re fantastic for both with an outstanding bass activity.
Obtain if …
✅ You can locate a good deal on this collection: At the best price, you can make an actually solid debate for the HD 550 as an excellent set of earphones for very easy listening and computer gaming.
✅ You don’t want to feel them on your head: The 237 gram weight incorporated with the open-back style produces a set of containers that aren’t especially noticeable on your head.
Don’t buy if …
❌ You can locate the HD 650 for a lot less: Some may choose the bassier, punchier feedback on the HD 550, nevertheless I still grab the HD 650 at the end of the day, and they’re currently a lot more economical in the UK.
❌ You desire a microphone: It’s a little bit of a supplied yet there’s no integrated microphone right here, so you far better get a committed one or look elsewhere.
And afterwards there’s the Decline+Epos Computer System 38 X , which I analyzed a couple of years back, also from the Sennheiser stable. EPOS, currently defunct, was Sennheiser Computer pc gaming in the past. It’s all incredibly complex, and nowadays also earphones like the HD 550 are really made under certificate by a firm called Sonova. Anyway, the computer system 38 X come with a microphone and actually exceptional neutral car drivers for a lot less money, originally around $135, though due to the fact that they’re disappearing, they seem less commonly supplied and set you back more. They may be out of the running entirely rapidly.
But one of the most substantial competitors to the Sennheiser HD 550 Well, the crucial points with high quality earphones is the oldies are still excellent. They do not actually head out of style. The HD 550 are $300, the HD 560 S are $200 , the HD 650 are $476 , the HD 6 XX are $179 , and the HD 600 are $355 Of the great deal, it is challenging to disregard the very qualified and exceptionally similar HD 560 S for$100 a lot less.
It’s harder for the HD 550 in the UK. The HD 650 are simply ₤ 229 Yep, that’s actually less than the HD 550, and I find myself grabbing the HD 650 extra regularly out of option. To make issues worse, the HD 560 S are, bewilderingly, just ₤ 99 That’s an unbelievably tiny cost for a set of very similar headphones, and it’s not the first time those earphones have actually rested that decreased. While you’ll find varying viewpoints on whether the HD 560 S scratches that audiophile crave every person, it’s tough to forget for that decrease in cost.
The cost really is the single sticking element with the HD 550 An overall outstanding set of earphones that are a seasoned intermediary for listening to tracks and pc video gaming, interfered with practically completely by a launch price that isn’t entirely based in the present market. A minimum of it does seem like Sennheiser has actually toenailed the formula for its mid-range offering with this set. With a sufficient discount, I ‘d most definitely order a set of the HD 550
