The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless are decent, well-rounded headphones. These premium-looking over-ears are very similar to their predecessor, the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless, and the most noticeable difference is their greatly improved ANC performance. Their sound profile is very well-balanced, and they should be versatile enough for most genres of music. Like the previous version, they have a comfortable and very stable fit, meaning they're even a good choice if you prefer using over-ear headphones at the gym.
Our Verdict
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are decent for neutral sound. While their bass and mid ranges are excellently well-balanced, unfortunately, their treble isn't and may sound harsh or piercing. Due to their closed-back design, they also have a closed-off passive soundstage, and sound seems to come from inside your head. Overall, they're versatile and well-suited for most genres of music, but audiophiles may want to look elsewhere.
- Very accurate bass and mid-range performance.
- App has EQ presets.
- Closed-off passive soundstage.
- Uneven treble performance hurts overall audio reproduction.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are very good for commuting or travel. Thanks to their well-padded design, they're comfortable and can be worn for extended periods without fatigue or soreness. They also have a very good battery life, great for long flights. Their ANC performance is also great, and they do an effective job of blocking out the engine noise on a plane or bus. Unfortunately, they aren't the most portable, though they do fold flat and come with a soft carrying case to give them some protection.
- Great ANC performance.
- Very stable and comfortable fit.
- Somewhat bulky design.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are good over-ear headphones for sports use. They're comfortable and feel stable on the head, so they shouldn't move or fall off during jogs. They also breathe very well for over-ear headphones, so you shouldn't sweat more than usual, making them a very good choice if you prefer the fit of over-ears but want headphones that you can also take with you to the gym. Like most over-ear headphones, they lack an IP rating for dust or water resistance and can fall off during intense workouts.
- Very stable and comfortable fit.
- Premium look and feel.
- No IP rating for water resistance.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are good for office use. They're comfortable and have a very long battery life, meaning you should be able to use them for a full work day. Their ANC also does an excellent job of blocking out background chatter, helping you keep focused at work. Unfortunately, they do leak a bit of audio, though it likely won't be enough to bother those around you unless you work in an extremely quiet environment or blast your music.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II aren't recommended for wireless gaming. They can only connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, meaning they won't be compatible with PS4 or Xbox One without a wired connection. While you can pair them to a Bluetooth-enabled PC, their somewhat high latency makes them less ideal for gaming unless your PC supports the aptX(LL) codec, which provides lower latency. They also have high latency with iOS, but it's lower with Android, so they're more suitable for mobile gaming on those devices.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are decent for wired gaming if you don't need mic support. They come with a 1/8" to 1/16" TRRS cable, but this only supports audio across PCs as well as Xbox and PlayStation consoles if you plug it into a controller. However, we could connect to both consoles with full mic and audio support by swapping the cable for another cable with an integrated mic. These headphones can also connect to PCs using their micro-USB to USB-A cable, and they have a low latency connection suitable for gaming.
- Very stable and comfortable fit.
- Uneven treble performance hurts overall audio reproduction.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are decent headphones for phone calls. Their microphone performance is decent, and speech transmitted with these headphones sounds better than many other Bluetooth headphones. Unfortunately, their noise handling isn't very good, and the person on the other end of the line will likely have a hard time hearing you if you're in a moderately noisy environment.
- Great ANC performance.
- Mic has decent noise handling.
- Uneven treble performance hurts overall audio reproduction.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 14, 2022: We've corrected our results for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S Wired USB compatibility in Xbox Compatibility.
- Updated Jul 15, 2022: We've retested the 1/8" to 1/16" audio cable that was included in the box. Its connection only supports audio, so you won't have mic support. We have updated the text in the following tests: 'Wired', 'PC Compatibility', 'PlayStation Compatibility', and 'Xbox Compatibility'.
- Updated Jan 27, 2022: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Sep 08, 2021: Retested 'Wired | Analog/USB Audio Latency'.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II come in one variant with an all-black design. If you come across another variant, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update the review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are very similar to the previous version. They both look and feel the same, with the main improvement being their ANC performance, which is much better. They have a much more stable fit than the similar Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless or Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018, which makes them a great option if you like using over-ears at the gym.
See our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones, and the best over-ear headphones.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless are a minor upgrade over the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless. They have much better ANC performance and an easier-to-use control scheme. Other than that, they both look almost identical, have the same features, and have very similar sound profiles.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless and the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless have different strengths, and you may prefer either one. The Sony headphones are more comfortable and better built, and their ANC system does a significantly better job blocking background noise. Their companion app also offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. The Sennheiser headphones have a better overall performing integrated mic and a more stable and breathable fit.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless have different strengths; depending on your usage, you may prefer one over the other. While both headphones are comfortable and well-built, the Sennheiser have a more stable fit and a more neutral default sound profile that some users may prefer. They also have a better overall battery performance. The Anker's ANC does a better job of blocking out ambient noise around you, they have a longer continuous battery life, and their companion app offers a graphic EQ to help customize their sound.
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless are better headphones than the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Wireless. They have better controls, a much more accurate sound profile, and feel more stable. On the other hand, the Bowers & Wilkins feel more premium, have much longer battery life, and very similar ANC performance.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
