Our Verdict
The PXC 550 Wireless are above-average headphones that perform admirably for most use cases. They have a highly customizable sound to suit your individual tastes, and they isolate well enough for moderately loud environments. Their wireless design feels comfortable, stable and durable. Unfortunately, they don't excel in one particular use case, and the isolation can be a little weak compared to the competition.
- Highly customizable sound.
- Lightweight and sturdy build quality.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Mediocre noise cancelation.
- Leaky at higher volumes.
Good for neutral listening. These headphones have a multitude of ways to enhance and customize their audio reproduction. Therefore, you could find a sound profile to suit your taste, but it might not be the most accurate representation of the actual audio. The default sound profile is decently balanced and should sound good enough for most listeners. However, the lack of soundstage may not be ideal for those who want a more immersive sound.
Good for commuting. The Sennheiser PXC 550 have a decent noise isolation performance. They're comfortable and give you a high amount of control over your audio directly on the headphones or through the app. However, they're not the best in very loud environments.
Above-average for sports. They're not specifically designed for high-intensity activities, but they're stable enough to jog with. They have a comfortable fit and provide great control over your audio.
Suitable for office use. They don't leak much at regular volumes and isolate enough to prevent the ambient noise of a lively office from seeping into your audio.
Below-average for gaming. The Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless are comfortable, they have a good sound with a lot of bass and have a decent wireless range. Unfortunately, they have a mediocre-at-best integrated mic and a lot of latency which is not really suitable for gaming. On the upside, their cable is not os-specific and is compatible with most consoles and PCs.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 22, 2021: Retested and updated 'Case Type'.
- Updated Jun 11, 2021: Changed USB Audio results for clarity.
- Updated Feb 05, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Dec 03, 2019: We've remeasured the size of the headphones. The Portability score has been updated.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sennheiser PXC 550 are a versatile wireless headset with great customization options and a good sound. They do not have as much isolation as some of the competing models within their price range, but they provide more control over their active features than the Sony WH-1000XM3. They also have a comfortable design that's slightly more well rounded than the QC35 or Sony WH-1000XM2 thanks to their tighter fit which makes them a bit more stable for sports. See our recommendations for the best wireless headphones and the best bass headphones.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 are a slightly better noise cancelling headset than the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless. The Sonys have a more premium, high-end build quality and offer better noise isolation for traveling and commuting in noisy conditions. The Sonys are also a bit more comfortable than the Sennheisers. On the other hand, the PXC 550 Wireless have more connection options, making them a great choice if you have a lot of devices that you typically use your headphones with. The PXC 550 Wireless also give you a bit more control over their active features, and they sound a bit better with their default sound profile although both headphones can be EQed fairly easily thanks to their respective apps.
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 Wireless are a better headset overall than the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless. The PXC 550 are more comfortable, have a better battery performance, and more features. They also sound better out-of-the-box than the HD1 Wireless. On the other hand, the HD1 have a better build quality that feels more durable. The HD1 also isolate better in loud and quieter conditions thanks to their superior noise cancellation and low leakage.
The Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless are a better headset overall than the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 On-Ear, but since the Momentum are wired-only headphones, you cannot make a direct comparison. The PXC 550 are more comfortable and have a lot more features, like a customizable sound and noise cancellation. This makes them more versatile for most use cases and suitable for different environments, unlike the Sennheisers. They also sound better out of the box, but on the other hand, the Momentum are wired, so they have no latency when watching videos. They're also a bit more compact and portable than the PXC 550 Wireless. However, you can also use the Bose with the provided audio cable for the same use case.
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