A Legendary Audio Brand’s New Hi-Fi Headphones Are Refreshingly Affordable

Last month, Sennheiser introduced the HD 505, which are entry-level open-back headphones designed for budget-conscious audiophiles. They cost $280.

This week, the famed German hi-fi manufacturer released similar open-back headphones, the HD 550, which promise even better sound for just $20 more. But that’s not all.

Sennheiser HD 550

Sennheiser

A 500 series upgrade

The Sennheiser HD 550 is the newest addition to the company’s HD 500 series of entry-level open-back headphones. And they share a similar design to those other models — including the recently-released HD 505.

The headphones have an incredibly lightweight design, weighing 237 grams, with large earcups featuring the brand’s signature metal mesh covers. They also are modular — the earpads are swappable and the cables are detachable, allowing you to replace old components in time or use the headphones with various sources.

The headphones ship with a 1.8-meter-long cable with a 3.5mm jack plug, but it also comes with a 6.35mm adapter.

Sennheiser

An acoustic advantage

The real difference with Sennheiser’s HD 550 is the acoustics. They have custom 38mm transducers — made in Sennheiser’s facilities in Tullamore, Ireland — that promise to deliver audio from 6Hz to 39.5kHz with less than 0.2% total harmonic distortion.

This is a broader frequency response than the company’s HD 505, which has a range of 12Hz to 38.5kHz.

This means the HD 550 headphones should deliver audio with better, deeper bass, ultimately leading to fuller and more dynamic sound with a wider soundstage.

(The HD 505 would probably still be the superior option for those who prefer a more intense midrange in their music.)

Sennheiser

Audiophiles and gamers, unite

The Sennheiser HD 550 is positioned as a more well-rounded headphone than the brand’s other entry-level open-back options. In fact, because of this fact, Sennheiser is marketing them to audiophiles and gamers — or those who are both.

According to the press release, Sennheiser says the HD 550’s angled transducer creates “an expansive soundstage that drops the listener into the epicenter of the recording.” And gamers will “experience superb, lag-free spatial awareness and immersion for both competitive and casual sessions.”

It should be noted that these are high-end open-back headphones that can be used for gaming, but they’re not exactly gaming headphones. They lack a built-in microphone, for example, and thus should be used by gamers who want excellent audio quality but don’t necessarily play online games with friends.

Sennheiser

Price and availability

The Sennheiser HD 550 open-back headphones cost $300 and are available for preorder now from the company’s website. They are expected to ship the first week of April.

Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 550

• $300 at Sennheiser

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