Sennheiser - HD 550

None of these are as challenging to power as many more demanding headphones. The Beyerdynamics are a bit power hungry, the HiFiMan planars, and the early Sennheiser 600 series, but most any dedicated headphone amp feeds them easily. If you have a 3 watt into 16 ohm rating, that's well better than average and feeds most any headphone well. I love the modest priced Schiit Magni, but there are even lower powered amps that can do well with the headphones mentioned. The FiiO FT1 are a great closed back. drivers in their size are not average, but they managed them well. Few to no one weighs in as their bass being excessive, but they are bassy, with a very slow pleasing curve and so even career audiophiles love them. and rank them as preferable to some other closed back headphones commanding prices in excess of USD 1k. Open backs have a hard time competing for low bass reproduction. Their strongest operating principle is dependent on them letting energy escape rather than holding it all in and reflecting it back at the ears, and so when I say that the HD 490 Pro have great bass, versus the FT1 I have to say great bass in an open back. There is only one absolute way to get the full benefits of a strong stereo soundstage and that is to use a complementary room environment with stereo speakers.. That gets into anechoic chambers vs the reality of a room functioning in support of a living organism, golden room ratios promotion of sound, room treatments to lessen ringing, placement that best tames the inconsistencies of direct versus reflected waves, and so on, but given all the limitations and issues that can still make that go wrong, there are no headphones, anywhere, that deliver a truly open and origin recreating soundstage that well placed speakers can. Nearest to doing that though is not any closed back headphones, nearest are the open backs, which leave space all around the drivers for the energy to be both directed at the wearers ears and also out into the room, with that sound also returning to the ears and enhancing that soundstage, making the experience approach speakers, as close as headphones can HiFiMan is doing the job of promoting a very wide soundstage by using very large planar magnetic drivers, sort of like the nearest thing to strapping room speakers onto the head as one might get without completely destroying the physical limits, but... They're largest headphones are still very large, I hate wearing them on my head, experiences are very subjective, but I'm always chasing hot points of discomfort, in my temples and jaw, shifting and shifting their 400 gram plus models to tr to rid that discomfort. And they have had major production issues and many failures with their drivers, always, I think, getting better. I can't argue with the results others obtain, and so if they say they love them and can always wear them for hours, there may still be some production risks, but I'd have to say sure, get some large HiFiMan The HiFiMan Sundara have fairly large drivers, versus average dynamic headphones, but not as large as their more elite models. They still have a great soundstage reproduction, and if a system lacks the ability to equalize headphone frequency response they are one of the smoothest performers, out-of-the-box, and so can get by without EQ for most users. given their assembly line production issues, I actually see selecting from their open/box/refurbished offerings as a great benefit, since those products receive extra handling and testing. I'd rather have them on my head than any of HiFiMan's larger models and heartily endorse. I have no crystal ball, but I do believe that over time HiFiMan will heavily revise their product line toward smaller driver and engineering refinements that are present in so many Sennheiser models. Sennheiser has been making open back headphones since their first, the HD 414, in 1968. To date, those are still a world record holder for most of a model of headphone ever sold. Today the height of their refinements can be seen in models like the HD 800 S and the very exotic USD $60,000 Sennheiser HE-1 None of the early open backs had much bass, but I fell instantly in love with the HD 424 and then for the next 17 years, they were all I ever wanted to use. Newer better headphones were being created, but I never felt compelled to search. It's only after those 17 years, when the coil lead on one driver failed, that I started listening to and acquiring other models and brands.

Nice review! The headphones are indeed "Versatile" as you said. If someone wanted to own just one open back headphone, this would be a great choice. I also really like how the pads are machine washable. Personally, I think the tuning is pretty solid in the sea of headphone tunings, it's better overall than the 560S, even with the mixing pads. It is not as lean or grainy sounding as the 560S. Especially with the Producing Pads. Though, I'm not sure if you agree, do you find the 490 Pro to lack in "air" frequencies? Above 10kHz I mean. I guess when I say "Lack" I mean compared to the 600/650. That is my biggest dislike of the sound. Otherwise, it is good! It is better than the vast majority of non Sennheiser tunings. With that said, the extra price being paid is definitely to consider the improved comfort and build quality. Since in my opinion both the new HD 505 and the HD 550 sound better than the more expensive 490 Pro, same with the HD 600/650. The 490 Pro improves on the 560S flaws, but does not get rid of them entirely. To be fair, the 505, and the 550 are just **good** headphones compared to some things costing thousands, and we know about the 600/650. I like them more than the Audeze LCD-5. I think that is why the 490 Pro hasn't "Made waves" in the community, people don't like the price. And some don't see it as a worthwhile upgrade over something like the 560S, and see it as "Worse" than other Sennheiser options. Also, for people in North America, the HD 6XX exists. Which is just an absolutely ridiculous value. But, ignoring just the sound quality, the 490 Pro is indeed a better overall package than those in my opinion. Jack of all trades, master of none.

hd 550 + 500 bam is an option

what's wrong with an amp? It's just one thing, the problem with headphones for movies is that movies are mastered with a wide dynamic range and are usually really quiet and that's where an amp helps cus it amplifies the signal with more power than your computer could provide. For music, my pc or laptop are fine but i couldnt really watch movies without an amp. Even something as tiny as a Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 ought to be better, depending on how poor your pc/laptop's amp is that is. Anyways, I'd suggest the 550 or 600, yeah, they're as all rounder as things can get. Though i'd say for movies i'd look for a closed back option like the Fiio FT1 due to the sub bass. However open back headphones will give you a wider soundstage and nicer immersion, at the cost of worse noise isolation and heavy sound leakage. Pros and cons for everything. I'd personally have gone for a Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 + Edition XS route with EQ or if i wanted better vocals i'd have gone for the HD 550. It's all upto you tho, are you ok with high treble/bright headphones? Do you want perfect mids? Do you want more bass?

Hello again dear "Sennheads" (yes, I made that word up)! Following up on my first impressions / review on the HD 550 which I posted here literally only yesterday, I have now also received the other fairly fresh new entry to the HD 500 family of headphones - **the HD 505 Copper.** Therefore, I decided to do another first impressions / stream of consciousness kind "review" and comparison between the two as the impressions of the HD 550 are obviously still very fresh and present in my head and in my ears. Here's the link to the HD 550 review for those of you who haven't read it and/or are interested in still doing so: https://www.reddit.com/r/sennheiser/comments/1kgdvlu/hd_550_what_a_delightful_surprise_review/ Now, first of all, the HD 505 unboxing experience at first glance is a very basic one, even more so than with the HD 550. The cardboard box it comes with is pretty much just that - a normal cardboard box with some sparse information on the product on the side where the box opens. That's it :) Let's call it minimalism at its best! Maybe that's why they are the 20€ cheaper set at launch... Joke aside, the rest of the unboxing is pretty much identical to the HD 550. We get the same black soft pouch, safety instructions, 1.8 meter / 3.5mm cable and the 6.3mm adapter. Taking the headphones out of the pouch reveals the HD 505 which also look strikingly similar to the HD 550 in form, size and shape. The new synthetic leather headband is there, the soft velour earpads as well...you get the idea. It's pretty much an identical headphone up until this point. The first objective difference (apart from the small difference in price) presents itself in the quite beautiful and stylish copper colorway and accents on and around the headphones which I really like! The combination of black and copper just always works for me and I hereby declare that the HD 505 Copper officially look better, fresher more "exciting" than the HD 550! Luckily, that's not the only difference between the two, so let's dive in a bit deeper. On the technical side, the main differences are that the HD 505 has a nominal impedance of only 120 ohms vs. the 150 ohms of the HD 550. It also has an ever so slightly higher sensitivity which in combination means that the HD 505 are even easier to drive than the 550. They will likely work with anything that you throw at them which is always a bonus in my book. With regard to comfort, the HD 505 are equally as comfortable as the HD 550. Both of them have clearly less clamping force out of the box compared to, say, the HD 560S. What else is different here, though? Well, let's talk about the sound then. I want to quote an official Sennheiser statement that they have posted about this here in our subreddit as I feel like this pretty much nails it: *"The HD 505 is positioned as an analytical headphone whereas the HD 550 is positioned as a neutral sounding headphone, more balanced with slightly more controlled bass and a wider treble presentation. Over time the HD 505 replaces the 599SE and the HD 550 will replace the HD 599. The HD 505 is very close in tuning to the HD 560S."* I would concur with the fact that the HD 505 feels incredibly close to the HD 560S with regard to tuning. It is a very balanced affair and a very coherent presentation. It differs from the 560S mainly in that it sounds ever so slightly warmer or fuller and a bit less harsh, imo, which are all welcome changes as the 560S was always a bit on the "almost too harsh" side of tunings for me. So, the HD 505 is basically what I would call an improved HD 560S with better comfort, better looks and less clamping force. Bass extension is good for an open back headphone but we find a bit less bass quantity compared to the HD 550 here. It's a very analytical bass performance. There's just enough of it there and what's there is also tactile, tight, fast and pretty solid overall. I personally still prefer the bass on the HD 550, though. It's not a big difference but the HD 550 just has a tad more bass without compromising on bass quality and that's just close to perfect for my very own tuning preference. Midrange is as excellent as you would expect from a Sennheiser headphone. No complaints there. Again, it sounds a bit richer than the HD 560S which is a good thing. I find it not as lean or dare I say "cold" sounding? That's how I perceive it at least. So far, I find the midrange to be almost identical to the HD 550 but my listening time has been very short so far, so take that with a pinch of salt and don't directly quote me on it. I'm just writing down my initial impressions for what it's worth. The midrange is very clear, detailed and, well, analytical. It seems to be even slightly clearer even than the 550 but that's likely to do with the leaner bass response, I assume. The picture continues in a similar fashion here. The treble is well extended, very detailed and clear, less harsh than on the 560S but a bit brighter and a bit sharper than on the new 550 without becoming fatiguing for me. Both new models are still quite similar in treble performance, the main difference being in the presence / ear gain region where the 505 just has bit more energy than the 550 and peaks a touch higher there. It can be ever so slightly sibilant on certain recordings but generally speaking this is not really an issue (and I am quite the treble sensitive type of person). Soundstage is wide, imaging very accurate and timbre natural. Vocals sound very nice, clear and resolving and it is a joy to explore minor details in recordings with the HD 505. I think it is ideal for accurate and especially analytical and critical listening, even more so than the HD 550. That said, my personal preference still leans towards the HD 550 which is one of the best headphones in this price range that I have heard to date! I wouldn't call it more "colored" sounding but that added bass presence as well as the softer ear gain region is just on point for my taste. The HD 505 is the one for the analytical audiophiles and the HD 550 more for "regular" audiophiles who want a headphone that suits even more musical styles and genres, at least that's my subjective take on it (don't know if it even makes sense :D). Now, one last thing. The HD 505 are great for gaming! Easy to drive, crystal clear sound and a wide soundstage. They even work well on a PS5 controller, believe it or not. All of that is also true for the HD 550 but the even clearer sound and the aspect of even easier drivability while being slightly cheaper might favor the 505 for some when it comes to gaming. Cannot go wrong with both models, though! Take whichever nuances of sound you prefer! All I can say is that the HD 505 and especially the HD 550 are both excellent 500 series headphones and I see little reason (apart from the price of course) to use another 500 series headphone over them. These will probably soon be regarded as the new standard over the widely popular HD 560S. Thanks for reading and feel free to ask questions or add your own comments as well! 😊

Check out the HD 550, amazing all-rounder.

Because you don't need a mic you should check out some regular headphones that's not "gaming" oriented. Like Sennheiser hd550 etc. Do you have a amp/dac or are you running them straight out of the pc? hifiman ananda nano/sundara/ananda stealth etc will give you great sound for resonable money. Some might require an amplifier to be at their best. And do you want open or closed back headphones. Open backs are usually regarded as better, but if you are in a noisy environment then closed backs might be better. Some well regarded headphones are: Sennheiser hd6xx, hd550. Philips fidelo x2hr (don't like personally). Hifiman sundara/ananda nano or ananda stealth/edition xv. Fiio ft1 pro. Fostex t50rp mk4 (might be out of budget but I love t50's for gaming and mk4 don't require an amplifier)

EQ is the way to get it all. AR5000 is good without. 105 AER likely has blunted detail like 109 Pro so AR5000 would be better from that perspective as well. X2HR are an easy comfy listen just a bit lofi and 130ish USD seems pretty pricy for them (often $80). HE400se, HD550 and Fiio FT1 are worth considering if you don't want to EQ. Ananda Nano with EQ is excellent for example, but almost unlistenable without.

550 sounds better to me, but 490 is so damn comfortable and it also sounds excellent.

momentum 4 are great bluetooth headphones but if you're using them for production they won't hold up, nor will any wireless headphone. a momentum 4 + hd560s combo might work for you and stay within budget? if you can stretch to an hd550 upgrade that would probably be the ideal combo.

Not the OP, but had a dying pair of HD560s and recently upgraded to the 550s and picked up a Fulla as well. Greatly appreciate your advice.

I recently got the HD 550s from Sennheiser mainly for battlefield and they have been fantastic. Sounds great and spatial clarity is extremely accurate. I'm also using their BAM mic attachment and it has been very clear according to the guys I play with

This may not be peculiar, and more just a fact in human nature, but having listened to headphones like the HD 490 Pro and the FiiO FT1, I don't feel struck by any absence of bass in all the years that it was...I didn't just listen to headphones. For most of those years I also listened, or listened to my music most though my very large, a/d/s 910 speakers, powered by my class A/B 250W RMS per channel SAE 2401 amp. Those have no weaknesses, bass or otherwise, but when I recall those years, and listening to my HD 424, I don't recall missing out on bass. It feels instead like it was always still there. Music demands have grown since 1974, and there is far more low bass in music and in movies, and so the HD 424 do not cut it today. I have the HD 800 S, and I lurked and lurked for years before finding a great outlet price on those. I love them and they're still not great low bass open back performers. No mistake, they are the very best headphones I own but I paid, still, $1,2K The HD 490 Pro have the best sounding low bass of all the headphones I've ever tried. They have a soundstage rivaling the HiFiMans and even approaching the HD 800 S. If you're addicted to low bass rumble, the FiiO FT1 still beat them, and the FT1 do sound great phenomenal, but they do not have the open soundstage of the HD 490 Pro, the HiFiMans or other great open backs. Soundstage is vital for gamers. It help them place objects nearer, further, more left, more right, etc. Gamer manufacturers make huge soundstage claims and even include sketchy virtual 7.1 digital enhancements that can jazz up a very mundane recording , but that trashes the true locational info in a well recorded or generated soundtrack. I strayed wastefully into the gaming market when I ventured into virtual reality and wanted to heighten the experience of emersion in a 3D world, but every gamer set I've ever tried is thoroughly trashed by even modest audiophile quality headphones, mostly open backs, but even a few closed backs. When I say that the HD 490 Pro are great gamer headphones, that is a mere side benefit of their being great audiophile headphones, built a bit more rugged, and flexible, than their usual headphones, in order to better face the rigors of studio and stage life. There are tougher headphones. Sennheiser's own closed back HD 280 Pro or most any of the Beyerdynamics, and Beyerdynamic makes some open and semi open back headphones that can can take rather extreme punishment, and that, even if they do break, are offered with the philosophy of having ever part replaceable at very reasonable cost, but... The entry level Beyerdynamics have such a bright tuning that they're really is best for use in loud environments or to enhance locational recognition by holding back the undirectional bass and emphasizing the directional treble, and so...they really are a gamers best friend, but musically, the Sennheisers and the HiFiMan far outpace them and the FiiO FT1 is a far better low bass performer. The higher priced Beyerdynamics have smoother, reference tuning than their entry headphones and yet are still outshined by these other brands. Sennheiser has great headphones in their 600 series, begun in 1997, I think and with a guiding principle of not just making them reference quality, but of trying to preserve a very vibrant characteristic of music. They're very comfortable, and while they are a major improvement over the original open back models, they are still a bit weak in the low bass, better, but not as strong as some of the 500 series or the even better HD 490 Pro The 500 series, on my own head, are my absolute favorites for long wearing comfort. The HD 550 is a great reference quality headphone value and the slightly brighter HD 560S is great for critical listening and the tuning also gives them a gaming advantage, but the 500 series may not be as durable as either thee 600 or the HD 490 Pro. The 500 series does improve soundstage over the 600 series, even though the 600 series soundstage is very good. 500, 490, and HiFiMan soundstage is better than the 600 Sennheisers. A person can enter the open back world with Philips SHP9500 for just USD $40 to $60 Get closed back bright gaming with a chassis you can beat up daily using Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro outlet priced at $100 Add open back gaming soundstage using Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro outtlet priced at $125 Get world class low bass presence from the closed back FiiO FT1 $130 on ebay Get great soundstage and reference quality from HiFiMan Sundara at $160 refurbished

I use the hd 550 for gaming and music. They are great. Can even buy a boom mic for them.

I think the 490 Pro and the HD 550 have surpassed the 6x0 series, and I am a longtime HD 600 lover. I never thought anything could beat them for me, but here we are.

Hello again fellow headphone enthusiasts! Following up on my first impressions / review on the HD 550 which I posted here literally only yesterday, I have now also received the other fairly fresh new entry to the HD 500 family of headphones - **the HD 505 Copper.** Therefore, I decided to do another first impressions / stream of consciousness kind "review" and comparison between the two as the impressions of the HD 550 are obviously still very fresh and present in my head and in my ears. Here's the link to the HD 550 review for those of you who haven't read it and/or are interested in still doing so: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/1kge1ac/sennheiser_hd_550_what_a_delightful_surprise/ Now, first of all, the HD 505 unboxing experience at first glance is a very basic one, even more so than with the HD 550. The cardboard box it comes with is pretty much just that - a normal cardboard box with some sparse information on the product on the side where the box opens. That's it :) Let's call it minimalism at its best! Maybe that's why they are the 20€ cheaper set at launch... Joke aside, the rest of the unboxing is pretty much identical to the HD 550. We get the same black soft pouch, safety instructions, 1.8 meter / 3.5mm cable and the 6.3mm adapter. Taking the headphones out of the pouch reveals the HD 505 which also look strikingly similar to the HD 550 in form, size and shape. The new synthetic leather headband is there, the soft velour earpads as well...you get the idea. It's pretty much an identical headphone up until this point. The first objective difference (apart from the small difference in price) presents itself in the quite beautiful and stylish copper colorway and accents on and around the headphones which I really like! The combination of black and copper just always works for me and I hereby declare that the HD 505 Copper officially look better, fresher more "exciting" than the HD 550! Luckily, that's not the only difference between the two, so let's dive in a bit deeper. On the technical side, the main differences are that the HD 505 has a nominal impedance of only 120 ohms vs. the 150 ohms of the HD 550. It also has an ever so slightly higher sensitivity which in combination means that the HD 505 are even easier to drive than the 550. They will likely work with anything that you throw at them which is always a bonus in my book. With regard to comfort, the HD 505 are equally as comfortable as the HD 550. Both of them have clearly less clamping force out of the box compared to, say, the HD 560S. What else is different here, though? Well, let's talk about the sound then. I want to quote an official Sennheiser statement that they have posted about this here on reddit as I feel like this pretty much nails it: *"The HD 505 is positioned as an analytical headphone whereas the HD 550 is positioned as a neutral sounding headphone, more balanced with slightly more controlled bass and a wider treble presentation. Over time the HD 505 replaces the 599SE and the HD 550 will replace the HD 599. The HD 505 is very close in tuning to the HD 560S."* I would concur with the fact that the HD 505 feels incredibly close to the HD 560S with regard to tuning. It is a very balanced affair and a very coherent presentation. It differs from the 560S mainly in that it sounds ever so slightly warmer or fuller and a bit less harsh, imo, which are all welcome changes as the 560S was always a bit on the "almost too harsh" side of tunings for me. So, the HD 505 is basically what I would call an improved HD 560S with better comfort, better looks and less clamping force. Bass extension is good for an open back headphone but we find a bit less bass quantity compared to the HD 550 here. It's a very analytical bass performance. There's just enough of it there and what's there is also tactile, tight, fast and pretty solid overall. I personally still prefer the bass on the HD 550, though. It's not a big difference but the HD 550 just has a tad more bass without compromising on bass quality and that's just close to perfect for my very own tuning preference. Midrange is as excellent as you would expect from a Sennheiser headphone. No complaints there. Again, it sounds a bit richer than the HD 560S which is a good thing. I find it not as lean or dare I say "cold" sounding? That's how I perceive it at least. So far, I find the midrange to be almost identical to the HD 550 but my listening time has been very short so far, so take that with a pinch of salt and don't directly quote me on it. I'm just writing down my initial impressions for what it's worth. The midrange is very clear, detailed and, well, analytical. It seems to be even slightly clearer even than the 550 but that's likely to do with the leaner bass response, I assume. The picture continues in a similar fashion here. The treble is well extended, very detailed and clear, less harsh than on the 560S but a bit brighter and a bit sharper than on the new 550 without becoming fatiguing for me. Both new models are still quite similar in treble performance, the main difference being in the presence / ear gain region where the 505 just has bit more energy than the 550 and peaks a touch higher there. It can be ever so slightly sibilant on certain recordings but generally speaking this is not really an issue (and I am quite the treble sensitive type of person). Soundstage is wide, imaging very accurate and timbre natural. Vocals sound very nice, clear and resolving and it is a joy to explore minor details in recordings with the HD 505. I think it is ideal for accurate and especially analytical and critical listening, even more so than the HD 550. That said, my personal preference still leans towards the HD 550 which is one of the best headphones in this price range that I have heard to date! I wouldn't call it more "colored" sounding but that added bass presence as well as the softer ear gain region is just on point for my taste. The HD 505 is the one for the analytical audiophiles and the HD 550 more for "regular" audiophiles who want a headphone that suits even more musical styles and genres, at least that's my subjective take on it (don't know if it even makes sense :D). Now, one last thing. The HD 505 are great for gaming! Easy to drive, crystal clear sound and a wide soundstage. They even work well on a PS5 controller, believe it or not. All of that is also true for the HD 550 but the even clearer sound and the aspect of even easier drivability while being slightly cheaper might favor the 505 for some when it comes to gaming. Cannot go wrong with both models, though! Take whichever nuances of sound you prefer! All I can say is that the HD 505 and especially the HD 550 are both excellent 500 series headphones and I see little reason (apart from the price of course) to use another 500 series headphone over them. These will probably soon be regarded as the new standard over the widely popular HD 560S. Thanks for reading and feel free to ask questions or add your own comments as well! 😊

Dude this right here. My HD550, showed me how some songs I had listened to for years on end.. how badly mixed they truly were.

Sennheiser HD550 with the HD500BAM has been working out VERY well for me vs the PC38X or H6Pro, ore even my 6XX with a Modmic. Fantastic combo, well built, great wide directional audio, and they're great for music as well. The 505's are supposedly great too (and I think they look fantastic with the copper accents.

The HD 550 is a great set - just be aware that they're open-back so they'll leak sound and provide next to no noise cancellation. They also aren't wireless if that's a use case you might be interested in.

Without EQ HD550 (650 close second) and with EQ Ananda Nano. 550 is the best tuned easily, but lacks a bit of 650 magic that would work with Adele pretty well, but still needs EQ to overall beat 550 imo. Nano is pretty bad in stock, but excellent when the treble is balanced and bass risen a bit.

Open and Wired: Sennheiser HD550 is what you want at that price. Closed Bluetooth / ANC headphones: Momentum 4 on sale should be available within your $300 limit and it's your best choice at that price.

You use closed back headphones when recording with sensitive mics. You can use closed backs for mastering but open backs are a better choice and great studio monitor speakers can be better still. Your open back HD 560S can handle the mastering duties, and for me they're a better choice than the open back HD 600 or the closed back ATH-M50x, though those are nice too. The HD 490 Pro, the HD 550 and the HiFiMan Sundara can also provide great reference sound. The Sundara usually need a headphone amp to dliver their best Save the HyperX for gaming only. They're not good recording or mixing headphones. The ATH-M50x are much better for that and are easy to power, or the closed back Beyerdynamic DT 1770, which need more power and so are best used with a headphone amp. When away from a live mic, the open backs above are still better.