I just purchased this (PXC 550-II), along with a pair of Bose (QC35 Series II). I already own a pair of Sennheiser PXC 550 (First edition), and a pair of Bose QC35 (Series I), though I seem to have misplaced my old Bose. Most of the following information on battery and life expectancy is regarding these older headphones, as I've had them longer, and nothing seems to have changed between the models, for either one (Aside from the built in Alexa, which I haven't tried out yet).
Sound:
These Sennheisers have amazing sound quality. I can hear all of the tiny details, clearly, in just the right proportions. The bass might be a little lacking, for those that want very "punchy" bass. For those that listen to music all day, the bass is just about perfect (I wouldn't mind a 5% increase in bass); Any more would result in listening fatigue and/or a headache. I feel like the previous model (Sennheiser PXC 550) has slightly more bass than the new PXC 550-II (by about that 5%).
Comparing the PXC 550-II to the Bose QC35 Series II: I noticed during the only song I directly compared them with, that the Bose was playing almost none of the background instrumentals, and the ones it did play were muddled. Switching to the Sennheiser, all of that detail was captured, while still remaining in the "background" - how the music was intended to sound.
Battery:
I haven't tested the batteries on the new models, but based on the previous models: The Bose seemed to be needing a recharge every day or two of use, while the Sennheisers easily last twice as long. I recently moved, and had my headphones packed away for about 7 months, and upon pulling my headphones out, the Bose battery was completely drained, and the Sennheiser was at 90-100% still. It's possible that the Bose had a day of use on them without a recharge, but still. Also note both pairs were bought at the same time (Batteries are the same age).
Life Expectancy:
Based on the previous model: I've owned these Sennheisers for 3 years now, and they are still going strong. I've noticed no issues, no shortened battery life, no cracks or tears, no replacement parts needed. I can say the same for the Bose, but I will say that my previous pair of Bose (AE2) died on me right after the 1 year warrantee period, and when I went to buy a new pair from Best Buy, every pair of Bose headphones on display was also dead.
Comfort:
These headphones are super comfortable. Unfortunately the ear cups are narrower than the Bose, requiring me to move them around a bit to "seat" my ears properly each time I put them on. That said, once on, this does not cause any discomfort to my ears, even after a full day of use. My main (only, really) complaint with these is that these do put more pressure on the sides of your head than the Bose; Though, this is also a good thing. As the Bose headphones slide right off my head any time I jerk my head, or bend over, while these Sennheisers stay put. So if you're doing anything other than sitting down, the mild discomfort is a small price to pay. The Bose ear pads seem softer, but I don't notice an increase in comfort from this.
I kind of wish they used a cloth for the ear cup padding, because leather gets hot after a while, but obviously the noise cancellation would then be non-existent. I just wish they offered this as an option, without noise cancellation.
Noise Cancellation:
The noise cancellation is awesome on the Sennheisers (And the Bose, for that matter). Bose does a better job (by about 15%) at cancelling white noise, like in an airplane, or a busy area with lots of talking. It seems like the Sennheisers do a better job (by about 5%) at cancelling "sharper" noises, like a single person talking. I'd consider the noise cancellation to be amazing, but Bose definitely puts them to shame overall (though, I reckon Bose has the best noise cancellation available).
Both headphones have less "pressure" than other and older noise cancelling headphones. If you're unsure what I am talking about, it feels like your ears need to be popped, caused by the sound the headphones are making to cancel outside noises. I feel like the Sennheisers have less pressure than the Bose, but they also aren't quite as effective, as stated above.
The Sennheisers have adjustable noise cancellation (off, low, high) which is really nice because it extends your battery life if, like me, you very rarely actually need (or want) the noise cancellation.
Controls:
I love the Sennheiser controls. The touch controls and motions are intuitive, it's precisely as responsive/sensitive as I'd like. Another nice feature is the setting that plays outside noises ("anti-noise cancelling"), which is useful if you need to be aware of your surroundings, or someone is talking to you, etc.
I noticed many reviews mentioned an issue with accidentally hanging up calls when adjusting the headphones, but I haven''t had this issue, and don't understand how other people do, unless they have something in their hand, or they are grabbing the outside of the ear cups for some reason - I grab mine by the sides of the ear cups. Granted, I don't talk often on the phone, so I'm less likely to experience this, anyway, but I'd imagine the same exact issue would cause accidental pausing of music, etc., which I haven't had an issue with.
Cons:
The only cons I can think of are:
1) As mentioned in Comfort: The headphones press slightly too firmly on the sides of my head. This could also potentially be a Pro, so I'm reluctant to call it a con.
2) I wish they would have made it possible to both continue your music and play outside sounds when using the "anti noise cancellation" feature. I'd like to be able to listen to music, while still being aware of your surroundings when driving, walking, biking, etc. Perhaps you need to be able to hear your baby crying, but want your tunes.
Apparently I can't leave a review for both the PXC 550 and the PXC 550-II, so a note regarding ONLY the PXC 550 (this has been fixed in the new model): The "surroundings-aware" functionality frequently has issues when playing music. About half the time, double tapping just pauses my music. It might take 3 attempts to get it to turn on.
There is a newer model of this item:
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This Item  Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless – NoiseGard Adaptive Noise Cancelling, Bluetooth Headphone with Touch Sensitive Control and 30-Hour Battery Life |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | -20% $39.99 Typical: $49.99 | -17% $149.95 List: $179.95 | $429.00 | $224.95 | -25% $74.50 List: $99.99 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Noise cancellation | ||||||
| Battery life | ||||||
| Bass quality | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Amtrix Store | BrandsWalk | Amazon.com | BrandsWalk | AnkerDirect |
| connectivity tech | Bluetooth | Wireless | Wireless | Wireless, Wired | Wireless | Wireless |
| headphones form factor | Around-ear headphone | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | In Ear |
| connector type | wireless | — | — | 2.5mm Jack | — | USB Type C |
| noise control | active noise cancellation | — | hybrid noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | — | active noise cancellation |
| cable feature | Without Cable, Detachable | Without Cable | Without Cable | Without Cable | Without Cable | Without Cable |
| control type | control,touch | Media Control | — | Noise Control | Media Control | Volume Control |
| material | — | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | — | PC+ABS |
From the manufacturer
Sennheiser is shaping the Future of Audio – a vision built on a 70-year history of innovation and a continued drive for excellence that is woven into our company’s DNA and culture. Around the world, our employees share this passion in the pursuit of the perfect sound, creating products that exceed expectations and set new benchmarks in audio.
Meet the PXC 550 Wireless
Sennheiser’s premium headset tailored specifically for the discerning business traveller. This stylish, compact and foldable headset delivers exceptional sound quality, class-leading adaptive noise cancellation and crystal clear speech clarity. Ergonomically engineered for wearing comfort and intuitive control, this headset upgrades the on-the-go audio experience. In an often frantic and stressful traveller’s world, the PXC 550 Wireless puts the listener in control of their sensory environment - it’s what we call 'upgrading to First Class'.
- Did you know? Sennheiser’s first active noise reduction headsets were developed in 1984 for Lufthansa Airlines and were the first active noise cancellation headsets to receive FAA-TSO certification (Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Order).
Features
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NoiseGard Adaptive Noise CancellingNoiseGard quiets the environment to ensure uninterrupted listening by modifying to ambient noise. Whether on a plane, train or noisy street NoiseGard delivers the level of noise suppression needed providing a comfortable listening experience allowing you to relax or focus on work. |
Exceptional Battery PerformanceThe PXC 550 Wireless delivers up to 30-hours of battery life on a single charge from any USB outlet. This means you can travel from London to Hong Kong and back in the comfort and tranquility of adaptive noise cancellation. If you forget to charge the battery, the headset works passively with the remote cable both as headphone and headset. |
Superior Sound QualityThe PXC 550 Wireless delivers Sennheiser’s signature sound quality. Music and movies are presented with exceptional clarity, balance and dynamics. Selectable sound modes allow you to tailor the sound to the source material. When connected via USB to a computer the PXC 550 Wireless acts a USB sound card improving the fidelity of music and calls on your PC or Mac. The soundtrack to your journey just got richer and more immersive. |
Lightweight, Comfortable DesignThe PXC 550 Wireless was designed with your journey in mind. Ergonomically engineered padded headband and rotating earcups provide incredible comfort for long listening sessions. The fold-flat collapsible frame enables the PXC 550 Wireless to discreetly fold away into the stylish, compact travel case. |
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Wireless FreedomWireless technology allows total freedom of movement whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure. The PXC 550 Wireless features Bluetooth 4.2 to effortlessly connect with any NFC or Bluetooth enabled device. Listen to music, take calls or simply enjoy the benefits of NoiseGard adaptive noise cancellation without wires. Experience wireless freedom with unrivalled sound quality. |
Intuitive ControlTouch control with voice prompts make it easy to use the PCX 550 Wireless. A touchpad on the right earcup provides volume, play, stop, pause and track skipping control. Touching the earcup allows you to take an incoming call. The headset turns on and seamlessly connects to Bluetooth as you unfold them and automatically pauses audio when removed. Controlling this headset is instinctive and easy. |
Business Class CommunicationThe PXC 550 Wireless allows you to stay connected while on the move. A Sennheiser triple microphone array delivers crystal-clear speech clarity for business and personal calls even in the busiest of environments, so you can stay in touch wherever you are. |
CapTune – Your Music, Your WayCapTune is a powerful player app engineered to compliment the PXC 550 Wireless. It provides personalization of sound performance and the ability to stream music directly to your headset giving you control on every level. CapTune is available for free in both iOS and Android versions. |
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| Customer Reviews |
8,456
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| Wearing Style | Around Ear |
| Transducer Principle | Dynamic, Closed-back |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, Cable with remote |
| Charging Time | 3 Hours |
| Frequency Response | 17 – 23,000 Hz |
| Impedance | Active: 490 Ohms / Passive: 46 Ohms |
| Sound Pressure Level (SPL) | 110 dB (1 kHz / 1 Vrms) |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | <0.5% (1 kHz, 100 dB) |
| Weight (headphones) | 8 oz. (227g) |
| In the Box | PXC 550 Wireless Headphone / Cable with Remote / Carry Case / USB Cable / IFE Adapters / Manuals |
Videos
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Reviews with images
Better than Bose QC in my humble opinion. Best headphones I've ever owned!
I'll try to keep this short since there are many other reviews that go into great detail. Everyone wants something different out of a pair of headphones, but EVERYONE wants them to sound good and be comfortable. They definitely check both of those boxes for me. I have used the Bose QC's for a long time and here's how they compare in my opinion:- Bose are slightly more comfortable in the headband, but the PXC-550's are so comfortable that it doesn't matter enough to buy them for that reason.- Bose ANC is a little more "complete" but truth be told I don't use it unless I'm traveling, and Sennheiser's is very good as well.- Bose case is better- Bose has a longer distance of connectivity than Sennheiser but I'm rarely if ever going to wander far enough away from my connected device for it to be an issue.- PXC-550 sound quality/diversity is definitely better than Bose in my opinion. I edit audio on the side so my ears are tuned to listen for the little things.- PXC-550 are way "smarter" than the Bose QC and have many more bells and whistles that I personally LOVE, like twist to turn on and off (replaces a bulky power switch) and swipe controls (my favorite thing which I'll get into more later)- PXC-550 has a switch that easily turns ANC on or off which is a must have for me. The BOSE QC headphones have it on all the time by default and if you want to turn it off you have to go through the app which is a pain. I personally don't like listening to music in a fish bowl all of the time, and frankly, it can be downright dangerous if you're out walking the dog or running in the neighborhood or driving a car. I think ANC is good for airplane travel or special situations where external noise is excessive, and that's it. If you like having easy control over ANC then definitely go Sennheiser over Bose.- PXC-550 feel like they're more well made with higher quality materials (speaking of which, the Bose ear cups are much more likely to make your ears sweaty than the Sennheisers so if you plan to wear while being active, keep that in mind.- PXC-550 has a longer battery life (especially when you consider that you can easily turn ANC off when you don't need or want it unlike Bose)So these are just a few of the differences between them and reasons that I chose to buy Sennheiser over Bose QC this time around. As I mentioned before, the addition of swipe controls on the earpiece of the PXC-550 is a real deal maker for me because I'm a Biochemistry research scientist who often spends hours working in a clean environment which means I'm gloved and I can't touch anything with my fingers. So the ability to swipe control (switch track, pause, play, adjust volume, take calls, fast forward or rewind etc) with the back of my gloved knuckle or even a pencil eraser in a pinch is completely life changing for me!! And the controls are VERY intuitive (my 6 year old could learn and memorize the swipes in about 30 seconds) and are sensitive but not so sensitive that I accidentally trigger it. Between that, the sound quality and the easy access to turn ANC off and on is why I went with Sennheiser and I'm SO glad I did! They sound better than any headphones I've ever tried and I've tried a LOT! I cannot recommend these enough. Also, I bought them refurbished and saved some money. I recommend that if they're available too! They came practically like new!Hopefully this is helpful for someone else! And yes I paid full price for these.
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Top reviews from other countries
Hugo Rafael
Não é tão bem projetado assim
Reviewed in Brazil on August 30, 2021Style: New ModelVerified Purchase
Cliente de Amazon
Excelentes en todo
Reviewed in Mexico on May 27, 2021Style: New ModelVerified Purchase
J. Holwell
Be careful buying these
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2022Style: New ModelVerified Purchase
J. Holwell
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2022
Having had the original version for years and loved them, I am gutted these are soo bad. I'm returning the item, but now have to pay for the return postage myself.
Do no buy unless they sort out the firmware issue, you have been warned.
Edit - Sennheiser have apparently fixed the bug in the app preventing the firmware update.
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Joe_Smile
Lädt nicht - inkompatibel zu neusten IOS-Version
Reviewed in Germany on October 8, 2021Style: New ModelVerified Purchase
Joe_Smile
Reviewed in Germany on October 8, 2021
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