Sennheiser HD 550 wired open-back headphones review
Are these the best in Sennheiser's popular 500 series?
Meet the HD 550 headphones, the latest in Sennheiser's 500 series — well-known as a gateway into the world of high-end audio. Take, for example, their HD 560S, which I've named the best wired headphone for audiophiles on a budget.
The new HD 550 is based on that same winning formula, but it mixes in a little more bass punch and high-end brilliance — attributes found in the company's legendary 600-series models.
And for me, these are Sennheiser’s best 500-series headphones yet.
By popular demand
To find inspiration for the HD 550 open-back wired headphones, Sennheiser leaned on feedback from the personal audio community. (Perhaps best exemplified by those who follow and attend events like CanJam.) To my ears, they've hit their mark.
I hear the same outside-the-head presentation that I enjoy in the HD 560S, but the bass feels faster and more impactful, without overwhelming the crucial midrange. High frequencies are distinct and detailed without sounding harsh. The 550 delivers that "reach out and grab you" Sennheiser sound popularized by headphones like the HD 660S2 — but with a little more space than that costlier model's intimate presentation. And it certainly rewards repeat listens.
To help widen the soundstage, Sennheiser angled the high-performance drivers — visible from the inner earcup.
Unapologetically wired and open-backed
Just to be clear: these are not the type of headphones you want to wear to the gym or on a flight. These are wired headphones, designed for focused listening, and their open-air design allows sound to flow in and out freely. This helps cut down on unwanted resonance and gives space for the high-performance drivers to do their thing.
A cutaway view of the driver reveals a lightweight, quick-moving diaphragm and a series of deliberately placed resonators and baffles to help fine-tune the sound.
Sennheiser shrewdly angled those drivers to control how the sound hits your ears, both with direction and timing. It's why the soundstage is wider and the imaging so well-defined. For peak performance, you'll want to connect to a separate headphone amplifier, and you have a couple of connection options — the included cable has a 3.5mm miniplug, and a 1/4" headphone plug adapter is included.
Lightweight design with a snug, nicely padded fit
Weighing just over eight ounces, these headphones are smaller and lighter than some of the heavyweights you'll find in this audiophile class. In fact, while the design closely resembles the HD 560S, Sennheiser has managed to shave off slightly more weight and distribute it even better.
I found that slight tweaks to the headband padding, clamping force, and earcup design of the HD 560 S (left) made the HD 550 (right) even more comfortable.
They sport a snug, secure fit to keep the drivers properly aligned with your ears. But it feels like a lighter touch than the HD 560S to me, with less clamp. The headband and ear cups also have extra cushioning, including ear pads made of soft, velvety cloth.
My listening impressions
At 150 ohms, these headphones require a little extra power to hear them at their best — I had success connecting directly to the iFi Audio ZEN DAC 3 desktop DAC/amp. Given their slightly more upbeat and edgier tuning, I didn't feel the need to use iFi's bass boost settings, which I often use to get a little more low-end from the HD 560S headphones.
I have a stack of iFi Audio ZEN-series gear at my desk, but found I only needed to use their compact ZEN DAC 3 to drive these headphones.
Tactile drum and bass
As their name might imply, the hip-hop group "clipping." has always been hard on speakers and drivers. Their sound can encompass everything from distorted synths and high-pitched bells to quick drums and deep sub-bass, often on the same track. That can expose the shortcomings of audio gear that's not up to handling all these extremes at once.
The HD 550 delivered all the sonic chaos of their 2025 album Dead Channel Sky with both musical cohesiveness and distinct separation. Bass thumped out with authority and quickness, establishing a grounded foundation to the spacey, sci-fi-inspired sounds and samples. Crunchy, electronic chords and metallic, mechanical strings panned from left to right — all while emcee Daveed Diggs' lightning-fast baritone sat dead center, directly in front of my face.
Clear, well-blended vocals
Sometimes in headphones with a wider presentation, the vocals can come off as veiled or recessed. That's not what happened here. It's not as if the vocals are overly prominent and forward through the HD 550, they just occupy a distinct place in the mix — with plenty of clarity.
I listened to Neil Young's "lost" record Oceanside Country on Qobuz in 24-bit/192 kHz high-res (recommended by fellow writer Ned O., who said he had a mixtape of these country-folk B-sides years ago). On the track "Goin' Back," there's a delicious sting on the acoustic guitar transients, but it never overpowers Young's gentle, warbly vocals, even as they seem to emanate from the same place.
Weighing your options
So how do the HD 550s compare to other headphones in this price range? Let’s look at some other heavy hitters.
HD 550 vs. HD 560S
First, the obvious comparison. I’ve already explained some of the sonic differences and pointed out the slight tweak to the fit and comfort. But are those upgrades worth the extra money? To me, they would be – I find the leap in sound quality, particularly with the bass and lower mids, worth the difference in price.
And the HD 550 still offers a lot of value for the price. That said, if the HD 560S is at the absolute high end of your budget — or the most you’re willing to spend on headphones — you still get incredible bang for your buck.
"The 600 series is like a clear glass of water, it gives you that three-blob approach to soundstage," Sennheiser's Eric Palonen told me at CanJam NYC 2025. "But I think the 500 series gives you that nice larger, engaging soundstage.”
HD 550 vs. HD 600
The next obvious question: if you’re already spending a little more, should you just jump up to the OG classics? The HD 600 headphones have stuck around all these years for a reason. They offer one of the clearest, cleanest, and most realistic headphone experiences you can get for less than $500. And if you value detail retrieval most, I think they have a leg up on the HD 550.
But the choice here will come down to preference. Do you like a more immediate, forward soundscape? Then the HD 600 would be your choice. Do you prefer a little more width and space? Choose the HD 550.
VIDEO: A Sennheiser HD 600 time machine story
For fit, the 600 series is well-padded on the top of the head but clamps much tighter than the 500 series. Still, some prefer that snugger fit — the 600 series made Crutchfield's top 5 most comfortable headphones list based on our in-house testing.
Sennheiser HD 550 vs. Meze 99 Classics
Speaking of comfort, our #1 most comfortable headphones happen to be in this price range. If you like the idea of a relaxed, yet secure fit that gently hugs the head, then you might take a look at Meze Audio's well-built 99 Classics. Just keep in mind — these may plug in and play the same as the HD 550s, but they are decidedly different headphones.
First of all, they are closed-back headphones, which offers a little more privacy – but also in this case deeply emphasizes the bass. Compared to the tight and tuneful HD 550 low-end that I described, the 99 Classics bring the thunder. As a result, their overall sound is fun and energetic — but the mids aren’t presented as strongly as the HD 550s.
Product highlights
- over-the-ear wired headphones for focused listening
- open-back design offers clarity and more spaciousness
- dynamic drivers angled to deliver a wide, spacious sound
- tuned for naturally detailed highs, clear, well-balanced mids, and deep, well-controlled bass
- lightweight design with robust plastic frame and reinforced metal sliders and earcups
- snug, well-cushioned fit with soft headband padding and velour ear pads
- detachable 5.9-foot unbalanced cable with 3.5mm mini plug (1/4" adapter included)
- frequency response: 6-39,500 Hz
- sensitivity: 106.7 dB
- impedance: 150 ohms
- weight: 8.35 oz. (without cable)
- warranty: 1 year
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