I’ve been pretty excited about trying out Sennheiser’s latest noise-cancelling addition to their range since I got a quick listen at the Bristol Sound & Vision Show at the end of February. The brief encounter I had with them definitely left me wanting to hear more. With Sennheiser’s illustrious history of successful headphones, the bar is high for this over-ear pair, but if looks are anything to go by, we’re in for a treat!
The PXC550 BT/NC really look the business, straight out of the box. Understated yet stylish, the neat and clean finishing certainly gives me confidence in the general build quality. Unfolding from their travel bag with a satisfying click, a voice from the headphones tells you that the power is on. The leather ear pads fit comfortably without being vice-like and the headband is similarly padded, making long periods of listening no problem at all.
Whilst the left-side acts as the pairing point for NFC devices, the right side is where all the controllers are. Bluetooth 4.2 pairing, EQ settings & noise-cancelling buttons are all located around the rim. Whilst the flat side of the cup is used as a touch sensitive pad to pause, skip tracks and adjust the volume. There’s also a 2.5mm connection for connecting a cable for any non-wireless devices you may want to use.
“Sennheiser offers talented wireless noise-cancellers at an even more attractive price point.” – What Hi-Fi? magazine. 5-star review.
Pairing through Bluetooth is a total cinch, just turn on the BT switch and select connect from your device. With other headphones, touch controls can be a bit temperamental but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the PXC550. One tap will pause and play, a slide forward or back skips a track, and up or down changes the volume. Some may find tapping the ear cup annoying, so alternatively twist the ear cups to turn them off, reopening them turns them back on. Nice and simple eh?
Sound-wise, accurate sound reproduction makes the icy-cool drum & bass track Unfolding by Etherwood, fizzle with detail and attack. It’s sharp without being harsh; the combination of rich mids and the low-end results in a clear, punchy and thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. It’s like someone has given your favourite digital files a polish! Switching to Sam Smith’s Not The Only One, these headphones allow you to really appreciate the sound of the organic instruments and the sense of scale when everything builds to the final chorus.
Fans of noise-cancelling technology will be pleased to see Sennheiser’s NoiseGard technology employed on these ‘phones. Audiophiles in general will be even more pleased to learn that it’s not to the detriment of the sound quality. They can also adjust depending on the ambient noises it detects from its 4 microphones (2 on the outside, 2 on the inside). At this point it’s worth mentioning that you can change the sound modes by the press of a button, though personally I found the best sound was with it off.
You’re offered Movie, Club and Speech modes (all very self-explanatory) however, if you want to customize the sound even further you can use Sennheiser’s CapTune app to enhance the sound. It also gives you options to play content such as Tidal or adjust the settings of NoiseGard.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Sennheiser have done it again with their newest creation but that’s exactly what’s happened with the PXC550. Naturally, most people will buy them for the Bluetooth and NoiseGard features but anyone will get an enjoyable listen out of these cans. Pop into your nearest shop with your favourite tunes and experience them for yourself!
Click to find out more about the Sennheiser PXC550 headphones.
Author: Steve, Bristol store
