Sennheiser HD 550

Many modern headphones rely on electronics to achieve the desired sound. The HD 550, however, will have none of this: you get a direct analog signal path from source to ear. That means pure, unadulterated sound without additional noise or artifacts. This did put our engineers on the spot though: it meant the headphones had to be acoustically flawless.

They started with our excellent 150-ohm transducer inside the proven HD 500 chassis. We manufacture the transducer ourselves in Ireland, by the way, so you get outstanding quality and perfect channel matching. To create that 3D sound and wide soundstage, the transducers angle back towards the ears, mimicking real-life hearing. The dust cover is acoustically transparent. Even the ear cushion materials were selected for their acoustic properties. And a strategic bit of foam ensures smooth treble integration and controlled bass. The result is a neutral balance even our most demanding fans will appreciate. Open and airy, but never harsh, the HD 550 headphones are smooth enough to be anyone’s daily driver.

How can headphones from the days of the first “hip shake thang” still be going strong? Simple — German engineering and quality materials. And those haven’t changed. From the mechanics to the steel covers, our headphones are designed to withstand daily use or give collectors something to take out of a cabinet and dust every month for decades. You can get replacement parts like earpads for these headphones and many other Sennheiser products now — and years from now. And of course, all the accessories from our HD 500 range are compatible with your new HD 550 headphones.