Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones
Product Description
The HD 555 features a special Surround Reflector, which generates and extended spatialsound field, making it the ideal headphone for home theater, as well as music.Other innovative features include Sennheiser's E.A.R. technology and optimized Duofol diaphragms for a new level of audio enjoyment. Overall listening pleasure is combined with outstanding wearing comfort.Amazon.com Product Description
The Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones use an internal surround reflector to generate an extended spatial sound field, making it the ideal headphone for home theater and music. Other features include Sennheiser's E.A.R. technology and optimized duofol diaphragms to cut intermodulation. Neodymium magnets optimize accuracy in part of a package that delivers deep, full bass together with crisp, sharp high notes, especially from percussion and wind instruments. Velour ear pads let you comfortably wear eyeglasses while listening, and these headphones com... Click For Great Discounts >>
Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones
Tagged with: audiophile • HD555 • Headphones • Sennheiser
These do not cancel noise at all except when I attach it to my Ipod and have the sound extremely loud.
Rating: 1 / 5
The sound is fine…but:
Zero noise reduction…ZERO! People on the other side of the room can hear what I’m listening and I can hear ALL sounds around.
The $22 Senheiser headphones are way more comfortable AND reduce noise better.
I’m a female (smaller dimensions than a men), and these headphones were making the joint of my jaw (Temporomandibular joint) hurt after 2 hours of use. NOT COMFY.
I’m returning them, having to pay now aprox. 25 bucks in fees to get them credited…mmmmm.
Rating: 2 / 5
I bought these to use with my iPod while riding in a van pool. I am surprised that they don’t block out ANY noise and if you turn it up very loud, others hear your music which can be very distracting. I should have gone with some that had noise cancelling. However, because these were over the ears, I thought much (not all) of the noise would be muted. NOT so. I had an older pair of headphones (different brand) that did much better. Also the jack for the iPod has an adapter and is very large; makes the iPod heavy in your shirt pocket.
The sound is good, but not great. I’m a little disappointed esp. since these cost >$100. I expected better quality. Your call, but I wouldn’t buy another pair of these.
Maybe the previous reviewers who gave them high marks had theirs really cranked up high; anything shounds good then. I’ve had equal ones for 50% of the price.
Rating: 3 / 5
DISCLAIMER: Based on comments from other users, I’ve added this disclaimer to inform readers that this review is targeted at people who want to buy this pair for HOME THEATER use and who would be sitting 8ft-10ft away from their TV. If you’re planning to purchase these headphones to listen to music, I don’t think you’ll benefit from reading this review.
REVIEW
The HD555 is touted by Sennheiser as a pair of surround headphones for home cinema and musical use. Unfortunately, the 10 ft cord forces you to sit a maximum of 8 feet away from your TV. In this day and age of home cinemas, that’s just simply not enough. In case you’re wondering where the other 2 feet went in the 10 ft cord, they’re needed to cover the distance from your receiver to the floor and from the floor to your head. I’m sure none of you want the cable to be suspended in mid-air and your loved ones tripping over them. Personally, I sit 9 ft away and the cord was too short and I was aware of that when I bought it.
This product has been around for at least 4 years and a lot has changed in the home cinema. High Definition TV and gaming has become much more common in the past couple of years and the size of the TVs have increased from 36-inch CRTs to 70-inch+ projectors. Sennheiser has not updated this product in its lifespan at all. In reading many posts on websites, I noticed that many folks would have preferred a 5ft attached cord which would reduce the cord clutter and make the heaphones more portable along with a 10ft extension cord.
Here’s where the headphones lost 2 stars. When I realized that the cord was too short, I contacted Sennheiser to learn if I could purchase an extension cord. Well, apparently, Sennheiser’s market research shows that there are very few people out there sitting on a couch more than 8ft away so they simply don’t bother making extension cords. At first, I thought the rep was joking but as it turned out he was quite serious. You’d imagine being one of the largest headphone manufacturer, they would make an extension cord to accommodate their customers even if that if that item is not a profit maker. The lack of an extension cord also makes the headphones more vulnerable since a stretched cord is probably one of the leading cause of broken headphones – for the nonbelievers, please hold your cord in the air and then step on it and you’ll see what I mean. The rep offered some links to popular headphone sites where I could do my own research on an extension cord that would retain the acoustic signature of the Sennheiser. After doing the research, I found that Grado offers a 15 ft extension cord which I purchased for an extra $40 plus S&H. This pushed the price of this pair to the $150 territory (if I include my research time closer to HD600+).
I own 3 other pairs of headphones (PXC-250, PC166, MX400) and I love their products. However, when a company fails to listen to the feedback from its customers and to provide all the necessary accessories for its products, I feel that it doesn’t deserve our business and our loyalty.
Auf wieder sehen, Herr Sennheiser!
UPDATE 9-13-2008
I appreciate the comments even if most of you disagree with me. I stand by the review and I added a disclaimer to let folks know that it’s aimed at usage for home theater purposes in large rooms.
Rating: 2 / 5
If your music is flat and has about the same volume from beginning to end, you MAY be able to live with these headphones.
I built a dynamic range expander and use DBX range expansion as well. The softest sound is 7 dB softer and the loudest sound is 8 dB louder using these expanders.
These Sennheisser HD-555 Audiophile headphones couldn’t take it. They distorted badly and then clipped – the driver was locked at maximum travel.
Seriously, $40 Koss headphones out-perform these things. The Koss cans sound brighter and have no problem with the dynamic range.
Audiophile is not a proper description – try pile.
Rating: 1 / 5