I've owned and used this pair of headphones for over 2 years now. Bought it at a pricey £330 when it first came out back in 2016. Tested it extensively against QC35 and the older MDR-1000XM2 since it was an expensive purchase and I wanted the best bang for buck, and I found that PXC 550 sounded better with ANC turned on or off, no doubt about it. I used to take the London Underground and buses almost daily and the ANC on PXC 550 handled them very easily without making your ears 'popping' with overpowered ANC like the one on QC35. Battery life is also great as I've been on a 13 hours direct flight + hours of waiting for departure and still it had more than 50% battery life left. Eber failed to mentioned that you can adjust the 'NoiseGard' level in the Captune app so it doesn't have to be either just off or 100% level and either will not affect the sound quality unlike QC35. Plus there are sound profile presets you can choose from with a touch of a button on the headphones, and also an A/B sound test in the app that you can adjust the EQ in detail so it'll fit your sound preferences. IDK about you guys but if my headphones can be folded, I will always lay it flat on the table when I take them off, unlike at 4:25 Also if I'm not mistaken, MDR-1000xM3 can only be paired with 1 device, unlike QC35 or PXC 550. Had the chance to test MDR-1000xM3 yesterday in store and build quality is still not as good as PXC 550 imo especially at the loose swivel hinges where plastic crack was a real issue with the old MDR-1000xM3 If you've never used an ANC headphones before, please try them out extensively first before buying one. Some people can adapt to it. Other's will probably hate it. I absolutely love mine for travelling purpose and wouldn't trade it for anything else. For me good sound quality comes first in any pair
I loved this comment. I'm nowadays looking for a nice ANC provided headset and considered many headphones like Sony 1000 XM3, Bose 700, Bose QC35 II, And the PXC 550 II. More importantly, for me sound comes first and I've owned Sennheiser headphones along the last 11 years (I've got a pair of sennheiser momentum in ears and a sennheiser hd 4.40 BT). I've tested the first 3 I've mentioned above in the stores and found the found the sony with a too aggressive ANC. On the other side, bose 700 are too fancy maybe and wobble a lot on my head. Qc 35 were way more comfy and with a great quality! But then i found the PXC 550 II.... And since they are sennheiser, omg... I cannot choose properly anymore. Wish they were provided with buttons though! I've got some concerns about that touchpad, and about the plastic structure... About materials, qc 35 wins. About sound, probably pxc 550.. Could anybody help me out to choose?
Bought these about 5 months ago. They performed excellently on my trip to Europe. The noise cancelling works great on aircraft, not to mention I find the noise cancelling better than the bose QC35's, especially for random sound events.
I went on Sennheiser's website and got a pair of these for $105. I got this price using honey and got a 60% off coupon. I later found out this was a glitch and the coupon was removed the next day
Thanks for your wonderful and detailed review... I got my PXC 550 today, I would not say it's the best, but it's actually better than the other two for sure. Audio quality and touch control are top notch. People are complaining about low volume, but I wonder how much volume is adequate. Senheizer as a prestigious brand knows what it's doing with their top of the line product. Quality at its peak...I am simply loving it. Thank you Senheizer and thanks man🤘
For those that read this though - PXC 550 has no problem with comfort IF your ears aren't larger than average. I own a pair of these and i can wear them more or less 8 hours straight when working.
Just brought a pair of these and the bass and overall sounds is GREAT!! sent the Sony 1000xm3's back bcuz they kept disconnecting from Bluetooth and kept pausing the music while I wore them.. Also scored the 550's on sale at Best buy for 100 less so it was a win win
My PXC 550’s were stolen. They are the best bt noise cancelling headphones because the sound is great, bt is great, ANC is great but yes not as good as the newest Bose QC 35s or Sony 1000 models but it’s still VERY VERY good. Best of all the EQ is great and the touch controls for lowering the volume and sound pass through/turning ANC off don’t make you look ridiculous when trying to talk to someone else, unlike the Sony 1000mx line. *edit* also I NEVER got the airplane, vacuum ear popping effect he’s talking about. Other reviews even said that’s one of the pluses of this headphone (shoutout Jimsreviewroom) I miss them so much!! :’(
Eber Antony thanks man, it sucks. No idea how it happened either cuz I am RELIGIOUS when it comes to how I use my gear and always put it straight back into their case and into my backpack when I’m not using them. *sigh*
I bought these for my dad and used them for three weeks before giving them to him. Absolutely fell in love with them, also they usually drop down to $300 every few days for a short time (at least on Amazon). Also, I have a pretty small head so the clamp force was not enough for me (They stay on, but the weight rests on the top of my head so they hurt after a while) Edit: you only have to twist the right earcup to turn them off, and the gestures seemed very intuitive to me, my only gripe is the delay in the tap for play/pause gesture.
Love this video ebur! I actually have been looking at wireless nc headphones and these pxc 550s are one of three that I’ve narrowed my decision down to and this video provided a really interesting perspective and great info. I hope to see more headphone and audio content like this in the future from you guys!
Just bought n used for 2 weeks. Its works great n I like it. Sony cannot connect to a second device without switch off the first and this is a stopper.
A lot of people complain about the rotating earcup mechanism to turn them on. What everyone is failing to realize is Sennheiser designed these to be travel headphones and that's it. They want you to use their other headphones (like something from their HD series) for at home use and for higher fidelity listening. That's why they built in the turning earcup mechanism to turn it on. They expected people to only use this for travel so anytime you use them you take it out of the case and turn the earcups. Then when you're done you should be putting them back in the case (turning the earcups back off), not on a table or headphone stand.
I got it used early this year. I actually like the way this headphone turns on and off; saved me a bunch of time while traveling because I can pack away and turn off the headphone at the same time. You also didn't talk about my favorite feature which allows you to connect to a computer via USB to listen to things while also charging the headphone. (The computer recognizes the headphone as an audio device) I wish more headphones supported this feature.
I love mine, especially because you don't lose functionality if you have to plug them into the device. (Hello Bose, this means you). Love every feature about them.
hahaha omg glad to hear I'm not the only one losing beard hairs to these, have had them for a few months and love them overall but they inflict a little pain every now and then
Hello there Eber: A great alternative to the PXC-550s is the JBL E55BTs. Sounds really good, has a physical power switch and it is a no-frills pair of headphones so you would not be getting all the same features but you would be getting a great pair of Bluetooth headphones for $150 (that is $200 cheaper than the PXC-550s). The sound quality of the E55BTs is EXCELLENT. Bass is really good and gets surprisingly deep for when you need it while keeping an overall well-balanced sound signature with the highs being nice and clear and the mids being clear and detailed. You could even use them wired like the Sennheisers as well and comes with a headphone wire and a micro-USB to USB-A wire. I wish the headphones were USB-C but I guess JBL used the other connector to keep the price down due to the fact that USB-C is a newer standard.
I've been using these headphones for just over a year now. They've definitely served me very well, but I would be a liar if I said they're not too expensive for the sound they offer. Don't get me wrong, it's far from bad, but it's far from the 350-400$ HD series sound quality that you'd expect from them. Update: In the video Eber mentioned that he's not sure about the plastic material that covers the earcups long-term. So far, they look like new on mine, even though i just throw them in my backpack. All the fingerprints come off super easily, and it does not scratch easily at all
I am not fully convinced by the on/off lack of button for the sake of loosing the battery: if you go for coffee it will be 15min. During that time the playback is probably off. So what drains the battery is just a standby mode. Considering 20h battery life that shall not come close to more than 1% - why would you say 10% lost?
For the mic on the headset, i think that works fine actually, I was in a train and was kinda laud because was travelling in a high speed tunnel, but my father said that he could hear me with no problems even if I wasn't speacking laud. In any case, the mic on the cable helps a lot if you don't like the one on the headset :)
PXC 550 user here, first it's cable connection have mic installed on the cable, but probably need splitter for pc (untested) other than that you can only use mic with bluetooth, directly to second, using the mic while gaming is really bad, you'll get into conversation mode that accept outer sounds (talk-through) and lowering the sound quality. Third, it can only connected to 2 devices at same time and all of them either phone 1 or phone 2 with "smart" switching but doesn't work really well with laptop and phone. Fourth, it can be used while charging this is one of the advantage compared to newer product. Fifth, battery display on apple product (6s, ipad pro 9,7) really not in sync. Sixth, sometimes the tap and hold to check battery level is not working. It is actually a really good headphone, but outdated, you really want to check Steelseries Arctis 3 bluetooth for gaming and on the go headset designed for switch (can use cable and bluetooth at same time) for general use you may want to check newest QC II.
This is really good headphone . Connectivity - Easy & Best . Sound Quality - Awesome . Battery Backup- More Than other wireless Headphones I mean Battery backup is also too Good . Product Quality - Material Quality is Very Rich , And Non Breakable (I use this headphone In Mumbai local when i travel (In Rush) So you guys can imagine how good is this)
I have MB 660's that look identical to this and they are great. I only really use the noice cancelling when not listening to media or music. It makes little difference when you are listening to music because all you hear is the music. The beauty of the noice cancelling is just blocking out the TV when you are reading a book or making the office quiet while you work.
Ive had these for 18 months. The black touchpads haven't worn, as was this guy's concern. I also have a large jead, and the clamping force has eased off, but still remains firm. As far as the beard getting caught, wear them upside down, with the cups facing forward. Also, the twist off and on function quickly becomes natural and not a problem. It took a long time to get the hang of touch buttons, it would always pause when trying to swipe backward and forward between songs. I rarely get it wrong now though. My favourite part is being able to customize the eq and effects. I hope this helps.
I got these yesterday for $200 at Best Buy, and these are amazing! The only part I don’t like is the on off, but that’s because I wish they turned the other way to turn them off. Turning them towards me feels awkward for powering off.
How would having an on/off switch prevent you of not forgetting to turn them off? I ordered those mainly for that feature when getting out of a plane and packing them up you shouldn't forget that switch. Still will be my first pair of headset I currently have bose earbuds so I might not have the habits of other head sets. Good vid!
Ok. 350 is a lot. If I wouldnt want to get the touchpad and the on of twisting, but would like to maintain the sound quality what would you recomend instead? Thank you.
Nice, and for people in the US, these regularly drop down to 300 US for a day or so and then go back to 349. Wait until the price drops to $300 before buying, should take less than two weeks!
Watched this with my pxc 550s, got em for 220 euros here in greece, i agree with everything you've said, i personally however am a bit bothered by the noise floor these headphones have. When you have nothing playing there is a definately noticeable hissing sound that really pisses me off...Also, if you use their microphone in a computer, (even when connected via usb!) they switch to a handsfree protocol and the sound becomes horrible. Dont buy these if you plan to use their mic for something like discord. Great choice for their target audience only. Cheers.
They are the best noise cancelling headphones out there apart from the 4.5 cheaper version , but the noise cancelling is the same, even in 2020 these are awesome to have and you can get them way cheaper now
@HardwareCanuks have you guys ever considered doing a review on the Blue Microphones Ella Planar Magnetic Headphones?? It was a super tough decision for me on buying a high end set of cans after looking at countless headphones I narrowed it down to these and the Sennheiser HD 650's but went with the Blue Microphones. I'm sure a lot of people will think I'm crazy but I'd love to hear your guys thoughts on these in a review. As always love the content!
The good thing is, most of the "issues" you mentioned are actually a learning curve/adaptation matter, and not real issues ie. the beard: shave; the turning off mode: get used to how it works and it's no longer an issue unless you have the memory of a hamster; the capacitive command sensitivity: also adapt to it. We humans have this capacity to learn how to handle objects, which is great and this will come into play with the "issues" you mentioned lol. The only actual issue I find with this headset is the lack of a USB dongle. You can't really adapt to that one if you're trying to use them wirelessly on a locked work PC where Bluetooth functionality is locked. Also, if you want that sound quality, I don't really see "better" options than this.
you should check out and review the V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition headphones. I chose those over the Bose, Sony and Sennheiser. the quality of the headphones and sound were just amazing.
you covered a lot of features in this review except the most important one. Frequency response. Reviews are always subjective but there are some objective information like frequency response that you could have provided.
I have always liked Sennheiser head phones. These do seem a bit over kill though. Hopefully, they listen and fix some of the quirks in a revised model. Thank you.
I have the Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT, they have thick padding and the volume gets really high it almost acts as active noice cancelling. It costs 100 dollars us, and the other model that does have active noice cancelling is 200 dollars. I think you should try them because they're are not super cheap but has lower price than the pxc 550 and if you just want to listen to music with great sound they're worth it.
I bought them while still having HD800 and I sold... HD800 PXC 550 are much better from overall perspective and the sound is much more universal comparing to very specific HD800 sound 2 years later I don't regret this decision at all missing BT 5.x but ...
I put it in my wish list , its current price is 199$ but im hoping it will get down much further otherwise i wouldn't be able to buy it and have to go with HD 4.40BT instead.
Sony WH-1000xm2 или Sennheiser PXC550 лучше?Like the sound of these headphones! But I do not like the maximum volume, they are a little quiet for me! What about you? Maybe there are some secrets to make them a little louder?
I was about to ask the same question. They are very cheap. My question also is...when are they going to come out with a newer version? It seems like you can overlook everything bad about it for $230. I was looking at the Bose 700 but those Mf's are $400. The only thing that bothers me is the Micro USB....that means I have to carry two different types of cables. ONe for the phone and one for the headphones...grrr.
Yep confirming this aswel. Also the app doesn't have the same features to spotify etc. They have their own music app which i ceebs trying out. Also double tap ambient aware is still a bit rude in an office area. Everyone pretty much assumes 'im listening go away'
I hope you guys can get your hands on the Cooler Master MH572 headset. I've only seen a couple reviews so far and would like to see your guys impression on it.
Your link is on sale for $200 LITERALLY 4 days later and it was when you uploaded this as well... that’s an insane deal and instead of mentioning that you said that the $350 price point is and. Plus $350 isn’t even the normal price anymore
I just bought these .. They're awesome but they've been cutting out on me .. Bluetooth ...i switched to NFC connection .. It worked for 5 minutes then went back to cutting out .. I just turned them on .. Bluetooth connection.. Working perfectly .. Any suggestions and has anyone else had this issue
I’m Danny why XM2? I’ve yet to post but I have loaded sound demos of XM3, QC35II and PXC 550 of that help. Feature-wise depends on how you use. I’ve done a summary who should fit which headphones base on your use cases. It’s too long to mention here, but hope can help!
This statement would've applied when it came out 2 generations ago... Sadly it is now outclassed by Sony who have had 2 years to improve while sennheiser is still at first generation.
I'd say from watching this video my bose qc35 is the better choice :) for anyone curious, the best features of the bose qc35, in my opinion, is: 1) Really really lightweight (you can actually have these on for several hours and not hurt your ears at all! 2) the Noise-cancellation is, in my opinion, the best on the market today, beating the PXC 550. 3) Really simple to use and connect to using buttons and switches on the headphones. 4) they are really clear for voice and higher frequencies but lack a bit with bass and lower frequencies, this can be corrected with a simple Spotify amp app on the phone such as; Eqfy which I have been using a lot. Some of the downfalls of the bose qc35 are the pretty steep price point and maybe Bluetooth signal. this will heavily depend on your phone's Bluetooth quality though, but with my Huawei p9, the Bluetooth sucks which is really frustrating and annoying at times. didn't have any problems on a Samsung galaxy s9, but worth noting! :) Other than that it is worth to consider whether the price is worth it. do you travel a lot in buses, airplanes, cars etc. The bose qc35 will help you tremendously! if it's purely for music i would choose a pair of open back headphones with a wider soundstage. All in all the bose qc35 are a fantastic pair of headphones and i hope this will clarify some things for your next purchase! coming from a user of both the PXC 550, Bose qc35 and other wireless headphones :) PS! Awesome for gaming as well! I use them in cs:go and can probably hear the enemy footsteps before anyone else :) :D
About the first point: I had the PXC 500 for a while and they don't hurt my ears, they hurt the top of my head! If you have a small head your ears won't support most of the weight, so the headband is going to feel pretty heavy after a while. I prefer the touchpad controls, though.
@@rahbek100 Good on you. I sometimes like to have it turned off when I'm just sitting in a quiet room (ANC in a quiet room can be a bit 'disorientating'), plus I get to extend the battery life for a bit. I absolutely love the fit & comfort on the QC35 but that ANC is just too much for me. You can adjust the ANC level using an app on the PXC 550 btw which is pretty nice.
try them ot in a store, personally I cant wear the bose for longer than a minute but a lot of people prefer the bose. For sound pxc is better, noise cancelling the bose
This review is crazy. You note some of the best features as negatives. All personal preference I guess but I couldn’t disagree more. However, you do seem to be mentioning a lot of user error issues.
i got the pxc550 and there awesome for on the go with my lg v30 but for some reason i cant get it to work with my pc it should work as i have an asus crosshair hero 6 mobo plz. help if you've got any ideas on how to fix this
Imr172 Plays I meant using PXC 550 but wire it when you play games. Actually when wired or charging, the Bluetooth still working and you can also hook up another 2 devices. This can is awesome!
I've owned and used this pair of headphones for over 2 years now. Bought it at a pricey £330 when it first came out back in 2016. Tested it extensively against QC35 and the older MDR-1000XM2 since it was an expensive purchase and I wanted the best bang for buck, and I found that PXC 550 sounded better with ANC turned on or off, no doubt about it. I used to take the London Underground and buses almost daily and the ANC on PXC 550 handled them very easily without making your ears 'popping' with overpowered ANC like the one on QC35. Battery life is also great as I've been on a 13 hours direct flight + hours of waiting for departure and still it had more than 50% battery life left. Eber failed to mentioned that you can adjust the 'NoiseGard' level in the Captune app so it doesn't have to be either just off or 100% level and either will not affect the sound quality unlike QC35. Plus there are sound profile presets you can choose from with a touch of a button on the headphones, and also an A/B sound test in the app that you can adjust the EQ in detail so it'll fit your sound preferences. IDK about you guys but if my headphones can be folded, I will always lay it flat on the table when I take them off, unlike at 4:25 Also if I'm not mistaken, MDR-1000xM3 can only be paired with 1 device, unlike QC35 or PXC 550. Had the chance to test MDR-1000xM3 yesterday in store and build quality is still not as good as PXC 550 imo especially at the loose swivel hinges where plastic crack was a real issue with the old MDR-1000xM3
If you've never used an ANC headphones before, please try them out extensively first before buying one. Some people can adapt to it. Other's will probably hate it. I absolutely love mine for travelling purpose and wouldn't trade it for anything else. For me good sound quality comes first in any pair
I found them with very less sound. I returned them while I found Sony ANC series much better and sound very nice.
@@kamal-xd7id so now which pair do you own ??
I loved this comment. I'm nowadays looking for a nice ANC provided headset and considered many headphones like Sony 1000 XM3, Bose 700, Bose QC35 II, And the PXC 550 II. More importantly, for me sound comes first and I've owned Sennheiser headphones along the last 11 years (I've got a pair of sennheiser momentum in ears and a sennheiser hd 4.40 BT).
I've tested the first 3 I've mentioned above in the stores and found the found the sony with a too aggressive ANC. On the other side, bose 700 are too fancy maybe and wobble a lot on my head. Qc 35 were way more comfy and with a great quality! But then i found the PXC 550 II.... And since they are sennheiser, omg... I cannot choose properly anymore.
Wish they were provided with buttons though! I've got some concerns about that touchpad, and about the plastic structure... About materials, qc 35 wins. About sound, probably pxc 550.. Could anybody help me out to choose?
i absolutely love these and the $199 price tag on Black Friday was an incredible deal.
SO LUCKY AHHH I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT BACK THEN
Sept 2020 and 199!!! Mine is coming!
Man the quality of videos you guys make is phenomenal!
Bought these about 5 months ago. They performed excellently on my trip to Europe. The noise cancelling works great on aircraft, not to mention I find the noise cancelling better than the bose QC35's, especially for random sound events.
I went on Sennheiser's website and got a pair of these for $105. I got this price using honey and got a 60% off coupon. I later found out this was a glitch and the coupon was removed the next day
Lucky!
Thanks for your wonderful and detailed review... I got my PXC 550 today, I would not say it's the best, but it's actually better than the other two for sure. Audio quality and touch control are top notch. People are complaining about low volume, but I wonder how much volume is adequate. Senheizer as a prestigious brand knows what it's doing with their top of the line product. Quality at its peak...I am simply loving it. Thank you Senheizer and thanks man🤘
Best sound: PXC 550
Best comfort: QC-35II
Best features: Sony MDR-1000x m3
You have all 3 headphones? Cool. 😁😁
For those that read this though - PXC 550 has no problem with comfort IF your ears aren't larger than average. I own a pair of these and i can wear them more or less 8 hours straight when working.
@@guntherfurlong no but i've had PXC 550 and MDR-1000X and i've used my friends qc-35II
@@GOTHICforLIFE1 true but the QC-35II are more comfortable they all are superb in all the categories but those are what they are the best in
@@keganoneil7819 The XM3 are much better than the XM2. But I can't comment about the other headphones. Never tried or tested them.
the best quaity i've been used for almost 2 years till now and just fine. the battery life still like new. not drain fast
Just brought a pair of these and the bass and overall sounds is GREAT!! sent the Sony 1000xm3's back bcuz they kept disconnecting from Bluetooth and kept pausing the music while I wore them.. Also scored the 550's on sale at Best buy for 100 less so it was a win win
Just bought them today for $200. Was really debating between these and the Sony XM2. So far these are very good.
My PXC 550’s were stolen. They are the best bt noise cancelling headphones because the sound is great, bt is great, ANC is great but yes not as good as the newest Bose QC 35s or Sony 1000 models but it’s still VERY VERY good. Best of all the EQ is great and the touch controls for lowering the volume and sound pass through/turning ANC off don’t make you look ridiculous when trying to talk to someone else, unlike the Sony 1000mx line. *edit* also I NEVER got the airplane, vacuum ear popping effect he’s talking about. Other reviews even said that’s one of the pluses of this headphone (shoutout Jimsreviewroom)
I miss them so much!! :’(
Sorry to hear that they were stolen :(
Eber Antony thanks man, it sucks. No idea how it happened either cuz I am RELIGIOUS when it comes to how I use my gear and always put it straight back into their case and into my backpack when I’m not using them. *sigh*
Sorry for stealing them...
hopefulbread @HolyMoly Times2 where you at fam?
ah...I had those too, pretty neat set...IEM is the way to go now :)
Got these for $200 on Cyber Monday. Great headphones. Definitely recommend them.
My subscription box now is full of videos of wireless headphones :D
Thanks for your straightforward, sincere and informative comments. Will watch more of your videos.
I bought these for my dad and used them for three weeks before giving them to him. Absolutely fell in love with them, also they usually drop down to $300 every few days for a short time (at least on Amazon).
Also, I have a pretty small head so the clamp force was not enough for me (They stay on, but the weight rests on the top of my head so they hurt after a while)
Edit: you only have to twist the right earcup to turn them off, and the gestures seemed very intuitive to me, my only gripe is the delay in the tap for play/pause gesture.
It's currently $199 on amazon! I've just purchased them, really looking forward to its arrival :)
Love this video ebur! I actually have been looking at wireless nc headphones and these pxc 550s are one of three that I’ve narrowed my decision down to and this video provided a really interesting perspective and great info. I hope to see more headphone and audio content like this in the future from you guys!
Chad Fowler i can guess the other two...
Bought them for 200 at Best Buy! Going to pick them up today, and am very excited. I think 200 or lower is a GREAT deal.
How is it working ? Did you try 1000xm3 ?
I have the pxc 550. It sounds sooo good :)
Just bought n used for 2 weeks. Its works great n I like it. Sony cannot connect to a second device without switch off the first and this is a stopper.
A lot of people complain about the rotating earcup mechanism to turn them on. What everyone is failing to realize is Sennheiser designed these to be travel headphones and that's it. They want you to use their other headphones (like something from their HD series) for at home use and for higher fidelity listening. That's why they built in the turning earcup mechanism to turn it on. They expected people to only use this for travel so anytime you use them you take it out of the case and turn the earcups. Then when you're done you should be putting them back in the case (turning the earcups back off), not on a table or headphone stand.
Audiophiles - PXC 550
Comfort - QC35
The Devil Himself - Sony
Baller - Bang and Olufsen
I got it used early this year. I actually like the way this headphone turns on and off; saved me a bunch of time while traveling because I can pack away and turn off the headphone at the same time. You also didn't talk about my favorite feature which allows you to connect to a computer via USB to listen to things while also charging the headphone. (The computer recognizes the headphone as an audio device) I wish more headphones supported this feature.
I love mine, especially because you don't lose functionality if you have to plug them into the device. (Hello Bose, this means you). Love every feature about them.
Best headphones ive ever owned. even while working out its amazing. Sweat resistent. Still going strong after a year of abuse
Very honest and useful review HC have become the defacto standard to go to for reviews
hahaha omg glad to hear I'm not the only one losing beard hairs to these, have had them for a few months and love them overall but they inflict a little pain every now and then
Hello there Eber:
A great alternative to the PXC-550s is the JBL E55BTs. Sounds really good, has a physical power switch and it is a no-frills pair of headphones so you would not be getting all the same features but you would be getting a great pair of Bluetooth headphones for $150 (that is $200 cheaper than the PXC-550s). The sound quality of the E55BTs is EXCELLENT. Bass is really good and gets surprisingly deep for when you need it while keeping an overall well-balanced sound signature with the highs being nice and clear and the mids being clear and detailed. You could even use them wired like the Sennheisers as well and comes with a headphone wire and a micro-USB to USB-A wire. I wish the headphones were USB-C but I guess JBL used the other connector to keep the price down due to the fact that USB-C is a newer standard.
I've been using these headphones for just over a year now. They've definitely served me very well, but I would be a liar if I said they're not too expensive for the sound they offer. Don't get me wrong, it's far from bad, but it's far from the 350-400$ HD series sound quality that you'd expect from them.
Update: In the video Eber mentioned that he's not sure about the plastic material that covers the earcups long-term. So far, they look like new on mine, even though i just throw them in my backpack. All the fingerprints come off super easily, and it does not scratch easily at all
I just ordered one for $200 on Amazon.
Nice review, I can't wait to try it out
How as it been? Are you liking it?
@@tomasfigueiredo2460 it's been nice thank you. However it isn't as comfy as the QC 35, but will $150 difference, I can't complain
I am not fully convinced by the on/off lack of button for the sake of loosing the battery: if you go for coffee it will be 15min. During that time the playback is probably off. So what drains the battery is just a standby mode. Considering 20h battery life that shall not come close to more than 1% - why would you say 10% lost?
Thanks this was an option for Christmas for my Dad.
Pleasure listening to you my friend, great voice and great content :)
For the mic on the headset, i think that works fine actually, I was in a train and was kinda laud because was travelling in a high speed tunnel, but my father said that he could hear me with no problems even if I wasn't speacking laud. In any case, the mic on the cable helps a lot if you don't like the one on the headset :)
PXC 550 user here, first it's cable connection have mic installed on the cable, but probably need splitter for pc (untested) other than that you can only use mic with bluetooth, directly to second, using the mic while gaming is really bad, you'll get into conversation mode that accept outer sounds (talk-through) and lowering the sound quality. Third, it can only connected to 2 devices at same time and all of them either phone 1 or phone 2 with "smart" switching but doesn't work really well with laptop and phone. Fourth, it can be used while charging this is one of the advantage compared to newer product. Fifth, battery display on apple product (6s, ipad pro 9,7) really not in sync. Sixth, sometimes the tap and hold to check battery level is not working.
It is actually a really good headphone, but outdated, you really want to check Steelseries Arctis 3 bluetooth for gaming and on the go headset designed for switch (can use cable and bluetooth at same time) for general use you may want to check newest QC II.
This is really good headphone .
Connectivity - Easy & Best .
Sound Quality - Awesome .
Battery Backup- More Than other wireless Headphones I mean Battery backup is also too Good .
Product Quality - Material Quality is Very Rich , And Non Breakable (I use this headphone In Mumbai local when i travel (In Rush) So you guys can imagine how good is this)
I have MB 660's that look identical to this and they are great. I only really use the noice cancelling when not listening to media or music. It makes little difference when you are listening to music because all you hear is the music. The beauty of the noice cancelling is just blocking out the TV when you are reading a book or making the office quiet while you work.
Ive had these for 18 months. The black touchpads haven't worn, as was this guy's concern. I also have a large jead, and the clamping force has eased off, but still remains firm. As far as the beard getting caught, wear them upside down, with the cups facing forward. Also, the twist off and on function quickly becomes natural and not a problem. It took a long time to get the hang of touch buttons, it would always pause when trying to swipe backward and forward between songs. I rarely get it wrong now though. My favourite part is being able to customize the eq and effects. I hope this helps.
These are really great. No compromises at all
I actually like the way it turns on & off.
7:19 I'd feel rude AF talking to someone with headphones on
A great, honest, professional review. Many thanks man.
Happy you enjoyed 😉
I got these yesterday for $200 at Best Buy, and these are amazing! The only part I don’t like is the on off, but that’s because I wish they turned the other way to turn them off. Turning them towards me feels awkward for powering off.
i am not interested in this review. i just came here because i was not able to sleep and his voice is F**KIN relaxing! thanks!
Take PXC 550 off you head with your right hand, then the gravity will help you turn the headphones off. It's a very good design.
Hey, thanks for the tip :)
Where were the reviews for these back when I was trying to decide between the 1000xs, QC35 and these ?
How would having an on/off switch prevent you of not forgetting to turn them off?
I ordered those mainly for that feature when getting out of a plane and packing them up you shouldn't forget that switch. Still will be my first pair of headset I currently have bose earbuds so I might not have the habits of other head sets. Good vid!
Bought a pair of these bad boys from a pawn shop in Florida for 10 dollars! Excellent condition. Lol I love finding good deals.
Do you have to empty the battery first or you need to charge it. when u get it from the box? thanks
Ok. 350 is a lot. If I wouldnt want to get the touchpad and the on of twisting, but would like to maintain the sound quality what would you recomend instead? Thank you.
I managed to get these for 199 euros (~226 US) a few months ago, pretty good deal so far IMHO.
Nice, and for people in the US, these regularly drop down to 300 US for a day or so and then go back to 349. Wait until the price drops to $300 before buying, should take less than two weeks!
Just got them for 199 us
Watched this with my pxc 550s, got em for 220 euros here in greece, i agree with everything you've said, i personally however am a bit bothered by the noise floor these headphones have.
When you have nothing playing there is a definately noticeable hissing sound that really pisses me off...Also, if you use their microphone in a computer, (even when connected via usb!) they switch
to a handsfree protocol and the sound becomes horrible. Dont buy these if you plan to use their mic for something like discord. Great choice for their target audience only.
Cheers.
Almost everybody says these are quiet in comparison to other Bluetooth headphones cause they have a volume limiter installed..Is it true?
Are there any open-back wireless headphones?
Are u guys on grind headset reviews of 2018?
DomDetex I know right!
They are the best noise cancelling headphones out there apart from the 4.5 cheaper version , but the noise cancelling is the same, even in 2020 these are awesome to have and you can get them way cheaper now
How long does it take to fully charge the battery from 0 to 100%?
@HardwareCanuks have you guys ever considered doing a review on the Blue Microphones Ella Planar Magnetic Headphones?? It was a super tough decision for me on buying a high end set of cans after looking at countless headphones I narrowed it down to these and the Sennheiser HD 650's but went with the Blue Microphones. I'm sure a lot of people will think I'm crazy but I'd love to hear your guys thoughts on these in a review. As always love the content!
I've been using these headphones during my weekly air travel adventures and my only complaint is they are a little sweat inducing after prolonged use.
The good thing is, most of the "issues" you mentioned are actually a learning curve/adaptation matter, and not real issues ie. the beard: shave; the turning off mode: get used to how it works and it's no longer an issue unless you have the memory of a hamster; the capacitive command sensitivity: also adapt to it. We humans have this capacity to learn how to handle objects, which is great and this will come into play with the "issues" you mentioned lol. The only actual issue I find with this headset is the lack of a USB dongle. You can't really adapt to that one if you're trying to use them wirelessly on a locked work PC where Bluetooth functionality is locked. Also, if you want that sound quality, I don't really see "better" options than this.
you should check out and review the V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless Codex Edition headphones. I chose those over the Bose, Sony and Sennheiser. the quality of the headphones and sound were just amazing.
How does the audio quality compare to the PXC350?
Listening to this with PXC 550 iis :)
you covered a lot of features in this review except the most important one. Frequency response. Reviews are always subjective but there are some objective information like frequency response that you could have provided.
Hmm i think im gonna score some on black friday
@Ezugo Obuekwe Nice, didnt buy them myself tho. Only a new 500Gb SSD :)
Finn just got mine for $199
getting these soon
and a new mech keyboard
I have always liked Sennheiser head phones.
These do seem a bit over kill though. Hopefully, they listen and fix some of the quirks in a revised model.
Thank you.
Cool review man, is it comfortable to use with glasses?
can I use the ANC with the headphones connected via usb or the audio jack?? or the ANC only work in wireless mode??
I find them great for making calls. What are other people's experiences?
I have the Sennheiser HD 4.40 BT, they have thick padding and the volume gets really high it almost acts as active noice cancelling. It costs 100 dollars us, and the other model that does have active noice cancelling is 200 dollars. I think you should try them because they're are not super cheap but has lower price than the pxc 550 and if you just want to listen to music with great sound they're worth it.
I bought them while still having HD800 and I sold... HD800
PXC 550 are much better from overall perspective and the sound is much more universal comparing to very specific HD800 sound
2 years later I don't regret this decision at all
missing BT 5.x but ...
How would these compare to the Sennheiser MB 660?
How does it charge? Does it take long to charge? Also, can it be used while being charged?
poiisondn with the Sony new 1000s you get 5hours of battery life with 15 minutes of charging
PXC 550 also offer I think about 3 hours of 10-15 minutes charging.
I put it in my wish list , its current price is 199$ but im hoping it will get down much further otherwise i wouldn't be able to buy it and have to go with HD 4.40BT instead.
Sony WH-1000xm2 или Sennheiser PXC550 лучше?Like the sound of these headphones! But I do not like the maximum volume, they are a little quiet for me! What about you? Maybe there are some secrets to make them a little louder?
What do you think now that you can get them for $230 on Amazon?
I was about to ask the same question. They are very cheap. My question also is...when are they going to come out with a newer version? It seems like you can overlook everything bad about it for $230. I was looking at the Bose 700 but those Mf's are $400. The only thing that bothers me is the Micro USB....that means I have to carry two different types of cables. ONe for the phone and one for the headphones...grrr.
Fantastic video as always!!! ;) Thank you!
How's the sound bleed? Cqn someone close easily hear what you're listening to?
Is this headphones can be paired to a pc using a dongle?
Thanks for the beard hair cliping insight :) i hate this , and this is a thing you cannot know when you are buying online. Once more , thank you
Yep. Can confirm this. It's the small microphone holes around the metal frame. But it's also very compact and easy to have in a decently sized pocket.
Yep confirming this aswel. Also the app doesn't have the same features to spotify etc. They have their own music app which i ceebs trying out. Also double tap ambient aware is still a bit rude in an office area. Everyone pretty much assumes 'im listening go away'
I have the same problem but I just flip them around and face the cups forward. Problem solved.
How are they 350? I've found them new even at 200!
350 was launch price
Anyone know if Seinhesser is putting out an updated version of the PXC 550? Especially want USB Type C...
I hope you guys can get your hands on the Cooler Master MH572 headset. I've only seen a couple reviews so far and would like to see your guys impression on it.
:)
Machaane, kidu video.. Keep it coming..!
the best multiple device switch on it. this is the bast part
Your link is on sale for $200 LITERALLY 4 days later and it was when you uploaded this as well... that’s an insane deal and instead of mentioning that you said that the $350 price point is and. Plus $350 isn’t even the normal price anymore
I just bought these .. They're awesome but they've been cutting out on me .. Bluetooth ...i switched to NFC connection .. It worked for 5 minutes then went back to cutting out .. I just turned them on .. Bluetooth connection.. Working perfectly .. Any suggestions and has anyone else had this issue
what is best comfort and for movies ?
Sennheiser PXC 550 Or Audio Technica ATH-M50XBT ?
YES M50X have A WIRELESS version now
I would bet on sennheiser for comfort. Sound is a matter of taste.
Fahadew m50x are overrated af
beyerdynamic have also released anc headphones but i haven seen any review yet and they're pretty expensive
Bluetooth headphones are not meant for movies, they have too much lag.
How to pair nfc with iPhone X? Can u tell me how to do software update for this headphones? Thx
Excellent review, Thanks mate!
I was gonna buy it but now I’m going to buy Bose QC35 or sony 1000m2
I’m Danny why XM2? I’ve yet to post but I have loaded sound demos of XM3, QC35II and PXC 550 of that help. Feature-wise depends on how you use. I’ve done a summary who should fit which headphones base on your use cases. It’s too long to mention here, but hope can help!
Sony WH1000MX3 is the best and comfiest noise cancelling headphones i’ve ever used. The Headband is amazing, better than Bose QC Mark IIs
Have you had any issues with reliability? There are numerous comments on the Sony community about cracking sounds as well as breaking of the headband.
Guys, what wireless gaming headset that support surround sound would you recommend?
This statement would've applied when it came out 2 generations ago... Sadly it is now outclassed by Sony who have had 2 years to improve while sennheiser is still at first generation.
I'd say from watching this video my bose qc35 is the better choice :) for anyone curious, the best features of the bose qc35, in my opinion, is: 1) Really really lightweight (you can actually have these on for several hours and not hurt your ears at all! 2) the Noise-cancellation is, in my opinion, the best on the market today, beating the PXC 550. 3) Really simple to use and connect to using buttons and switches on the headphones. 4) they are really clear for voice and higher frequencies but lack a bit with bass and lower frequencies, this can be corrected with a simple Spotify amp app on the phone such as; Eqfy which I have been using a lot. Some of the downfalls of the bose qc35 are the pretty steep price point and maybe Bluetooth signal. this will heavily depend on your phone's Bluetooth quality though, but with my Huawei p9, the Bluetooth sucks which is really frustrating and annoying at times. didn't have any problems on a Samsung galaxy s9, but worth noting! :) Other than that it is worth to consider whether the price is worth it. do you travel a lot in buses, airplanes, cars etc. The bose qc35 will help you tremendously! if it's purely for music i would choose a pair of open back headphones with a wider soundstage.
All in all the bose qc35 are a fantastic pair of headphones and i hope this will clarify some things for your next purchase! coming from a user of both the PXC 550, Bose qc35 and other wireless headphones :)
PS! Awesome for gaming as well! I use them in cs:go and can probably hear the enemy footsteps before anyone else :) :D
About the first point: I had the PXC 500 for a while and they don't hurt my ears, they hurt the top of my head! If you have a small head your ears won't support most of the weight, so the headband is going to feel pretty heavy after a while.
I prefer the touchpad controls, though.
QC35 sounded like garbage when the ANC is turned off. you absolutely have to have it on or it'll bizarrely change the whole headphone sound profile.
@@Altruistic00 i do agree that there are a significant difference, but for me it isn't that troubling since i'm using the ANC all the time anyway :)
@@rahbek100 Good on you. I sometimes like to have it turned off when I'm just sitting in a quiet room (ANC in a quiet room can be a bit 'disorientating'), plus I get to extend the battery life for a bit. I absolutely love the fit & comfort on the QC35 but that ANC is just too much for me. You can adjust the ANC level using an app on the PXC 550 btw which is pretty nice.
@@Altruistic00 on my qc35 there is a physical button as well which has 3 settings for ANC level :)
Are these better than Bose quietcomfort 35 ii in terms of comfort and sound and in noise cancellation the diffrence isnt that mich
try them ot in a store, personally I cant wear the bose for longer than a minute but a lot of people prefer the bose. For sound pxc is better, noise cancelling the bose
You should try the Momentum Wireless, they’re great! (From my average customer viewpoint :)
This review is crazy. You note some of the best features as negatives. All personal preference I guess but I couldn’t disagree more. However, you do seem to be mentioning a lot of user error issues.
Can it be used with OnePlus 6t, bcoz it has got high impedence
i got the pxc550 and there awesome for on the go with my lg v30 but for some reason i cant get it to work with my pc it should work as i have an asus crosshair hero 6 mobo plz. help if you've got any ideas on how to fix this
Can it be used for competitive fps games wired?, and would it perform well?
Imr172 Plays if that’s what you need, of course wired! The next you’d think is via USB DAC or 3.5mm... just loads of choices!
@@SpringloftStudio thank you, reassures ny decision
Imr172 Plays I meant using PXC 550 but wire it when you play games. Actually when wired or charging, the Bluetooth still working and you can also hook up another 2 devices. This can is awesome!
I can’t leave me house with the QC35II nor the XM3 because I live in a 3rd world country
Haha . So true... hopefully I’m in NY now!😁