Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones
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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.
Features
- A comfortable, high-quality headphone system
- Extended spatial field surrounds you with sound; ergonomic Acoustic Refinement enables ideal sound channeling for a new kind of listening experience
- Features State of the Art Duolfol diaphragms
- Velour ear pads let you keep glasses on while listening
- Comes with manufacturer’s 2-year warranty
- Dimensions (W x H x L): 8 x 4 x 10 inches
- Weight: 1 pounds
Great Classic
At first these headphones have a very strong treble bu after around 150 hours of use that decreases. They have a wonderful soundstage and provide great surround sound experience.
For those interested in surround sound headphones, these WILL provide surround sound no gimmicks or tricks, as long as it stays STEREO not MONO. I can easily hear pin drops in these without turning up my volume at all and being able to tell the exact point where they dropped.
Overall these headphones are great for those that use them for entertainment, they are bass and treble high but provide good clarity. These do NOT need an AMP to drive them, they worked well with RCA to Stereo connectors with no loss in quality of audio.
Rocking Headphones!
These headphones have to be heard to be believed! They deliver fantastic sound even at barely audible volumes. The bass is especially both smooth and thumping at the same time for a very pleasing audio experience. And I must say that the package is attractive too. These headphones look truly space-age and have that ‘premium’ look. Worth the price. And they feel great over your head and on your ears because of the ample, soft padding, even for extended listening sessions. I bought these to replace an aging Koss UR-20 set of cans which I’d thought provided fairly good sound but the Sennheiser cans blow those out of the water and I can’t believe I waited so long to get these. A must-have for music aficionados, you owe it to your ears (and your music) to experience them.
The only ding I could give these ‘phones is that their default pin is the ‘fat’ stereo pin that goes directly into audio receivers, so you need an adapter (which is included) to convert it into a regular stereo pin to use with your iPod, computer or other music player, which adds some bulk to the plugged-in end. This doesn’t bother me since I’m primarily using these at work with my computer and the added bulk doesn’t bother me but it might to someone who’s looking to use them for, say, jogging or working out.
Greatest Headphones ever owned
These are the clearest, sharpest and most rounded set of headphones I’ve ever owned. Whether listening to music, movies, or gaming, these headphones offer the clearest sampling of sound I’ve ever heard. The bass is profound and kicks without vibrating or sounding washed out. Voices, gun shots, war crys, car crashes, everything comes out clear and beautiful.
It’s like sitting in a theater and I control the volume.
Faithful
I have read many and varied reviews and comments about the HD555’s so I know it is not a headphone for all. It depends on what you like and whether realism is what you are after. If car audio and horn loaded speakers are your standard, then these may not be for you.
Pretty much everyone can agree they are not heavy and are very comfortable. The HD555 is an open design so others may hear what you are listening to in quite environments or if you really play them loud.
Tonally, these cans are neutral to possibly being slightly dark. It depends on what you plug them into. Bass, which some claim to be rather “weak” is definitely there and as prominent as it should be relative to the rest of the audio spectrum. Bass is fast (very fast), accurate, well defined and well extended. This is even before doing the 595 mod.
Bass as well as the rest of the frequency range is delivered fast and accurately with remarkable faithfulness. The speed and articulation especially in the mid and treble are vital for voice and piano.
What really struck me was how well more subtle differences in volume and tone are suddenly apparent. Even when playing rock music at higher than moderate volume, every instrument is easily distinguishable as being unique in location, tonal quality and what it is performing. Music is now a group of individual musicians. It is no longer a mixture of vague sounds smeared from left to right. Bass has some serious weight but not the soft massive furball present in far too many boom cars and the cans designed for their fans. Likewise, the treble is incredibly clear without being hyped. Of course, the midrange is there as well, not sucked out.
What you get is what is recorded with minimal coloration. Some may see musical faithfulness as being fine for classical but I see it as being perfect for all types of music and audio content. Why would someone want faithfulness for some music and then want lies for others?
Well, I just did the 595 mod and removed the foam strips that partially sealed off the back side of the phones. The bass now is slightly more extended, less congested and slightly quicker. The rest of the frequency range improves as well. The midrange and treble are more clear. There is a midrange boxiness that has been removed.
Best headphones I’ve ever owned
In the past I wore headphones and didn’t really care much for how it sounded. It wasn’t until I purchased this pair that I realized how much I was missing out on when I’d use headphones. This pair is extremely comfortable, even though they are huge. They have a terrible amount of bleed, so if you’re planning on wearing them around other people, expect them to hear it too, unless you enjoy listening with the volume down very low.
Overall I’m very happy with them, they do not offer an overabundance of bass, but they are audiophile targeted headphones so it is something to expect. I have never heard any distortion out of them and I’ve been using them for over 6 months. Going back to other headphones is always a shock to me now because the audio quality is so much lower. These will help to increase your appreciation for quality sound.
Great headphones at great price
This is my 2nd pair of Sennheiser headphones. My first pair was the hd-212, they were great, but i felt that the base was to over powering, so I bought the hd-555, but because I thought they would be more of what i wanted, after owning these for little over 2 weeks now, i can definitely say That these are the most comfortable, and best sounding headphone i have ever owned.They live up to all my expectations every way. I know some people say that these are a little light in base region but to my ears they sound just fine,Some people say the HD595 sound better, but it think for the price that there would not be that much improvement,i highly recommend these head phones, looking for comfort and fantastic sound at good price
Even Better after simple mod
I love these headphones, everyone is raving about them in the reviews so I’m just gonna suggest the foam mod that is floating around for these HD 555 headphones. It is a very simple mod that you can look up online or even youtube. Foam is installed and hinders these lovely headphones from the open air design, some claim they may be on par with the 595s but I can simply say they sound even better than before.
The whole process involves removing some simple snap on pieces of the cans, a simple small phillips head screwdriver is used to take out a few screws to reach the sticky rectangular foam strips that block the air. The foam strips come off easily and the headphones can be reassembled easily. Sounds difficult but it is very simple and painless mod, enjoy !
Not for airplanes
Sound quality is fine, but the “piggyback” plug-in was a real problem for me on a recent air trip.
With the unit plugged into the jack on a recent United flight (with a mini-pin receiver in the armrest), the plugs protruded more than 3 1/2″. When I, or a seatmate, tried to get to the aisle, they inevitably hit the plug, and it ultimatley became bent and inoperable.
Hopefully, Sennheiser will replace the plug for me. But I’ll make the HD555 my “home” headphones, and go back to my Bose for travel.
Who says there’s no deep bass??
I bought these headphones to serve multiple purposes, but primarily for gaming and movies on my laptop. I had high expectations and the Sennheiser HD-555’s far surpassed them! I was a bit concerned about some reviews on here saying that the bass didn’t feel “deep” but I absolutely do NOT agree. The bass in these headphones give me the same “body rumbling” feeling that I’m used to getting from a huge surround sound stereo. I’ve owned at least 15 different sets of high quality headphones/earphones and these are, by far, my favorites so far. Music from my iPod has never sounded so good and the gaming performance is absolutely amazing.
Additionally, this headset could not possibly be any more comfortable… I literally forget that I’m wearing them. The build quality feels great… very solid, and the cord is thick without being stiff.
Two warnings however: Pay attention to what you are buying. This headset has an OPEN design which means that with the volume up, the sound can be easily heard by people around you so these are certainly not intended for use in quiet public places. I don’t mind this at all because I tend to use in-ear headphones when I’m not at home anyways and bought these for home use. Also, if you want to walk around with these on, you will have a lot of cord to deal with as it’s 9-10 feet long.
I could not be more in love with these headphones… just make sure you’re buying them for the right purpose!
Nearly a decade old, still mind-blowing.
I purchased these headphones when I needed something to get me through the dorm life. I researched thoroughly and made my purchase with the intent on moving on to a better pair when I was not living on a college student budget.
Fast forward eight years, and I’m still rocking the HD555s. I’m wearing them right now. They still feel amazingly comfortable to my radar dish ears and egg-shaped head. The sound is delightfully warm, with good bass response.
These headphones have logged plenty of air miles, road miles, and even managed to go on a few audio tours. The plastic construction has managed to survive some fairly brutal conditions including many TSA checkpoints, many bus rides, and the dreaded “buried in my old Honda’s back seat in Houston, Texas summer.” Bumps, drops, bends, twists, and other rather abusive activities have been endured as well. The grey plastic which attaches the headband to the ear phones is cracked at the casting seam, but it’s not deep or significantly weaker as far as I can tell.
The cups are still upholstered, as is the band. The mesh has been cleaned a few times, but the relatively easy dis-assembly process has made that a breeze. I’ve never had an issue with the oversized plug, but I’ve been telling myself to buy a soft 1/8th adapter as long as I’ve had these cans.
If you’re looking for a fantastic sounding pair of headphones at a reasonable price that will endure for years, buy these.
Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones
Purchased these for my twenty-something year old son’s birthday. He goes through
a new set of headphones every year! He absolutely loves them!! When you consider
how much money I’ve wasted on other brands every year, these don’t seem that expensive for the quality. I’d recommend them highly; couldn’t find them at any
discount stores — luv Amazon!!
The best for the price
These headphones are famous for being the best for the price, and this is totally true. There is no complains, what can I say? I use them to hear jazz, classical, metal, pop, etc., and always sound perfect. If you aren’t a high level audiophile (not any audiophile) and you aren’t a rich person then these headphones are perfect for you.
BEWARE-THEY’RE EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE!
These over-hyped headphones are so uncomfortable that they feel like you’re wearing a very tight vise over your head! They’re the most uncomfortable headphones that I’ve ever worn and they’re way too heavy for extended use. There are a lot better headphones out there for the money: Check out the incredible Audio-Technica ATH-M50M headphones. Avoid these atrocious Sennheiser HD-555 headphones at all costs!
The ONLY choice at this price point
These headphones are in my opinion the best set of cans at this price point. The sound field is amazing. I could ask for a bit more bass, because I like it, but what these cans give you is clean sound without exaggeration, if that makes sense. I could use them all day everyday. They do squeeze my head just a bit too tight, but that has happened with every set of phones I have had that didn’t fall off my head. If you are willing to spend this amount for headphones, these are a great choice.
Good, but missing full top end and low end.
These are easily driven by any AVR, or computer sound card. They are a great choice for getting good sound without jumping in to something that requires a head phone amp.
Overall low distortion is good, but I found the top end and bass a little lacking. My current speakers sound better.
They are good and worth the price, but I do find them lacking in a few areas. Very nice, but they had to leave room for upgrades for higher end models.
Doesn’t sound “amazing” right out of the box, but builds
These headphones sound incredible now that I have had some time to listen to them and sort of “burn” them in. I personally did not pay attention to the burning-in aspect of headphones until I got these about a week ago. At first the headphones sounded good, but not good enough for my taste and the money I paid for them. After I read some more on the headphones, I discovered that you have to burn them in for 100 hours to achieve their greatest potential sound quality (balanced bass, mids, and treble).
I have probably played at least 30 hours on music in the past week and the headphones sound extraordinary now, like I was hoping for. Sennheiser has made a good product, and when I get headphones in the future I will buy Sennheiser.
Good headphones
Had these for 2 years now. Still working great. Sound quality is excellent. These are much more comfortable than other headphones which sit on your ears. They have fallen off my desk at least 20 times, no damage yet. Only downside is dirt collects on the padding and is somewhat difficult to get off.
Snap, Crackle, Pop!
These headphone sound really good, depending on what kind of music you are listening to. I listen to a lot of atmospheric music with a lot of layers… This is where these headphones shine. All the layers of music come in really sharp, clear, and focused. I feel like they do a really nice job separating all the different sounds. The one complaint I have with these headphones is they crackle and pop when I listen to my music past a certain volume… Maybe I am turning the volume up too loud? If that is the volume I want to listen to music they should be able to handle it. A slight volume adjustment always fixes the problem. I wonder if this problem will get worse later on down the road though?
Great ……….
Appearance, sound, comfort all excellant. I do not believe a person will be disappointed. I liked the long cord. I was happy the with the quick service.
Should call them Pro-heisers.
These things effin rock, makes work so much more bearable. Listening to the pristine sound through these amazing headphones is well worth the [...] sticker, these out perform others in the category and even above. If you area thinking about buying them just pull the trigger and doo eet they rule.
Tired of listening to that middle age woman speak like a four-year-old? Now you don’t have to. Buy them.