Sennheiser has launched a new headphone: Open headphones that are supposed to be suitable not only for music but also for gaming. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tested them and wore the headphones for several weeks in everyday life.
What kind of device is this? With the Sennheiser HD 550, the manufacturer has introduced a new headphone for €299.99. The headphone is aimed at individuals looking for open headphones for music. At the same time, the new headphones are also supposed to be suitable for gaming. Sennheiser emphasized during the presentation that this is not a pure gaming headphone.
In the meantime, I have been able to test the headphones for about 3 months in everyday life. I have worn the headphones for over 250 hours, averaging 4 hours a day. Therefore, the 250 hours are a conservative estimate.
Who tested it?
I have a passion for hardware and tech and currently own over 20 gaming mice, along with several keyboards and controllers. Since 2019, I have been testing hardware for MeinMMO for our readers. In addition to the PC and major consoles, I also game on the Steam Deck.
Our device is a review sample that Microsoft provided us for testing.
Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware Editor MeinMMO
Here you will find all the important technical details of the headset in a table:
| Model | Sennheiser HD 550 |
| Connection | 3.5 mm or 6.3 mm jack |
| Platform | PC, Console (via controller or external USB adapter) |
| Package Contents | Headphones; 1.8m long cable with 3.5 mm jack; screwable 3.5 to 6.35 mm jack adapter; carrying case |
| Special Features | Impedance of 150 ohms |
| Weight | 237 grams |
| Price (RRP) | €299.99 |
Design and Build
What is included in the delivery? The headphones are delivered with a 1.8m long cable with a 3.5mm jack. Additionally, a screwable 3.5 to 6.35 mm jack adapter and a carrying case are included in the box.
Construction of the headset: The HD 550 is an open headphone. The advantage is that the headphones have a wide soundstage: instruments and vocals can be well differentiated and located in space. The sound is thus airy and less constrained, which is a problem that in-ear headphones often have due to their design.
However, there is also a clear disadvantage: on the one hand, outsiders can clearly perceive your music or whatever you are currently listening to. On the other hand, open headphones have poor sound isolation. In everyday life, I can hear everything my wife is doing in the background when she’s on the phone, watching a series, or playing on the PC.
Processing
The headphones can be partially disassembled and re-equipped with spare parts: the cable can be removed and replaced with another cable. Disadvantage: Only Sennheiser’s cables fit, and no third-party products can be used. This is due to a locking mechanism that secures the cable in the headphone’s housing. Other cables can be plugged in but do not fit tightly and immediately come loose.
The ear pads can also be removed and replaced with new pads. The ear pads cost directly from Sennheiser around €30.
The headphones themselves are made of a combination of plastic and metal mesh, which is supposed to ensure high durability. In my everyday life, I have not had any problems with the device so far.
Software
There is no actual software tailored directly to the headphones. If you want to use an equalizer or change the sound, you need to use third-party software. Sennheiser itself does not provide dedicated software for the HD 550 on PC or console.
Comfort and Weight
What does my head look like? My head circumference is about 58 cm, so I have a rather smaller head.
Weight: The HD550 weighs 237 grams and is thus among the lighter representatives on the market of headphones and headsets.
TurtleBeach is positioned with its Stealth 700 Gen 3 (for review) more towards the upper end (403 grams), SteelSeries with its Arctis Nova 7 (for review) in the middle ground. To mention alternative headphones of similar performance class: The Hifiman Sundara is also quite a bit heavier at 342 grams.
How do the headphones feel? On average, I have worn the HD550 about 6 hours a day. This includes conversations with colleagues or gaming sessions where I also wear the device. In the long term, the headphones can get warm but not uncomfortable. The fabric pads were therefore a good choice. The low weight of 237 grams also contributes to the comfortable wear of the headphones.
Not quite optimal: I can feel the padded headband after longer sessions on my head. This is annoying, but slight adjustment of the headphones on my head helps here.
Sound
Sennheiser emphasizes that with the HD550 they wanted to deliver an entry-level model with a neutral and balanced sound.
And that’s exactly what you also get with the headphones. In everyday use, the model convinces me especially with music, as the neutral sound image comes into its own here. Since the HD550 does not overly emphasize bass like many “true” gaming models, explosions do not sound as impressive, but the highs and mids sound more present.
The strength of the HD 550 lies especially in the midrange, as it sounds not only balanced but also very present: instruments and voices are clearly separated from each other and well locatable in the space. Especially individual instruments stand out well. This is also due to the open design of the headphones. Music and gaming are therefore a lot of fun.
Locating opponents also works very well: in Vermintide 2 or Darktide, where it is vital to be able to assign your opponents to a direction, this usually works very well, as the mentioned games also provide good sound material. Good sound material is essential: in Marvel Rivals, steps sound so muffled that assigning them becomes difficult.
Conclusion: Great headphones that are also suitable for gaming
For whom is the headset suitable? If you are looking for a pure gaming headset or headphones that are clearly geared towards gaming, with powerful bass and adjustable equalizer, then you are in the wrong place. However, if you are looking for headphones that want a balanced and neutral sound without overwhelming you, then you are receiving a very good model from Sennheiser here.
For currently around €250 market price, you can hardly go wrong if you do not only want to play but also want to listen to music or watch series. Unless you want to listen to music in the subway or are often on the go. In that case, closed headphones or in-ears with noise cancellation are the better recommendation.
What alternatives are there?
- The Hifiman Sundara is now available for just under €300 and uses planar drivers. In terms of sound, it offers a lot, but it is very heavy (400 grams).
- The Sony WH-1000XM5 is considered one of the best noise-canceling models and is regularly available for under €300. The model is also wireless.
- The Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X is also available for under €300, delivers excellent sound quality, and is also durable. The model is wired like the HD 550.
Further gaming headsets and headphones in all price ranges from €50 to €300 can be found in the buying guide on MeinMMO: The best gaming headsets you can currently buy
