Experience Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550: gentle, comfortable, plays good music

Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550 are a pair of headphones belonging to the HD 500 Series that have been launched globally and officially opened for sale in Vietnam scheduled for April 15 (genuine distribution in Vietnam through Phuc Giang Co., Ltd.). Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550 are aimed at audiophiles as well as those who use headphones to play games. My personal experience with Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550 is really impressive. This was the first time I tried Sennheiser's HD 500 Series, and they far exceeded my initial expectations. In this article, I will quickly share my first impressions about this pair of headphones. After experiencing it longer, I will update with more details.

Design and wearing feeling: Simple, light and comfortable

Sennheiser HD series headphones always focus on wearing comfort and have a traditional design style. The idea is that users only need to focus on the audio experience, without other factors distracting them. After more than a week of using Sennheiser HD 505 and HD 550, I really like the "wearing like not wearing" feeling of this duo.

Weight: Only 237 grams

This is the easiest point to imagine for you to feel. Weighing only 237 grams, Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550 allows you to listen to several albums, watch an entire movie, or play games for a few hours without feeling heavy. Headphones usually weigh between 200 and 300 grams, some special models even weigh nearly 400 grams or more. So 237 grams is quite light. I used to use Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC which weighed up to 640 grams, and it felt really "horrible" when worn for a long time.

Velor ear cushions: Light, airy

Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550, and many other models in Sennheiser's HD line use ear cushions made from velor fabric (velvet). The characteristics of this ear cushion are that it feels smooth, comfortable and breathable. When it comes into contact with the ears and scalp, it is very gentle and pleasant. Ventilation is an important factor, helping you not feel like you're wearing something or isolated from your surroundings. The ear cushions are also easy to remove for washing, cleaning and reinstallation. With the open-back design of Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550, this ventilation also supports a more natural, stronger sound, while also increasing comfort.

Headphone cord: Light, flexible and anti-tangle

The Sennheiser HD 505 and HD 550 cords look simple, but have features that enhance the experience. Compared to many types of cords I have used, I highly appreciate the cords that Sennheiser equips for Sennheiser HD 505 and HD 550. The cords are light, soft, flexible, have good elasticity and rarely tangle. In particular, when wearing headphones and moving around - even walking around the room - the wire does not transmit vibrations to the headphones or create an uncomfortable feeling when touching the body. Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550 are equipped with a 1.8m long cable with a 3.5mm jack, with an adapter to convert to 6.3mm.

Synthetic leather headband: Soft

The headband is made from soft and gentle synthetic leather, not causing discomfort when worn. The outside part is synthetic leather, the inside seems to be soft, highly elastic plastic. When picked up, turned around or stretched to wear, the headband hugs the head and ears gently and comfortably.

Ear hanging structure on frame

Both sides of the headset are attached to the frame with a hanging fork, allowing flexible and light movement. Putting it on or taking it off is very easy, not cumbersome or inconvenient. Sennheiser's user experience (UX) design team did a great job in this part.

Exterior design

Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550 have a traditional design, typical of the HD 500 Series - one of the easily recognizable designs, not to be confused with the generic style of many other headphones. The back of the speaker is made from metal mesh with honeycomb-shaped holes, creating an eye-catching and unique highlight for both models. The Sennheiser HD 505 and HD 550 versions I experienced are matte black with copper gold highlights, looking very impressive. Meanwhile, Sennheiser HD 550 is simpler with dark gray color, less prominent but still sophisticated.

Audio specifications and experience

Sennheiser HD 505 and HD 550 are quite similar in design and internal hardware, but each headset is calibrated to serve slightly different listening purposes.

38mm dynamic driver, manufactured in Tullamore - Ireland

Both use 38mm dynamic drivers, manufactured at the Tullamore factory, Ireland - where Sennheiser specializes in manufacturing high-end audio components. This is a core component, as a certification for the quality and sound performance of the headset.

The two drivers are also placed in a direction that, when worn, will be parallel to the sound pickup direction of the natural headphones. This leads to it being closer to the ear and directing sound more directly into the ear.

Impedance:

Sennheiser HD 505 has an impedance of 120 ohm, while Sennheiser HD 550 is 150 ohm. With 120 ohm, the HD 505 is easy to pull with the 3.5mm port on a computer or regular device. The HD 550, if true at 150 ohm, will need a more powerful DAC or headamp to maximize its performance.

Differences in listening purposes

To understand better, I took a look at Sennheiser's press release. The director of the company's Audiophile department shared separately about each model:

Regarding sound, I always advise you to listen with your own ears, with your favorite songs and genres, in each specific situation. My or other reviewers' comments are for reference only and cannot replace personal experience. However, I feel that the Sennheiser HD 550 has a sweeter, deeper and more contrasting sound, while the Sennheiser HD 505 is more straightforward, simple and honest.

Remember listening to music

I always believe that music is a wonderful gift that God gave to humanity - like spiritual food. Among all kinds of artistic devices, music is the cheapest way to elevate emotions, escape reality or find happiness. If possible, always listen to music and pay attention to the music player. Sennheiser is a big name in the audio field. Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550 truly deliver a great sound experience, combined with a comfortable wearing feeling. Don't hesitate to experiment to upgrade your sound experience!

237 grams is very light so you can comfortably wear it and carry it with you to always have good music headphones with you. Whenever it's convenient, pull it out and listen. Listen as much as possible.

There are times when I just sit and listen to immerse myself in the music. Sennheiser HD 550 really plays very well, worthy of headphones for audiophiles.

Gentle operation, simple to use, not having to worry about many other things... that way the music experience can be focused.

Sennheiser HD 505 special color version

The space of the sound is also expressed clearly and naturally. Songs where the composer exploits sound space and depth are reproduced very well. Helps users feel like they are living in the space of the song and the orchestra.

One thing I feel in common in both ears is the confidence, comfort and balance of both ears when playing music. Especially gentle, emotional and deep music genres, music where we are drawn into the content and emotions of the song. Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550 play comfortably, familiarly, without tension, making it easy for listeners to immerse themselves in the emotions of the song. Sennheiser HD 505 has an official selling price of 7,490,000 VND and Sennheiser HD 550 with exquisite black color has an official selling price of 7,990,000 VND.

Actual images of Sennheiser HD 505, HD 550