Sennheiser HD555
Manufacturer: Sennheiser Electronics Corp. Part number: HD555
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The HD555s' speakerlike sound is the hot ticket for DVD thrill seekers.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Once you know, you Newegg! |  | In stock Free Three Day Shipping | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
 Savings, Selection & Service since 1971 | | In stock Free Shipping! | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | | See Site Try Free Amazon Prime for one Month | as of 12/08/2009 | |
| Amazon.com Marketplace | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 | |
 | | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Sennheiser HD555 price range: $82.99 - $149.95
- Reviewed by: Steve Guttenberg
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 08/27/2004
- Released on: 01/10/2004
The good: Sleek styling; very comfortable; rich tonal balance; well suited for home theater.
The bad: Open-backed design may not be ideal for private listening; so-so music performance.
The bottom line: The HD555s' speakerlike sound is the hot ticket for DVD thrill seekers.
Sleek, comfortable, and durable, Sennheiser's Euro-styled HD555 headphones weigh a mere 9.2 ounces and feel luxurious. They exerted minimal pressure on our ears, which allowed us to forget at times that we were even wearing them--a big compliment for headphones.
The Sennheiser HD555s, which cost less than $150 online, have an open-backed design that makes for spacious audio, but the 'phones leak sound and may disturb others in your vicinity. The HD555s are fitted with a 10-foot cable and a 1/4-inch plug; a 1/8-inch miniplug adapter is also included.
These headphones' wide-open sound is ideal for DVDs, eliminating the inside-your-head effect common to most 'phones and providing the sort of layered depth and imaging we normally hear from speakers. Seabiscuit sounded glorious: the pounding hooves, the roaring crowds, and the sweeping musical score were all well served by the HD555s. Dialogue was perfectly clear and bass response was deep and powerful. On our reference Grado SR125 headphones, the sound was more immediate and clear but significantly less open and comfortable.
While we were impressed by the HD555s' home-theater performance, its music reproduction fell a bit short. On Jazz Descargas, a CD of passionate Afro-Cuban percussion, the HD555s sounded a little too sweet and laid back, as the 'phones softened the interplay between the drummers. Aerosmith's blues CD, Honkin' on Bobo, also sounded a tad restrained for our tastes. We preferred Sennheiser's more vivid HD 280 Pro headphones.
Things changed again when we hooked up our iPod to the HD555s. The rich sound was irresistible, and the generous bass balance brought out the best in all sorts of music. We did not, however, have the same kind of luck with our Jens of Sweden MP-110. The comparatively underpowered player didn't fare as well as the iPod--it just couldn't pump out enough volume for the HD555s.
In short, if you're a music lover who demands vivid, detailed sound from your headphones, the HD555s probably aren't for you; consider the Sennheiser HD 280 Pros instead. But if you want great home-theater sound without waking the neighbors, the HD555s are calling your name.
User reviews
-
-
OUTSTANDING!!!
by ttt3008 on October 5, 2005
Pros: so very comfortable, affordable, light, great style, Crystal clear sound you've been waiting for.
Cons: Need to burn in for about 4 days.
Summary: I have spent hours reading other folks reviews for the HD 555 headphones.
MOSTLY every review I read about them was positive feedback, almost like Sennheiser paid a couple hundred ...Summary: I have spent hours reading other folks reviews for the HD 555 headphones.
MOSTLY every review I read about them was positive feedback, almost like Sennheiser paid a couple hundred people to give them a good rating or somthin.
I even called the nice folks down at headphone.com to ask about the HD 555's and I got positive feedback from them as well.
I finally stepped out and purchased some referbs from e-cost.com for about $79 after talking to an e-cost support guy about refurbished headphones.
He assured me that they went through extensive testing to make sure the product is sounding like the original.
When I ordered the HD 555 headphones I spent more time reading more reviews just to make sure I got my moneys worth and make the shipping a little faster (in my mind).
They came in about 3 days after I first ordered them. When I put them on......wow!!!!
I had never felt so comfortable wearing large headphones until I put these feather weight babies on!
The sound was outstanding, way better than my old sony mdr v150s! The highs were just as I always wanted highs, clear with no distortion at great db levels.
The mids were just awesome!
The lows were good at first but after about 16 hours of break in time I here them getting progressively deeper and better so that they can please my picky ears.
After looking at Rundown on DVD I just happen to notice that the sound was so exceptionally clear that you can here a fly pass right by the microphone and from one side of your head to the next on one of the fighting scenes in Brazil. I?m telling you! You will start chuckling and smiling after you?re fooled by little details in the sound you thought were really in your room! : )
And yes, you can here instruments and affects in your favorite tunes you have never realized existed.
With this kind of performance and pleasure I?m not sure if I will go out and buy any more headphones any time soon. There durable and very well designed.
Music used for listening: Techno, R&B, Gospel, Jazz, Acoustic.
Amp Used: Headphone jack of the Sansui S-X1200 (My old school hand me down Garage sell stereo receiver.)Updated
I would highly recomend you going to
www.norahjones.com in the media section and listining with the hd 555's in high-band.
You will be amazed at the quality and detail!16 out of 16 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Fantastic, light weight, sleek and stylish, great sound!
by Stacyx on May 13, 2005
Pros: light, amazing sound, stylish, price, comfortable
Cons: big, chord a bit too long
Summary: After spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on earbuds, earphones in the quest for nice-sounding buds/phones to go with my ipod, I have finally found a pair that truly ...
Summary: After spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on earbuds, earphones in the quest for nice-sounding buds/phones to go with my ipod, I have finally found a pair that truly live up to my expectations.
I have tried Shure's E2c's, Sony MDR earbuds, panasonic small earhphones- and all had disappointing sound quality or were difficult to fit in ears.
I hesitated before buying full sized cans as I knew I would be using them mostly on the go and headphones arent known for their small size and portability. But finally, after reading reviews on cnet and doing some research, I decided if I wanted comfort and great sound, full-sized phones were the way to go.
The HD555's are billed by Senheisser to be part of their higher end headphones, but you cant beat the price- generally the list price is around $145 but I was able to get my pair at plasmabay.com for $105 which is quite reasonable for good, quality headphones. They are sleek and stylish and for full-sized headphones, dont feel bulky. They are so light and comfortable that it is easy to forget you have them on.
The chord that comes with the phones is a bit long at 10 feet but that is probably because I listen to them with my ipod and not with a home theatre system, which would likely require a longer chord. Because of their open design, they do leak sound but you can always get the closed version in the HD500 series. The open design creates more realistic sound but if you are in a very loud environment, that sound can get in.
These are small nitpicks and nothing that would prevent me from recommending the HD555's without question!8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Excellent Value-Crystal Clear Sound
Pros: In the last couple of months, I have tried Sennheiser HD280 Pro's and AKG 240S headphones. These HD555's are far superior to both of those. The 555 frequency response is almost perfect, but more importantly, their lack of distortion and great dynamics m
Cons: None
7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Almost audiophile
by Ashkenazi on June 24, 2007
Pros: Very comfortable, stylish, open design for better sound stage, tight bass, general good sound quality
Cons: Open design means no noise isolation, sound is too soft
Summary: Don't get me wrong, I love how comfortable and stylish these headphones are. I also like the balanced sound that these churn out. The tight bass and smooth highs ...
Summary: Don't get me wrong, I love how comfortable and stylish these headphones are. I also like the balanced sound that these churn out. The tight bass and smooth highs are especially impressive. The main problem is that they sound too soft or restrained. It is hard to describe, but it feels as if the sound is coming from too far away as if it has lost detail and punch. Some may not mind this, but some may be bothered by it.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Forget those Overpriced 1970's-looking cans!
Pros: Superb sound, even from a small source like an iPod. Clear crisp highs, tight but not overbearing bass. Fairly comfortable. Replaceable parts.
Cons: Not too portable, but if you're looking at circumarual open cans, that's not what you're looking for anyway.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Sennheiser just earned a fan / what good are cans you can't even wear?
by softwight on December 30, 2006
Pros: Comfort. Sound. Price.
Cons: extremely minor and might not affect everyone = the mini plug that comes with the phones extends out long from the cord because of the full size plug under it
Summary: i spent every day of one week reading reviews about grados and sennheisers before making my choice. The thing that finally sold me was how the sennheisers were rated for ...
Summary: i spent every day of one week reading reviews about grados and sennheisers before making my choice. The thing that finally sold me was how the sennheisers were rated for comfort. These cans are designed to be enjoyed at home without background noise to worry about. When i'm at home i generally am listening to music for long periods of time or watching dvds.
I've only had these for 3 days and have probably put about 14 hours or music through them so they are just getting broken in. It's true what one person here said, the sound expands and gets EVEN BETTER after the burn-in.
Cnet was wrong with their rating, i've listened to everything from hardcore industrial music to classical on these phones and have only been impressed.
Comfort: like a cloud on your head. Grados might sound better, but what does that matter if you have a headache from wearing them? I wear metal frame glasses and the sennheisers don't affect them one bit; nor do the glasses affect the cans.
I let my girlfriend listen to some music on these for 20 minutes; she has never really been into headphones before but when she took them off she immediately asked me if amazon still had any so she could buy her own.
i only paid 90 dollars for mine brand new and they are worth every penny.
BUY THEM. ENJOY!2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Who could ask for more for the money?
by skpnsf on September 5, 2006
Pros: Clear sound, very comfortable
Cons: None so far
Summary: It's been 20 years since I've had a set of full headphones. I always seem to go for the portability of earbuds and the type. I decided to ...
Summary: It's been 20 years since I've had a set of full headphones. I always seem to go for the portability of earbuds and the type. I decided to get a pair or full headphones for my home office. After reading all the great reviews here and getting a great price at Shipdog, I can say everything the possitive reviews stated on this site are true. Who can say more? I can't believe all the sounds I have been missing all these years with earbud type headphones. The only negative I can say is I feel warm around the ear after wearing them a while, then again maybe its all excitement from really enjoying music again. Another kudos to Germany for design.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Absolutely Superb!
by Wesvil on April 5, 2005
Pros: Fantastic sound, great with the iPod, incredible value. Comfy too.
Cons: None that I can think of.
Summary: If this is a reflection of Sennheiser quality, then I'm sold on this brand. The sound of these cans is fantastic -- especially for the price. I hooked them ...
Summary: If this is a reflection of Sennheiser quality, then I'm sold on this brand. The sound of these cans is fantastic -- especially for the price. I hooked them up to the iPod not expecting much, but WOW, the sound was rich, powerful, clear. I know I sound like some corny ad, but THANK YOU, SENNHEISER!
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
excellent sound well balanced well worth investing in
by gary647 on July 14, 2009
Pros: sets the stage up close your eyes and listen had sennheiser 480 classic 11 previously these blow them out of the water
Cons: they are very comfatable when worn for hours but in really warm weather they do get a bit ! ! ! but that would happen with any enclosed earphones
Summary: will not be investing in any more headphones for at least the next ten years or longer they are that good
Summary: will not be investing in any more headphones for at least the next ten years or longer they are that good
-
I LOVE MY Sennheisers!!
by Ahhbeemo on February 1, 2008
Pros: Extremely comfortable for long periods of time. Sound Quality is Great.
Cons: Cord is kinda long and can get annying at times.
Summary: This is definitely the greatest investment I have made in my life. First the sound quality is great! The open back feature is working almost too well. there were many ...
Summary: This is definitely the greatest investment I have made in my life. First the sound quality is great! The open back feature is working almost too well. there were many times where i thought there was someone talking behind me when it was really the headphones. they don't keep outside noise out very well and they are not suppose too. So if your looking to have that contained muzzled effect these are not for you. I have had my HD555 for about a year now and they are still in very good condition (I use them pretty much everyday for many many hours). They are study and can take a hit if your the clumsy type. It is surprisingly very flexible which means there is a very small possibility of it snapping on you. I'm they type that will sit in front of my laptop for hours and hours at a time (4-5hours sometimes) with my HD555 on and they will not cause any irritation at all. They feel as comfortable from start to finish. The only problem i have had with them so far is the cord. It has a 9 ft cord and i use a laptop which means i just have a bunch of slack cord lying around. I trip over them sometimes but like i said, they can take a hit. Basically these are amazing headphones and i defiantly recommended them.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sennheiser Electronics Corp.
- Part number: HD555
- Description: The HD 555 is an open, dynamic stereo headphone offering excellent spatial sound for music and audiovisual entertainment. It features Sennheiser's innovative E.A.R technology creating a new kind of acoustic experience. If you are seeking an audiophile headphone for music and home entertainment without having to pay the earth this is the perfect model for you. Come and listen for yourself.
General
- Product Type Headphones
- Weight 9.2 oz
Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor Ear-cup
- Headphones Technology Dynamic
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Response Bandwidth 15 - 28000 Hz
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) 0.2 %
- Sensitivity 103 dB
- Impedance 120 Ohm
Remote Control
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Phone stereo 6.25 mm )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x Headphones cable - 10 ft
- Included Accessories 6.3 mm (1/4") stereo adapter
Power
- Power Device None
- Battery None
Manufacturer info
- Sennheiser Electronics Corp.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sennheiser Electronics Corp. products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.sennheiserusa.com/
- Address:
1 Enterprise Dr.
Old Lyme, CT 06371 - Phone: (860) 434-9190
- Fax: (860) 434-1759
