Are audiophiles embarrassed to admit that they love gaming? When you consider how many members of the audiophile community grew up in the 1970s and 1980s and were the first generation to truly experience gaming at home — it’s almost impossible to believe that many of you don’t secretly lock the door to your home office and waste a few hours online playing and that experience certainly includes a gaming headset like the Audeze Maxwell or Sennheiser HD 550.
Don’t be ashamed. It’s harmless fun. Much healthier than screaming online at people on X or watching dance videos on TikTok.
The Sennheiser HD 550 is new a headphone that shares a lot with HD 505 headphones that were released this past February 2025. It is designed to balance performance with effortlessly smooth tuning, providing realistic stereo imaging, and also incorporates an ultra-light build.
From Klaus Hanselmann, Sennheiser Audiophile Product Manager: “Audiophiles looking for featherlight headphones with honest voicing and deep bass extension are in for a treat,…While the HD 550’s airy detail is obvious, customers will fall in love with its delightfully polite touch – perfect for listening for hours on end.“
What’s On The Inside
The HD 550 incorporates a custom 38mm transducer, made at Sennheiser’s audiophile production facility in Tullamore, Ireland. Its frequency response yields exceptional clarity from 6 Hz to 39.5 kHz, all while producing less than 0.2% total harmonic distortion.
With 150 ohms impedance, the HD 550 matches well with a wide variety of hi-fi gear, scaling with ease when paired with premium audio gear such as Sennheiser’s own HDV 820 Heaphone Amplifier.
The HD 550’s open-back design has a new acoustic mesh that protects the transducers while removing any barriers between the listener and their music. The angled driver arrangement creates an expansive soundstage that drops the listener into the epicenter of the recording.
For gamers, HD 550 supports lag-free spatial awareness and immersion for both competitive and casual sessions. The HD 550 is designed to deliver punchy bass, crystal-clear transients, and neutral mids without straying from the truthful voicing that audiophiles prefer.
Comfort and Flexibility
The HD 550’s chassis is designed for all-day comfort. The HD 550 has a more relaxed clamping force compared to its other 500-series companions. Weighing less than the most popular gaming controllers at 237 grams (8.4 oz), the HD 550 practically disappears on the head. A soft-touch textured headband and ventilated metal mesh earcup provide listener comfort without sacrificing durability.
Just like Senneheiser’s other 500 series entries, the HD 550 features a modular design for convenient swapping of cables and earpads. A 1.8m cable terminating with a stereo 3.5 mm jack plug with a 6.35 mm adapter, is included. Additional cables for the HD 550 are also available. The options provide users with easy ways to adapt to balanced sources and mic-enabled jacks.
Comparison
| Model | HD 550 | HD 505 |
| Price | $299 | $279 |
| Headphone Type | Over-Ear, Open-Back | Over-Ear, Open-Back |
| Wearing Style | Wired Headband | Wired Headband |
| Ear Coupling | Over-ear (circumaural) | Over-ear (circumaural) |
| Frequency response | 6 Hz to 39.5 kHz | 12 Hz – 38.5 kHz |
| Sound Pressure Level (SPL) | 107.9dB (1kHz / 1Vrms) | 107.9dB (1kHz / 1Vrms) |
| Impedance | 150 Ω | 120 Ω |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | <0.2 % (1kHz / 90dB SPL) | <0.2 % (1kHz / 90dB SPL) |
| Magnetic Field Strength | Not Indicated | 21.2m. |
| Weight (w/o cable) | 8.36oz / 237g | 8.36oz / 237g |
| Audio Cable | 1.80 m cable with 3.5 mm plug, detachable, left side | 1.80 m cable with 3.5 mm plug, detachable, left side |
| Audio Adapter | 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm jack adapter, screw-on type | 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm jack adapter, screw-on type |
The Bottom Line
Sennheiser continues the trend of its affordable 500 series headphones with the HD 550. These are very lightweight which should make them a good option for those who spend a lot of time gaming.
According to the Sennheiser-supplied frequency response graph shown previously in this article, it delivers a near-flat sound across a wide frequency range, with solid bass, but does have an elevated response at higher frequencies before dropping off at the extreme high-end.
With its less than $300 price, the HD 550 might be just the ticket for an affordable headphone solution for both music listeners and gamers, but it is very similar to the HD 505.
Price & Availability
The all-new Sennheiser HD 550 is available for pre-order for $299.95 at Headphones.com and Sennheiser. Shipping begins the first week of April.
If you prefer, the previously released HD 505 they are available for $279 at Amazon.
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