PXC 550-II

"The sound quality of these are amazing! Sennheiser really are one of the best in that department."

The sound quality is frequently described as good to amazing, with clarity and a balanced profile, though some note that mids can vanish with heavy bass.

"They are really confortable, you can use them for hours without feeling them heavy or getting tired, the cushions are soft and the clamping force is really subtle."

The headphones are consistently praised for being very comfortable, lightweight, and suitable for extended wear without significant discomfort.

"The battery life has held up very well and consistently lasts me the whole day."

Battery life is reported to hold up well, consistently lasting a full day with regular use, though there are minor concerns about battery drain when used in wired mode without the ability to turn them off.

"The ear pads are soft but they seem kinda fragile."

While some find them lightweight and resistant, others perceive the ear pads as fragile and the overall build quality as a potential concern.

"Call qualitiy is amazing and the microphone is clear and people can hear you perfectly."

Call quality is described as amazing, with users reporting that the microphone is clear and people can hear them perfectly.

"all the nice touch settings dont work using cable! Not even the standard Play/Pause, Skip/Rewind!"

Bluetooth connectivity is stable and supports multipairing, with convenient touch controls, but these controls become unusable when connected via cable, which is a significant drawback for some.

"The Sennheiser PXC 550-II sounds like the midpoint between the Sony WH-1000XM3 and the Bose 700."

The sound quality is described as balanced and neutral, with good detail, though some find the treble can become harsh on certain recordings and it lacks the punch of competitors.

"The earcups themselves are kind of an oblong shape, and might not be a great fit for everybody."

Comfort is a mixed bag, with some finding them comfortable for long periods, while others note they can feel tight and exert pressure, and the earcups are not as plush as some rivals.

"Battery life is an impressive 30 hours and charges via micro USB."

Battery life is consistently praised as a strong point, with users reporting up to 30 hours of playback, which is competitive and sufficient for extended use.

"The earpads themselves are kind of an oblong shape, and might not be a great fit for everybody."

The build quality is generally considered good and durable, with a focus on a lightweight, portable design, though some note the plastic materials might feel less premium than metal alternatives.

"The MEMS mic array offers solid intelligibility. Using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 8, we could understand every word we recorded."

Call quality is generally considered good, with a decent microphone array that provides clarity and intelligibility, making voice assistant use less painful than with some other models.

"The PXC 550-II headphones use the now-standard touch controls on the outside of the earpad."

The headphones offer useful features like Bluetooth 5.0, aptX support, and intuitive touch controls, but the micro-USB charging and app's location permission requirement are noted drawbacks.

"Hands down best neutral/natural sound."

Users generally appreciate the natural, flat, and neutral sound profile, making them suitable for genres like classical and jazz, though some noted a slight harshness in 'S' sounds and that they are not ideal for heavy bass music.

"I have had mine since December and one thing I would like to say is these are extremely comfortable I took these on a road trip from Texas to California never took them off for the entire trip."

Multiple reviewers highlighted the exceptional comfort of the PXC 550-II, with some wearing them for entire road trips without removal and others noting ample space for ear piercings.

"Battery: AMAZING"

Battery life is generally praised as 'AMAZING' and sufficient for long travel durations, with one user reporting over 50% battery remaining after a 13-hour flight plus waiting time.

"It is kind of funny that he calls the build quality on this cheap when the wh 1000 xm3s are built 1000 times cheaper"

While some users defended the plastic build as necessary for lightness and found it better than competitors like the XM3s, others noted issues like squeaking hinges after several months of use.

"It is awesome for listening to songs and making calls."

The built-in microphone for voice calls is frequently described as 'AMAZING' and superior to many other headphones, even in loud environments.

"Why the hell do they have Micro Usb? Seriously like wtf?"

The inclusion of Micro-USB is a major point of contention, widely criticized as outdated. While multi-pairing is a loved feature, the app's limited EQ customization and the default aux cable lacking a mic are noted drawbacks.