Sennheiser PXC 550-II: Impressive battery and good ANC

The over-the-ear headphones are lightweight and offer reasonably well noise cancellation and audio output.

Agencies
At 227 grams, the headphones pack in a mixture of plastic and synthetic.
Highlight: Battery life
Get it for: Rs 29,990

One can safely say that not a day goes by when a brand does not launch new headphones of some kind or the other. The latest is Sennheiser with its PXC- 550-II, which is a bit surprising since recently, the German audio company launched similar headphones as part of its Momentum series. But since ‘tis the season of headphones, so why not!


The PXC-550-II is your regular over-the-ear headphones but are strikingly lightweight, which make them comfortable for long use.

At 227 grams, the headphones pack in a mixture of plastic and synthetic. Sennheiser has added all the touch controls on the right earcup. With a few swipes and touches, one can play and pause music, skip tracks and answer calls, among other things. There is a button that pairs the headphones with other devices and can also be used to activate smart assistants.

Sennheiser has added support for aptX Bluetooth 5.0 and AAC functionality as well. But why put a micro-USB port for charging since it creates the hassle of carrying a cable?

ADVERTISEMENT
The battery life -- without active noise cancellation (ANC) -- is good for at least 30 hours.

The headphones’ ANC performance and call quality are great too.

But the problem with Sennheiser, or for that matter with many other brands, is that it requires an app to get the best out of the headphones. Now, one may wonder when you have dozens of apps on your phone, what difference does another one make? Well, it does if you are one of those plug-and-play type of users who simply want to put on the headphones and expect solid output.

The Sennheiser headphones’ performance can be divided into two parts: before Sennheiserapp and after app. The before-app version is a letdown — the decibel levels are low and the bass levels too are not that impressive. We tried it with various music streaming apps but just couldn’t get these headphones to deliver really great audio output. We tried a lot of genres and were left with the same feeling: something was amiss. That something was the app. After we installed the Sennheiser Smart Control app, the headphones became a different animal and left us happy with their performance. Enya’s Orinoco Flow, which has an ideal mix of highs, mids and lows sounded great. We gave Guns ‘n’ Roses’ Welcome to the Jungle a listen and Axl Rose’s distinct vocals come across really well.

ADVERTISEMENT
At Rs 29,990, the PXC-550-II ticks the right boxes: comfortable fit, good noise cancellation and audio output (with the app). But there are far too many headphone choices for buyers out there.

The writer is with gadgetsnow.com
'Becoming', 'Educated' & More: 10 Audiobooks That Will Expand Your Horizon
1/10

Check out the latest non-fiction titles that are popular among critics and audiobook enthusiasts.

(Image: Getty)

Check out the latest non-fiction titles that are popular among critics and audiobook enthusiasts.(Image: Getty)

(By Dale Maharidge, narrated by the author)
Dale Maharidge, now a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, recounts his 18-year quest to identify the man in a photo with his father and hopes to discover a side of his late father he never knew. The result was something Dale never expected: Not only would he learn the man’s name, but he would also help locate his remains and ultimately bring him home 74 years after he was killed in a battlefield.

(By Dale Maharidge, narrated by the author)Dale Maharidge, now a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, recounts his 18-year quest to identify the man in a photo with his father and hopes to discover a side ..
Read More

(By Tan France, Nikki Levy, Janine Brito, DJ ‘Shangela’ Pierce, Emma Willmann, Gigi Gorgeous, Percy Rustomji and Alexandra Billings, narrated by Tan France, Nikki Levy and a full cast.)
It’s a collection of uplifting and hilarious stories from actors, comedians and personalities about their true tales of exploration and celebrating their identities. While some stories are pure fun, others are deeply personal, with touching stories about big life decisions.

(By Tan France, Nikki Levy, Janine Brito, DJ ‘Shangela’ Pierce, Emma Willmann, Gigi Gorgeous, Percy Rustomji and Alexandra Billings, narrated by Tan France, Nikki Levy and a full cast.)It’s a collect..
Read More

(By Jason Fagone, narrated by Cassandra Campbell.)
It’s an incredible true story of the greatest codebreaking duo that ever lived. They were an American woman and her husband who invented the modern science of cryptology together. They used it to confront the evils of their time, solving puzzles that unmasked Nazi spies and helped win World War II.

(By Jason Fagone, narrated by Cassandra Campbell.)It’s an incredible true story of the greatest codebreaking duo that ever lived. They were an American woman and her husband who invented the modern s..
Read More

(By Michelle Obama, narrated by the author.)
In her memoir, the former first lady Michelle Obama chronicles the experiences that have shaped her — from her childhood to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work to her time spent at the world’s most famous address.

(By Michelle Obama, narrated by the author.)In her memoir, the former first lady Michelle Obama chronicles the experiences that have shaped her — from her childhood to her years as an executive balan..
Read More

(By Willie Nelson, David Ritz -contributor, narrated by Christopher Ryan Grant.)
This is a complete story of singer and musician Willie Nelson’s life, told in his distinct voice that leaves no moment or experience unturned, from Texas and Nashville to Hawaii and his legendary bus.

(By Willie Nelson, David Ritz -contributor, narrated by Christopher Ryan Grant.)This is a complete story of singer and musician Willie Nelson’s life, told in his distinct voice that leaves no moment ..
Read More

(By Tara Westover, narrated by Julia Whelan.)
Tara Westover and her family grew up preparing for the End of Days. To the government, she didn’t exist. Her parents never registered her for a birth certificate. She never set foot in a classroom and had no medical records because her father didn’t believe in hospitals. As Tara grew older, she discovered the transformative power of education and the price she had to pay for it.

(By Tara Westover, narrated by Julia Whelan.)Tara Westover and her family grew up preparing for the End of Days. To the government, she didn’t exist. Her parents never registered her for a birth cert..
Read More

By Rachel Hollis, narrated by Rachel Hollis (HarperCollins Leadership)
In Girl, Stop Apologizing, The New York Times bestselling author and founder of a multimillion-dollar media company, Rachel Hollis sounds a wake-up call for women and inspires them to achieve their full potential.

By Rachel Hollis, narrated by Rachel Hollis (HarperCollins Leadership)In Girl, Stop Apologizing, The New York Times bestselling author and founder of a multimillion-dollar media company, Rachel Holli..
Read More

(By Gary John Bishop, narrated by the author.)
If you often feel messed up, Gary John Bishop has the answer. He gives you the tools and advice you need to demolish the slag weighing you down and become the highly-spirited version of yourself.

(By Gary John Bishop, narrated by the author.)If you often feel messed up, Gary John Bishop has the answer. He gives you the tools and advice you need to demolish the slag weighing you down and becom..
Read More

(By Robert S Mueller III, Special Counsel’s Office US Department of Justice, narrated by Marc Vietor, Mark Boyett and Victor Bevine.)
It is an audio version of one of the most talked about government documents in US history — the findings of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team tasked with investigating Russian interference in the 2016 elections.

(By Robert S Mueller III, Special Counsel’s Office US Department of Justice, narrated by Marc Vietor, Mark Boyett and Victor Bevine.)It is an audio version of one of the most talked about government ..
Read More

ADVERTISEMENT
Download
The Economic Times Business News App
for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
READ MORE
ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE:

LOGIN & CLAIM

50 TIMESPOINTS

More from our Partners

Loading next story
Business News › Magazines › Panache › Sennheiser PXC 550-II: Impressive battery and good ANC
Text Size:AAA
Success
This article has been saved

*

+