Headphones used in this comparison: Sennheiser PXC 550, Sennheiser MM 550, Bose QC35, Bose QC20 (in-ear).
Sound Quality - I'm shocked that some think the QC35 is on par with the PXC 550. The PXC 550 is definitely a step up, though it's not so much better that I would advise not getting the QC 35 for this reason alone. The QC 20 is not going to be able to produce the same level of depth of sounds because of the in-ear format. I would rank SQ as 1) PXC 550, 2) MM 550, 3) QC35, 4) QC20.
Noise Cancelling - Again, shocked that some think the PXC 550 is on par with the Bose QC35. In this case, the QC 35 is a step up. In my view it's not so much better that I would not get the PXC 550 for this reason alone. However, for some, ANC is the overriding factor and in that case Bose wins. I actually like the QC 20 (and soon to be coming QC 30) over the QC 35 because the in-ear format blocks more noise passively. However, I find the in-ear format less comfortable for me. Loved the portability of the QC 20, but the lower 10 hour battery life is a drawback that bugged me as well. The PXC 550 is a huge leap forward for ANC compared to the MX 550, which had problems with loud noises and wind. With the QC 35, there is an audible white hiss noise that I think helps further mask outside noise - this hiss is less present in the PXC 550. Often complained about the QC 35 is that you can't turn ANC off when you're in Bluetooth mode. If I'm not on a plane/train/bus, I tend to not want ANC on as the effect when you're moving about is unnatural and almost disorienting for me. The passive noise cancelling on the PXC 550 is much better than the QC 35. To me, the headphones form a much better seal to the ear and use higher end materials, so with ANC off on both headphones, there is much less noise with the PXC 550 just by putting them on your head. The downside to this is that if you want to hear your surroundings with the PXC 550 on and ANC off, not that much noise gets through. Also, since the seal is better for me with the PXC 550, there are less sound intrusions when you move your head around. For example, if you open your mouth from a yawn, the QC 35 will lose its seal for me and let sound through. The PXC 550 will lose some of it seal as well, but not nearly as much. I would rank ANC as 1) QC 20, 2) QC 35, 3) PXC 550, 4) MM 550.
Comfort - Several have noted that the cups for the PXC 550 are smaller than the QC 35. I would agree with that and I felt that my ears almost had too much room to move around in the QC 35. With all of the over ear headphones, I felt that the ears would get hot over time and sometimes get sweaty. However, that is preferable to me over having in-ear headphones. Comfort here is very subjective, but for me at least, I would rank them as 1) PXC 550, 2) MM 550, 3) QC 35, 4) QC 20.
Build Quality/Style - The look and feel of every Bose product I've used with the exception of the Bose Mini Soundlink, is that they are cheap relative to the cost that they are charging. The QC 35 and QC 20 are no exception. The MM 550s were hideous headphones. The PXC 550s look incredibly classy and elegant, with top notch materials. I am not a fan of the alcantara used on the QC 35 as alcantara will eventually pill and look terrible over time in my experience. Also, the hinge quality seems to be somewhat fragile as there is just so much plastic on the QC 35. I think the QC 35s look great, but they certainly don't look like $350 headphones. 1) PXC 550, 2) QC 20, 3) QC 35, 4) MM 550 (just so ugly)
Carrying case - The semi-hard carrying case on the QC 35 is much better than the PXC 550 and seems like it will protect the headphones better. The square shape is also much more stylish than the semi-circle look on the PXC 550. The PXC 550 case lacks the structure and the material is not as thick or protective. The zippered side is also soft instead of hard. The one thing I do like about the PXC 550 case is that there is a fabric flap that goes between the cups so that they don't bang around and scratch each other. Both are relatively large so they will take up quite a bit of space in your bag. The QC 35s look to fold smaller, but the carrying case size negates that ultimately.
Usability - While both have apps, I don't find much value in either. It's nice to have the different effect modes with the PXC 550, but I probably won't use them most of the time. Both look to be able to connect to two devices simultaneously - something I read was proprietary to Bose, but clearly is not. The QC 35 will state the name of the devices it's connected to, but will butcher the name. The PXC 550 will just say Phone 1 and Phone 2. I like the PXC 550 ability to turn on/off by unfolding/folding the cups, and the touch interface works great. It is easier to use than to feel around for the buttons on the QC 35 which are in a less natural position. The talkthrough feature on the PXC 550 is missing as far as I'm aware from the QC 35. If you want to talk to someone in person, you pretty much have to take the headphones off. At an airport, this is crucial if you want to stay on top of any public address messages. 1) PXC 550, 2) QC 35, 3) MM 550, 4) QC 20
Call Quality - Both the QC 35 and PXC 550 had great call quality to me. I think the incoming voice quality sounded a little better to me on the PXC 550, but honestly both were great for voice calls. I didn't have any issues on range with either and I liked that the QC 35 would pick up outside sound so you can hear your own voice (which you would otherwise not with ANC always on).
Overall - I ultimately returned the QC 35 and am sticking with the PXC 550. I will sacrifice the lower quality ANC for better build and sound quality, but that is me. With any of these headphones, there will be some give and take so you will have to decide for yourself which features are more important.
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This Item  Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless – NoiseGard Adaptive Noise Cancelling, Bluetooth Headphone with Touch Sensitive Control and 30-Hour Battery Life | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | -33% $99.95 List: $149.95 | -26% $279.95 List: $379.95 | $129.99 | -18% $65.99 Typical: $79.99 | -29% $248.00 List: $348.00 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 5 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 5 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 5 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 5 | Get it as soon as Saturday, Apr 5 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | — | BrandsWalk | Amazon.com | SoundMagic Brand | EKSA Telecom | Amazon.com |
| connectivity tech | Bluetooth | Wireless | Wireless | Wireless | Wireless | Bluetooth 5.0, Bluetooth |
| headphones form factor | Around-ear headphone | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear | Over Ear |
| connector type | wireless | — | — | 3.5mm Jack | wireless | USB Type C |
| noise control | active noise cancellation | hybrid noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation | active noise cancellation |
| headphones jack | wireless | USB | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack | — | 3.5 mm Jack |
| cable feature | Without Cable, Detachable | Without Cable | Without Cable | Detachable | Without Cable | Detachable, Without Cable |
| control type | Touch Control | Media Control | Voice Control | Touch Control | Call Control | Voice Control |
| material | — | Plastic | — | Plastic, Metal, Leather | Fabric, Foam, and other materials | Plastic |
| model name | PXC 550 | ACAEBT Black | Momentum 4 | SoundMAGIC P60BT | H1 | WH1000XM4/B |
| frequency range | Speaker, 17 – 23,000 Hz (-10db) | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | — | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz | 2.4 GHz band |
From the manufacturer
Sennheiser is shaping the Future of Audio – a vision built on a 70-year history of innovation and a continued drive for excellence that is woven into our company’s DNA and culture. Around the world, our employees share this passion in the pursuit of the perfect sound, creating products that exceed expectations and set new benchmarks in audio.
Meet the PXC 550 Wireless
Sennheiser’s premium headset tailored specifically for the discerning business traveller. This stylish, compact and foldable headset delivers exceptional sound quality, class-leading adaptive noise cancellation and crystal clear speech clarity. Ergonomically engineered for wearing comfort and intuitive control, this headset upgrades the on-the-go audio experience. In an often frantic and stressful traveller’s world, the PXC 550 Wireless puts the listener in control of their sensory environment - it’s what we call 'upgrading to First Class'.
- Did you know? Sennheiser’s first active noise reduction headsets were developed in 1984 for Lufthansa Airlines and were the first active noise cancellation headsets to receive FAA-TSO certification (Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Order).
Features
NoiseGard Adaptive Noise Cancelling
NoiseGard quiets the environment to ensure uninterrupted listening by modifying to ambient noise. Whether on a plane, train or noisy street NoiseGard delivers the level of noise suppression needed providing a comfortable listening experience allowing you to relax or focus on work.
Exceptional Battery Performance
The PXC 550 Wireless delivers up to 30-hours of battery life on a single charge from any USB outlet. This means you can travel from London to Hong Kong and back in the comfort and tranquility of adaptive noise cancellation. If you forget to charge the battery, the headset works passively with the remote cable both as headphone and headset.
Superior Sound Quality
The PXC 550 Wireless delivers Sennheiser’s signature sound quality. Music and movies are presented with exceptional clarity, balance and dynamics. Selectable sound modes allow you to tailor the sound to the source material. When connected via USB to a computer the PXC 550 Wireless acts a USB sound card improving the fidelity of music and calls on your PC or Mac. The soundtrack to your journey just got richer and more immersive.
Lightweight, Comfortable Design
The PXC 550 Wireless was designed with your journey in mind. Ergonomically engineered padded headband and rotating earcups provide incredible comfort for long listening sessions. The fold-flat collapsible frame enables the PXC 550 Wireless to discreetly fold away into the stylish, compact travel case.
Wireless Freedom
Wireless technology allows total freedom of movement whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure. The PXC 550 Wireless features Bluetooth 4.2 to effortlessly connect with any NFC or Bluetooth enabled device. Listen to music, take calls or simply enjoy the benefits of NoiseGard adaptive noise cancellation without wires. Experience wireless freedom with unrivalled sound quality.
Intuitive Control
Touch control with voice prompts make it easy to use the PCX 550 Wireless. A touchpad on the right earcup provides volume, play, stop, pause and track skipping control. Touching the earcup allows you to take an incoming call. The headset turns on and seamlessly connects to Bluetooth as you unfold them and automatically pauses audio when removed. Controlling this headset is instinctive and easy.
Business Class Communication
The PXC 550 Wireless allows you to stay connected while on the move. A Sennheiser triple microphone array delivers crystal-clear speech clarity for business and personal calls even in the busiest of environments, so you can stay in touch wherever you are.
CapTune – Your Music, Your Way
CapTune is a powerful player app engineered to compliment the PXC 550 Wireless. It provides personalization of sound performance and the ability to stream music directly to your headset giving you control on every level. CapTune is available for free in both iOS and Android versions.
PXC 550
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| Customer Reviews |
8,451
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| Wearing Style | Around Ear |
| Transducer Principle | Dynamic, Closed-back |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, Cable with remote |
| Charging Time | 3 Hours |
| Frequency Response | 17 – 23,000 Hz |
| Impedance | Active: 490 Ohms / Passive: 46 Ohms |
| Sound Pressure Level (SPL) | 110 dB (1 kHz / 1 Vrms) |
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | <0.5% (1 kHz, 100 dB) |
| Weight (headphones) | 8 oz. (227g) |
| In the Box | PXC 550 Wireless Headphone / Cable with Remote / Carry Case / USB Cable / IFE Adapters / Manuals |
Better than Bose QC in my humble opinion. Best headphones I've ever owned!
I'll try to keep this short since there are many other reviews that go into great detail. Everyone wants something different out of a pair of headphones, but EVERYONE wants them to sound good and be comfortable. They definitely check both of those boxes for me. I have used the Bose QC's for a long time and here's how they compare in my opinion:- Bose are slightly more comfortable in the headband, but the PXC-550's are so comfortable that it doesn't matter enough to buy them for that reason.- Bose ANC is a little more "complete" but truth be told I don't use it unless I'm traveling, and Sennheiser's is very good as well.- Bose case is better- Bose has a longer distance of connectivity than Sennheiser but I'm rarely if ever going to wander far enough away from my connected device for it to be an issue.- PXC-550 sound quality/diversity is definitely better than Bose in my opinion. I edit audio on the side so my ears are tuned to listen for the little things.- PXC-550 are way "smarter" than the Bose QC and have many more bells and whistles that I personally LOVE, like twist to turn on and off (replaces a bulky power switch) and swipe controls (my favorite thing which I'll get into more later)- PXC-550 has a switch that easily turns ANC on or off which is a must have for me. The BOSE QC headphones have it on all the time by default and if you want to turn it off you have to go through the app which is a pain. I personally don't like listening to music in a fish bowl all of the time, and frankly, it can be downright dangerous if you're out walking the dog or running in the neighborhood or driving a car. I think ANC is good for airplane travel or special situations where external noise is excessive, and that's it. If you like having easy control over ANC then definitely go Sennheiser over Bose.- PXC-550 feel like they're more well made with higher quality materials (speaking of which, the Bose ear cups are much more likely to make your ears sweaty than the Sennheisers so if you plan to wear while being active, keep that in mind.- PXC-550 has a longer battery life (especially when you consider that you can easily turn ANC off when you don't need or want it unlike Bose)So these are just a few of the differences between them and reasons that I chose to buy Sennheiser over Bose QC this time around. As I mentioned before, the addition of swipe controls on the earpiece of the PXC-550 is a real deal maker for me because I'm a Biochemistry research scientist who often spends hours working in a clean environment which means I'm gloved and I can't touch anything with my fingers. So the ability to swipe control (switch track, pause, play, adjust volume, take calls, fast forward or rewind etc) with the back of my gloved knuckle or even a pencil eraser in a pinch is completely life changing for me!! And the controls are VERY intuitive (my 6 year old could learn and memorize the swipes in about 30 seconds) and are sensitive but not so sensitive that I accidentally trigger it. Between that, the sound quality and the easy access to turn ANC off and on is why I went with Sennheiser and I'm SO glad I did! They sound better than any headphones I've ever tried and I've tried a LOT! I cannot recommend these enough. Also, I bought them refurbished and saved some money. I recommend that if they're available too! They came practically like new!Hopefully this is helpful for someone else! And yes I paid full price for these.
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IsraReviewed in France on May 8, 2017
La perfection du casque, la perfection du son.
Style: Old ModelVerified Purchase
Une petite merveille de technologie. Un son Bluetooth EXEMPLAIRE, un son filaire MAGISTRAL. Ample, précis, détaillé, chaud et spatialisé, on ressent le détachement de chaque instruments, chaque sonorités. BLUFFANT. Pour les amateurs, sachez que les basses sont généreuses. Elles le sont encore plus une fois l'ANC activée. J'écoute essentiellement du FLAC / MP3 320kbps ou VORBIS 320kbps pour la musique. Il sonne juste à tous le niveaux. Sur ce point, il est selon moi sensiblement meilleur que le QC35. Encore une fois c'est exemplaire. On redécouvre littéralement des morceaux.IsraLa perfection du casque, la perfection du son.
Reviewed in France on May 8, 2017
Sur les film, rien à dire, il fait mouche une fois de plus. Le mode "Cinema" donne plus d'amplitude et de spatialisation au son tout en donnant un petit coup de boost aux basses. Les différents mode de rendu sonor du casque en association avec l'application Cap Tune, permettent de créer un son sur mesure, personnalisé. C'est très bien pensé.
Sacher aussi que branché en USB a un ordinateur, le casque fait office de carte son externe. BRAVO!
La réduction de bruit est elle très bonne. Mais oui, on atteint pas le niveau d'un Bose QC35. Malgré tout, le résultat est Hyper convainquant. La majorité des bruits gênants est supprimé. Surtout les fréquences basses.
Une autre fonction permet de stopper la musique et d'amplifier les bruits environnants. C'est très troublant mais assez ingénieux! On est pas coupé du monde. Faites le test dans un super marché...
Fonctionnalité héritée de l'excellent PXC 450 ?
Esthétiquement, c'est la surprise. Personnellement, je le trouve beaux et design MAIS, j'aurais aimé peut être un peu plus de prise de risque sur ce point. Moins de sobriété peut être ? Ce n'est qu'une affaire de gout.
Le casque reste en tout cas léger et très confortable. Un plaisir de l'avoir sur la tête.
Pour ce qui est de l'autonomie, c'est simple, c'est surement le meilleur a ce jeu. Bon point donc.
Je suis passé du Sennheiser PXC 450 au Sennheiser MM 550-X Travel et je suis forcé de constater que le rendu sonor a encore monté d'un cran.
On a un casque, précis, solide, design, beau et très technique.
Seul défaut, il n'y a pas de bouton Marche / Arrêt. DOMMAGE.
C'est simple, on à la l'un des meilleurs si ce n'est LE MEILLEUR casque sans fil à fonction ANC. Ni plus, ni moins.
Merci Sennheiser.
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RodiReviewed in Turkey on November 30, 2020
Çok kaliteli, fiyatını hak eden bir ürün.
Style: Old ModelVerified Purchase - brunoReviewed in Australia on February 8, 2021
Really good headphones, but mine came with one problem
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- J. HolwellReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2022
Be careful buying these
Do not buy these headphones! The firmware update which fixes a huge number of fundamental issues with this model does not install from the sennheiser app, which is the only way to get the update. I've included a screenshot showing all of the fixes it brings to show how much doesn't work properly with that firmware. I have contacted Sennheiser support, but had no response.J. HolwellBe careful buying these
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2022
Having had the original version for years and loved them, I am gutted these are soo bad. I'm returning the item, but now have to pay for the return postage myself.
Do no buy unless they sort out the firmware issue, you have been warned.
Edit - Sennheiser have apparently fixed the bug in the app preventing the firmware update.
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