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Sennheiser HD 555 Comparison |
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 • Very similar in terms
of raw performance.
• Very similar in terms of comfort.
• HD 650s are more durable.
• Both headphones available
for significantly less than their list prices.
• HD 555s are less expensive
than the HD 650s.
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Usability |
Page 7 of 12 |
Audio-Technica ATH-ESW9 Comparison |
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Design
The HD 650s have better aesthetics and durability. The HD 555s are
very plasticky and don't inspire a lot of confidence in their
ruggedness. The HD 650s have a much more solid construction.
Sound Quality
HEY, READ THIS: We have to start this section with a caveat. See,
the HD 555 was one of the first headphones we ever tested (oh,
nostalgia), so the graph extends all the way down to 20Hz. We stopped
showing that part of the graph because our testing rig isn't 100%
accurate for that range. Just disregard the bit below 100Hz and you'll
be fine.
The HD 650s gain a tiny advantage on frequency
response. The HD 555 had a slightly more erratic high end. The
differences between the two are minor.
The HD 555s' graph is a bit misleading because,
like the graph above, it includes data from the 20-100Hz range.
Disregarding that chunk, you can see that the HD 555s still have
slightly more low-end distortion than the HD 650s, but slightly less
distortion overall. Basically, neither set of headphones has much
distortion.
The HD 650 gets a solid advantage here with an
even tracking. The HD 555 has some issues with the high end.
Isolation
Neither set of headphones is a good choice if you're looking for
isolation.
Comfort
Both sets of headphones have very similar fit and padding type.
They're about the same in terms of comfort.
| Wear |
HD 650 |
Sennheiser HD 555 |
Verdict
While the HD 650s are a better set of headphones, they aren't better
by all that much. Most of their advantages come in the form of
subjective qualities, like clarity and a larger, more open soundstage.
In terms of our testing, however, they're really similar. We recommend
trying them on back-to-back and seeing if the HD 650s manage to strike
you as worth the extra few hundred dollars.
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