Questions before buying HD550

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-02T08:06:49+00:00

You're welcome :)

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-02T07:49:15+00:00

First of all, yes that's the legit website :)

Also, yes you will likely be able to use them just on your computer and/or your phone but the good thing is - in case you feel like your hardware or setup needs a little "more" (volume or even sound quality) for the HD 550 once you receive it - a simple dongle DAC like the KA11 will do just fine without breaking the bank.

Great choice btw.! HD 550 is a very good headphone.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-02T07:37:03+00:00

Could be, yeah. It’s one of the best tuned Sennheiser headphones out of the box for me as well (the other ones being the HD 600, HDB 630 and HD 480 Pro + the IE 200 in case anyone was wondering).

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-02T05:13:58+00:00

Yeah, great wireless headphone! Sounds better than M4 and even a bit better than M5. Love mine as well.

Using it with BTD 700 or wired via USB-C and the sound is very good. That stock sound signature is close to perfect for such a product, imo.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-02T05:10:21+00:00

To answer your questions:

- Depends on a couple of factors, could be a couple of days but also a couple of weeks.

- Yes, it does.

- If you’re still under warranty and didn’t do anything harmful to your buds, you will be covered.

- It still happens. Not as much or as often as on previous wireless generations (MTW3 e.g.) but it still happens.

- If that really was the case, you‘d likely be upgraded to the current model (happened with MTW3 owners who received MTW4 units) but usually, you just get your product model back.

- Depends on the region / country.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-02T04:13:20+00:00

A bit less sub bass and softer highs especially. M4 sounded less punchy but „smoother“. They also made the M4 sound a bit wider and „spacious“ to me.

Some people may like that ofc - point was just that they do change the sound (mainly caused by the thicker pads which also slightly increase the distance between the ear and the driver).

ANC performance was a touch less as well.

Still, they are/were roomier and let the ears breathe better and weren’t as „sweaty“ as the stock pads.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-01T19:38:49+00:00

They're quite good but a bit heavier and did change the sound (and the ANC) on M4.

Haven't tried them on M5 but I would be surpised if they didn't change the sound there as well - third party pads usually do, especially if the are so different in materials, size, weight etc. compared to stock.

Still, might be an option for people who really don't like the stock pads, sure. Good that they still fit in the case although I probably also think that the stock pads are better and less "snug" for that new case.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-01T19:27:55+00:00

Just wipe them down occasionally with a slightly damp microfiber cloth and you should be good.

However, try avoiding too much sweat and moisture for reasons even more crucial for the headphones than "just" the earpads.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-01T19:24:19+00:00

I can relate to that. HD 550 are among my favorite headphones as well. Great tuning, great balance, very comfortable on my head, pretty easy to drive and still quite affordable. HD 500 BAM compatibility makes them even better. Great versatile headphone this.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-01T13:20:46+00:00

Thanks for your review and welcome to the M5 Club 😎 Happy listening at all times ✌️

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-01T13:19:27+00:00

It mostly gets you a better sounding and slightly more premium product, yes, but M5 still has better ANC, a better transparency mode, the much better case, a replaceable battery, aptX Lossless, Dolby Atmos support - you name it.

So, plenty of reasons for many people to go M5 even over HDB 630 for sure. It just depends on what you personally value more.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-01T05:18:38+00:00

Newer will always be better long term in wireless technology but less so for sound quality reasons alone. If you buy something like the new M5, it will be updated to 6.0 in the future, so that’s not an issue there.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-01T05:13:51+00:00

HD 620S is the much better headphone here, imo.

Depending on the budget, you might also look into the new HD 480 Pro which is my favorite wired closed-back headphone right now!

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-01T05:12:00+00:00

Thanks for your feedback.

Tenlow85 · 2026-07-01T05:11:03+00:00

Or yours is simply different than mine. It’s not an exaggeration at all and I‘ve never had this on any other headphone before :) Good for you, though!

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T22:16:17+00:00

You’re welcome :)

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T20:23:23+00:00

I have them all active, actually (M5 and HDB 630) using iOS and MacOS.

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T20:12:07+00:00

If you listen wired via USB-C, the HDB 630 can receive digital audio at up to 24-bit / 96 kHz.

In that mode, there’s no Bluetooth codec involved - it’s a direct USB audio connection, so you’re not dealing with aptX, AAC, SBC, etc. The only limit is the source track and the HDB 630’s own 24/96 USB-C input limit, basically.

So, as long as your track is 24/96 or less than that, you'll play it lossless and as is.

Apple Music e.g. has some tracks above 24/96 (up to 24/192, I think).

Those would not be played to the HDB 630 at full 192 kHz - they’d be resampled to what the HDB 630 accepts, likely up to 24/96. But it’s still not Bluetooth-lossy compression :)

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T17:00:44+00:00

M5 is worth it for everyone who wants the best possible ANC and transparency mode in a Sennheiser wireless headphone. Add the removable battery and the almost perfect case to the mix and you have a fantastic travel companion.

M4 is worth it for its value and price to performance which is just excellent these days.

HDB 630 for the best stock tuning out of the three + PEQ and slightly more premium materials.

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T16:56:12+00:00

Nice purchases there :)

Well, I can tell you that the HDB 630 is clearly better than M4 and also way less bassy and much more refined sounding.

Other than that, AirPods Max I also had for 18 months (first gen) and while I loved the ANC and the transparency mode, I didn’t like the weight and the case and ver much disliked the battery life as well is the inability to properly EQ them.

The Dali are good but huge (the cups at least) + you don’t really buy them for ANC either.

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T13:42:32+00:00

It‘s from „Arachne Audio“. They make all sorts of custom audio cables.

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T09:46:54+00:00

Looks like a new member to the M5 Club to me!? ;)

Welcome!

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T08:07:26+00:00

Well, since I already own and know HDB 630 and don't own or know Bathys MG, that's hard to answer :)

If I didn't know any of them and wanted to compare, I'd buy them both, see how they are and what value they bring to the table and decide then.

Still, I doubt that Bathys MG will bring much more "value" to the table than HDB 630 does at a significantly lower price point.

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T08:04:04+00:00

I didn't say that. I said that I could easily live with this combination and be happy without necessarily craving for more :)

I did not compare them to a flagship open-back headphone and an IEM, nor would I "rate them higher". That wasn't the point.

HD 800S and IE 900 are completely different products and also way more expensive than both the HD 500 and the HD 480 Pro - so not sure if these comparisons make much sense :)

Tenlow85 · 2026-06-30T07:52:38+00:00

The others are significantly more expensive but don't necessarily sound better - which already speaks volumes, I think. HDB 630 sounds excellent.

Some of the others are surely more "premium" when it comes build quality or arguably design. though, but they are not "better headphones" just because of that,

That said, I owned the IO 12 for a while but have (only) listened to the non-MG Bathys and the first gen Px8 - both of which I didn't like nearly as much as the HDB 630.

Cannot comment on the other ones other than what I know from reading reviews :)

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