The Sennheiser PCX 550-II Wireless were released in 2019 for £299/$349/€349/CAD$460/AUD$549. At the time of review they were £249, and have since fallen to £199.

Clean and clear sound, Large, comfortable pads, Effective noise cancellation

Bose and Sony ANC is better, Power slider clicks during runs, Slight BT lag, Mild treble sibilance, and less rich mids than some

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are a high-value pair of active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones. Listeners in need of a lightweight, effective ANC solution should get these. The companion application could use some work, but it’s functional and allows access to firmware updates.

Sound quality, Excellent low-frequency noise cancelling, Bluetooth multipoint support, Portable, comfortable design, Bluetooth 5.0, SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, AAC, Fast charging, Microphone quality

Easy to accidentally power the headset on/off, microUSB charging

Sennheiser is without a doubt one of the most renowned names in the headphone business. The manufacturer, based near Hanover, Germany, caters to the professional, audiophile and consumer sectors of the market.

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II looks and feels a lot like its predecessor. But does it sound better? Let's find out....

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are fantastic headphones with ANC. They miss out on a full-throated recommendation only because of the strength of rival units from Sony, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins. Boasting a clean, grown-up sound with relatively accurate bass plus effective noise cancellation, these headphones are definitely worth a look

Clean and clear sound; Large, comfortable pads; Effective noise cancellation;

Bose and Sony ANC is better; Power slider clicks during runs; Slight BT lag; Mild treble sibilance, and less rich mids than some;

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are decent over-ear headphones for mixed usage. They're quite comfortable and their ANC blocks a good amount of ambient noise, making them great for commuting or using in the office.

Great ANC performance., Very stable and comfortable fit., Very accurate bass and mid-range performance., Premium look and feel.

Minor upgrade over the first generation., Uneven treble performance hurts overall audio reproduction., App lacks advertised EQ settings.

An already well-functioning model has been updated with variable noise reduction and voice control. The user interface, on the other hand, has become somewhat messy.

The sound is among the best on the market, and the noise reduction works smoothly. Comfortable fit, without taking up too much space in the luggage.

The new features seem a little ill-considered. The combination of microscopic buttons and a jumble of hand signals makes steering more difficult than necessary.

If you want a pair of no-frills, great-sounding headphones that you can take with you anywhere and wear all day, look no further. These headphones will do that for you. They're not the most exciting to look at, but they are solid performers.

Great sound; Lightweight and comfortable design; Portable and compact; Noise-cancelling is effective;

Would like more adjustable EQ; Not the most premium design; Touch-sensitive panel can be over-sensitive;

Build and materials quality, battery life and sound quality are all impressive. Only latent treble troubles prevent a whole-hearted recommendation.

Judicious sound, Good battery life, Subtly premium looks

Struggles on trebly recordings, Not showy, Competition from other Sennheiser cans

Let me get this out of the way; I'm not an audiophile. Granted, I really love good audio. I do have a pretty good ear and I really enjoy music. However, I don't believe that there are a lot of objective ways to test headphones.

Good quality construction, Good, balanced audio, Quality fit and finish, Lightweight and built for the road warrior, Super comfortable, Works well with Android devices, Multi-modes of noise cancellation (Adaptive, Wind, Max), Equalizer through app saves to headphones (not just through software),...

Super light-weight construction leaves me worried about longevity and durability