The list of excellent wireless headphones that also provide stellar noise cancellation is a short one, but things are turning around. Earlier this summer, Bose introduced its first wireless QuietComfort option, the QuietComfort 35 .

Powerful, adjustable audio performance with rich bass depth and bright highs; Excellent noise cancellation circuitry; Includes a detachable audio cable for passive listening; Exceptionally comfortable

Control pad is easy to misfire in certain modes; Possible to accidentally power the headphones up or down because of swiveling earcup controls; Digital signal processing is not for purists

The list of excellent wireless headphones that also provide stellar noise cancellation is a short one, but things are turning around. Earlier this summer, Bose introduced its first wireless QuietComfort option, the QuietComfort 35 ($299.00 at Amazon) . Now Sennheiser brings us the PXC 550, a $399.95 noise-canceling Bluetooth headphone pair with lots of bells and whistles. Some additional features backfire, like a power switch controlled by swiveling earcups that can make the headphones inadvertently easy to turn on and off. But audio performance is balanced and vibrant, the headphones are ridiculously comfortable, and the noise cancellation circuitry here is good enough that Bose should be nervous. DesignVisually, the PXC 550's ($299.95 at Amazon) design is spare, with luxurious leather and a black-and-silver look reminiscent of the early days of the QuietComfort lineup. The circumaural (over-the-ear) cups have a rounded, almost ear-shaped contour. The earpads and headband are not...

The Sennheiser PXC 550 headphones deliver excellent Bluetooth audio and noise cancellation in a feature-packed—if occasionally problematic—design.

Powerful, adjustable audio performance with rich bass depth and bright highs; Excellent noise cancellation circuitry; Includes a detachable audio cable for passive listening; Exceptionally comfortable

Control pad is easy to misfire in certain modes; Possible to accidentally power the headphones up or down because of swiveling earcup controls; Digital signal processing is not for purists

When it comes to headphones, one tends to associate Bose with the "business traveler" demographic. But Sennheiser's making a pitch to that segment of the market with its new PXC 550 Wireless, a "premium" over-ear Bluetooth headphone that also features active noise-cancellation. It's a direct competitor to Bose's QuietComfort 35 and costs $399, £329 or AU$630.

While it doesn't quite eclipse the less-expensive Bose, the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless headphone is comfortable and feature packed, and performs very well.

The Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless is very comfortable, relatively lightweight over-ear wireless headphone that sounds very good and features impressive noise-cancellation technology; It has touch controls and delivers excellent performance as a headset; Good battery life.

It's pricier than the Bose; while the sound quality is excellent for Bluetooth, it's lacking that little bit of extra sparkle and definition (Sennheiser's own Momentum II Wireless sounds better).

The Sennheiser PXC 550 are wireless headphones with active noise cancellation, and go up against the Bose QC35 we reviewed and loved recently. This pair is a little more expensive at ￡329, but also offers a slightly more serious sound.

Great sound quality; Immense features roster; Effective; customisable noise cancellation

ANC bettered by Bose; Expensive; Very slight hardness to mids

With top-notch sound and whisper-soft noise cancelling, the Sennheiser PXC 550 puts Bose on notice.

Rich; balanced; and detailed sound; DSP effects offer powerful bass when you want it; Sennheiser's best noise cancellation yet; Sleek; portable design; Automated controls

Awkward switch locations; Noise cancellation doesn't quite match Bose; Pricey

-By Zak Garner-Purkis Cliché's about German engineering are so common they are used in connection to almost everything from shampoo to sports cars. And the same is true in the world of headphones, where the name Sennheiser can be used in connected to any number of well-worn lines about precision,...

Very comfortable; great noise cancellation; interactive app

Expensive

One Christmas morning in 1989, I opened a big present, bigger than me. It was the Nintendo Entertainment System, complete with PowerPad and Zapper. Nearly three decades later, I unboxed a futuristic block of aluminium: an NES clone called the Analogue Nt.

There's a lot that can go wrong with noise-cancelling wireless headphones compared with a regular pair of wired headphones. Even by themselves, each component is difficult to get right.

Sennheiser PXC 550 is a wireless headset with adaptive noise cancellation at Rs 29,990

On the right earcup, there are two buttons; One that lets you choose two degrees of noise cancellation and another lets you toggle between effect modes; The first one is a bit hard to figure out unless you have the drone of a jet engine to drain out.

This may be the only headphone I have seen with the cable going into the right ear cup; Thankfully, this is a wireless set

That's more of a statement than a criticism, though. While certainly rich, it errs just on the right side of overstated, and is careful not to slow rhythms or weigh down dynamics.Balance still favours the low-end through the wire, albeit there's a noticeable leg-up in refinement.It's not massive,...

Pleasing transparency for the price; Top timing; Clear and dynamic sound; Smart; minimalist design; Effective noise-cancellation

Slightly rich bass; In-house competition