There’s definitely more audio excitement to be had from a pair of Sennheiser Momentum Wireless, but the PXC 550-II do plenty of good work in a more understated manner. And they don’t yell ‘look at me!’ quite so much when you’re wearing them, either. It’s a fine line between ‘dull’ and ‘sophisticated’ sometimes - and these latest Sennheisers fall just on the right side of it.

aptX Bluetooth (and low latency too); Decent battery life; Deft noise-cancelling; Balanced, enjoyable sound;

Intolerant of careless recordings; An absolute stack of competition;

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II are decent, well-rounded headphones. These premium-looking over-ears are very similar to the previous version...

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

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.

While Bose remains the top name when it comes to noise-cancelling headphones, it's been seeing some awfully strong competition from the likes of AKG, Apple, Bower & Wilkins, Sony, and others. You can add Sennheiser and its $349.95 PXC-550-II headphones to the mix, which deliver an elegant design with built-in Amazon Alexa support, strong audio performance, and some of the best ANC (active noise cancellation) available. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are still an overall better pair, so Bose doesn't need to worry too much, but its once-dramatic lead over other competitors is narrowing, and there are reasons you might prefer the Sennheiser PXC 550-II. Design Available in black, the PXC 550-II headphones have a matte finish with leatherette accents on the headband and the circumaural (over-the-ear) earcups. There are touch-sensitive controls on the outer panels of the earcups, but you wouldn't know it from looking, as the panels are blank. The earcups themselves are ear-sh...

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II headphones deliver excellent noise cancellation and strong audio performance in a user-friendly design.

Strong audio performance with rich bass depth and sculpted highs; Good active noise cancellation; Amazon Alexa support; Easy-to-operate controls; Detachable audio cable included

Headphones can feel a little tight; Limited maximum volume

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.

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

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;

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II cost just shy of $200, making them a high-value pair of active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones. Listeners in need of a lightweight, effective ANC solution should get these.

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

Easy to accidentally power the headset on/off; microUSB charging; No fast charging

These days, every music lover wants their own pair of powerful noise-cancelling headphones. These headsets are ideal for both your professional life, and your personal life, allowing for excellent audio quality without external distractions.

Fantastic sound quality, Great noise cancellation functionality, Comfortable and lightweight design, Excellent app control, Access to smart assistant, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, Low-latency Codecs, Convenient for travel

Power slider can click during exercise, Not as much bass as some competitors