Over-Ear
Sennheiser HD 400
82Great
$77
Full review dataSennheiser HD 400 vs Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Sennheiser HD 400 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 82. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Sennheiser HD 400 - Great overall at around $77.
Over-Ear
Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless
78Great
$82
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Sennheiser HD 400
Sound8.5
Value8.0
Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling8.0
Battery7.5
Calls7.0
Value7.0
Specifications
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 400 | Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $77 | $82 |
| HearWiki score | 82 / 100 · Great | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | - | 2019 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Sennheiser dynamic drivers | dynamic |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 32 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 18Hz-20kHz | 17 Hz - 23,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 120 Ω | 46 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 110 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 5.0 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 20 h |
| Full charge time | - | 180 min |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes |
| ANC type | - | feedforward |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | buttons | touch |
| Voice assistant | - | voice assistant support |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 240 g | 227 g |
| Water resistance | none | none |
| USB-C | Yes | No |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 1 | 4 |
| Call noise reduction | - | 3-microphone beamforming |
What reviewers said
Sennheiser HD 400
These over-ear Sennheiser headphones are built around a neutral, open-back design aimed at studio work, delivering a wide soundstage and detailed, transparent audio for critical listening. They are lightweight and comfortable for long sessions, with a high-impedance driver setup that helps maintain low distortion, though they lack isolation and come without a carry case. Wired connectivity via USB-C and detachable cables adds versatility, but the open-back nature means sound leaks both ways.
- Pro:Accurate, transparent sound with wide soundstage
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for extended wear
- Pro:Detachable cables and USB-C connectivity
- Con:No included carry case or spare ear pads
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound and offers no isolation
- Con:High impedance may require a dedicated amplifier for best results
Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless
The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless are over-ear headphones that combine solid active noise cancellation with a clean, balanced sound signature. They offer a long battery life that can stretch further with ANC off, plus support for several high-quality Bluetooth codecs and multipoint connectivity. While they perform well overall, they are seen as a modest update over their predecessor rather than a major leap forward.
- Pro:Excellent noise cancellation for blocking ambient noise
- Pro:Balanced, mature sound quality that suits most genres
- Pro:Long battery life, especially with ANC disabled
- Con:Only a minor upgrade from the previous model
- Con:No USB-C charging port
- Con:Touch controls can be finicky for some users
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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