The HD 550 sits at $300 USD while the HD 505 comes in at $280 USD, that $20 gap immediately makes you wonder if those extra dollars actually translate to better sound. Both land squarely in that sweet spot where audiophiles start getting serious about their headphone investments, but the question remains: which one deserves your money?

Sennheiser dropped the HD 505 as an Amazon exclusive earlier this year, making it the newest addition to their open-back lineup. Don’t let the similar looks fool you, though; these siblings sound slightly different from each other. The HD 550 brings more bass weight that fills out the low end, while the HD 505 leans toward emphasizing the upper frequencies. That might not sound like much on paper, but it makes a real difference when you’re actually listening to music. The HD 550 also digs deeper in the bass than Sennheiser’s HD 6xx series and smooths out some of the upper-midrange harshness you’ll hear in the HD 505.

I’ve been using both of these headphones for a while now to figure out whether the HD 550’s higher price actually gets you a better listening experience. We’ll dig into what makes them tick technically, how they sound with real music, and help you decide which one makes sense for your setup and budget.

One thing to note is that the prices for both headphones may vary due to certain circumstances, so I will be talking about them strictly in their MSRP pricing. Alright, now let’s get into it.

My full Sennheiser HD 550 Review: https://www.hifioasis.com/reviews/sennheiser-hd-550-review/

My full Sennheiser HD 505 Review: https://www.hifioasis.com/reviews/sennheiser-hd-505-copper-edition-review/

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The physical design plays a bigger role than you might expect. The baffle construction differs between the two, with the HD 550 exposing its drivers slightly more than the HD 505. This isn’t just a cosmetic choice as it actually contributes to the HD 550’s more robust bass response and the HD 505’s emphasis on those upper frequencies.

Both headphones tip the scales at exactly 237g, which makes them surprisingly light for extended listening sessions. They look nearly identical at first glance, but you can tell them apart by the accents, silver trim on the HD 550, and copper details on the HD 505.

The HD 550 and HD 505 have the same comfort experience. This is good as both feel light and generally comfortable when wearing, though the lack of a divot in the middle of the headband forces the weight distribution to the very top, which some people (like me) might find uncomfortable after 30 minutes or so of wearing them.

Connection-wise, you get the same setup on both: a 1.8m detachable cable with a 3.5mm plug and a 6.35mm adapter thrown in. The cable plugs into the left earcup through a 2.5mm input.

Sennheiser HD 550:

Sennheiser HD 505 Copper Edition:

Both models pack 38mm dynamic drivers built at Sennheiser’s audiophile facility in Tullamore, Ireland, but the specs tell a different story. The HD 550 runs at 150Ω impedance while the HD 505 sits at 120Ω, making the HD 505 a bit easier to drive from your phone or laptop. You’ll see this reflected in their sensitivity numbers too – the HD 505 hits 107.9dB/1Vrms compared to the HD 550’s 106.7dB/1Vrms.

Actually, plugging these headphones in tells you everything the spec sheets can’t. The tonal balance difference hits you right away.

The HD 550 delivers what I’d call a more complete sound. There’s bass weight that fills out the low end without getting bloated or overwhelming. The bass extension here is better than most Sennheiser open-backs, which means modern pop and electronic tracks actually have some presence in the low end. What’s nice is that the HD 550 avoids that cloying slowness you sometimes get with headphones that have too much mid-bass bloat.

The HD 505 takes a different approach entirely. It’s more analytical with a cooler overall tuning. The bass is there, it’s tight, fast, and tactile, but it’s definitely leaner compared to the HD 550. The upper frequencies get more emphasis here, giving you that characteristic dry presentation.

Both headphones handle the midrange well, just with different flavors. The HD 550 gives you slightly warmer, more intimate vocals. The HD 505 really shines with clarity across the spectrum. I threw on Nutshell by Alice in Chains, and the vocals come through with focus and clarity. It’s quite impressive how well-defined everything sounds.

Treble performance is where things get interesting. The HD 550 has some scratchiness from a lower treble elevation. The HD 505 offers wonderfully smooth highs without any harsh sibilance or brightness, making it as easy-going a listen as you could hope for.

The open-back design gives both headphones a spacious presentation, instruments have room to breathe, and you get that expansive feeling that makes open-backs so appealing. The imaging is solid on both, though I wouldn’t call it extraordinary, just competent.

One thing worth noting is that the HD 505 was specifically tuned for comfortable listening at higher volumes without the music ever sounding hard or harsh. That addresses one of the bigger complaints people had with earlier models in the series.

Both headphones weigh exactly 237g and use the same chassis, just with different accent colors, silver on the HD 550, copper on the HD 505. Honestly, the HD 505 might actually look more premium with its black metal mesh and that nice concentric ring pattern around the copper logo. Either way, you’re getting the same excellent comfort with gentle clamping force that lets you wear them for hours without fatigue.

Sound Preferences

This is where your personal taste becomes everything. If you want fuller bass and a warmer overall sound, the HD 550 makes sense. That 150Ω impedance gives it a more versatile character across different music styles.

The HD 505 works better if you prefer analytical listening with that extra sparkle up top. Being 120Ω, it’s slightly easier to drive from phones and laptops, though both work perfectly fine without a dedicated amp.

Use Cases

For critical listening and audiophile sessions, the HD 505 excels with its neutral, analytical approach. Gaming enthusiasts will appreciate how well it works straight from a PS5 controller, delivering clear positional audio.

The HD 550 proves more versatile for everyday music listening thanks to better bass extension and smoother midrange. That toned-down 2-5kHz region means less fatigue during long sessions.

My Take

Most people will find the HD 550’s extra cost justified through its more balanced, versatile sound. But if you’re primarily doing analytical listening or want to invest the extra $20 into something else in your audio chain, the HD 505 remains excellent value.

The HD 550 gets my recommendation for most listeners, but both are solid choices that’ll serve you well.

Here’s a side-by-side breakdown of how these headphones stack up against each other:

Feature	HD 550	HD 505
Technical Specifications
Price	$300 USD	$280 USD
Impedance	150Ω	120Ω
Sensitivity	106.7dB/1Vrms	107.9dB/1Vrms
Frequency Response	6Hz – 39.5kHz	12Hz – 38.5kHz
Driver Size	38mm	38mm
Weight	237g	237g
Design & Build Quality
Esthetic Accents	Silver	Copper
Cable	1.8m detachable	1.8m detachable
Design Type	Open-back	Open-back
Sound Quality
Bass Response	Fuller, more robust	Leaner, tight and fast
Midrange	Warmer, more intimate vocals	Clear, focused vocals
Treble	Avoids 4kHz glare, some 5-6kHz elevation	Smooth, without sibilance
Tonal Balance	Full-bodied sound	More analytical, cooler tuning
Use Cases
Best For	Versatile listening across genres	Critical listening, gaming
Amplification Needs	Slightly harder to drive	Easier to drive
Final Verdict
Value Proposition	Worth the premium for balanced sound	Excellent value for analytical listening
Key Advantage	More versatile sound signature	Outstanding analytical performance

Your use case matters here. If you do a lot of critical listening or gaming, the HD 505’s cleaner presentation might actually be the better choice. Plus, it’s slightly easier to drive from your phone or laptop. Music lovers who jump between different genres will probably appreciate the HD 550’s more balanced approach and smoother sound.

The real answer depends on what you want from your headphones and how much you’re willing to spend. Either way, you’re getting a quality Sennheiser headphone that punches above its weight class. Just know what you’re getting into before you buy.

At the time of this writing, the HD 550 is actually $30 cheaper than the HD 505. It’s absolutely a no-brainer to go with the HD 550 in this case.

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