Not only do you get well above average audio, but they can be modded (Check Youtube) to go up even higher. These headphones were built to be more expensive, but brought down to sell to a cheaper crowd. They can be boosted back up with a simple removal of a piece inside. These are great headphones and you can still find them around. If you don't want them, then I suggest trying the newer version of them. Either way, you will be good to go. Durability I have had mine for a decade. I use them 8 hours a day, at least.

poisoninglife

USA

I have half a decade of experience with these headphones. I love them. They are comfortable, sound great, and are a cheaper alternative to the HD600's. Comfort You forget you're wearing them. Durability I'd say *very* good, but there's only one wire that enters the left side of the headphones. Over time, this wire may get worn or pulled, and as a result, the right-side could lose volume. Not a guarantee, but it CAN happen. After 8 years of use, my right side is a little softer than the left side. Perhaps it's time to replace them.

dpeck

Chicago, IL

My husband absolutely loves these headphones. After working in a factory for 40 plus years he has a problem hearing certain pitches making it difficult for him to hear the television at a reasonable level. For him to hear the volume would have to set so high it actually hurt my ears! He says these are lightweight, fit very well, and are comfortable to wear even though they look somewhat bulky. The sound quality is excellent for both watching televsion and listening to music. The range of transmission is very good as well. He can turn a music station on the tv and go out and mow the lawn while listening to it. He also mows our elderly neighbors lawn and can still hear perfectly on the far side of her property...our lawns are pretty large. He's tried several other types of headphones and the Sennheiser have been the best for him. In fact, the first pair he purchased we keep in our living room and he purchased a second pair for watching tv in our bedroom he liked them so well.

plogan

Hazleton, PA

Overall I like these Sennheiser 555s. They sound great and since that's their primary function, in that aspect the 555s are a success. You can purchase these for under a benjamin, which makes them a reasonably good deal. There is a modificaiton you can do to upgrade the 555s to a higher sennheiser model, although i personally have not done it nor do i have the intention to. But i have read that it's relatively simple. My problems with this headphone is two things: one is the build quality on the top and second, to a lesser degree, is the open-air aspect of this headphone. so first the not so bad part: the open air aspect. this is not really its fault, but a negative is that open air releases the noise around you and you cannot listen in public places. The band on top is prone to breaking, that's the major fault of the 555.

nitostefan

Beverly Hills, CA

These were my first "high end" pair of headphones, and I have been incredibly happy with them in the three years I've owned them. Thus far, they are still working perfectly even three years after purchase and have no significant wear or tear at all. These are over the ear headphones, with big, softly padded ear cups that fit comfortably on the head. I have a fairly large head and these fit me just fine with no discomfort over time, unlike some other over the ear headphones that can start to feel pinched or uncomfortable over time. Of course, the biggest attraction of any headphones is the sound quality, and these are very crisp and clear with reliably true sound reproduction. After years of going through pairs of cheapo headphones like Skullcandy and other brands that "looked" nice, a friend recommended these too me, and I was amazed at what I had been missing in my music collection. These really bring out the individual instruments, and have a wide range of quality sound reproduction. The bass doesn't overtake the mids or treble range, both of which are quite clear. They do have a larger jack so you have to buy an adapter if you want to use these on a laptop, and the adapter is way too bulky for use with portable devices like MP3 players, but I use these at home so it's not a concern for me. If you need headphones on the go, rather than for home listening, you may want to consider a different pair. Also, these are open-ear construction which means that the sound will leak if you have the volume up high, and that you can hear outside sounds as well. These are not noise-canceling headphones by any means and are best for home music use. I find them much more comfortable than "Closed" headphones, personally.

chexmix88

Chicago, IL

The best cars are made in Germany, so are headphones. Sennheiser might not be the best headphone manufacturer in Germany, but it has the widest product line and various choices of prices. HD555 is an entry level HiFi headphone. No doubt it's far inferior than the Big Three in Sennheiser family, namely HD580, HD600 and HD650. Its unique open design and cheap price, and the foam mod (which minimize the difference with HD595), makes it a pretty nice choice for those who want to step into some higher stage. Pros: Open design. Actually it's a double-edge blade. It increases the sound quality with a lower setup and presents sound surround effect better. The sacrifice is bass, and the sound will leak out. Comfortable ear caps. It's big and soft. You won't feel uneasy after long hours of wearing with velvet caps. I wear glasses, and HD555 doesn't make me painful like other cans. Free upgrade to HD595. This is dubious because although HD555 has the same core unit as HD595, some structure and design detail still differ. By simply removing the foams, the sound quality improves to some extent. Some insists it's still not as good as HD595, but closer. I did the foam mod but I haven't listened to HD595 so I can't comment. Cons: No mounting device. HD595 has a small hook so you can place you can on it. Sadly HD555 doesn't have this.

mycardson

Mc Lean, VA

These headphones are worth every penny you can possibly pay for it. The sound on these sennheiser headphones easily surpass many other more expensive headphones. Everything is just crisp and clear. I mainly use these headphones for gaming, and you sure can tell where an enemy is by listening to the footsteps. These headphones have great directional sound. For music you can hear breats that you may have not heard before! That's how great these headphones are! My favorite thing about these headphones is how great it feels, thanks to the open design of them of course. I can have these on my head for hours and not feel a thing. Even when I watch a 5 minute video or something I don't even feel the need to take them off, since it does not cause any pain and overall I barely feel a thing. I used to use other headphones, and after not even an hour my ears would kill, if I dared to touch them I would feel pain. You can't go wrong with these headphones!

hajalie24

Dearborn, MI

Just want to say this and get this out in the open: these are open-ended headphones. That means that music leaks out. What this this mean and what implications are there? Well obviously this means that you cannot take this on the bus or the library unless you just happen to have zero sensitivity for other people and have no manners. It also means that other background noise will interfere with your listening as you can more easily hear those sounds and distractions while you are listening to your movie or music. When you are alone and by yourself, thees headphones are quite nice I will admit. But, the fact that they're open ended really limits their use unless used in a solitary state. As for comfort i found them quite nice--no complaints here on comfort and how they wrap around your head. There is a modification available for these 555s that unlock them into a higher model but I do not encourage this as it requires physical not software changes to your headphone. I also believe that it can damage your warranty so just keep your 555s and be greatful.

spencelennik

Los Angeles, CA

I purchased this set of headphones in February 2007 as a birthday gift to myself. I am not an audiophile, but I appreciate high quality sound. My last pair of headphones was the Sennheiser HD-202 and they were decent, but I was looking for the next level up. These headphones are not extremely expensive, as audiophile quality headphones can be. I compared these to the Grado SR-60s and decided to purchase these due to a friend's recommendation and a more attractive style. Like all my other headphones, I connected them to my computer and played music at a medium/loud volume for about 24 hours to speed up the breaking in process. I put them in a sock drawer to muffle it so I wouldn't be distracted during the day. They sounded great after I did this. They are very comfortable due to the big cushion on the ear pads. They aren't too heavy either, so they are comfortable for several hours of wear. The cable is almost too long for my usage. It's approximately 10 feet long, and if you are going to use it with an iPod or a computer, you need a bulky adapter for it. On the end of the cable is a 1/4" plug, and the headphones come with a very large 1/8" adapter. My adapter broke because it got hit from the side, and broke off inside my Mac! Needless to say, I had to get the part removed by Apple, and I purchased the Grado 1/8" adapter which is less bulky. I do not use these headphones with an amplifier and I still get great sound from them. I would recommend them as a pair of indoor headphones. The long cable and the size of these make it impractical for travel purposes, but it can be done. These are also great for shoveling the snow, since they double as earmuffs! 

meanmeanstride

Bronx, NY

I have owned a pair of Sennheiser HD 555 Headphones for about six months now. I use them with my MP3 player, TV (it has a headphone jack), and my computer. I have listened to a variety of movies, videos, and music with these headphones. I used to be a habitual user of earbud headphones, but the Sennheiser HD 555 Headphones have replaced every single pair of them. When I'm watching movies or videos, it feels like I am in my own personal movie theater. The bass is heavy and adds depth to the overall environment of the movie while still not overwhelming the top notes and dialogue. Even poor audio files and streaming video off the internet sounds superb, crisp, and multi-leveled. The audio quality is indisputable. As for the other features of the headphones, they could be improved. The cable length is far too long for everyday use on the computer of with a portable MP3 player. There is also no way to wind it up unless you use a twist-tie of some sort.

kittenkatkat

Atlanta, GA