Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Bose QC35: Which One Is for You?

Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Bose QC35

Only five years ago, people avoided using Bluetooth headphones because they sounded terrible. But right now, you have products that deliver outstanding sound quality that it is like listening to music inside your own private sound studio.

What’s more, you now have active noise-canceling headphones that let you immerse yourself in whatever tunes you are listening to while keeping the noises of the world out.

If you are looking for the best Bluetooth headphones that deliver the best audio experience, you can choose between the Sennheiser PXC 550 and the Bose QC35.

Our Pick: Bose QuetComfort 35
$169.97
The Bose QuietComfort 35 are the superior choice If you want some peace and quiet. They are compact headphones with an excellent sound, they are much more comfortable to wear and they cancel more noise than the PXC 550
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Main Differences Between the Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Bose QC35

The Main Differences Between the Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Bose QC35 are:

  • Bose QC35 relies on physical buttons, whereas the Sennheiser PXC 550 has touch controls.
  • Bose QC35 has a better design and more cushions that make it comfortable to wear, whereas the Sennheiser PXC 550 has a tight fit meant for smaller heads.
  • Bose QC35 only delivers up to 20 hours of music, whereas the Sennheiser PXC 550 has a longer-lasting battery life with a maximum runtime of 30 hours

Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose is a known manufacturer of audio equipment and when it comes to headphones, the company has always excelled in offering noise cancellation technology in its products.

The Bose QuietComfort 35 has oval earcups and it boasts a very simple design. There are none of that flashy and trendy designs that you see from other manufacturers. The colors are basic: silver or black.

One of the first things that you will notice about these headphones is that they are very comfortable to wear. This comfort is mainly attributable to two things. The first is that this product uses high-quality cushioning. The other is that the weight is evenly distributed all throughout.

There are a few physical buttons on the earcups, including a power slider, a charging port, track skipping, and volume controls.

Connectivity

The Bose QC35 uses Bluetooth to connect to your mobile device or laptop. Pairing is quick and easy. But it can be easier if you have an NFC-enabled device, where you can pair the headset with your phone just by tapping it.

However, if you prefer a wired connection, there is a 2.5-mm audio jack available to do just that.

Microphone

This product boasts noise-rejecting dual microphones that allow you to make clear audio calls. Even if it is windy outside or if you are in a noisy environment, the person on the other end of the line won’t hear anything but your clear voice.

Battery

This Bluetooth headset runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that promises to give you up to 20 hours of music playback. If you use a wired connection, you can get up to 40 hours of music.

If you are in the middle of a musical session and the battery runs low, no need to fret. You only need to quick-charge the headphones for 15 minutes and you will get more than a couple hours’ worth of music.

Our Pick: Bose QuetComfort 35
$169.97
The Bose QuietComfort 35 are the superior choice If you want some peace and quiet. They are compact headphones with an excellent sound, they are much more comfortable to wear and they cancel more noise than the PXC 550
Check Price
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03/15/2024 10:16 pm GMT

Sound Quality

If we have to describe in just three words how the Bose QC35’s performance is when it comes to sound quality, we will say that it is crisp, clean, and immersive. That is to say that the Bose QC35 does not fall flat as most wireless headsets do. The bass is exceptional while, for the most part, the mids and the highs are clean.

Furthermore, this headset really shines in the noise-cancellation department, thanks to Bose’s Acoustic Noise Cancelling technology, which measures, compares and reacts to any noise outside and then cancels this noise with the opposite signal.

What this means is that it can keep out the white noise in the background and can muffle louder ones such as office chatter so you will be able to enjoy your music or your game. Also, if you are on a plane and the toddler on the seat behind you is having a tantrum, this headset will be your best friend.

What You Will Like

The Bose QC35 is very comfortable to wear, which is important in headphones. The quality cushions used for this product, as well as the design that helps keep its weight evenly distributed, make all the difference.

This product is also durable as it is made of impact-resistant materials, corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and glass-filled nylon.

bose quietcomfort 35

What Can Be Better

There aren’t a lot of complaints about the Bose QC35, except for the fact that the equalizer feature on this device does nothing much. The effects are subtle and will not make too much of a difference when you are listening to your favorite tracks.

It also does not use the AptX Bluetooth, which would have made way for better music streaming.

Sennheiser PXC 550

 

The Bose QC35 is definitely a good choice for a noise-canceling headphone, but the Sennheiser PXC 550 can give it a run for its money. Is it better? To answer this question, we should look at the features of the PXC 550.

Like the Bose headphone, this one looks very conservative with oval earcups that sport a matte plastic material. The controls are found on the right earcup, including those for the equalizer modes and the pairing, as well as the slider that allows you to choose the kind of noise cancellation you want.

 

This product is equipped with Sennheiser’s NoiseGard Hybrid adaptive noise-canceling technology.

Touch Controls

If you are looking for the buttons that would control the music and the volume, then you would be looking in vain. The Sennheiser PXC 550 does not have them. Instead, it has a touch panel that allows you to swipe down or up to control the volume. To skip tracks, you can swipe left or right.

Another thing that this product does differently is that the earcups rotate. And when the headphones are lying on a flat position, such as when you hang them around your neck, the PXC 550 will turn off.

Battery Life

The Sennheiser PXC 550 gives you a runtime of up to 30 hours.

Microphone

This product not only allows you to immerse yourself in your music or your game, but it offers superb speech clarity for your business or personal calls. Its microphone can identify and filter out all ambient noise and make sure that you will be perfectly heard at the other end of the line. So even if you are making the call in a gaming arcade or along a busy street in New York, there would be no room for misunderstanding between you and your caller.

You can operate the PXC 550’s communication center via its touch-sensitive trackpads found on the earcups.

Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless Headphones
$184.95
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03/12/2024 11:00 pm GMT

Performance

You will like how the PXC 550 gives you a clear delineation between the instrumentations and the vocals. It will also wow you with the way it handles trebles and mids.

The low tones, however, are quite muted. If you like music that is heavy on the bass, then you may not like the PXC 550.

What You Will Like About the Sennheiser PXC 550

The Sennheiser PXC 550 delivers great sound for most uses. You will find that you can listen to most songs with this headset.

You would also like the noise-canceling feature that it offers. You will also love the decent battery, which is helped by the fact that the headphones automatically turn themselves off when you rotate their earcups.

Sennheiser PXC 550 headphones

What Could Be Better

The touch controls are a bit clunky. If you want to skip a track, then it should not be a problem. But if you want to skip a number of tracks, the controls are simply not responsive enough. This means that you will need to whip out the mobile device or laptop that you are using to change the track.

Comparing the Sennheiser PXC 550 and Top Bose Headphones – I Round Up the Top 3 Best Bose Headphones

Before these two headphones came along, there was a tradeoff when you cut the wires. But as both the PXC 550 and QC35 will show you, you can totally omit the wires without having to sacrifice the sound quality.

Both of these headphones sound great and deliver an immersive listening experience. They are excellent at keeping the noise out. They also allow you to choose the level of noise-cancellation that you want or even turn this feature off, which might be useful if you need to be aware of what’s happening in your surroundings.

What’s more, you have the option to use a 2.5-mm jack if you want a wired connection.

Where the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wins

The Sennheiser PXC 550 has a better sound quality between these two headphones. And if you are looking for a headphone that has a tight fit, then this product is also for you. You can wear these lying down, too.

Where the Bose QC35 Wins

When it comes to noise cancellation, the Bose QC35 does it better. The Sennheiser PXC 550 is good at keeping out noise, but it falls behind the QC35 and some of its competitors. Meanwhile, the Bose QC35 is very good that there is a chance that you won’t hear an oncoming car when you wear it.

Those with bigger heads will like the Bose QC35. The QC35 is also more comfortable than the Sennheiser device because of its quality cushions and generous earcups.

Model Pros Cons
Sennheiser PXC 550
  • Excellent sound quality, especially when compared to the QC35
  • Balanced sound
  • Lightweight
  • Long battery life
  • Touch controls
  • Tight fit
  • Noise cancellation is not up to par with the QC35
Bose QC35
  • Ideal for bigger heads
  • Well-built
  • The display shows battery life
  • Excellent bass
  • Excellent noise cancellation
  • Can cancel out noise completely

FAQs About Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Bose QC35

We know that some buyers still have questions about noise-cancellation headphones such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 and the Sennheiser PXC 550. So here are the answers you need to know.

Is Sennheiser a high-quality brand?

Bose is a known name in headphones and other audio gear, but some might not be familiar with Sennheiser. The German brand might be more expensive than others, but their products are very durable and can last for years.

They have excellent products for everyone: from gamers to casual listeners to hardcore audiophiles. And a wide variety of their headphones have replaceable parts, which extends their durabilities for several years more.

Why do you need noise-canceling headphones such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 and the Sennheiser PXC 550?

Noise-canceling headphones block out unwanted sound by using different technologies. It helps heighten your music listening experience without any distractions. These headphones can also help you avoid loud or irritating noises.

What’ more, according to this article from Popular Science, noise-canceling headphones because it encourages users to turn down the volume and helps in avoiding hearing loss.

Are noise-canceling headphones safe?

Noise-canceling headphones are safer to use than ordinary headphones. Countless sources, such as this article, recommends these headphones to help minimize the risk of hearing loss and eliminate low-level noise that can be detrimental to your health.

Noise-canceling headphones do not emit radiation like smartphones, as well. The only danger with noise-canceling headphones is that if you use them outdoors, you might not hear oncoming cars while causing the street and other similar dangers of not hearing ambient sounds.

How do you choose the best noise-canceling headphones?

You should look at several factors when choosing a noise-canceling headphone. For one, the design should be comfortable even for lengthy listening. It should have padded headbands and earcups.

The sound quality should be impeccable. You might think that this is not a consideration because your aim is to block out sound, but it is.

Further, you should keep your budget in mind. Noise-canceling headphones often come at a higher price than ordinary products, so it’s important to balance the price with the features offered.

Bottom Line Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Bose QC35: Which One Should You Buy?

If you are looking for noise-canceling headphones that you can also use to enjoy your favorite tunes, then you can’t go wrong with either one of these headphones.

However, those who are looking for some peace and quiet will probably love the Bose QC35 better. Meanwhile, those who would like to have headphones with better sound quality would prefer the Sennheiser PXC 550.

Our Pick: Bose QuetComfort 35
$169.97
The Bose QuietComfort 35 are the superior choice If you want some peace and quiet. They are compact headphones with an excellent sound, they are much more comfortable to wear and they cancel more noise than the PXC 550
Check Price
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/15/2024 10:16 pm GMT

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