Product Review
Think you have to shell out big bucks for quality headphones? Think again. This set from Philips offers comfort for long listening sessions, a closed-ear design that keeps unwanted noise from interfering with your music, pivoting earcups that help the headset fold to coat-pocket size, and--happiest of all--clear, well-balanced sound with surprisingly good bass.
Sure, you'll get better sound with more expensive headphones: cleaner bass, more refined treble, less fatiguing midrange. But to get that, you'd have to pay several times what these puppies will run you; we dare say they're the best headphones out there for under $100.
And the fact is, even headphones that give you some of the more "expensive" qualities mentioned above don't do so with the same innate sense of
rightness imparted by the HP550s. With this set, the spirit of the music came across from every disc we played, from the nuanced
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon soundtrack to Oregon's delicate acoustic textures and U2's hard-hitting
All That You Can't Leave Behind.
The padded earcups are comfortable and well suited for either home or portable listening. They don't block
all noise, so you may still want to consider a noise-canceling headphone for airplane travel. But the HP550's combination of comfort, convenience, sound quality, and affordability is unrivaled in our experience. Personally cherished and highly recommended.
--Michael Mikesell Pros: - Amazingly good sound for the price
- Clear, tight bass response
- Closed-ear design superb for portable use
- Comfortable ear cushions
- Compact size
- Lightweight
- Fluorescent, high-tech sheen
Cons: - Limited high-frequency extension (despite a strong HF measurement)
- They make you look like one of the Jetsons
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(35 customer reviews) 33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Best Headphones for...,
June 22, 2001 By A Customer
This review is from: Philips HP550 Full Size Foldable Headphones (Electronics)
These headphones deliver some serious quality. The bass and treble are great, with exceptional sound. They work well from heavy metal to Stravinsky. They are well designed and are so light you barely know that you're wearing them. The hinges are durable, and the blue pegs are for winding the cord around. They are very convenient and portable, they fold right up into themselves. I definatly recommend these to anyone that wants an awesome pair of headphones, but doesn't want to shell out major mula.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Terrific budget headphones,
January 4, 2003 Sirishkumar Raghuram "sirishkr" (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Philips HP550 Full Size Foldable Headphones (Electronics)
I think this is a terrific set of headphones for the budget minded buyer, I've not come across a better one at this price range. I would readily recommend it to anyone looking for budget headphones.LIKES:
1. Price2. Sound
Sound quality is an extremely subjective issue. I think the best sound system I've come across is a 11 speaker Bose system in a rented SUV. If I were to give that 10 for sound quality, I would put this somewhere around 7.5. The treble is crisp, and the bass is to my liking. I'm fairly certain bass fans may want a little more, but even they likely will find this above average (at the budget end of headphones).
And if you're the one who likes your music LOUD, this one absolutely delivers!3. Ergonomics
A. Cable length of 1.5 feet gives me a little more room to maneuver around my desk without having to take these off (many headphones have cables 1.2 feet long)
B. Fold up well
C. Extend/Retract well to accomodate your head...Read more
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Simply incredible!,
June 27, 2001 "aneurysm9" (Niagara Falls, NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Philips HP550 Full Size Foldable Headphones (Electronics)
I picked up a pair of these headphones at Sears simply because they were the only ones there that had a halfway decent range and I needed something cheap for my portable MD. I was blown away when I plugged them in and put them on. Never have I had a pair of headphones this comfortable. They're so light and well fitting that I sometimes forget that I'm wearing them. But in the end it's all about the sound, and these babies put up like no other in their price range. Clean, clear, crisp bass like I've never heard in a pair of headphones. The clarity extends through the entire range. Simply put, buy them! they're the best deal available.
