How To Pair Pxc 550 To Iphone

Sennheiser usually pays little mind to gimmicks and marketing ploys and instead puts all of its efforts toward functionality and sound quality. The company takes that same approach to the Sennheiser PXC 550-II noise cancelling headphones, a long-awaited upgrade to the first-generation model. Noise cancelling performance keeps up with best-in-class alternatives from Sony and Bose, but for a reasonable price under $200 USD.

Sure, this isn't the slickest set of headphones and doesn't have cool software tricks, but that's the charm of the PXC 550-II: simplicity and performance come first.

Editor's note: this Sennheiser PXC 550-II review was updated on November 8, 2021, to address how the PXC 550-II compares to the Bose QuietComfort 45.

Who should get the Sennheiser PXC 550-II?

A picture of the Sennheiser PXC 550-II noise cancelling headphones being placed into the travel case.

The headset folds up and into itself for storage within the reinforced case.

Commuters and air travelers will appreciate the compact nature of the PXC 550-II and the good active noise cancelling (ANC) performance.
Remote workers should consider this high-value headset, again, for its ANC performance that blocks out noisy neighbors. The battery life can get you through multiple workdays before requiring a recharge.

What's it like to use the Sennheiser PXC 550-II?

A photo of the Sennheiser PXC 550-II noise cancelling headphones power switch on the right ear cup when it's rotated 90 degrees.

Rotating the ear cup turns the headset on and off, as indicated by the red (off) circle on the right yoke's hinge.

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II is easy to use, and places performance and functionality above design. All-plastic ear cups don't appear premium, nor do the tenuous yokes but it all serves a purpose: to minimize the headset's weight, which is imperative for day-long listening. If you're concerned about durability, just reach for the included case. It's not quite a hardshell design, but the reinforced exterior will protect your headphones from minor bumps in a bag.

Start here: Ultimate headphone buying guide

The headband strikes a good balance of thin and comfortable, making the second-generation Sennheiser PXC 550 great for anyone with glasses. Though, I experience some discomfort at the crown of my head after two hours of wear. A metal reinforcement protects the headband from snapping. Synthetic leather covers the headband and is the same material used to wrap the memory foam ear pads, which are comfortable but heat up in warm conditions. You may remove the ear pads for easy cleaning and replacement, though the triangular shape means you have to buy a replacement from Sennheiser, rather than picking a cheaper third-party option.

How do you control the PXC 550-II?

A photo of the Sennheiser PXC 550-II noise cancelling headphones ear cup with holes around the perimeter.

The right ear cup is where all the magic happens with touch and tactile button controls.

Sennheiser uses a combination of button and touchpad controls with the Sennheiser PXC 550-II, all of which are located on the right ear cup. To pair the Bluetooth headset, press and hold the voice assistant button, until a voice prompts you that it's ready to connect.

Here's a cheat sheet for gesture controls during media playback:

Rotate the right ear cup to turn the headset on and off.
Press and hold the voice assistant button for four seconds to initiate pairing mode.
Tap the touchpad once to play/pause media.
Swipe horizontally and hold to fast forward and rewind playback.
Swipe horizontally to skip or go to the previous track.
Swipe vertically to increase and decrease the volume.
Slide the ANC slider up one or two clicks to adjust noise cancelling intensity.

Here is a list of gesture controls for calls:

Tap once to accept or end a call.
Tap and hold to reject an incoming call.
Double-tap to place a call on hold.
Swipe horizontally to mute or unmute the microphone.
Swipe vertically to adjust the volume.

Should you get the Sennheiser Smart Control app?

A photo of the Sennheiser PXC 550-II headphone application on a Samsung Galaxy S10e with the custom EQ options on display.

The custom EQ module in the Sennheiser Smart Control app doesn't afford extensive control.

If you want access to firmware updates, the Sennheiser Smart Control app is worth downloading, so long as you're comfortable giving the app access to your location. Yes, that's correct, you cannot use the app unless you grant location permissions, at least when the app is in use. While this seems alarming, it's a requirement for all headphone companion apps in order to locate your headset. Aside from firmware updates, the app also allows you to choose adaptive ANC or adaptive, anti-wind ANC for the first noise cancelling level.

You may also select from four EQ presets (Neutral, Club, Movie, Speech), or create your own EQ setting. The EQ adjustments are very limited though: you only get three choices for each adjustment under vague options like Boost, Spatial, Reverb, and DLC. The app doesn't specify, but DLC stands for Dynamic Loudness Control. It controls for erratic volume increases and decreases to level the net output of your audio.

See: The best Google Assistant headphones

In the settings option, you may toggle effects like smart pause and call enhancement. The former automatically pauses and resumes playback when the headset is removed and worn. To me, the most important feature in the app was disabling Alexa for my preferred assistant: Google. The app requires Android 7.0 and later, or iOS 11.0 and later.

Does the Sennheiser PXC 550-II have good noise cancelling?

An attenuation chart depicting the Sennheiser PXC 550-II noise cancelling performance overlaid atop the passive isolation performance; low-frequency sounds are heavily attenuated and sound 1/2 as loud as they sound sans-ANC.

Low-frequency sounds are heavily attenuated and sound half as loud as they sound sans-ANC, making the PXC 550-II a great option for air travelers and commuters.

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II is one of the best noise cancelling headphones under $200. Low-frequency sounds sound half as loud with ANC on the highest setting. Sure, I can hear construction as my apartment doors get installed, but the ANC hushes the handyman's drill so I can concentrate on typing this review.

Upper-midrange frequencies are attenuated by the headset's passive isolation, and will quiet noises by roughly one-eighth as loud as they'd sound without anything covering your ears. The better your headset isolates, the less work an ANC unit needs to do.

In order to achieve optimal noise cancelling reflected in the graph above, you must achieve a proper fit with the headphones. This means the ear cups need to fully encircle your ears without any gaps behind the ears where the lobes meet the jawbone. Passive isolation is the foundation of any great noise cancelling headset, and Sennheiser understands this—hence the spacious, ergonomically shaped ear cups.

What Bluetooth codecs does the Sennheiser PXC-550-II support?

A picture of the Sennheiser PXC 550-II worn by a woman reading on a porch.

You can connect the PXC 550-II to two devices at once, and it remembers eight connections for quick re-connecting.

The PXC 550-II supports more high-quality Bluetooth codecs than its predecessor, now featuring SBC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, and AAC. AAC support is new to this headset line and benefits iPhone users because it cuts down on audio-visual lag when streaming video. AptX Low Latency is great for Android users who play plenty of mobile games and want to hear sound in real time; it also benefits video streamers.

If you don't want to deal with a ladle of Bluetooth codec alphabet soup, you can always resort to wired listening. Sennheiser provides a 2.5mm cable that terminates in a standard headphone jack for lossless audio playback. While the 2.5mm input may seem an odd choice, it saves space internally allowing more room for advanced ANC components and multiple microphones.

A chart showing the frequency response performance of the AAC Bluetooth wireless codec.

Android phones don't give you CD-quality playback with AAC.

Bluetooth 5.0 is available with the Sennheiser PXC 550-II, and the greatest benefits of this firmware are efficient power consumption and greater transmission speeds. Bluetooth 5.0 boasts speeds of 2Mbps, which is double that of Bluetooth 4.2. Connection strength is reliable, and the Sennheiser PXC 550-II retains Bluetooth multipoint support. You may connect to two devices at once; the headset will recall up to eight device connections for easy re-connecting.

The only connection issues I experience occurr when the headphones are connected to my Microsoft Surface Book and Samsung Galaxy S10e simultaneously: when listening to music from my laptop, an incoming notification from my phone sends playback into a brief tizzy before stabilizing. This doesn't happen with every notification, though.

How long does the battery last on the PXC 550-II?

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II is rated to last 20 hours on a single charge with ANC on while streaming over Bluetooth. We subjected the headset to a constant 75dB(SPL) output with noise cancelling on the highest setting, and recorded 21 hours, 58 minutes of playtime. If you listen with the ANC on in wired mode, you get 30 hours of playtime. It takes three hours to recharge the headset from 0-100% via microUSB, and it supports fast charging: 10 minutes yields 90 minutes of playtime.

Read more: Where do batteries come from? And where do they go?

How does the Sennheiser PXC 550-II sound?

A chart depicting the Sennheiser PXC 550-II frequency response which is neutral-leaning across the bass and midrange spectrum.

Sound reproduction tightly follows the line of platonic ideal up until upper-midrange frequencies, making this a great headset for traveling audiophiles.

Each ear cup protects an angled, 32mm dynamic driver, which may seem small but these drivers are powerful. Low and midrange frequencies are accurately reproduced, something we don't often see from such reasonably priced headphones. This follows the line of platonic ideal (red dot) all the way up until the high-midrange frequencies, meaning kick drums, vocals, and salient instruments like guitars are all reproduced with great accuracy and little to no auditory masking.

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Listeners who are accustomed to headsets from Beats or Jabra may find the bass response underwhelming, and that makes sense: we're conditioned to perceive egregious low-end amplification as normal. However, the truth is those consumer brands unnaturally amplify bass notes in the name of a workout-friendly sound signature or more engaging sound.

Lows, mids, and highs

The song Marceline by WILLOW sounds excellent through the Sennheiser PXC 550-II, because vocals come through clearly even when percussive elements ring out. The song opens with individual plucks on a bass guitar, before WILLOW's vocals enter alongside a percussive beat. Plucks from the bass guitar remain present throughout the song's entirety and remain audible, even as cymbal hits accent the occasional kick drum.

If you want to hear your music as the audio engineers intended, get the Sennheiser PXC 550-II.

WILLOW vocalizes a series of "Ohs" that is overlaid atop the latter third of the song. These utterances are hard to hear through headsets that amplify bass notes but are clear with the PXC 550-II without being exaggerated. Listeners who want accurate audio will appreciate the neutral sound profile's versatility. If you temporarily want to alter the response, just open the Sennheiser app and choose from any of the presets.

Is the Sennheiser PXC 550-II good for phone calls?

The PXC 550-II microphone system is pretty decent. Sennheiser opted for a triple-microphone array in tandem with noise cancelling technology to reduce background noise while transmitting clear audio. The mics do a fairly good job of reducing the proximity effect too.

I recorded the first half of the demo below with a tower fan off, and when I powered it on halfway through the recording; there's almost no difference. You can, however, hear me clicking buttons to turn the fan on—unsurprising, given that ANC tends to work best on droning noises and not quick sharp bursts.

Sennheiser PXC 550-II microphone demo:

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Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Sennheiser PXC 550-II: What's the difference?

A photo of the Sennheiser PXC 550-II noise cancelling headphones hanging in front of a fence and plants.

Unlike the Sennheiser PXC 550, the PXC 550-II features black aluminum accents.

The Sennheiser PXC 550 and Sennheiser PXC 550-II are virtually identical, save for minor aesthetic changes like the black metal trim around each ear cup on the second-generation model. The Sennheiser PXC 550-II has a dedicated voice assistant button, something the original lacked. It used to require a handful of steps to access your virtual assistant, but the dedicated button on the second-generation PXC 550 makes checking the weather and setting timers easy.

Otherwise, the most notable changes are found under the hood like Bluetooth 5.0, and the lack of NFC pairing with the second-generation headset. The Sennheiser PXC 550 supports NFC pairing but uses Bluetooth 4.2. This is fine but isn't quite as efficient as Bluetooth 5.0.

Related: Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Sennheiser PXC 550-II

What's more, the Sennheiser PXC 550-II supports almost every Bluetooth codec available, whereas the original PXC 550 only supported SBC and aptX. The latter is great for Android devices, but iOS products require AAC for latency reduction and high-quality audio streaming. Sennheiser included AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, and the default SBC codec with its newest PXC 550 headset.

Sennhesier PXC 550-II vs Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort 45: Should you splurge?

Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones next to iPad Pro on a marble surface

The Sony WH-1000XM4 supports SBC, AAC, and LDAC.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 is regarded as one of the best noise cancelling headphones on the market. Compared to the PXC 550-II, the WH-1000XM4 offers better active noise cancelling performance, USB-C connectivity, and quick charging for last-minute battery top-ups. Plus, deep integration with the Sony Headphones Connect app allows for complete customization of the WH-1000XM4, including EQ controls, Sony 360 Reality Audio, touch sensor remapping, and location-based ANC controls.

See also: Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Sennheiser PXC 550-II

However, there are some aspects of the PXC 550-II that make it a better value than the WH-1000XM4. For starters, the PXC 550-II has support for a wider variety of Bluetooth codecs. In addition, the PXC 550-II sports a much better microphone than the WH-1000XM4—which is perfect for the times where a bedroom doubles as a classroom, and a dining room acts as a home office. The best part? The PXC 550-II costs anywhere from $100-$200 less than the WH-1000XM4!

When you pit the Sennheiser PXC 550-II against the Bose QuietComfort 45, it's clear that the QC 45 has the better ANC. Unless your only desire is to block out the world around you though, you may still want the cheaper Sennheiser PXC 550-II. Sennheiser's headset has a much more pleasant frequency response compared to Bose. The QC 45 boosts treble notes to a negative degree, making poorly mixed and generally treble-heavy tracks pretty painful to hear. What's more, the PXC 550-II is lighter than the Bose QC 45 and folds up just the same, making Sennheiser's headset the better space-saving option.

Should you buy the Sennheiser PXC 550-II?

A photo of the Sennheiser PXC 550-II noise cancelling headphones folded on the outside of a backpack.

The PXC is a great, portable headset for listeners in need of silence wherever they go.

Yes, you should get the Sennheiser PXC 550-II because it's a great value. Many of us are stuck at home, and constantly subject to noisy neighbors and roommates, and these headphones make it easy to block it all out. The low-frequency noise cancelling performance is impressive, and the sound quality makes any genre of music sound good—or at least how it was intended to sound.

The headset has its drawbacks too: the most glaring oversight is the microUSB input. However, it's a small price to pay for one of the best headsets under $200, though. Listeners who prefer a more highfalutin look should turn their attention to the handsome Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless 3, or the more modern Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Sennheiser PXC 550-II

All prices listed in USD unless otherwise specified. Prices may change over time, and vary by region. Unfortunately, we cannot list Amazon prices on the site, as they vary greatly by currency.

$ at Amazon
$199 at Best Buy
$199 at Crutchfield

Pricing varies with the Sennheiser PXC 550-II, but right now the headphones can be had at a steal and cost less than $200 USD. You can also stretch your dollar by researching what the best headphone retailer is for you.

Editor's note: this Sennheiser PXC 550-II review was written when using firmware version 1.5.21. It is also the first headset scored with the new ANC criteria, making its scores incompatible with older headsets until new tests are performed.

Save money, and get the Sennheiser HD 450BT instead

Sennheiser's mid-range noise cancelling headphones are good but not the best.

The Sennheiser HD 450BT has a lot going for it: it's compact, portable, sounds great, and costs less than the PXC 550-II. Sure, you don't get the same noise cancelling performance, but that's to be expected with a more affordable product. If you have smaller ears, you may find the Sennheiser HD 450BT more comfortable than the PXC 550-II, though most of the population will prefer the fit of the PXC 550-II.

See: Sennheiser PXC 550-II vs. Sennheiser HD 450BT

Sound preferences are subjective, but objectively, the PXC 550-II reproduces audio more accurately. This is great for serious audio enthusiasts, but not everyone wants a platonic sound. Instead, many of us prefer amplified bass and upper-midrange notes, which the HD 450BT tastefully provides.

If you want noise cancelling but truly wireless, check out the Sony WF-1000XM4

A photo of the Sony WF-1000XM4's case open, revealing the earphones sitting within.

The addition of the copper ANC mic housings makes the Sony WF-1000XM4 a bit more glam.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 is a rare standout among noise cancelling true wireless earbuds. This headset cancels noise effectively, supports smart assistant access, and has an IPX4 rating. What's more, if you download the Sony Headphones Connect app, you can EQ the sound, remap the touch controls, and download firmware updates. If you're willing to shell out the money, this is a great pair of earbuds to get.