Philips HP550 Full Size Foldable Headphones
by Philips Consumer Electronics

List Price: $49.99
Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details

• Folding, closed-ear headphone for home or portable use
• Ergonomically shaped cushions ensure minimum sound leakage and maximum comfort
• Sturdy hinges for frequent use and long life
• Lightweight design
• Uses linear-crystal oxygen-free-copper cable; 0.25-inch adapter included

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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Philips HP550 Full Size Foldable Headphones

Customer Review: Terrific budget headphones
Summary: 5 Stars

LIKES:
1. Price

2. 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 size

4. Look good and feel sturdy, though some other reviews here indicate otherwise

5. Blocking external noise
While I was looking for headphones that would block a fair amount of ambient noise, I use these headphones at my work desk too and would like to take the call if the telephone rings ;) I think they do a good job. Listening to music at an average volumes, I can just hear the phone ring.

DISLIKES:
1. Potentially uncomfortable for long usage
It took me a couple of days to figure out a position where my ear lobes don't hurt because of wearing these. Since then, I've used them for upto about 2 hours at a time, without really feeling uncomfortable. These are my 4th set of headphones in a year, and I think they are reasonably comfortable. But the shape of the phone's pad is such that people could potentially find it uncomfortable if not worn correctly

Overall, a great budget headphone!

Description of Philips HP550 Full Size Foldable Headphones

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