While we were impressed by the HD555s' home-theater performance, its music reproduction fell a bit short. On Jazz Descargas, a CD of passionate Afro-Cuban percussion, the HD555s sounded a little too sweet and laid back, as the 'phones softened the interplay between the drummers. Aerosmith's blues CD, Honkin' on Bobo, also sounded a tad restrained for our tastes. We preferred Sennheiser's more vivid HD 280 Pro headphones.
Things changed again when we hooked up our iPod to the HD555s. The rich sound was irresistible, and the generous bass balance brought out the best in all sorts of music. We did not, however, have the same kind of luck with our Jens of Sweden MP-110. The comparatively underpowered player didn't fare as well as the iPod--it just couldn't pump out enough volume for the HD555s.
In short, if you're a music lover who demands vivid, detailed sound from your headphones, the HD555s probably aren't for you; consider the Sennheiser HD 280 Pros instead. But if you want great home-theater sound without waking the neighbors, the HD555s are calling your name.
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