When comparing Bose QuietComfort 35 vs Sennheiser PXC 550, the Slant community recommends Bose QuietComfort 35 for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Bose QuietComfort 35 is ranked 1st while Sennheiser PXC 550 is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Bose QuietComfort 35 is:
Bose's noise cancelling tech is quite effective at blocking ambient noise. This will help you fully enjoy the music with little to virtually no outside noise interfering.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Effective noise cancelling
Bose's noise cancelling tech is quite effective at blocking ambient noise. This will help you fully enjoy the music with little to virtually no outside noise interfering.
Pro Great for on the go use as they are wireless
With these, you won't have to deal with long and dangling cables that can be difficult to manage.
Pro Very good battery life
The QC35s can play music continuously for up to 20 hours. This should cover most of your trips' duration before needing to recharge.
Pro Connects to multiple devices
Bose QC35 connects to 2 devices (for media and phone calls) allowing one to listen to music on the laptop and get calls from the cell phone. Allows to change the music provider (laptop or cell phone) automatically. With Sony or Senheiser all you can do is connect media on one device and phone on the other device... functional but really restricted one you get used with QC35.
Pro Feels soft and comfortable
The QC 35's ear cups and headband feature quality memory foam material which are soft and supportive so they do not pinch on your ears or apply too much pressure to the top of the head. These contact points are also covered with a quality leather material which feels nice and smooth on the skin.
Pro Light and easy to wear
Despite having internal batteries, these headphones are still fairly lightweight, coming in at 235 grams. This makes the QC35 really easy to wear for extended periods and even while traveling.
Pro Ear cup buttons allow easy control
You can easily control playlist functions using the buttons on the right ear cup. These functions include volume control as well as the play, pause, next track and previous track commands. The on/off switch for the headphones is also on this ear cup.
Pro Has wired and Bluetooth connectivity
Aside from Bluetooth connection, you can also connect the QuietComfort 35 to a source using a 3.5mm cable. This makes the headphones usable even with the battery depleted.
Pro Fairly balanced sound signature with slight boosts to the mids and highs
Bass is full and punchy. While the sub-bass is not pronounced, there is good and fast bass extension, and this is what gives the music punch and a sense of tightness.
The mids are full and slightly forward so vocals and guitars can be clearly heard.
The highs are clear and do not distort at high volumes. There is a peak on the upper treble which helps to add more detail and clarity to the music, but some may also find the high frequencies to be quite harsh at times.
Pro Mic produces great voice quality
Multiple microphones are strategically located on both ear cups, allowing for great voice quality when taking calls. The noise cancelling also helps to clean up the voice quality that goes into the headphones.
Pro Effective noise cancelling
The feature works really well in preventing outside noise from intruding into your music listening experience. Also, there are very little to no reports of a feeling of pressure in the ears when the feature is active.
Pro Powerful bass with good detail on the mids and highs
The sound tuning of these headphones is focused on the lower frequencies. The bass is quite powerful with good sub-bass extension. Users who listen to a lot of hip-hop, dance and bass-heavy music will certainly enjoy the oomph that these headphones can give. The mids sound natural and smooth, yet the lower regions of these frequencies can be overwhelmed by the powerful bass. The highs are crisp and clear though, which prevents the sound from getting too muddy.
Pro Comfortable to wear for long periods
Soft foam and leather are used in the interior and exterior of the ear pads respectively which makes them feel really soft and smooth on the head. The same material choices can be found in the headband.
Pro Headphones automatically pause/play when put on/removed
The Smart Pause feature detects if you are removing or putting on your headphones. These gestures will trigger the music to pause or play automatically.
Pro Right ear cup functions as remote
When in wireless mode, you do not need to use buttons in order to control the functions of the headphones. The right ear cup lets you control the headphones through touch gestures. You can swipe left or right for next or previous track, swipe up or down to increase or decrease the volume or tap on the ear cup to pause or play track as well as answer or end calls.
Pro Noise cancelling levels can be adjusted
You can set just how much noise is cancelled by the headphones, from maximum active noise cancelling, to an ambient mode which allows some sound into the headphones. You can also turn the feature off entirely.
Pro Great passive noise isolation
These headphones are quite effective at preventing sound leakage, and also passively block out noise really well. This is achieved by the closed ear cup design along with the effective seal from the leather-surfaced ear pads.
Pro Can fold down for easier travel
You can twist the ear cups and then fold them into the headband for a smaller, more travel friendly size. In this state, it should take up a lot less space inside your bag for less hassle when used on the go.
Pro Companion smartphone app offers extra functionality
Sennheiser offers the CapTune smartphone app which allows users to see the battery level of the headphones, adjust the headphones' EQ, and control other functions.
Pro Carrying case gives headphones extra travel protection
The case is made from a tough fabric material which should protect the headphones from minor bumps and scratches.
Cons
Con Noise cancelling may cause ear discomfort
Some experience a feeling of extra pressure into the ears when noise cancelling is on. Many find this to be unpleasant.
Con Gesture tracking can be too sensitive
Simply brushing your finger onto the right ear cup can trigger a command for the headphones. This can be annoying for some people.
