When comparing Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Jabra Elite Sport (2017), the Slant community recommends Sennheiser PXC 550 for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Sennheiser PXC 550 is ranked 4th while Jabra Elite Sport (2017) is ranked 26th. The most important reason people chose Sennheiser PXC 550 is:
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.
Specs
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Pros
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.
Pro HearThrough mode allows you to better hear your surroundings
In this mode, the mic picks up audio from your surroundings. You can hear sound from around you mixed in with your music.
Pro Can monitor fitness stats
There is an integrated heart rate monitor which can connect to Jabra's fitness companion app. This combination should make it very easy for you to see fitness related data.
Pro Balanced sound signature with clear highs, rich mids and controlled bass
The Elite Sport sounds quite balanced with no harshness or muddiness. The highs are clear and deliver good detail. Mids sound natural and rich, while the bass is tight and controlled instead of bloated. With these headphones, you will get decent punch from the usually bass-centric workout tracks, yet you will still be able to enjoy a refined sound when listening to more mellow or instrument focused music.
Pro Can be used during workouts or while raining
These resist sweat and other liquids as they are IP67 rated. They can be submerged in water without getting damaged as long as the water is not too deep and they are not submerged for a long time.
Pro Optional wing tips improve fit
You can attach wing tips to the earpieces, which allow for better in-ear fit for reduced chances of the earpieces falling off. The tips are quite soft so they will not have too much of a negative impact on comfort.
Pro Earpiece buttons allow playback/call control
Each earpiece has two buttons which you can use to control playback or to answer/end calls.
Pro Can easily be charged on the go
The charging case has an internal battery that can add up to 6 hours to the Elite Sport's battery life.
Pro Allows you to take calls
There are microphones integrated in the ear pieces so hands free calls are possible. Voice quality from the mic is actually pretty good.
Pro An extensive accessory pack is included
You get a charging case, 3 pairs of silicone ear tips in different sizes, 3 pairs of premium Comply ear tips in different sizes, 3 wing tips in different sizes as well as a charging cable.
Cons
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.
Con Battery life is not very good
On average, you'll only be able to get around 3 hours of playback time from a full charge.