When comparing Sennheiser PXC 550 vs Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2, the Slant community recommends Sennheiser PXC 550 for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones for blocking out open office noise?” Sennheiser PXC 550 is ranked 1st while Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 is ranked 7th. 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 Good sound reproduction, wireless signal stability and decent noise-canceling for the price
With the BackBeat Pro 2, you get powerful yet clear sound that is comparable to higher end models but at a noticeably more affordable price. Wireless range and stability is quite good and the noise cancelling, while not the best, can reduce a good amount of external noise.
Pro Decent noise cancelling
While the active noise canceling is not the best, it is able to reduce a good amount of noise from your surroundings. Loud engine sounds or high pitched noise may still mix in with your music though.
Pro Clear and powerful sound
The BackBeat Pro 2’s mids and treble are not forward, yet sound clear and neutral. You may hear a bit of sharpness in the higher frequencies, but overall you’ll get a pleasant listening experience with great details from your music.
The low-end is quite emphasized, so you’ll get a lot of thump from bass hits. Bass lovers will likely find these headphones to be up their alley.
Pro Music automatically pauses when taking the headphones off
You won’t need to press a button on the headphones or on your source device to pause the music when you need to remove the BackBeat Pro 2. There are sensors inside the headphones that detect this motion, so the music is automatically paused, and then resumed when you put the headphones back on.
Pro Open-listening mode
Listen to the environment via a microphone without taking off the headphones.
Pro Wired or wireless functionality
These headphones have Bluetooth connectivity for wireless convenience, but you can also switch to 3.5mm wired mode if the battery runs out and you cannot charge right away.
Pro Good wireless range and stability
You’ll be able to hear audio even if you are around 100 feet away from your source device, provided there is a clear line of sight. Signal quality is also pretty good with minimal music cuts and drops.
Pro Very good battery life
These headphones can last up to 24 hours of playback from a full charge, and this with moderate volumes in wireless mode with noise cancelling activated. This is very good battery life, considering other wireless headphones at the price range only have around half the battery life on average.
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 Heavy
These headphones may put some strain on your head and neck due to these being quite heavy, coming in at almost 300 grams.
Con Bulky for traveling
These headphones may not be ideal for on-the-go use, as they are large, full-sized headphones that do not fold down to a compact size.