When comparing SteelSeries Siberia 840 vs Sennheiser PXC 550, 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 SteelSeries Siberia 840 is ranked 134th. 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 Good passive noise isolation
The ear cups feature a closed design which blocks outside noise. People near you won't hear the in-game audio while you're wearing these.
Pro Compatible with other gaming platforms
This is versatile gaming headset works with PC, Xbox One and a host of other devices.
Pro Boom mic is easy to position
The microphone is flexible and can easily be bent or angled as preferred. If not in use, the mic can be pushed into the ear cup so it won’t get in the way.
Pro Syncs with Engine 3 software
You can adjust the various settings of the Siberia 840 on your computer via Steelseries’ Engine 3 app. You get more fine tuning options compared to what the base station can provide, and you’ll also be able to set and sync audio profiles with your other Steelseries devices, allowing on the fly audio changes depending on the inputs to your Steelseries mouse and/or keyboard.
Pro Wireless connection is fast and stable
The range and stability of the wireless connection is very good. The signal remains stable with clear audio even if the headset is more than 30 feet away from the base. There is also no noticeable delay between what is happening on screen and when you hear the audio.
Pro Bluetooth connectivity
You can connect this headset to your smartphone/tablet and other Bluetooth capable audio devices, which is a major upgrade over the old 800 model. This allows you to take calls from your phone and improves device compatibility, and are perks that you may find to be very useful.
Pro Rich and lively sound
This headset has a fun sound signature. The highs are slightly boosted, which helps make the audio sound very airy. The enhanced bass makes explosions quite powerful and immersive. The mids, while not forward, are present and give body to the audio.
Pro Unique charging system
The Siberia 840 comes with a spare battery pack in addition to the one already provided. The spare battery can be charged independently in the base station, so you can use the headset while the other battery pack charges. Swapping from one battery to another is also quick and easy to do.
Pro Great sounding wireless headset with a lot of connectivity options and a unique charging system
This headset's wireless connection (both RF and Bluetooth) is stable and the sound is detailed and powerful. The base station also accepts a variety of analog and digital inputs, making this a very versatile headset. It also has a long battery life complemented by a charging system that allows you to charge one battery pack while using the other.
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 Charging system can be inconvenient for some
While the charging system and the inclusion of two batteries is a unique and innovative feature, it can also be an inconvenience. You can’t charge the battery while the headset is in use, which can be an issue if you forget to charge your spare battery while the other one is in use. This can also be a problem when you lose headset power mid-game and you need to swap out batteries.
Con Subpar mic volume
While the voice quality from the mic is great, the volume is rather weak. This can make it a little more difficult for teammates to hear your voice.
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.