Audio-Technica ATH-A550Z Closed Back Headphones

I'm no expert. I bought these to reduce background noise while I work, but I got more than I bargained for. I can hear subtle sounds that bring a new dimensions to old tracks. Even sounds on home recorded youtube videos - it's like the difference between black-and-white with my old headphones and color with these.

These headphones are the first step to rediscovering music. I recommend starting your adventure with audio-technica

Excellent

Had these for a few months now, came back to review it after giving it a good long go.At first the band over the head was a bit tight but after breaking it in for a while it eased up and got used to the size of my head.Sound quality is leaps and bounds better than anything I've personally ever experienced, fantastic for both music and videogames.Is extremely difficult to hear people talking if your wearing them, which is perfect for ignoring people throughout the house.I'd suggest getting it on sale if you can, but overall its not the worst decision if you buy it at full price.Still excellent overall though.

Great Product

This is the most comfortable set of headphones I have ever owned. You can wear these for hours and forget that they are on over your ears. No fatigue of any kind to report.Sound quality is ok not overly impressed by them, they have a huge frequency range and it pickesup every small error in a recording.Thease are good for reference in the mastering process, along with my other sets i own it will be usedprimarily as a mistake hunter. Not something I would use for a daily driver at all. I will give it credit for bass response, that was one thing that took me by suprise. Do not typically find the bass response like these have in this style of headphone.Overall build quality seems good. and not to many places as a potential failure point.I would reccomend ... MoreThis is the most comfortable set of headphones I have ever owned. You can wear these for hours and forget that they are on over your ears. No fatigue of any kind to report.Sound quality is ok not overly impressed by them, they have a huge frequency range and it pickesup every small error in a recording.Thease are good for reference in the mastering process, along with my other sets i own it will be usedprimarily as a mistake hunter. Not something I would use for a daily driver at all. I will give it credit for bass response, that was one thing that took me by suprise. Do not typically find the bass response like these have in this style of headphone.Overall build quality seems good. and not to many places as a potential failure point.I would reccomend the Manufacturer look at the detachable cord in future build updates.

Great Sound, Comfort, and Value

To start, these were my first pair of real cans that weren't a gaming headset so keep that in mind while reading. From the minute you open the box you know what your getting with these. There are no frills or fancy packaging, just the headphones, with the 1/4' adapter included as well if you have an amp, DAC, or an audio interface with a 1/4 input. I'm not to big of a fan of the cable since it's somewhat rubberized but that's just a nitpick. The wing system is a love it or hate it thing. I personally enjoy it as it doesn't concentrate the pressure anywhere on your head. If the fit is too lose for you, its easy to put a rubber band between the wings to get the desired clamping force. If you have thick hair, the wings will leave impressions on top too so keep that in ... MoreTo start, these were my first pair of real cans that weren't a gaming headset so keep that in mind while reading. From the minute you open the box you know what your getting with these. There are no frills or fancy packaging, just the headphones, with the 1/4' adapter included as well if you have an amp, DAC, or an audio interface with a 1/4 input. I'm not to big of a fan of the cable since it's somewhat rubberized but that's just a nitpick. The wing system is a love it or hate it thing. I personally enjoy it as it doesn't concentrate the pressure anywhere on your head. If the fit is too lose for you, its easy to put a rubber band between the wings to get the desired clamping force. If you have thick hair, the wings will leave impressions on top too so keep that in mind if you plan in wearing them for long periods at work or something like that. Sound wise I love them. Compared to my previous headsets - Logitech G933, HyperX Cloud 2, & PlayStation Elite Gold Headset - these sound fantastic. The bass can leave a little to be desired if you love heavy bass, but everything I've listened to sounds clear and sharp. The soundstage is great for games. In shooters like CS:GO and Overwatch you can hear everything around you perfectly. Moving to something like Dark Souls 3, you'll be completely immersed in every environment. For music use these can be a tad harsh to listen to for long periods at first however you'll get used to it pretty quick. I'm very happy with my first pair of true headphones from AT. The black and gold color scheme is muted enough to fit in most setups and looks very clean. The wing system is fantastic in my opinion, and I'm not sure if you can beat these for the price. Overall these are a fantastic entry into the audiophile community without breaking the bank.

Left ear dies, second pair it's happened to.

I love these headphones but, this is my second pair that have had the left ear just randomly die. It's very frustrating especially because they are not cheap. These ones had to have died in roughly a year, that's horrible. Please, just get something else.

Quality headphones

A good value for a very nice set of headphones. Comfortable with great sound quality.

Solid Replacement for ATH-A700X

These were a direct replacement for a pair of ath-a700x's that finally died on me. They strongly resemble the other high quality ATH studio monitors. They need a few hours to burn in, but are crisp, bright, clear, and fill out the sound stage with a pleasant mix of clarity and fullness. You can really hear the isolated instruments and the pauses and separation of everything. They are not super bassy but more balanced. Great product for the price. I mostly use them for gaming and music.

These headphones have a great

These headphones have a great sound stage the separation is excellent and the audio quality is surprisingly very very good. They are very comfortable even after wearing them for extended periods. Highly recommended