The Sennheiser HD 555 is a very highly rated open-back dynamic headphone with a very modest price. It is well regarded by its users and for a headphone at this price point, the sound quality is really good. The Sennheiser HD 555 is also worth the investment to get a headphone amp to drive them but the question is which one is best suited to match these Sennheiser headphones.
There are loads of amp choices currently out on the market and to find the matching ones we will first need to understand more about the Sennheiser HD 555 sonic merits and its characteristic sound signature. With the right data, we can then list out the best headphone amps which you can go for and pair with your Sennheiser HD 555 open-back headphone. This list will be provided later on.
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Sound Characteristics and Limitations of Sennheiser HD 555
The Sennheiser HD 555 style and design do look a bit out of date but fortunately, it is still very comfortable to wear. You should change the earpads if they are worn out as it not only makes them more comfortable to wear, it will also positively influence the overall sound quality. The headband is well-padded too and is not very tight, you would probably be able to listen to them for hours without feeling discomfort. We wouldn’t suggest wearing the Sennheiser HD 555 outdoors though, as firstly the environmental noise will disrupt your listening experience and the sound leakage will disturb others near you due to the open-back design. Casual listening in a quiet environment will be recommended.
It has a nice frequency range of 15Hz to 28kHz which is quite impressive for a dynamic headphone at this price category. The Sennheiser HD 555 impedance is even better as it is only at 50 Ohms and this means it is not difficult to drive. Giving us plenty more headphone amp options to choose from. The prices of the headphone amplifiers will be taken into account and they will be quite closely matched with the price point of Sennheiser HD 555 open-back headphones.
More Details at Amazon – Sennheiser HD555 Professional Headphone
This headphone delivers a smooth music presentation with a pleasing sound quality where no matter how loud you play them, you will never need to worry about listener fatigue. The Sennheiser HD 555 never once sounded overly bright and harsh, it is easy to listen to them, and the laid-back music delivery does provide us with a relaxing mood. The bass performance is quite bold for an open-back headphone, you will notice a bit of coloring where the vocal reproductions don’t sound as natural as we want them to be. The low frequencies are rather emphasized and will make the HD 555 ideal for watching movies and/or casual gaming.
The soundstage is really impressive and is more open than expected. The spacious soundstage gives us an immersive listening experience and the stereo imaging is equally remarkable, not to mention, the precision of the HD 555 is terrific as well. Sennheiser HD 555 may not retrieve as many music details as some other newer Sennheiser headphones but they sure are enjoyable to listen to. It is probably the expressive and fluid midrange reproduction that simply engages you with its intimacy. The high-frequency reproduction is smooth and easy on the ears.
Sennheiser HD 555 is a fantastic all-rounder headphone where it would be great for casual music listening, non-competitive gaming, and even for watching movies. Still, the lack of very deep bass reproduction can be a bummer for HT enthusiasts even though the midbass is punchy and has weight to it. All in all, if you are a casual user and not a critical listener, the Sennheiser HD 555 is an excellent headphone go for, and furthermore, it is very comfortable to wear. We will be sharing with you now a list of the best headphone amps that you can choose and match with your Sennheiser HD 555 open-back stereo headphone.
Sennheiser HD 555 Specifications
- Wearing Style: Headband (Over Ear)
- Transducer Principle: Open, Dynamic
- Frequency Response: 15Hz-28kHz
- THD: 0.2%
- Impedance: 50 Ohms
- Weight: 260g (0.57lbs)
Best Amps to pair with Sennheiser HD 555
The Schiit Audio Magni 3+ is one of the best headphone amps to pair with your Sennheiser HD 555. It is a fantastic entry-level solid-state amplifier with a very modest price and is still able to drive your HD 555 with ease. The Schiit Audio Magni 3+ is a headphone amp that is worth every single cent invested and the sonic characteristics are rather similar to the HD 555 headphone. Providing you with a tad more bass impact and solidity, the deep bass performance also has a bit more impact which complements your Sennheiser HD 555 headphone. It is an ideal choice for listeners who wants to add a tad more weight and slightly fuller sound quality.
When it comes to budget entry-level headphone amplifiers, the FiiO E10K is one of the very best choices to go for and to match it with the Sennheiser HD 555 headphones. It even comes with a built-in D/A converter with USB input, providing even more value to its users. The compact size of E10K makes it an extremely portable headphone amp to bring outdoors. It may be small but it is still capable of driving your Sennheiser HD 555. The overall sound quality is good and at this price point, it is really difficult to nitpick. The lean sonic characteristic of the FiiO E10K does help to provide more clarity and music details.
More Information at Amazon – FiiO E10K
The Massdrop Objective 2 is one of the best headphone amps to go for and will provide its users with high sonic performance at an affordable price. At this price point, the amount of performance value you can get from the Objective 2 is unprecedented and it is highly rated by many of its satisfied owners. It is powerful enough to drive your Sennheiser HD 555 and provides you with a detailed music presentation. You can also switch between high or low gains to enhance the sound quality to your liking. There is accuracy in its music delivery and the amp sound signatures are quite suitable for the Sennheiser HD 555.
The Monoprice desktop headphone amplifier is another amazing budget headphone amplifier that has enough power to drive your Sennheiser HD 555 efficiently. The Monoprice headphone amp may have an affordable price but it does not compromise the sound quality. The music presentation is neutral and detailed, it will fare well with the HD 555 headphone, providing a bit more clarity to the overall sound reproduction. The subtle music details and nuances are present, not as clear as higher-end models though. The Monoprice desktop headphone amp even has a built-in DAC and this simply sweetens the deal.
More Details at Amazon – Monoprice Headphone Amplifier
If you need a headphone amp with a premium DAC at a modest price then probably the FiiO K5 Pro will be an excellent choice for you. Firstly, the K5 Pro is powerful enough to easily drive the Sennheiser HD 555 headphone. The premium AK4493 DAC chips will support up to 768kHz/32bit resolution and can decode native DSD audio files. It also has a polished background with pristine clean sound quality and it doesn’t sound overly harsh when pushed to high volume levels. The bass performance is punchy as well, further making FiiO K5 Pro a suitable match with your Sennheiser HD 555.
More Details at Amazon – FiiO K5 Pro AK4493EQ Deskstop DAC and Amplifier
The JDS Labs Atom Amp+ is another excellent affordably priced headphone amp with exceptional sonic performance. It has absolutely no issue in driving your Sennheiser HD 555 and adds a wider dynamic range into the overall sound reproduction, giving you a more engaging music performance without compromising accuracy. Furthermore, the JDS Labs Atom Amp+ also provides more clarity and details further complementing the HD 555 headphone. Schiit Audio Magni Heresy will be another exemplary headphone amp choice to go for. This is an upgrade to their Magni 3 model and the sound quality is well-received by its owners, certainly worth your time to check it out.
More Details at Amazon – Schiit Magni Heresy Headphone Amp and Preamp
To Conclude
The Sennheiser HD 555 may not be the latest open-back model with a more stylish design but when it comes to music enjoyment, it definitely can hold its own against newer models even though it has been around for two decades. The listed headphone amps are some of the best and definitely worth your effort to hear them out. Audition them and see if you like the sound quality you are hearing. You can also use this list of headphone amps as a reference when searching for other brands and models, we will suggest auditioning at least 1 or 2 amplifiers from the list first.
