Philips HP550 Full Size Foldable Headphones

List Price:

$49.99

Philips Consumer Electronics

Avg. Customer Review:
Media: Electronics
This item is currently not available.

• Folding, closed-ear headphone for home or portable use
• Ergonomically shaped cushions ensure minimum sound leakage and maximum comfort
• Sturdy hinges for frequent use and long life
• Lightweight design
• Uses linear-crystal oxygen-free-copper cable; 0.25-inch adapter included

• Electronics: 0 pages
• Publisher: Philips Consumer Electronics
• Label: Philips Consumer Electronics
• Studio: Philips Consumer Electronics
• Average Customer Review: based on 34 reviews

• Memorex 700MB/80-Minute 52x CD-R Media (100-Pack Spindle)
• KHypermedia 80-Minute/700 MB 48x Blank CD-Rs (200-Pack Spindle)
• Sony PC-234S Audio Plug Adaptor

Here is what I found out....

the Bose systems do not reproduce reference sound - they automatically add emotion to it. They are not for purists or audiophiles , they are for the common listener with extra cash
that wants the best system and the oomph factor, without having
the best sound source...

The Sennheisers offer a pure reference sound. Crystal Clear.

However all these cost between $80-$300. For $25 the Phillips
is FANTASTIC. The BASE rocks/treble is fantastic/mid range is a bit lacking. The phones nicely fold up/look good and are light.
They DO however become uncomfortable after a few hours of continous wear. So watch out

But they OFFER THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK. If I heard them without knowing the price I might have thought they costed atleast a 100 bucks.. I fully recommend these to anyone who
wants clear music with a good punch of Bass. I have had these for 2 1/2 years and they serve me very well. Go for it


5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Customer Rating:
Summary: 3.75 Stars - Worth Amazon's Price 2003-12-11
Comment: Comfort (4.5/5)
For a set of headphones under $25, these headphones are much more comfortable than the closed-ear Sony or Jenson offerings in this price range. I have a smallish head and tend to have difficult finding headphones that fit snugly and don't slide off. These are the perfect sized headphones for my head - but if you know you have a large noggin I don't know if the fit will appease massive craniums. When first worn the headphones are very comfortable and roomy. Over the course of 2 hours or so, the headphones become less comfortable. However, they never reach the painful status that the sony mdr-v300 headphones, which are in the same price range. Overall, the fit of these headphones is the best I've found in the numerous headphones under $100 that I've purchased.

Sound (3/5)
** I do not have the sophisticated sonic discernment of an audiophile**
The comfortable fit of these headphones makes it feel as if there is a lot of room between your ear and the phone. From this you hear a more developed sound that you couldn't get with the headphone pressed right up against your ear.
There is very little bass in these headphones, though. Adjusting the bass from your sound source, improves the bass, but not massively. This issue is usually found in most cheaper headphones. If fantastic bass is a requirement for your headphone experience, you should opt for a different set, and shell out more cash.

Style and Practical Use (3.75/5)
These two qualities are where I find most headphones get their variations, and it also one that is not usually paid much attention to in reviews. But when you make a set of headphones part of your daily life, an extra foot of cord can be the difference between headphone hassles and headphone heaven. Style is being paid increasing attention to by headphone designers, most notably those who design the unintentionally akward sony-style designs. Yet, reviews usually do not provide an in depth description of what the headphones look on your head. Actual pictures of the headphones being worn by people would be helpful in chosing headphones you won't be fun of for wearing.
These headphones meet the style requirement. The picture on the product description initially turned me off because the bridge of phones looked too futuristic for my post-modern tastes. However, the headphones looks very different on your head than they do off. The odd design which combines sparse amounts of silver, blue, plastic and metal looks natural on your head. The bridge is minimalistic and stands out less than more bulky bridges of only one material and color. I realize now that this design was more for the technical reason of making the headphones lightweight than for stylistic reasons.
The cups of the headphones are the most bulky and obvious part of the design. They lie flat and angled towards the back of your head, though, so they look more like earmuffs than tea cups. Overall, the style is subtle and less imposing than most headphone designs.
The practical use of the headphones is hindered by a couple of flaws in the design. The headphone cord is *too* sort for home use. At 3 feet it is suitable for completely stationary use when your stereo is close- such as plugging into your laptop or computer. I have found it a hassle to plug the headphones into my stereo on a neighboring table while I read, because the slightest movement is hindered by the cord. This is a clear case where an extra foot of cord would have aided the headphones. If the headphones are for mobile use, the shortened cord may be welcome.
Another design inconveinence is the puzzle it can be to get the headphones onto your head. The cups automatically fold together and upward and this can make for a stuggle to open them for wear, as they often will collapse back while you open them. This collapsing makes compact and ideal for mobile use, but struggling to get them open while you are darting between destinations can also be a hassle. They are not impossible to get the hang of though, and after regular use most will get the hang of it.

Overall these are good headphones when compared to those in their price range. If you trouble finding headphones because you have a small head, I definitely recommend these headphones!


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Headphones 2003-11-12
Comment: Pros
-Fold well
-Good sound
-feel comfortable
-a great price
Cons
-Broke after 2 or so years of constant usage
-cord somewhat short

Well I bought these about 2-3 years back, and ever since they've been with me pretty much everywhere, as I am an audiophile. half a year ago they broke; one of the sides stopped making any sound. Over the summer I went to get new ones and found I couldn't locate them, so I bought two "street style" headphones and a Panasonic RP-HT850 headphones. After comparing the lot of them I've found that while the panasonic ones are smaller, they hurt your ears, and the two "street style" ones I just didn't find comfortable. Furthermore, the panasonic ones have already broken, the same problem as was with the philips ones, but far earlier. I'm greatly relieved to have found these and shall be getting a set for myself ASAP.


2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Customer Rating:
Summary: Best headphones under $100? I don't think so, Amazon. 2003-09-23
Comment: I've been looking forward to my new Philips HP550s since my last set of Jensens (JF25) got destroyed a week ago. I've been so happy with my Jensens over the past two years that I wanted to just buy the same pair, but they're been discontinued.

I work from home, and I spent a lot of time with my headphones on, so it's important to me to have a pair that sounds good and is comfortable. I guess I got spoiled with my Jensens...I thought I could find another pair of decent headphones for under $25. (The Jensens were only $15!)

These Philips aren't nearly so comfortable. The plastic band that goes over your head is softer and more pliable than on most headphones, but when it sits right on your head, it gets uncomfortable real quick (especially since I don't have a lot of hair to cushion it). The Jensens had a soft pad attached with elastic that kept the plastic band completely off your head. Probably not so durable, but much more comfortable.

The cord is too short...I can't hook it into the back of my computer and sit in my chair at any comfortable distance as I'm used to doing. According to the specs, the cord is 5 ft long. Long enough for a discman or a laptop probably, but not for much else. The Jensens supposedly had a six foot cord, but it seemed much, much longer than the Philips', and it always allowed me a free range of motion. It also only attached to one ear piece rather than both of them, as the Philips does, which was less constrictive.

The ear pads on the Philips are alright...not bad, but not good either. Could easily get uncomfortable after an hour of use.

Overall, the quality of the Philips seems slightly superior to the Jensens, and I can't see any obvious weaknesses. Would probably last a long time.

The sound quality in the Philips is superior...deeper bass, richer sound. I like it. But if I can't stand to have them on my head, what good is that? I'm either sending these back or giving them to my girlfriend to use with her laptop.