Gadgetoid

gadg-et-oid [gaj-it-oid]

-adjective

1. having the characteristics or form of a gadget;
resembling a mechanical contrivance or device.

Sennheiser MX 55 VC Headphones

Originally written for elektriq.com

The MX 55 VC headphones are one of the street series, they boast a twist-to-fit design that looks uncomfortable at first glance but, once properly configured, feels good and locks the headphones into your ears to prevent them falling out at every opportunity- as in-ear phones so often do. The phones come with a selection of rubber caps that adjust the fit for optimum comfort and security.

The strange attachments designed to hold the headphones in your ears will feel weird at first but it’s easy to get used to them quickly.

The sound quality, as is typical of Sennheiser, is excellent with the top, middle and bass represented to perfection, the headphones don’t entirely cut out external sound which is a good and bad thing depending on preference. The sound re-production is so good that it reveals line noise where lesser headphones would have dampened it.

The MX 55 VC come with an inline sliding volume control and the standard asymmetrical earphone arrangement with the left cable being shorter than the right. Unfortunately there is no clamp on the volume control meaning it weighs down on the phones and has a tendency of working its way down under clothing needing to be pulled up. A clip on the volume control would have made the headphones perfect, and much more suitable for joggers or people working out at the gym where lose cables would also be a pain. Sadly though the lack of a clip is a fatal flaw for anyone doing anything much more than walking but these headphones are otherwise excellent.

As a final note, the MX 55 VC also come with a bizarre slip carry case that keeps them protected in the depths of your bag, and additionally a set of replacement alternate colour inserts for, uh, style reasons!

Friday, December 8th, 2006, Personal Audio.