Customer Reviews

Sennheiser Binaural Headset with Xl Ear Cap (CC 550)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've used telephone headsets for a couple decades. Mostly Plantronics and Radio Shack. This is the best headset I've ever owned, by far. The sound quality, both hearing and speaking, is excellent. I can hear better than I've ever heard before. And callers tell me that my voice is as clear as they have ever heard (poor folks). While the headset weighs an ounce or two more than my other headsets (it weighs 4.4 oz. with cords), it isn't too heavy and is comfortable to wear. The padding on the headband feels much better on my bald head than the bare metal of my Radio Shack model. I'm happy I spent the money for it.

The earphone speakers are so efficient, I had to turn down the volume on my phone to its lowest level. I've never had to do that before. BTW, I have a couple year old 5.8 GHz Uniden PowerMax wireless phone. I plug the headset into a 2.5 mm headset jack on the portable handset so I can walk around while I pontificate on the phone.

Please note, this headset is not usable without buying an additional cord that contains a plug. While there are several jack-cords available for different types of phones, the one I purchased was manufactured by Sennheiser. According to the label on the package, it appears the model number is CCEL190-2, with a product code of 500359. I bought it from an Amazon vendor (The Price Pros) for $15.65. It is called "Dect/gsm Cable" and works perfectly. Here is a link to the product: Dect/gsm Cable

After reading all sorts of material and alternate descriptions of the headset, I could never learn the size of the earpieces. They are exactly 2" in diameter and slightly larger than my previous Radio Shack earpieces. They are covered in soft padded leather (or pleather), as are the pads on the headband.

The total cord, including the jack-cord, is straight (uncoiled) and is 80" long (jack-cord is ~40"). This is longer than I prefer, and is my only negative on this headset. The jack-cord is connected to the headset cord via a quick release jack/socket thingy. The cable runs out of one side (mic side) of the headset rather than from both sides like my Radio Shack model.

The microphone boom is kind of short at 4.75", but that apparently hasn't hampered callers' ability to hear my voice (too bad for them).

The package includes a cable clip (clip it on your shirt to prevent the weight of the cable from pulling on the headset), storage bag, 2 replacement foam earpiece pads, and 3 color ID clips that clip onto the headband so you can tell yours apart from your co-worker's.

The quality of construction makes me believe it will last for many years. I hope so. I've enjoyed having it.

I recently purchased this headset for use at work. I am on the phone most of the day and was looking for a really high quality headset. I also work at home and have a server rack in my home office, so the ultra noise cancelling was something I was interested in. This headset definately performs. The sound quality is fantastic, as well as what the person on the other end hears.

The only thing to watch out for is that this headset comes with a Sennheiser quick disconnect plug, so in order to plug this into anything you will need another cable in addition. I got both the modular plug for Avaya phone and a 2.5mm adapter.

One of my favorite things about the headset is the comfort. It is very light and yet still feels quite durable. The adjustments work well, especially the mic boom. I have never used a headset with a boom so easily adjustable.

Overall, this headset beats any I have used for an office telephone, and is a good choice if you work in a noisy environment. I have used a plethora of Plantronics headsets, and they cannot come close to this performance.

For example, you will need a Sennheiser CCEL190-2 cable to connect to standard phone. Do an Internet search and you will find [...]the only American reseller to advertise this critical cable (plus they sell the CC550 for less). You will also need a CEDPC1 to connect to a PC and they have a long list of others for commercial phone systems. Otherwise, this is one of a kind. I'm not hearing impaired, but especially since phone companies no longer work to "hear a pin drop" in addition to handsets not fitting against the head and headsets focusing first on being light, I've desperately needed something better. This is it. It certainly costs more than any other headset, but that's nothing if you spend hours a day on the phone.

I have a call center that needed new headsets.
I wanted to get something cheaper but I'm glad I didn't.
These headsets are 4real, they are the real deal.
you can hear and be heard as if your on a land line......
spend the extra 40 bucks you will be glad that you did

Ultra low weight that makes it confortable to wear for extended periods of time, noice cancelling function very effective. However, no volume or mute button, connecting cable to order separately, I would have expected all this to be included considering the price tag. Sound quality when plugged to a PC is actually better on my Logitech wireless headset. I have been somehow disappointed by the 'sound experience' of the Sennheiser, I was perhaps expecting too much..

Sits on your ears, not around them. Does not stay where you put them. Blocks no ambient noise. In fact, some ambient sounds actually seem louder with the headphones on. Sound quality is OK. NO mute switch or volume control. Vastly overpriced for what you get. I have discount-store el-cheapos that cost a tenth as much that are entirely comparable. You're paying for the name, not the features. Save your money.

This headset does not cover your ears. It sits awkwardly on the head. I'm not sure why they call this an XL Ear Cap, unless of course you have ears the size of a marmot. I know someday someone will make a great headset. This is not it.

The main reason I bought the C550 was so I could hear well in conference calls, using both my ears. This headset is comfortable to wear, and it has decent sound reproduction. I'm plugging it into a ShoreTel 265 office phone via the Sennheiser CSTD-01 adapter cable for phone systems, which I purchased with the C550.

I'm disappointed because whenever I'm in a conference call, the other participants tell me my volume is low and can I please speak up. The C550 has no volume control, so rather than shouting and disturbing my office-mates, I fumble to put it down and pick up the handset of my office phone. Now I'm back where I was before I expensed $165.18 total for the headset and the required telephone adapter, including tax and standard shipping.

At least I can hear well if I wear the C550 in meetings where I'm not an active participant, yes? No. The other problem I'm having is that despite the claim of having an "XL ear cap" they are not really over-the ear headphones; they're not large enough to be. Instead, they sit on the ears, hardly blocking ambient sound at all, and when it gets noisy around me in my busy office, I try to cover my ears with my hands. The "XL" ear caps are just large enough to thwart this.

Update October 13, 2011:

Since switching to a new business client, I've had very few complaints by people I'm talking to over the headset of my voice being at a low volume, and consequently I'm able to keep the headset on my head more. So it's possible that my complaint about my clients' not being able to hear me is localized to my prior client. I'm upping my rating from 2 to 3 stars.

I read some of these reviews and almost didn't buy this item. That would have been a mistake. I was using a Panasonic KX-TCA92 headset at work, and thought communications problems were largely just part of the phone system. When I lost them, and decided to get something better.

It's a huge difference. I don't find myself saying "I'm sorry, can you repeat that", or them saying "what" anymore. It makes work so much easier and more productive.

They are a bit expensive, but, it helps so much it's easily worth it. Going back would be excruciating.

These are easily the best I have used.