In my opinion Sennheiser have always had a very confusing range when it comes to their low-end headphones - there's many and just because you're spending more doesn't necessarily mean you're getting something better.

I picked up a pair of these for about £24 (sale price) as a replacement to a pair of HD202s - a headphone that I've sometimes seen as cheap as £12 - but trust Sennheiser to crank the price since it's popular.

Comparing them to the HD202s they're more bassy but the treble clarity is somewhat disappointing. It is however something you can compensate for with an EQ. Alternatively you can just let your ears adjust to the sound.

Design-wise they're virtually identical apart from colour and the detachable jacks which allow you to replace the wire. Whilst the detachable wire can be handy feature be aware that if it wears out a replacement will cost you about £15.

I'm not sure if you can get a free replacement under warranty - I've given up with Sennheiser support - they're the worst company I've ever had to deal with and often just ignore emails.

But to buy or not buy? I'd suggest if you just want a low-end Sennheiser go for the cheaper HD202 as up until the HD555s you won't necessarily be getting a better headphone. There are ofcourse other brands that are worth checking out - Grado, Shure, Koss, Audio Technica and Beyerdynamic.