New Gear Review: Z55 Professional Reference Headphones by Samson

Samson shows the pro audio community they mean business with the Z55 Professional Reference Headphones, a cost effective option for reference quality tones on the go and tracking applications in the studio.

Audio engineers are usually familiar with the current trendy headphone brands of choice, but every so often a company will come along with a surprising new offering.

Samson might not be the first name you think of when it comes to studio headphones, but their latest design is worth considering.

The Z55 Professional Reference Headphones offer a closed back, over-the-ear design with a few welcome features and a balanced response.

Features

One of the key features the Z55s bring to the table is their 45mm Drivers, made from neodymium magnets. This is an upgrade from most of Samson’s other models, which sport smaller 40mm drivers. (Their open-back SR850 model is the exception here with 50mm drivers.) The frequency response of the headphones extends all the way from 10Hz-25kHz.

But the component that Samson has really thought through with the Z55s is the range of detachable cables offered. Yes, detachable. The 8’ straight, 4’-10’ coiled, and the 4’ straight with a built-in microphone and call/answer control, make these headphones extremely versatile and practical for everyday use. Samson has also thought to include a protective carrying pouch with the Z55s.

The Z55s feature a convenient collapsible design with 90º rotating ear cups. (Upon exploring the user manual, I learned there are actually two ways to collapse these headphones. So be advised, if at first you think you are wrong, you are not, there’s just more than one way to collapse the Z55s.)

As for the technical specifications, they have a sensitivity @1kHz dB/W 98dB and a Max Input Power @1kHz of 1000mW. Impedance is 32 Ohm, and as mentioned above the frequency response is 10Hz-25kHz via 45mm Drivers. The voice coil wire is copper-clad aluminum, and the ear pads are genuine lambskin. They are fairly lightweight for their size, weighing in at 0.52lbs (240g).

In Use

The Z55’s are conveniently collapsable in not one, but two different ways.

When testing them, I found the Z55 headphones to be comfortable, and that they will fit a smaller head, offering very good isolation for recording and studio use.

The convenient cable options helped make the headphones easy to use in a variety of scenarios. These cable options even provide an added benefit for the home studio musician who wants a closed-back set of headphones for recording themselves, but doesn’t have the additional cash to spend on a second pair with a decent microphone for everyday use with a smartphone.

To Be Critical

I found that the frequency response and sound of the headphones was quite balanced, for the most part. I did find that the midrange to high-midrange frequencies seemed somewhat dark and muddied to my ears, and as such they wouldn’t be my go-to headphones for mixing or other critical listening

However, I would say they would be perfect for use in recording applications or anyone working in field and location recording when good isolation is key. Given the collapsible design and carrying bag, anyone in need of professional-grade headphones to take on-the-go would find these a suitable and flexible option.

Summing it Up

The Z55 headphones by Samson are a good choice for audioworkers who may be switching between recording and listening applications. They would also be a comfortable option for boom mic operators, field recordists, DJs, and studio musicians. With a new reduced price of $149.99, these headphones are worth a look for anyone who is looking for good sound isolation, comfort, and flexible portability.

Kallie Marie is a producer, composer and educator who lives in New York.

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