Soundmagic Vento P55

£150

Among headphone manufacturers, Soundmagic is something of a plucky underdog. It’s one of the only Chinese brands you’ll find on the high street, where it competes with the Sonys and Sennheisers of this world. The Vento P55s are full-size over-ear headphones that are nevertheless designed to be portable – an alternative to the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 or B&O H6.

A profusion of aluminium parts gives these cans a premium look and feel. The thick foam padding topped with high-quality synthetic leather on the cups and headband is suitably squishy, and they don’t apply too much pressure on your ears. We have a few reservations about the pads though, which are on the small side. After a while this can cause some discomfort.

Ample accessories

The P55s don’t fold up, but the cups do turn 90 degrees, making them much easier to stash in the semi-rigid carry case. Soundmagic includes two cables: one with a three-button remote, one without. There are also airplane adapters.

When the music plays the aim is clearly to max out detail, and the treble takes on responsibility for creating the “wow, these are detailed” effect Soundmagic is after. The result is a slightly bright sound with good clarity in the higher registers.

The midrange and treble, however, have an affected, processed character that makes music sound a little pinched and less than natural. It’s as though some overall integrity in the sound has been sacrificed for the perception of detail. Bass reproduction is plump without verging into boominess, though it does lack a little solidity. Soundstage width and separation are both fair for a full-size headphone. The P55s stack up fairly well, but they lack the tonal neutrality we’re after at this price.

“There’s a real sense of vertical space as well as width, creating immersive soundscapes that would be impressive on wired cans“