The K553 MKII is a closed-back, over-ear headphone aimed at studio monitoring, mixing and mastering. The closed design provides noise isolation, while the tuning is described as giving a wider, more open soundstage than is usual for closed-back models. It uses 50 mm drivers with a 32 Ω rated impedance and 114 dB SPL/V sensitivity, so it can be driven by laptops and mobile devices as well as studio sources.

The headband and cups use a lightweight over-ear construction with extra-large soft ear pads for long sessions, and the pads are replaceable. A 2D-axis mechanism lets the cups fold flat for storage and transport, and the weight is 305 g.

The cable is detachable and 1.83 m long. The box includes a 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm adapter, so the headphones connect to both portable devices and standard studio headphone outputs. Frequency response is stated as 12 Hz to 28 kHz.