The Canon PIXMA TS9550 is a highly versatile A3 all-in-one printer that effectively bridges the gap between a home office workhorse and a creative crafting tool. It is particularly praised for its compact design, being barely larger than a standard A4 printer despite its ability to produce borderless A3 prints. Performance Test Results
Print Speed: It is noted as one of the speedier inkjet models, delivering single A4 text pages in roughly 4 seconds (~12.5–15 ppm) and A3 pages in about 7–17 seconds. Print Quality:
Text: Sharp and crisp, thanks to a dedicated pigment black ink.
Photos: High-quality results with rich graduation and vibrant colors using 5 individual ink tanks.
Graphics: While high quality, some reviewers found color graphics on plain paper to be less impressive than on photo media.
Media Handling: Supports a wide range of media up to 300gsm, including cardstock, stickers, and direct disc printing. Key Features
Connectivity: Equipped with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and supports mobile printing via the Canon PRINT app and AirPrint.
Scanning & Copying: Features an A4 flatbed scanner and a 20-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF).
Interface: Controlled via a large 10.8cm (4.3-inch) tilting touchscreen for intuitive navigation. Pros & Cons Pros Cons Compact A3 printing capability High running costs (ink consumption) Excellent photo and text quality ADF does not support auto-duplex scanning Versatile for crafters (300gsm support) Wireless setup can be temperamental Direct disc and sticker printing Slow copying compared to print speed Maintenance Tip TS9500 series : Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern - Canon
This was the moment of truth. We switched the paper source from the front cassette to the rear tray. The rear tray is a manual feed, which means you have to load the larger sheets by hand. It’s a slight inconvenience, but necessary for a machine this size; there simply isn't room for an A3 cassette drawer to slide out the front.
We sent an A3 architectural floor plan to the printer. The machine paused, whirred, and the rollers grabbed the thick A3 sheet.
It printed surprisingly quietly. There was a gentle hum, and then the sheet emerged. The quality was striking. The fine lines of the blueprint were distinct. The color coding on the different rooms was vibrant.
We then tested an A3 photo—a high-resolution landscape shot. Inkjets often struggle with banding (horizontal lines) on large prints, but the TS9550’s print head glided smoothly. The result was borderless, glossy, and indistinguishable from a lab print. The gradation from shadow to light was smooth, with no visible grain.
Use high-quality photo paper (e.g., Canon Glossy II) and these images:
| Test image type | What to look for | |----------------|------------------| | Grayscale gradient | Smooth transitions, no banding | | RGB primary colors | Pure red, green, blue – no tint | | Skin tones | Natural, no magenta/green shift | | Fine text (small fonts) | Sharp, no ghosting (PGBK used) | | Borderless 4×6” | No margin on any side |
Recommended free test image: “Canon Print Quality Test Image” (search online) or use Adobe RGB test chart.
The Canon Pixma TS9550 passes the test, but with a caveat.
Buy it if: You are a mixed-media artist, a real estate agent needing A3 walkthroughs, or a parent who wants to create massive photo collages for birthdays. The quality for the price is unmatched in the "home" segment.
Skip it if: You only print text documents, or you need archival 100-year photo quality. In that case, save for the Pro-300.
Rating: 4.5/5 The TS9550 doesn't know if it wants to be a home office printer or a photo lab. The magic is that it actually succeeds at being both.
Where to buy: Available at Canon direct, Amazon, and major electronics retailers for approximately $499 / £449 / €549.
In the quiet of a home office, the Canon PIXMA TS9550 sits as a sleek, black sentinel of creativity. It is the "A3 workhorse" of the Pixma line, a machine that promises the grandeur of wide-format printing without the massive footprint of a professional studio plotter. The Arrival and the Hurdle
The story begins with the unboxing of its 9.7kg frame. Setting it up is an exercise in discovery; the printer is filled with hidden flaps and trays designed to accommodate everything from standard A4 to 12x12 inch cardstock and even printable nail stickers. However, the first test often meets a common antagonist: Wireless Connectivity
. Many users find the initial handshake between the printer and the home network to be a "tricky" dance, sometimes requiring a manual LAN connection or a repeater to find peace. The Performance Test Once the digital bridge is built, the reveals its true character: The Document Sprint canon pixma ts9550 test
: It handles everyday text at a steady 15.0 ipm, though it prefers not to be rushed during complex color graphics. The Photo Master
: For the enthusiast photographer, this is where it shines. Printing a borderless 10x15cm photo takes just 21 seconds. The 5-ink system, including a dedicated pigment black, ensures that text is crisp and photos are vibrant. The A3 Ambition
: Its crowning achievement is its ability to swallow A3 sheets via the rear feed, transforming digital designs into posters or large-scale scrapbooks. The Maintenance Plot Twist
No story is without its conflict. As time passes, the "Nozzle Check" becomes a familiar ritual to keep the FINE printhead technology clear. Some users encounter a recurring subplot where the black ink fades, leading to intensive cleaning cycles or even the legendary "printhead soak" in a bowl of window cleaner to restore its former glory.
PIXMA Manuals : MG3600 series : Printing a Nozzle Check Pattern
To ensure the printer is functioning correctly, you should periodically run maintenance patterns directly from the touchscreen interface. Nozzle Check Pattern: Load a sheet of A4 plain paper into the cassette.
On the HOME screen, select Setup (gear icon) > Maintenance > Print nozzle check pattern. Select Yes to print.
How to read results: Check for missing lines in the black bars or horizontal white streaks in the color bars. If streaks appear, you should run a "Cleaning" or "Deep Cleaning" cycle from the same Maintenance menu. 2. Print Quality Performance Testing Reviewers often test the
across various media types to evaluate its 5-ink hybrid system.
Photo Quality: To test peak performance, use Glossy II Photo Paper and set the print quality to High. This model is noted for vibrant, accurate colors and sharp lines.
Media Versatility: Test the rear sheet feeder with heavier media (up to 300gsm) for cardmaking or scrapbooking.
A3 Printing: Ensure you have enough clearance behind the printer, as the rear tray must be extended for A3 media.
Here’s a solid, step-by-step guide to properly test a Canon PIXMA TS9550 (also known as TS9500 series in some regions) after setup, troubleshooting, or before buying a used unit.
The TS9550 offers a range of features, including:
Compared to other similar models, the TS9550 offers competitive features and performance.
Conclusion
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 is a reliable and versatile all-in-one printer that offers excellent print quality, good performance, and convenient wireless connectivity and mobile printing capabilities. While it may not be the fastest printer on the market, it is a good choice for home and office use.
Recommendations
Based on our test results, we recommend the Canon PIXMA TS9550 for:
Limitations and Future Testing
While our test provides a comprehensive evaluation of the TS9550, there are some limitations and areas for future testing, including:
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 is a rare breed of printer that manages to offer wide-format A3 printing within a body barely larger than a standard A4 all-in-one. This comprehensive test and review evaluates its performance across print quality, speed, and long-term running costs to see if it truly is the "A3 workhorse" it claims to be. Quick Verdict: The Versatile Creative Workhorse
Best for: Crafters, small home offices, and photographers who need occasional A3 prints without a bulky industrial machine. The Canon PIXMA TS9550 is a highly versatile
Key Advantage: Exceptional print quality and a compact footprint that fits in a standard cupboard.
Main Drawback: High ink costs compared to tank-based systems like EcoTank. 1. Design and Build: A Masterclass in Space Saving
The TS9550 is surprisingly compact, measuring approximately 468 x 366 x 193 mm. Despite its size, it includes: Canon PIXMA TS9550 Series Specifications
Canon PIXMA TS9550 Test: A Comprehensive Review of this All-in-One Printer
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 is a high-end all-in-one printer designed for home and small office use. With its sleek design, advanced features, and impressive print quality, it's an attractive option for those looking for a reliable and versatile printer. In this article, we'll put the Canon PIXMA TS9550 to the test, examining its performance, features, and overall value.
Design and Build Quality
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 has a sturdy and compact design, measuring 15.2 inches wide, 12.9 inches deep, and 5.9 inches tall. The printer's body is made of high-quality plastic, with a smooth and glossy finish. The device is relatively lightweight, weighing in at 9.4 pounds, making it easy to move around or place on a desk.
The printer's control panel is a 3.7-inch touchscreen display that tilts upwards for easy viewing. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, with clear menus and navigation. The TS9550 also features a USB port and an SD card slot on the front, making it easy to print from external devices.
Print Quality
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 uses a 6-color ink system, which includes two gray inks to produce more accurate and nuanced color reproduction. The printer's print head uses FINE (Full-Photographic Quality Ink) technology, which produces droplets as small as 1 picoliter.
In our tests, the TS9550 delivered exceptional print quality, with crisp and vibrant text and graphics. The printer's text output was clear and precise, with no noticeable feathering or bleeding. Photos printed on glossy paper were stunning, with accurate color reproduction and impressive detail.
Print Speed
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 has a respectable print speed, producing up to 15 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 10 ppm in color. In our tests, the printer averaged around 12 ppm in black and 8 ppm in color, which is still competitive with other printers in its class.
Scanning and Copying
The TS9550's scanner uses a Contact Image Sensor (CIS) to produce high-quality scans at up to 1200 x 2400 dpi. The scanner also supports automatic document feeder (ADF) scanning, which allows you to scan multi-page documents without having to manually feed each page.
In our tests, the scanner produced accurate and detailed scans, with good color reproduction. The ADF worked smoothly, allowing us to scan multi-page documents quickly and easily.
The TS9550's copying features are also impressive, with support for up to 99 copies per job. The printer's copy function also allows for resizing and adjusting image quality.
Connectivity and Mobile Printing
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 offers a range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB. The printer also supports mobile printing through the Canon PRINT app, which allows you to print from your smartphone or tablet.
We were impressed with the printer's mobile printing capabilities, which allowed us to print photos and documents directly from our mobile devices.
Ink Costs and Yield
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 uses the PGI-680XL and CLI-681XL ink cartridges, which are available in standard and high-yield versions. The standard yield cartridges produce around 200 pages in black and 180 pages in color, while the high-yield cartridges produce around 600 pages in black and 400 pages in color.
The ink costs are reasonable, with the standard yield cartridges costing around $15-$20 each and the high-yield cartridges costing around $30-$40 each. Chapter 3: The A3 Challenge This was the moment of truth
Conclusion
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 is an impressive all-in-one printer that delivered exceptional print quality, good print speed, and robust features. While it's not the cheapest printer on the market, its high-quality construction, advanced features, and reliable performance make it a great value.
Test Results
Print Quality:
Print Speed:
Scanning and Copying:
Connectivity and Mobile Printing:
Ink Costs and Yield:
Overall Score: 4.5/5
Recommendation:
The Canon PIXMA TS9550 is a great choice for:
However, it may not be the best choice for:
Overall, the Canon PIXMA TS9550 is an excellent all-in-one printer that delivers exceptional performance and value. If you're in the market for a reliable and feature-rich printer, the TS9550 is definitely worth considering.
Canon PIXMA TS9550 is a versatile A3 all-in-one inkjet printer that balances home-office productivity with high-quality creative potential. In real-world performance tests, it excels in photo vibrancy and document clarity, though it faces some hurdles in wireless setup and high-volume duplexing. Key Performance Test Results
Performance tests highlight a mix of high-speed mono printing and meticulous photo output. Print Quality:
by reviewers for its vibrant colors, sharp lines, and excellent contrast. Its five individual ink system (including a dedicated pigment black) ensures crisp text while maintaining rich gradations in photos. , with single pages firing out in roughly 4 seconds. A3 Printing:
Naturally slower; a single A3 black text page takes about 17 seconds, while color graphics take 40–50 seconds. Media Handling: One of the few compact printers that supports 12x12" cardstock and paper up to , making it a favorite for crafters and scrapbookers. Core Specifications Print Resolution Up to 4800 x 1200 dpi Ink System 5 Individual Ink Tanks (PGBK, BK, C, M, Y) A3 Capability Supports A3 printing in a footprint comparable to A4 models Connectivity Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, and Bluetooth 20-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (single-sided only) Touchscreen 10.8cm (4.3-inch) color LCD Tester Perspectives: Pros & Cons Reviewers from Trusted Reviews have identified specific trade-offs for this model:
Buy this if:
Do not buy this if:
The first test is always physical: Can this thing actually fit where we want it to? Canon markets the TS9550 as the "world’s smallest A3 printer," and looking at it, they might be right. It isn't small, per se, but for a machine that can print on A3 paper, the footprint is surprisingly economical. It is deep, but not overwhelmingly wide.
The design is sleek, clad in a matte black (or white, depending on the model) that blends into a modern workspace. The front is dominated by a large, intuitive 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen.
The Setup Process: We pulled it out of the box, removed the excessive orange shipping tape, and plugged it in. The paper cassette at the bottom holds A4, but the real magic is the rear tray. This is where the A3 paper lives.
Connecting to Wi-Fi was painless. In the modern era, printers have a reputation for being connectivity nightmares, but the TS9550 was a pleasant exception. Within ten minutes, it was on the network, drivers were installed on the Mac and PC test subjects, and we were ready for ink.
The ink system is the standard five-cartridge setup (PGI-580 and CLI-581). The inclusion of a pigment black ink is crucial; it promises crisp, smudge-proof text, while the dye-based color cartridges handle the photos. We clicked them into place, the printer whirred into a priming cycle, and the test began.
| Component | PASS | FAIL | |-----------|------|------| | Nozzle check | All colors complete | Any missing segment after cleaning | | Paper feeding | Grabs from both cassette & rear tray | Skips, jams, or pulls multiple sheets | | Duplex | Correct alignment | Off by >3mm or jam | | Scanner | No lines, correct colors | Banding, dead rows | | Wi-Fi | Connects & prints | Drops connection repeatedly |