Sennheiser HD 560S Review | 93 Data compared

The Sennheiser HD 560S is an affordable, lightweight, open-back over-ear headphone that delivers a neutral sound signature with impressive, unbloated bass extension and highly detailed, open mids. It features an improved next-generation dynamic driver angled at 9° to create a wider stereo imaging than the narrow stage found in the HD 6xx series, making it excellent for both serious music listening and gaming spatial awareness. Its high sensitivity (108dB/V) allows it to be driven easily directly from a phone or tablet, though an external amplifier lets it scale to impressive volumes. Furthermore, a silent hardware revision manufactured after 2022 gently tames the top-end brightness and updates the package with a more practical 1.8-metre 3.5mm cable and a modified velour headband. Despite its high value, the headphone has notable drawbacks, primarily a slightly elevated upper-mid and lower-treble response (around 4–6kHz) that can border on "shouty" or unrefined depending on the recording. This peak can be distracting to some, though the reviewer notes it can be easily corrected using parametric EQ or a custom passive inline filter. On the physical side, the...

Summary of the Sennheiser HD560S Review The Sennheiser HD560S is an affordable, open-back headphone designed to deliver audiophile-grade, reference performance in a no-frills package. Built from hard plastic with comfortable velour earpads, it includes a three-meter detachable ¼-inch cable and a 3.5mm adapter. Its 120-ohm impedance makes it versatile enough to be driven directly by a smartphone or enhanced slightly via a dedicated amplifier. The core strengths (pros) of this model include an impressive, snappy low-end bass response that remains true to the track without becoming muddy, a well-balanced midrange that handles complex, multi-layered instrumentation, and an immersive depth and presence in the soundstage. However, the headphones also display several notable drawbacks (cons). The soundstage, while deep, lacks the expansive absolute width and strict left-to-right element separation expected from high-quality open-back designs. Physically, the headband construction can feel somewhat tight on larger heads. Most significantly, the high-end frequency response can become harsh and overbearing, particularly when playing instrumental tracks or music that pushes sonic boundaries, making them a risky choice for harsh genres. Ultimately, it serves as a highly practical,...

The Headfonia review characterizes the $199 Sennheiser HD 560S as an exceptional, budget-friendly open-back headphone offering neutral, accurate tuning with high clarity, fast transients, and a spacious soundstage. Key pros include realistic vocal reproduction, impressive sub-bass extension, and a lightweight, easy-to-drive design suitable for various sources. However, the review notes the build relies heavily on lightweight plastic, lacking premium materials, and features a basic unboxing experience without a carrying case. Additionally, while technically impressive for the price, the HD 560S lacks the complex soundstage depth and layering found in higher-tier models.

The Sound & Signal review highly praises the Sennheiser HD 560S as an outstanding, budget-conscious choice for mixing, mastering, and critical listening. Retailing around £160–£180, these open-back, over-ear headphones deliver exceptional, reference-grade accuracy that punches far above their price point. Key pros highlighted in the review include a flat and neutral frequency response (6 Hz – 38 kHz) and a wide, spacious soundstage driven by angled transducers that provide highly accurate spatial imaging. Additionally, the headphones are noted for being incredibly lightweight at just 240 grams, featuring velour-padded ear cups that ensure long-lasting comfort during extended studio sessions. The design also incorporates a practical detachable 3-meter cable with a 1/4” plug and an included 1/8” adapter. However, the review outlines several specific cons that limit the headphones' versatility outside of a controlled, quiet room. Due to their open-back construction, they provide zero noise isolation and leak substantial sound, making them entirely unsuited for recording vocal tracks or tracking instruments where microphones could pick up the bleed. Their physical build is noted to be mostly plastic, which feels less premium than...

The Sennheiser HD560SGo review on Medium highlights these open-back headphones for their exceptional efficiency (110dB sensitivity, 120-ohm impedance), enabling easy driving from basic sources. They are noted for providing a neutral, flat frequency response with impressive sub-bass and a detailed soundstage, all within a comfortable 240g chassis. Medium· Conversely, the review notes a, "cheap" feeling plastic construction and a lack of modern features like wireless functionality. Furthermore, the open-back design allows significant sound leakage with no noise isolation, while the initial clamping force is quite high.

The Expert Reviews article highlights the Sennheiser HD 560SGo as a highly capable pair of open-backed reference headphones tailored for budget-conscious audio enthusiasts and professionals. On the positive side, the headphones deliver exceptional value for their £99 review price, offering an incredibly flat frequency response, an expansive soundstage, and highly refined midrange and treble clarity. They are also commended for their lightweight 240g construction and physical comfort, featuring large earcups with soft velour earpads and a padded headband that allow for fatiguing-free, lengthy listening sessions. The innovative angled 120-ohm drivers further enhance the experience by mimicking the stereo imaging of a studio monitor speaker setup. Conversely, the review notes several design and performance drawbacks to consider before buying. Due to their open-backed architecture, the HD 560S suffer from poor sound isolation, leaking audio to those nearby while allowing external environmental noise to filter in. The strictly neutral sound profile lacks the lower-frequency punch found in consumer headphones, which might disappoint listeners who prefer dynamic, bass-heavy tracks. Furthermore, their higher 120-ohm impedance makes them somewhat difficult for standard smartphones to drive...

The Sennheiser HD560S stands out as an exceptional, neutral-tuned open-backed headphone that effectively disrupts the $200 price bracket. Its flawless tonality features a smooth midrange free of errant peaks, a balanced treble, and solid sub-bass extension into the lowest octaves, heavily outperforming the older HD599 model. A notable strength is its "pretty dang wide" and spacious soundstage, making it an immersive choice for live tracks and gaming. For many users, its presentation balances out a bit of raw resolution to deliver a much more pleasant staging experience than the warmer, more congested HD650. Despite these highlights, the headphone presents a few critical performance and structural drawbacks. The most polarizing feature is a prominent 5kHz treble boost that can sound intense, harsh, or piercing depending on the listener and unit variation. While sub-bass is audible on paper, its actual texturing and overall impact feel limp and unrealistic. Furthermore, the imaging is somewhat awkward, as central vocals are heavily pushed forward while instruments occasionally blend together inside the wide soundstage. Finally, the physical build quality is a clear reminder of its budget...

The Trusted Reviews evaluation of the Sennheiser HD 560S highlights these open-back headphones as a comfortable, budget-friendly entry into analytical listening, praising their neutral sound profile, wide soundstage, and detailed, revealing audio performance. Key strengths include a lightweight, comfortable design suitable for long sessions and precise instrument separation, making them excellent for critical listening. Conversely, the review notes a lack of bass impact, which may disappoint fans of heavier genres. Due to their open-back design, the headphones suffer from significant sound leakage and offer no isolation, making them unsuitable for noisy environments or commuting.

The Sennheiser HD560S is a lightweight, open-back headphone priced at $170 that offers exceptional comfort due to its large earcups (73mm x 45mm) and angled drivers. In terms of performance, the review highlights its highly accurate frequency response that aligns closely with the target curve right out of the box, meaning that equalization (EQ) is not mandatory for high-quality playback. The headphone features extremely low high-frequency distortion and a medium, variable impedance that makes it easier to drive via an amplifier than higher-impedance models like the HD650. Furthermore, it handles a broken seal remarkably well, making it highly suitable for users who wear glasses. Despite these strengths, the review notes a few notable drawbacks. The primary weakness of the HD560S is its rapid rise in bass distortion at higher volume levels, which restricts how much the lower frequencies can be boosted via EQ before causing audible driver distortion and clicking. Additionally, it lacks deep sub-bass energy and has a small amount of excess energy above 4 kHz, resulting in a slightly bright sound character. While the build provides great physical...

Mark Sparrow's Forbes review praises the Sennheiser HD 560S open-back headphones for delivering an exceptional, neutral sound profile with a wide soundstage and refined, deep bass at a $200 price point. The headphones feature angled drivers, an ultralight chassis, and ventilated velour earpads designed for comfort and accurate, detailed audio reproduction during long listening sessions. Conversely, the open-back design results in significant sound leakage and a total lack of noise isolation, making them unsuitable for commuting or noisy environments. While the bass is highly detailed, casual listeners might find them less "punchy" than consumer-tuned alternatives, and they perform best when paired with a dedicated amplifier.

The Sennheiser HD 560S are wired, open-backed over-ear headphones designed strictly for analytical listening, mixing, and studio work rather than casual entertainment. Released on September 29, 2020, at an original retail price of $199.95, they feature 38mm polymer-blend foil diaphragms housed in a lightweight, predominantly hard-plastic chassis. Weighing just 240 grams (0.5 lbs) including their generous 3-meter cable with a 6.3mm jack, they prioritize pure utility over modern lifestyle features. They completely lack wireless connectivity, touch controls, and app-based equalization. Sonically, they act like a pair of near-field studio monitors, throwing a wide, spacious soundstage with flawless imaging, highly Convincing midrange vocals, and an exceptionally neutral, balanced presentation from top to bottom. The review highlights a very clear division of pros and cons based on the user's explicit listening intentions. The primary advantages include an incredibly astute, explicit, and revealing sound profile that exposes every minor detail of a mix, coupled with a highly comfortable, lightweight fit due to well-padded velour earcups that allow for hours of continuous wear. On the downside, their flat frequency response flattens dynamic peaks, making...

The Sennheiser HD 560S is an open-back, over-ear wired headphone designed for the analytical audio enthusiast on a budget. It excels with an expansive, highly detailed, and spacious presentation that offers exceptional three-dimensional layering and separation across the musical frequency range. Built with an focus on long-term comfort, the headphones feature a lightweight 240g design, velour earpads, ample headband padding, and angled drivers meant to recreate an optimal triangular listening environment. The 3-metre detachable cable terminates in a 6.3mm plug for hi-fi sources, though a 3.5mm adapter is included for mobile devices. While the headset secures a flawless 5-star rating for both comfort and build quality, its acoustic profile is not without compromise. The primary drawback is its analytical character, which leaves heavier or funkier tracks feeling slightly undercooked, lacking a competitive level of energy, punch, and excitement. Additionally, the plastic headband exhibits a clamping force stronger than some rivals, and the open-back design inherently bleeds audio—even if it leaks less than comparable models. Ultimately, it earns a 4-star sound rating as a highly accurate, refined, and value-conscious option that...

The Sennheiser HD 560S are wired, open-back headphones designed for neutral, analytical listening, offering a highly accurate, flat sound profile and excellent driver matching. They provide a comfortable, stable fit with velour padding suitable for long sessions, though their bulky, non-folding design and lack of on-board controls limit portability. Their open-back construction results in poor noise isolation and high audio leakage, making them unsuitable for loud or public environments. Additionally, they lack a built-in microphone and feature a long, non-detachable cable that can be cumbersome.