New $200 Reference Headphones? | HD560S Review 

It's nice Sennheiser has a pair of these for every reviewer out there but It would also be nice if they could actually stock them for purchase. They've been sold out for almost a month.

I was so hyped for your review after DMS's review

listening on my HD 560S. I like the sound quality of this headphone, really well.

Just bought a pair for $140 for gaming, music, and conversational listening. Previously used the SHP 9500, and the moondrop arias, as well as the snow edition of the arias. I've also used many other headphones but none that fit this category really. My opinion of those headphones is that the original arias are my favorite for music, the shps are my favorite for gaming (but they broke, and the snow edition arias are best for listening to debates or podcasts. I'm hoping this is my new go to when I'm at work or at home. The snow edition arias are my go to for on the go listening, though they can be uncomfortable for long periods of usage.

I have this weird feeling that Sennheiser is coming up with a new line-up x-60s HD-560s - entry level HD-660s - mid level HD-860s? - flagship level?

Just got the 560s last week for mixing - for the price they're hard to beat. Some people say the treble is too bright (this is due to the peak at 7khz) yeah if you're coming from the HD 6xx, but it's not Beyer bright and I reckon it's an asset for detecting sibilance in recordings. I got a passive filter cable (from Solderdude - diy audioheaven ) which reduces the 7khz peak and they sound better for it, a lot smoother in the top end. I think a better comparison for the 560s is with the HD 600 rather than the 6xx which I think is more of an enjoyable listen but a bit too friendly for mixing or analytical work....just my two cents...

The popping with eq thing... how loud was this and how much did you boost the bass? :D

SUBSCRIBED.. ! thanks Josh, I'm wetting my toes in the audiophile ocean and will probably send back the beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 80 ohm's I recently got because they're a hassle with the long cable and otherwise fairly clunky and awkward to use. so I look forward to trying out and comparing the two before returning one or the other . All the best from the south of france.. !

I am still using a HD535, over 30 years old. I had to change the cable and the cushions, but i feel no need to upgrade.

Great review, I'm debating between these and the Sundara's. Still can't decide. The 560s is much more comfortable for wearing all day and never gets fatiguing or shouty but the Sundara has incredible bass that can be EQ'd up with no problem, incredible resolution that on some songs the 560s can't match. Tough choice as I don't want to keep both. I think the Bass on the 560s is pretty good though, def no bass head pleaser, but it's very tight and crisp.

Great review, thanks for the detailed look at these. Hm. Any idea how these compare to the HD599? Comfort is king for me as I want to wear them all day while coding, and I have no dedicated amp. So between hearing that the 599 have less clamp force and the much lower impedance, I'm thinking they may be a better fit for me. Thoughts? I'm currently using my old set of ATH-AD700 I've had for over a decade, and they're starting to bother me a little--especially how the large, circular pads go on the back of my neck. Thanks for any thoughts/help you can provide and keep up the great work!

Brilliant review! Can you review the Takstar hd2050 (or his clone, the isk hi2010) and the Takstar pro 82? The hd2050 are the open back version of the Takstar Pro 80 which is the model from which the hyperX cloud 2 were based on. The takstar Pro 82 is the model from which the cooler master mh751/mh752's where based on. They are both very affordable headphones with amazing build quality and great sound. I think they diserve more attention. I own both and use them mostly for gaming. I was thinking about getting the hd560s but don't know if that's going to be an upgrade or I'm going to be disappointed. I play on consoles exclusively, do you think the hd560's are going to work well plugged to the controller, or they need an amp? Thanks for the amazing videos. 🙏

One week enjoying this 560S!

Mah... to me bass are very strong comparing to the hd 660s

Can you recommend where I can get a shorter cable for these? Thanks. BTW, another fabulous review.

After yours and DMS' reviews, I will get this headphones for sure. Does anybody recommend an affordable dac/amp to compliment with? I'm considering the Fiio K5pro or the iFi Zen Can.

I came here from reddit. The sound in this video is SO good. How can it be?

Hi Mr. Joshua, i Recently purchased the HD 560S and i'm loving these headphones after using Audio Technica MH-40s aand HiFi man 400s; I've never used an audio Dac/Amp just played around equalizer of dolby atmos for headphones, curiosity has lead to EPOS 300GSX interface, will this headphone enhance the audio and i understand the audio difference quite good, just not the technical aspects, only enjoying the different qualities of sound, i know the neutral nature of these headphones, which is why i chose them too and after watching your detailed video too, (***HUGE Thanks for that) , will EPOS 300GSX be aa good budget match?

Such a spectacular review! You are my reference for audio listening

kinda late to this, but i'm looking for an open back headphone that has good imaging & wide soundstage for AAA gaming, and found either this 560s or DT990pro. Any ideas which should i choose and why? Thanks

what are your thoughts about this vs the 58X Jubilee?

MMMMMmmmm I love me some nice girthy low end. Maybe an EQ like Equalizer APO can help with the lack of bass here.

Hey Josh is it possible to hook the fiio MK3 up to a chromedesk pc with klipsch desktop speaker system and make it work ? Appreciate the feedback , good reviews bro

What kind of amp did you use for these?

Can you use it with your smart phone?

I'm confused, it comes with a non balanced cable !! So if I connect this to a 4.4 adapter, will I get balanced or do I need a dedicated cable ???

What is the size difference in the ear cups between 6xx and 560? Are they the same size, shape and depth?

Your minute descriptions are amazing! I can almost imagine the sound without hearing it. Well, I wanted to ask what sort of line of headphones would be good for some sound staging but mainly bass depth and imaging. I guess something not so shrill. The music I listen to sometimes have different types of percussion.

will you review audio technica athmsr7b?

Josh, I was really hoping this could be my solution for affordable mixing. Do you have any recommendations for something that could fill that function sub $400?

I don't like it when you guys use terms like 'basshead' just say if its good for vaporwave and describe the bass, is it rich is it full is it deep etc and compare it to something that has good bass at that price or lower.

how do these compare to the tygr 300r?

The bass is pretty fkn clean and deep, don't listen to this guy

Pink eye though 👀

Unfortunately, this plastic build with 500 series design is very creaky. You can't even turn your head or talk on microphone. The creaky sound of headband holders surpass the sound of anything that comes out of the drivers.

5:08 Ideally to be perfect ...HD660s = Not veiled HD650 + Not harsh edge highs like HD 560s ...there u go.

Still got my hd598 and they destroy time and space🤣🥰

Been waiting for them to be back in stock on their website..

Can anyone with a ton of heaphone experience recommend an upgrade path from the hd 598. I really love their sound signature but I could use a little more "punch" in my bass response. I'm trying to get an idea what kind of money is necessary to spend to get an objective "step up" and what cans dac/amp combos would satisfy my craving for the next level of audio quality. Keep in mind the best source I've plugged my 598 into are my msi mobo. I've done a bit of research and concluded that I would be disappointed with the quality increase that just a dac/amp with the 598 would deliver.

Is this worth getting if I have an HD6XX

Would you recommend this headphones for instrumental music with electric guitar, specifically metal music? Prefect reference for what i am aiming would be Orion by Metallica. If not, some other choice in that price range? (Beyerdynamic?) Thank you in advance 😊

can you use this with iphone ?

Piano sounds best on k702. Hands down the best cans for classical music unless you get the hd 800.

what is that loudspeaker the sennheisers are on?

The 6XX just sounds muddy compared to the 560s. No idea who can prefer that

I have a £350 budget. These with a DAC/amp like the Zen DAC, or just get the Hifiman Sundara and get a DAC/amp later? Thanks for any advice.

What about Sennheiser HD-400 Pro ??

How do these compare to the Hifiman HE4XX?

The 6xx has less bass .it has been measured

These or HD58x's for console gaming?

I think I respect Valour a lot because he gives a really detailed analysis, while DMS was like "this is the greatest headphone" and Zeos was like "I only like this headphone on a tube amp"

I am a classical pianist and I spend hours listening to recordings and occasionally, even to my own playing. Really glad to know that these will sound great for my instrument. Thanks for pointing that out.

Your soundstaging explanations are insanely vivid and accurate! Thanks for the nice review!

Thats why i love your reviews exactly what i hear when i got them .

I owned the 6XX, dt770 pro, dt990 pro and the 560s came in the mail today. I have all of these within the last two months. I have sold the 6XX, returned the dt 770 and am making a decision betweeen the 990 and 560s. My observations: From my experience, the sennheiser headphones have greater resolution and detail retrieval. The Beyers definitely have more treble presence, but it lacks detail by comparison. Soundstage: Dt 990 pro > 560s > 770 pro == 6XX. The 560s is a big step up in terms out sound stage compared to the 6XX. Also, the 770 pro has an incredible sound stage for a closed headphone. Wow! Bass: The 560s sounds so much tighter compared to the 6XX. It’s a big improvement and there is finally a sense of sub bass. The Beyers still edge it out in terms of quantity, but it’s actually pretty close. The 770s are definitely bass cannons and extend way down low. The 6XX sounds muddy compared to the rest of the bunch. Mids: 6XX is very forward and warm, which I appreciate for certain types of music. Both Beyers headphones scoop the mids a bit but I think they sound balanced. The 560s sounds the most neutral to my ears. Highs: each headphone takes a different approach. Right out of the box, the Beyers honestly sounded weird to me. Not a natural representation of treble. I never found it overly sibilant. As I used them though, the “burn in” effect has really smoothed them out. I still would not call them neutral, but rather pleasant. The 6XX was very recessed in the highs but the detail was always there if you listened for it. The 560s sounds just as detailed as the 6XX but with more treble. I think it’s a big upgrade in that regard.

I'm still getting compliments on how my tan 598s look cause they stand out compared to black. Also Josh, that looks like an extremely awkward way to store your bike

Talking about bass response. My experience with the headphones were similar. Popping slightly if you add bass on the EQ. But I went back to it after another 100 hours of listening, and when adding bass on EQ there was no more popping in the low range of bass boost. But that little extra makes these the besy headphones I've had by far

Dear Josh, nice review, but as an owner of 595/598SE and HD650 I wanted to understand where does it stands in the 500 series not only compared with it's bigger brothers... like 6XX or other brands in that price range. So, I am curious how does it compare with 595/598? Thanks!

I’ve been ABCing the 560s with 6xx and 800s for days now. So far my biggest gripe is their plasticky flat-feeling tone. That’s where they really lose to the 600 line. Soundstage, detail and imaging are superb and better than 6xx or 600. FR is on the leaner side and a bit sharp but fixable with a bit of EQ - 1-2 Db here and there.

Thanks for mentioning instruments! I listen to mostly instrumental music and it seems most reviewers focus a lot on vocals but it's great to hear about things like strings and winds.

I pushed the EQ up on the bass and sub bass and listened to some bass heavy songs like "Mask Off" by future. I didn't notice any cracking and was surprised how much they can bump. The sub-bass frequencies struggle, but the mid bass is impressive with EQ. I can't hear any popping. Driving them with a Fiio K5 Pro, so plenty of power.

Thanks, saved me a lot of time as a bass head. I tested the audeze in store and liked it. The Diana was too good. Made me sad.

Awesome headphone.. i did sell my 6xx thinking this would replace it but no... i need both. This is more vivid. Highs and bass is increased more loud, 6xx at 300 ohms is better for tubes .. I’m extremely happy it sounds great paired with a 789 amp. Really really good

The mid-bass hump on 6xx makes it sounds boomy and ruins the low-mid frequencies, I have owned the 6xx and sold because of this, and don't forget the very closed in soundstage and recessed treble, so I think the 560s is the new successor, it has much better sup-bass and more forward treble (but not as neutral).

I wonder how the hd 560s compares to the hd 558 or other hd 5xx headphones...are these worth buying if i already have a hd 558.

Hey I love my ivory and brown HD599's. I prefer them over the HD650s TBH. They are warm and bassy. Those are the only two audiophile headphones I've owned. I have 177x go's coming in the mail tomorrow though =DD

i bought the new version they changed the cables and pads, sound mediocre ...honestly big dissapointment.....flat.....flat....flat.... quality of the material is cheap, i can see the hook to the eardrums with the 2 screws splitting open , like it just happened to my old sony MDR 1A

I bought these as a reference headphone for music production I am far more than happy with them, especially with them only being $200

Guys this may be way too late for a lot of people but anyway. Regarding the popping / clicking noise when turning up the bass. IT IS NOT A DRIVER ISSUE, it is actually pretty darn capable of more bass. Try and rotate the earpads in place after they are clicked in so they clip better on the earcups (VERY minor rotations, don't just yank them into a direction). They may not be aligned correctly and it causes "plastic" vibrations / crackling on bass / sub-bass frequencies on not even that loud volumes or bass EQs. This is what was happening to me, got to this idea of checking the earpads after noticing that when I was holding the earcups with my hands, especially around the earpad elements, the plastic popping noise was gone. So try it, they may be misaligned from production or maybe from the last time someone or yourself has reassembled them. (mine were refurbished)

Hi, I'm trying to decide between the HD 6XX, HD58X and the HD 560S Do you know how they compare in games? Which has the best soundstage and positional audio?

what amp would you recommend for there

Can you do a TYGR 300 R review? I have it, so it doesn't change my mind but I think it is a great headphone for its price.

Just got these, hooked up to Fiio KA3 DAC streaming highest quality on Spotify. Love love love, really connecting with my music on a whole new level here.

How is 560 compared to 599.

Hi , 560 good all rounder, but in Uk it’s sells around £130, I have the 6xx with custom cans bass mod abd really improves the bass at bottom end . Regards mark

Would you (or somebody) recommend these or the 400i 2020 version if forced to pick. Generally.

How do the 560s compare to the pc38x that you recently reviewed?

me: buys HD559 whole internet: HD560s are the best bang for buck low budget Sennheisers

I feel one important note here which is slightly missed, is soundstage postiioning massively affects the perceived sibilance of a headphone, I have heard some beyerdynamics the people swear are the brightest, sharpest most painful things and have had no issue, and other headphones that people say are lovely and velvety smooth and yet I found them sibilant.

Does Sennheiser still doesn't ship to Mexico? If so, does someone know hot to buy this in Mexico??

Is HD560S better than HD58x in terms of sound quality ?

How should I ideally power this headphone? Please suggest the best Amp/dac choice?

Don't agree with 58X having more Bass., nor the 6xx. Virtually all frequency response curves show this. The 560s has better sub-bass with less roll-off. I have the Beyerdynamics Tygr 300 R. They are likely to have a slight more sub-bass than 560s, but probably not by much. The 300R are also way more recessed in mids. But Sennheiser have always focused on the mid range. The 300R has nice sound stage and wide, but since the mids are a bit recessed there could be loss of information there in gaming and vocals. Although they sound pretty good for movies. That said I have a feeling the 560s would be maybe even better for movies and gaming because of the mids and even higher treble frequency response. Vocals should come out clear and the sound staging being a little bit forward helps with watching a movie and hearing vocals from the visual source direction instead from the sides. My only concern would be the treble peaks if it would be fatiguing or not. But the reality is hearing is subjective for the most part. We all have different hearing capabilities and shapes of ears etc.

"most sennheisers are not for bass heads" you said the truth. i have HD 599 and HD660s, and in every amp i own , the bass tone leaks quite a lot Vs. other headphones of different brands that i tried. aside HD800's series , most of sennheisers open back headphones should be prefered for one who looking for fine detailed listening of instruments and vocals , but if you are a "bass heads" the shure SRH 1540 or a bayerdynamic DT1770 works fine

Does this have wider sound stage than the 599? I would like to use one of them for FPS gaming.

Why not just buy the 58x Jubilee?

560S + ifi Zen DAC-Amp V2 for < $400. 👍

is this better than shp9500

I mix with my HD280 pro 64 Ohm since 2013. I still like them but if I wanna hear loud music it getting harsh. It hurts a lil. Would you say the hd 560s are much better ? I looking for good mixing, music headphones for 2 years now. I am very pissed off. Thanks.

Trying out the 560s now and mostly agree with the review, though I would like to add a few comments regarding the bass: I’m hearing articulate, well-pronounced, very tight bass. The effect is impactful, but not overly so, and with nary a hint of bloat. Nothing about this bass signature is muddy or boomy. It is extremely staccato, precise, and clean. I find it very pleasing. Leaning strongly towards keeping this set. The more I listen, the more I appreciate what Sennheiser has done here.

Drink a little bit every time josh says ‚a little bit‘ and the bottle is empty not even half way into the video

"Girthiness in the low end"... That's what she likes. 😂You rock on your description man.

I have both the 598sr and the 560s and when ABing them I feel like the 560s are way cleaner and the 598 more “easy” on the ears.

Hi Joshua. Great review, as always. If you were given these headphones without knowing the price in advance what would be your guess?

Awesome review as usual Can you review the liquid spark dac?

Did you test these on a solid state amp and/or tube amp?

Is this a good upgrade from AKG 361?

Man this review is very detailed and covers exactly what I wanted to know about these. I need your opinion on Panasonic RP-HD10 . Please do review them in the future, I currently own them and I have owned Sony MDR-1a and ATH-M50x in the past . I personally think they are worth recommending to someone. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Buying these based on your review ❤

Love the thumbnail, wish I could rip out the Bluetooth thing from my Luna's, people keep connecting to them, urgh.