Quest for Best Competitive Gaming Audio - Sennheiser 560S vs PC38X vs Hifiman HE400i 2020

Former professional Counter-Strike player and Apex Legends "Predator" with continued enjoyment for competitive level game play. Sound is one of the most important factors, if not THE most important factor at competitive level play.
The Sennheiser 560S offers incredible sound stage and imaging with a level of clarity that reaches wallhack tier. Fantastic headset for $199 MSRP. Not only does the headset have VASTLY better directional audio over the other two headsets, the distance at which you can pinpoint audio cues is absolutely next level. The planar drivers are definitely not nearly as good as the Sennheiser's for directional audio, but with the Mayflower Arc MK2 it definitely came close to the PC38X and was way more fun to listen to and use.
If you are playing at a competitive level or looking to play at a competitive level, I had an extremely difficult time getting depth in directional audio out of the PC38X and clarity when too many audio cues were going off at the same time. For me, the HD560S was nightand day of a difference over both the PC38X and Hifiman for being pin point accurate, having insane dimension in directional audio from longer distances, and had a level of clarity that was absolutely mind blowing.
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#Sennheiser #Hifiman #Audiophile #gamer #pc38x

[@Le_Sourpuss]

Wow, I had heard the 560x was better than the PC 38X but I didn't know the difference was so great. Thank you very much for your review!

[@lostandfound6501]

Great review and series from an actual pro. One of a kind.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thanks!!

[@imprice5668]

@@FreshReviewsYT I watched the video and am in the same kinda boat. Out of these three headphones which do you think would be the best for Music and Gaming. (He400i 2020 edition vs DT880 Pro 250 ohms vs HD560s) Im mostly looking for clarity

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@imprice5668 Analytical Clarity = HD560s or DT 1990s

[@jeremiahcollins_]

Can I just plug the h60s right into my goxlr mini through headphone jack and do it that way or would you recommend the dt 990 pro 80ohm? Help :(

[@FreshReviewsYT]

yea, you could just plug it right into the goXLR. Would work great

[@jeremiahcollins_]

@@FreshReviewsYT I got them! Should be here in a couple hours. Worth the upgrade over the Astro A40’s??

[@FreshReviewsYT]

10000%

[@jeremiahcollins_]

@@FreshReviewsYT awesome. Thanks man, I subbed! Appreciate your reviews.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thanks so much! Let me know how you like them when they come

[@Pirxel]

Finally! An actual competent gamer that cares for audio! You've got a precious perspective my friend, keep it up!

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Ty!

[@RingDancing]

Hi Fresh Review! I just wanna say thank you for spending time making this video and the information you provided! I main apex as well, and my highest rank is Master in season 6. I bought a pc38x after my turtle beach broke, and I found the directional sound of my pc38x is really bad(almost unaccepted). I thought it must be something wrong with my sound setting because none of the reviewer mention this issue! But after seeing your video, I decided to try the Sennheiser 560s, and now I am very happy with it. So I really appreciate your honest review!!!

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I’m so happy to hear that!

[@RingDancing]

@@FreshReviewsYT Cheers man!

[@asapxd1631]

This is exactly what we needed, well done ! Keep up the great work ! Really enjoying these vids.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thank you so much!

[@Joseph__K]

@@FreshReviewsYT Hey bruh i just wanna ask if, ifi hip dac can power the 560s or just a dongle will be enough?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@Joseph__K it seems it should get enough juice yea, but I haven’t used it personally

[@Joseph__K]

@@FreshReviewsYT Okay brother thank you so much 👌🏻

[@Joseph__K]

@@FreshReviewsYT I forgot is the mayflower ark can be used on mobile?

[@yogi915.]

Thank you for this video. Great to hear a gamer explain the sound of these.

[@nofxer]

This is definitely an interesting perspective; I don't get to see too many reviews from gamers who are actually in the higher end of things lol.. one thing of note, is that the velour pads that come with the PC38X are more suited for musicality, which for someone who wants to get this headset and want to not worry about swapping cans around pending on use case, can help overall enjoyment (at least, in my experience at least). Cheers!

[@brannon565]

Thank you so much for this!! I had the pc38x pre-ordered and cancelled because a review finally talked about directional audio that compared to other headsets. I play Escape From Tarkov and that is all audio cues. Definitely subscribed!

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thank you! Definitely a game that is incredibly reliant upon really good sound

[@SlickSniper3]

Man thanks for the great videos. I have been eyeing the HD560s as an upgrade from my HD599, and after watching your video I have pulled the trigger. My new cans should arrive in the next couple weeks from Amazon Canada. Patience paid off as well since they actually had a first time sale on the headphones since they released 7 months ago.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Amazing!

[@thaflybear]

how is it compared to 599?

[@f_society9151]

How much did you pay for 560s? Also I want to know what dacamp you use for ps5.

[@JayNL]

I am really curious how the 560s are compared to the 599's.

[@yourface07]

Hey man, great video and I value your input regarding your competitive gaming experience.

[@thegurillabro354]

great top notch video! looking forward for a 3rd episode of this series... are you planning review gaming dac amps specifically for imaging and soundstage?

[@blank-jo1xp]

This was the exact perspective I was looking for, sub'd

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thank you!

[@PurpleStormProductions]

I have the 560S and I can confirm they are an amazing pair of headphones. I mainly got them for music but they really do sound amazing in-game as well, especially with games I've been playing recently (DOOM Eternal, The Long Dark, etc.).

[@TroublezAhead00]

How do you find the treble? Does it hurt your ears? Like is it sharp and piercing?

[@techzodia4117]

How do you get a mic on them?

[@garrencaraig3502]

Hey Bro Ive been watching your videos for awhile now and I'm glad you keep posting videos! thanks again for another great review :)

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thank you so much!

[@Edwardx703]

Really Great video! This is exactly what i was looking for!

[@TheBrandonAF]

Good review. I typically play with my HD800s, T1 V2, and lately the Hifiman Sundara but I am going to try the 560s. For whatever reason I am hard on headphones and would prefer a cheaper pair for day to day and trade out for my higher end when I am in the mood. I did want to comment, you are freaking cracked at Apex good gosh!

[@darklyger64]

I have both PC38X and HE400i, and I prefer the PC38X. I have both a DAC and Amp separately not because you need an amp but I am a volume junky and I like my volume pretty high. The DAC is just to play what mood I am whether I am watching a movie or playing a game. This is due to my DAC having a program that you can EQ 10 levels of frequency

[@Princeton_James]

These are all awesome headphones and all in my top lineup. I'd add the Meze 99 Neos and the Hifiman 400SE. I use everything with my Schiit Fulla 4. Great review.

[@staceejaxx3071]

I love my he400i 2020. Both the sundara and the he400i need a good amp to get everything out of them. Im using asgard 3 amp. Really enjoyed your video, everything was super clear. Keep up the good work

[@bagadoink]

Nice to see gaming audio recommendations that aren't "gamer" headsets. These are great for music too.. Hopefully people who normally get the overpriced yet underwhelming gamer gear will discover what good audio sounds like.

[@Shouko91]

I am that person. I bought the steelseries pro x and the astro a50 gen4 and am disappointed in both. They're not necessarly bad but definetily not worth the money.

[@ZenTunE-]

It's kinda useless to even have such a distinction between hifi music headphones and gaming heaphones when any headphone that sounds good with music (clarity, soundstage, tonality), it will also sound amazing in games too. Imaging being the only thing that could make a difference. Nice that this review covers that too though.

[@smilelines211]

I'm taking your word for it. I just bought a pair. Every other channel is saying the PC38 is the better for gaming... but they aren't as good as you at Apex and OW. So, Im taking a leap of faith. You haven't steered me wrong yet.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

hahaha. Love it. Trust me, hands down better. The only thing that might make the pc38x more attractive for competitive purposes is the fact it's an all in one package. Don't need another mic and don't really need an amp/dac for it.

[@smilelines211]

@@FreshReviewsYT yeah exactly. I have an external mic so I'm good. I can't wait to get then. Should be here by Friday! Thanks for another great video.

[@smilelines211]

@@FreshReviewsYT I had to stop by and tell you... got them and damn. THANK YOU! never lead me wrong. SO GOOD. They are exactly what you say. It is nuts how clearly i can hear everything and all at once and where it all is.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@smilelines211 love to hear it brother!!

[@rafaelbald6711]

@@smilelines211 Thanks brothers. Thank you brothers. I'm going with you too. I almost bought pcx38, but what I want is perfect enemy location.

[@drewmorg.]

After wearing closed back (DT770 pro) and closed back Wireless (HS80, H3 Hybrid Pro, Arctis Nova Pro Wireless) for a year... these 560S are a breath of fresh air. Literally. They are so light, and open back was a nice change. Everything sounds more natural and I'm really enjoying the clarity, imaging, and soundstage these provide for higher level Valorant. Music is of course great, these have the best vocals I've heard. I am currently researching amps/dacs so excited to see how these will sound out of something better than my UMC22 interface which does an admirable job especially when EQ'd through Sonar. Still though these have the best vocals I've ever heard already. Additionally they are super comfy and could immediately wear for hours. Those stupid ski-band wireless headsets always fall off my head and I forget the 560S is even on my head -- truly amazing. The ANPW actually sounded great and had tons of great features, I didn't even mind the price (compared to what I'm about to pay for a Schiit stack) but the comfort was a huge let down. Unwearable. I think the 560S will easily edge it in sound quality and tonality. The detail, even if boosted and compressed, was impressive on the ANPW.

[@drewmorg.]

Referencing my original comment here, since this I've tried the AKG K371 closed back because they are seen as a worthy competitor. It's not even close -- the 560S smokes the K371 in every way except for "bass quantity". Don't get me wrong I love bass but the quality is not better especially once you apply EQ to both. The 560 then is left with its natural presence and open back sound stage and sparkle. Keep in mind for GAMING you will be EQ'ing down the bass even on the 560S as Vandal gunshots in Val are too thick and can distract you. SteelSeries software shows the directional imaging prowess of the 560S when testing their special Spatial Audio because the 560S can perfectly reproduce "Front Left" and "Front Right". I have also Amp'd the 560S with the Schiit Magni with the Line Out from my UMC22 interface and I have retained my direct monitoring mic capability. The amp provides an extra small level of detail, sound separation, and of course volume that was not possible on the UMC22. I would not try to run 560S without at least an audio interface.

[@notblazedfordays9536]

I literally have stereo uncompressed and 3D headphones turned off in fortnite with the 560s headset plugged into my elite 2 controller. Sounds better than any of the other 300$ headsets I’ve used in terms of spatial audio. INCREDIBLE! I wish I could get them a bit louder though but the quality is phenomenal. Eff all those gaming headsets! Best 200 I’ve spent on a headset! Thank you again for your review and quick response fresh reviews. I might try dts in a bit but out of the box plugged in is incredible. I can’t tell you how much money and time I’ve wasted looking for best eq setting for a50s and the penrose x and Dolby atmos and dts. Your a godsend. I don’t subscribe to anyone so your gonna b my first. Couldn’t b happier

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Hahaha thanks so much!!!!

[@Ultraioooo]

Do you use an amp on xbox?

[@notblazedfordays9536]

@@Ultraioooo I sold that garbage ass bullshit Xbox series x well over a year ago. The only amps you can use with it have to be Xbox certified (so they’re all trash.) and they don’t provide much more volume than just plugging strait into the controller. I play on PC now and couldn’t be happier. Thank you for the reply though! I tried quite a few different Xbox certified amps. I’m done paying greedy ass Xbox a penny because they wanna force you to have everything be Xbox certified because they won’t dedicate a usb port to audio (all are type A), no optical port, no Bluetooth and no VR support. Xbox can suck my D. Pc for life now!

[@albert.m.o3334]

After I watched this headphone review, I realized that headphones(or headsets) for gaming should be tested and reviewed by a professional gamer who knows what they need most for the games, rather than a audiophile who knows the overall sound in details. Thank you for your great review. You helped me a lot finding a right headphone for games.

[@Calx9]

If you're buying a very expensive headset for a very specific genre of game. Otherwise no. Absolutely not.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thanks!

[@thorshk]

@@Calx9 no, still yes

[@sinswithin]

You're right and wrong. Most audiophile reviews speak of detail and soundstage (At least ones that I watch) And also understand where things like footsteps, explosions etc. fall in a EQ. Usually they'll rate a headset for competitive or fun, the PC38x is always listed as a 'do it all' headset, built in Microphone, decent bass, decent mids and highs etc. But then people always bring up the 560s with it and say both are very good and the tuning on 560s some might prefer it over the PC38x is they already have a microphone. I'm sorry that a few moments of your research lead you to believe that most audiophiles don't know what they're talking about... but most usually suggest things like Beyer-dynamic for closed back or tell people to go open back and the 560s are usually high recommendations in those as well. We also don't know what this guys entire history is as far as exploring headphones, he could've just tried 3-4 of the few reccommended ones and not touched any others.

[@ruger6049]

@@Calx9 However it makes a difference if you use the cans more for gaming or music or work. I switch back and forth between a moderately high-end dynamic and a lower-end planer depending on the game or the music or the movie. I am looking to tighten the gap....

[@ruinex7718]

I would like to know if you have tested the 560s without any amp/dac device. If you have, is there really a big difference that will worth spending so much money for an amp/dac ?

[@qmbea7125]

This need many more views. I canceled the acquisition of Sennheiser through this review. Thx Dude

[@FeedingWolves0]

Did you find the cloudiness or muddiness in spatial audio with the sennheiser without the Arc? This is an issue i've had no matter what hardware i use from amps, dacs or headphones.

[@felixtheflash]

Did you Try the hd560s on your g6? Did you experience the same trouble you had with the hifiman?

[@gregwx]

That's a great review man, I got both came out to the same conclusion. Only one headphone is superior to HD560S and that is Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro, but... is so bright that my old ears got tired, but completely a wall-hack powered by Mayflower ARC MK2.

[@adrianmarcu5313]

hy. i am looking to buy the 560s ,only for games,and then i see ur comment about the dt990pro. are they better ?

[@JayNL]

Great answer, I used to game with the PC 363D, but having a stand alone mic now I bought the DT 990 PRO, great for music, but I returned them because in game the treble (pistol sounds, pew pew) was piercing my ears, now I wanted to get the 599's, but I guess I'll go for the 560S.

[@Falmond.]

Bro this helped me so much I subbed

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thank you so much!

[@GraybeardGiffTech]

Tremendous review, way to make sure this was game audio driven and didn't languish in on the music side of headphones! I had a really good experience with some Sennheiser HD 569's.... Until the pads wore out! Sennheiser uses the worst, proprietary, earpads I've come across. I have a huge head and Senns accommodate that, but it's ridiculous not being able to replace/upgrade pads IMO.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thanks!

[@syundown6005]

While in the middle of comparing various headsets I found out that the local best buy had one Sennheiser 560S left in stock and quickly bought it before it went out of stock, then when I saw this video when comparing it to, funny enough, both of the other two headsets, I experienced the largest sigh of relief I've ever felt. I guess some heavenly being decided to pick me today for who got a stroke of luck LMAO

[@FreshReviewsYT]

love it!!!!!

[@JustDataReviews]

It’s great to hear from someone who games competitively! I’m curious if the hd700 would beat the 560s for gaming. The pc38x was EXTREMELY uncomfortable for me so it’s good to hear about the 560s in a gaming context. Based on what I can see and what you’ve said puts it in my considerations.

[@SugaFree2387]

Ive had the HD700 twice in my life, the soundstage and imaging is really great but the headphone overall has a warm sound presentation, especially in the treble. The low and high treble is underemphezided, so you might not hear the subtle details you could with 560s

[@RabbitConfirmed]

@@SugaFree2387 I think in terms of gaming, we should stop using terms like "soundstage" and "imaging" and instead use a word that combines the two (and includes other factors as well), which would be a "room sound". If you have a good and natural sense for the "room" in a headphone, then it is good for gaming. You can only find that out by either gaming with it, or by watching movies/videos with it. If you can hear someone in gaming from the left, and you think he is 20m away, but then he appears right around the corner, then you know that your imaging works, but your soundstage + imaging, so the "room sound" doesn't work. A good gaming headset has such good room sound that not only do you know what direction it's coming from but also the distance to that direction!

[@nklz]

Hd560s use same structure of pc38x.

[@nickfosley2882]

@@nklz Maybe on paper, but not in practicality. In the video Fresh Reviews said the clamping force is greater on the PC38X compared to the 560S aka more or less uncomfortable

[@nklz]

@@nickfosley2882 got my pc38x 6 days ago, placed some brainwavz pads and its perfect by now

[@imnoblueberry8502]

Would the 560s work with the Xbox series x? And what sort of amp should I use for those with the series x?

[@brychaus9059]

This makes up my mind on the HD 560S. I was worried about being let down by the bass for music listening, but if nothing else, I'll have a sweet gaming headset.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Exactly!

[@j.d.4697]

Never expected to like the HD 560S much, just picked them up out of curiosity while I still had return rights on the other ones. So glad I did, totally fell in love with them, but it's not perfect. One of the annoyances is the plastic frame. It's not sturdy and it can make cracking sounds when I tilt my head.

[@suavelifestyle9094]

I love the sound man but i cant help but notice they are like 30% lower volume when volume is maxed out on my pc than other headphones , any way i can fix ?that?

[@cheemkoelperrovaliente6884]

@@suavelifestyle9094 ur sound card don't provide enough power then, try using a dac/amp

[@mikehunt7442]

Nice review man. After doing research on the pc38x I stumbled upon this vid and have decided to get the 560s. What modmic are you using and would a fosi audio q4 amp be good enough paired with this headset? I'm not trying to get anything too crazy. Just want an amp thats cheap(preferably under $100) and does the job.

[@tigerleon10]

A sound blaster g5 would be perfect. Especially for using a 3.5mm modmic 4 uni. Software is nice to have as well.

[@jasonemanuel9070]

Is the imaging on the DT 900X better than the 560S,I don't know which one to pick for competitive gaming😊

[@gabrielleadriana5]

What sound setting do you use for Warzone im not sure between boost boost high or boost low for the hd560s

[@deafno]

NOTE! All these three headphones are open design meaning if you have a noisy computer the sound awareness will be affected by the noise. I have 560S and it's good, but I need a quieter GPU :(

[@fclp67]

Also note that this is very good if you have water boiling in the other room and want to hear when it's done so you can get another litre of coffee xD

[@Condred]

Yeah, those are open-back headphones for you. Any open headphone will have no sound isolation at all. You'll have to go with closed-backs if there's too much background noise.

[@Irisda1st]

FYI: on some motherboards the front headphone jack is the one that the mobo amp will push the power to whereas the rear jack is a line out for speakers and does have the power for high impedance headphones

[@stocksyere]

Just get a DAC & an amp then you're booominnn

[@Irisda1st]

@@stocksyere good mobo with a decent analog output is enough for me

[@jaydenhogan507]

It’s been 2 years since this video dropped so I’m kind of chancing for a reply here but in those ensuing years has there been anything in this sort of price range that has been better than 560S in terms of soundstage and imaging for gaming?

[@Edwardx703]

Just curious would this pair up good with GSX 1000 from EPOS or is there another amp/Dac you would recommend?

[@noddy5]

Hey bro good quality content right here! I'm also into the quest for looking into the best sub $200 headset mostly for gaming and some listening. Some people are actually recommending the tygr 300r, but they're sold quite rarely. I wanna see how that compares to what you currently have

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I'll check it out

[@allaibrahim5688]

Hey how do the Sennheiser 560S sound on the ps5 directly connected to dualsense? I was thinking of just connecting it directly to dualsense and use the mic on the dual sense controller. Do you think it needs an amp or is it fine plugged directly into the controller?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

will try tonight and let you know!

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Tried them today directly into the controller. REALLY good and they get sufficient volume

[@allaibrahim5688]

@@FreshReviewsYT Cool, I got a little sound blaster g3 just incase its not as loud as I want it to be. Do you adjust the EQ at all when connecting it to the amp/dac?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@allaibrahim5688 I made no adjustments to any EQ's with my Mayflower Arc MK2

[@cross-hairz800]

How they are 150ohms

[@issnupe2359]

What about the AKG k702 compared to the hd 560s? Which one can you say is better for gaming ? In terms of foot steeps

[@platanom3n]

So out of the box without an amp, and on connected to the ps5 controller, is the h560s better for competitive gaming than the pc38x?

[@billwiley7216]

Basically one indication on whether a headphone is easy to drive is the ohm rating of unit along with the dB at 1 volt rating, The lower the ohm rating and the higher the dB rating generally the less power it takes to drive a unit to a set loudness level. The PC38X is rated at 28 ohms,109dB- The Hi Fi Man 400i 35ohms, 93 dB and the 560S, 120 ohm- 110dB. By far of the above listings the PC38X will achieve a higher volume level on a lower power input such as a motherboard output due to the low ohm rating of 28 ohms and good efficiency rating of 109 dB at 1volt RMS. The 400i even though at only 35 ohms is killed by the low efficiency rating of only 93dB at 1 volt and really need to be run through an amp for best performance. The 560S at 120 ohm and 110 db will probably work okay with a lower power output but something such as motherboard power will probably be pushed pretty hard trying to get to what most want out of a loudness level and will not have the headroom or power reserves to properly power the peaks at those volume levels. Basically you will notice most "gaming" headphones will be in the 30 ohm or lower range and over 100dB in efficiency and the reason is so they can be driven to the required levels off of fairly low output sources. If a person does not want to invest in a decent amp as a power source to drive their headsets the should definitely stay with the lower ohm and higher efficiency headset offerings. Basically one will find that as you gain one thing such as super efficiency you will sacrifice something else such as sound quality or tuning ranges. Also open back headphones will generally open up the soundstage greatly but will not offer the sound isolation in a noisy environment or somewhere you need to not bother others with the sound from your gaming adventures. I am not a top tier gamer but do enjoy more of a premium sound experience. My gaming set up is a set of Drop/ Sennheiser 6xx which are the HD650 equivalent but are 300 ohm 103db units. I do drive them through a Schiit modi+ dac and Asgard 2 amp of the same brand though which easily handles the higher power requirements. Personally out of the choices you laid out I agree the 560S is overall the better choice. I for one will always choose a more "audiophile" geared headset although they generally cost more the top brands have better drivers and frequency tuning which results in a better sound quality. If you buy quality and take care of your equipment they will actually last for years. I have headphones that are 15 years old that still sound as good today as the day they were bought and those are also Sennheiser units.

[@zachhall2575]

Hey, I know you made this comment 3 months ago but I’m hoping you respond because it is clear you know what you’re talking about. I just purchased the 560s and want an amp to run through my Xbox. Is there a relatively cheap amp you would recommend for the 560s? I don’t need anything crazy just something that will drive them better than plugging the headphones straight into my controller

[@crechedacasadopovodamaia9050]

Thats awesome mate. What amp would you recommend to use with560s? Is akg 702 a good pick?

[@2Guapo]

Sound blasterx g6 or G3. Or the arc mk2 Mayflower. Just get what's right for your budget. I got the G6 for scout mode and SBX surround, proprietary spatial audio designed by creative but the 560s is so good that I just leave all of those settings off except for the one that fools my PS5 into thinking that my headset is a 7.1 So I'm just basically using them as an amp.

[@kwisclubta7175]

I can't wait to try the sign-heisers! 🤣😂🤣

[@Tempuraguy]

what do you choose betwen sennheiser 560 s vs dt 900 pro x?

[@Tyrvana]

Hey, was thinking of getting either hd560s or tygr300r and was wondering which modmic you recommend?

[@QueenBChaos]

Thank you for this review! I just purchased the pc38x and was wondering how do you feel about the soundstage for story driven games connected to the ps5?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Overall fairly good. I have a very enjoyable experience with the PC38X plugged into the PS5 controller in little big planet and the new Yakuza game

[@VisibleEnd]

@@FreshReviewsYT mine sounds like trash connected to the ps5 controller. Is it broken ?

[@QueenBChaos]

@@VisibleEnd it might be! Exchange it

[@kato2395]

@@VisibleEnd ps5 controller has a bad build in audio dac amp. Try using an external dac amp combo.

[@gucky4717]

If you are looking for a

[@ANGEL-fg4hv]

Do they ever get less clampy ??

[@mastapempem6215]

Thank you for this video and review of Hd560s. You made me decide to go for this headphone coz i am looking endlessly for a decent directional audio heandphone for gaming and i cant decide which one of the vast model of senheisser out there. Good job.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Ty! Hope you love them

[@007fRAGMa]

Nice man just ordered it from Amazon. I own myself a DT 990 and an AKG 712 pro with already a great soundstage. Going to try that. Hope my Sound blaster Zxr will suffice. Thanks for the feedback ^^

[@JayNL]

I had the 990 PRO but found the treble too bad for CS:GO, how you like the 560s?

[@mardini900]

I had the PC83X and bought the HD560s based on a few reviews and this video. I honestly can't tell that it's much better as far as audio for gaming. I can definitely easily tell that it's a better pair, but as far as directional audio, I still can't tell front/back above/below directions well. I'm using the ARC Mk2. Is there some obvious setting I'm missing or something? I run the game with the stereo audio command to make sure it's not running surround sound. Edit: I pretty much am only talking about Apex btw. I don't play any other shooters atm

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Do you have all windows audio settings set to default? In other words. Don’t use sonic audio, or any virtual surround sound like Dolby atmos. If everything is default and you’re using the mayflower properly, I’m not quite sure

[@mardini900]

@@FreshReviewsYT yep all audio enhancements are turned off from windows :(

[@mikaiyelmiah8538]

Apex audio is broken. No set of headphones will fix this

[@imbolts1753]

Have you noticed differences in other games?

[@mardini900]

@@imbolts1753 Minimal differences. If you want a better pair for music listening, get the HD560S, but if it’s mostly for gaming, just get the PC83X.

[@brascoz1322]

Thanks for the good review! Do you share the same opinion that the 560s is more superior than the pc38x for the ps5?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Only if you have the amp/dac setup for it. The pc38x might be better just because it’s so much easier being able to just plug it right into the controller

[@brascoz1322]

Just want to say that I ordered the hd560s and I’m loving it. I plugged in right into the controller and I must say I’m impressed with the sound and volume. For me personally it goes loud enough and I don’t play with max volume. I’m waiting for my steelseries dac to complete the setup. I’m not a big fan of plugging a cable right in the controller. It is amazing how you can pinpoint with the hd560, and how you can hear different sounds in apex. So thanks again for the review and I’m glad I did not buy the pc38. Your video came up at the right moment because every other review the pc38 was the best, although I did nog compare them personally.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@brascoz1322 thanks! Glad to hear you like them!

[@Wenzo404]

@@brascoz1322 how are they with a ps4 controller? good sound?

[@taylorboe6747]

I just bought a pair of 560S, but I don’t have an amp/dac, how do I know if I need an additional driving source or am not getting enough out of the headset by plugging into my mobo?

[@jessepolanco3948]

Great review!

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Ty!

[@gameneverend29]

Very nice contents. Subscribed. I have only PS5 with Creative Sound BlasterX G6. I am only play COD cold war, sometimes warzone. JUST for competitive gaming which headset you prefer for me Sennheiser 560S or PC38X. Please consider just for console gaming (PS5) with G6 gaming DAC

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Definitely the 560s

[@klobasa999]

I have the pc38x and can't help but wonder why you didn't swap the pads to velour ones. It changes sound signature slightly and are more comfortable.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I did try both pads in testing. Very comfortable for sure

[@Ahcelaht]

Would they be good for Halo and Battlefield? What do you think of the Drop + Sennheiser HD58X? (Additional info: I play on PC, Halo with a controller, Battlefield with M&K, Minecraft with M&K. I consider myself a very competitive Halo player)? Sounds like the HD560s are very good though!

[@andrewe165]

this is probably a dumb question cause I don't understand much about audio, but could I use the 560s with a astro mixamp pro and be fine? or do you think I would need something else

[@javerstv]

Weird that headphone specific reviewers are saying the PC38X outperforms the 560S... and everything else except the HD 800 S in games. I trust your opinion though, you're a far better gamer.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I’ve noticed the same thing. I tried to pay particular attention and find something that was able to separate out sounds during intense gun fights in ranked competitive games. In isolated or not so intense environments the pc38x is great. When you have three teams on you in apex with grenades going off though and a million things going on the 560s was the only one out of the bunch that was able to provide the clarity to hear all of that going on with pin point accuracy simultaneously. I’m not sure if the other reviewers tried to put it through the ringer for those intense competitive purposes, but it’s really really good.

[@javerstv]

@@FreshReviewsYT Yeah and that's exactly the issue I've had with a lot of headphones I've tried. I had always heard great things about the Beyerdynamics the DT880s, DT990s, etc. I own both the DT990 pro 250 ohm and the DT990 600 ohm plugged into a Schiit Heresy stack, and while they're both super clear and sound good (if you can handle the treble) I don't think they're at the very top for gaming like many people claim. I can hear footsteps, gunshots, reloads, etc. clearly with a lot of detail on both versions, but the moment it comes to multiple sounds in different directions -- suddenly hearing the guy rushing down the hall to blast me in the back while I'm engaging someone else becomes significantly harder. I can still hear them but it becomes mentally taxing to do so, and this is something that needs to instantly click. I don't want to be stuck on determining whether I'm actually hearing footsteps or not, I want my mind to be reacting in order to deal with both problems at once. The most important thing is threat prioritization; the headphone that enables you to instantly create a mental clock and image of your opponents positioning so that you can methodically take fights based on threat level is going to be the best. As soon as you take down one you're moving on to the next. You're the first reviewer I've heard properly convey the importance of this. The only headphone I've tried that has been able to pull this off is the Audio-Technica AD900X, but *only* when plugged into my Schiit stack. When the AD900X is plugged into my motherboard, or my EVGA Nu Audio Pro (which is actually a very good soundcard), the directional audio gets confusing and muddied for some reason. Even though the AD900X is satisfactory, I'm still looking for something with better sound quality that can do the same thing for the ATs sound noticeably worse than everything else I own despite their effectiveness. Already ordered the 560S, thanks for the recommendation this is a great channel.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@javerstv thank you so much. Please come back and let me know your thoughts I am very interested to hear the results

[@jonathantran5821]

@@javerstv would also like to hear your thoughts on how the 560s went for you!

[@javerstv]

​@@jonathantran5821 Oh damn my bad guys, I honestly thought I had come back for this already. Got them months ago, still gaming with them to this day, in fact I am wearing them as I type this up. They're exactly as Fresh Reviews described as far as I'm concerned. However, I will say the experience seems to be very dependent on what you're using to drive them, just like what I described with my AD900X. I have a Nu Audio Pro soundcard, a Motu M2 Interface, and a Heresy Schiit stack. They performed best on the stack in games for similar reasons. If you're used to something with a massive soundstage, like the AD700X/AD900X, it may take a bit to get used to estimating distance on the 560S. While 560S soundstage isn't small, it is noticeably smaller than the one on that particular headphone. I think if the soundstage was slightly wider they would literally be perfect, but once you get used to it... they're still just the best I've used for gaming. I've actually tried a couple of cans after purchasing these, including the PC38X he reviews in this video, which I think are definitely good for directional sound, especially in games based around smaller arenas, but I still keep going right back to the 560S. Thanks for the recommendation Fresh, it's a great one. Oh and as an added bonus, the 560S is top tier for music too in its price range.

[@alexthesniper1952]

Damn was gonna get the pc38x now when I get some money saved back im going with the 560S and Mic Mod as well as buy it with a Arc Mayflower

[@fauag]

Can you compare hd 560s with pc37x? I´m using a pc37x and want to upgrade to a hd 560s.

[@hayvanejones8791]

Wtf man I see it after a year…Bro I sear I search for a vid like this always. When you start to talk about some games and what you like and not like I felt ok you’re an real person! This review was What I needed. Example there so many people who use an Mixamp like me but if you ask them what they settings are they use this ds mode where you feel you sitting On Toilette and talking…..now way you now from where footsteps coming from. Thanks for that

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Hahahaha. Thanks

[@hayvanejones8791]

@@FreshReviewsYT Bro Im day one apex player but Audio horizontal is so bad right? Can you hear steps while shooting ? And do you think these 560 can be fine withe an astro Mixamp?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@hayvanejones8791 I probably wouldn’t recommend them with an Astro. But yea, I can hear very well in apex. There are still a few occasions where you’re like… wait wth where the hell did this guy come from, but overall the 560s paired with a solid amp/dac cut that down drastically

[@hayvanejones8791]

@@FreshReviewsYT dam, is the Astro mixamp that bad ? I didn’t know that. But for the beginning It’s better than nothing. When I play Rank (Master) than it’s ok cuz we play different but when I play pubs and push everything I feel it’s more luck than gear people where they coming from. One final question please. Which off these 3 you would recommend for bigger war my ears? My are sensitive and I hate when something pressures them.

[@hayvanejones8791]

@@FreshReviewsYT Bro, I got a 560 since today and it’s really nice so far. I need to test him a bit more and yes I’m using him withe an Mixamp…let’s see how it goes.

[@animodominus1034]

I fked up, i believed on all those overhype reviews of the pc38x that came out on release day and bought it .Months laters the honest reviews like this one came out with same conclussion, that it isn't so great after all. It seems the 560s it's what i was truly looking for. Lesson learned.

[@thor8334]

so you do not have a good time with the pc38x ?

[@thor8334]

because on the drop website all the reviews say they are really good.. maybe you are verry compétitive or have really critical listening ?

[@OneShotCS]

Imo pc38x is still the best gaming headset available, just wish th price wasn’t so high.

[@Strengthoftenmen]

Would I need a amp to run the 560s with the Xbox series x or can I use my Astros mix amp to run them?

[@simi9222]

Hi, I'm using game one's with sound blaster z and mainly play fps games. Thinking of getting the 560's, do you think they will be an upgrade over the game one's or should I look for something better?

[@zanaros2606]

I've watched other reviews saying that the hd560s is not as good as pc38x when it comes to gaming. But then I also watched your video. So now I'm just really, really confused as to which one to buy for solely gaming purposes, lol.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

The 560s blow it out of the water in my honest opinion

[@malvinmanihuruk2755]

@@FreshReviewsYT which one do you think is better for valorant… pc38x, 560s or gsp 600?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@malvinmanihuruk2755 haven’t tried the gsp, but enjoyed the 560s more than the pc38x

[@malvinmanihuruk2755]

@@FreshReviewsYT is hd 560s better than game zero/ game one

[@malvinmanihuruk2755]

@@FreshReviewsYT what do you think is the best headphone money can buy for fps games that is also better than 560s?

[@crate718]

I think the reason why the 400i sounded blurry on the G6. You must’ve played them on low gain. I get the same results with the dt 900 n 560s. You know you can make the G6 and the mayflower into a stack dac. Connect the out from the G6 to the out of the out of the mayflower. The results are amazing. Just ordered the 400i for my first plainer can’t wait to revive them

[@FreshReviewsYT]

They are fantastic for music. You’ll enjoy

[@crate718]

@@FreshReviewsYT I got the headset the top part of the headset looks different then the one you had. They are power hungry I got the g6 on hi gain volume 80% up. No lie bro I would say the imaging the same as the 560s and dt 900. The sound stage is really wide I could hear foot steps further then the 560 and 900. I think I bought them used by accident don’t really know what year they are from. I am amazed

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@crate718 hah. Glad you like them. Enjoy

[@itthipornprachapornsuk3850]

Can u teach me how to setup the 400i? I got blurry and muggy sound too.

[@crate718]

@@itthipornprachapornsuk3850 what dac are you using

[@0rtizjjay]

just bought them after your review... thank you. May I ask what cm/360 you use for Valorant & what cm/360 for Apex? Do you change sensitivity depending on the game?

[@Kingkhan0440]

So is that mayflower arc mk2 good for the 560s or is there something better?

[@ImurTuta]

Ok I bought the pc38x, 560s, and the hd 58x jubilee. I to mostly play competitive PC games and have been using the audio advantage for just over a decade now from way back to the first black ops. I run all my headsets off of the GSX1000. Here is my take with sheer competitive advantage in mind alone and that being footsteps and knowing exactly where they are coming from (imaging), not music, not audio editing, not rpgs. That being said the 58x will impress you if you have never heard a real pair of headphones and have only iems, bluetooth, or turtle beaches to compare them too, but they are a fantastic headphone for everything else but competitive gaming when you stack them against the other 2. Buy the 58x if u want to play rpgs and listen to music and movies. The 560s are incredible and I have to say I have not heard a "studio" headphone before these. They ummmm hurt your ear holes lol but that's because they are sooooo revealing about absolutely everything, the soundstage is present with these as well. They take all the sounds make them clear and distinctly separate them so you can pick out each sound as studio headphone should do which inherently makes them amazing for competitive gaming. The downfall to the 560s is not that they kinda hurt your ear holes with how sharp the sounds can be but the fact that they present all the sounds to you and don't do any of the separation in sound that we want as competitive gamers and with a larger sound stage things can kind of seem like the footsteps are farther away then they actually are, but I suppose you can learn to adjust. I prefer a more narrow sound stage with perfect imaging for the competitive games I play. If you play a lot of games with verticality like EFT then I recommend the 560s, like Fresh Reviews said he likes to be able to tell the difference from above or below and this is an important distinction to make. Now if you are like me and play smaller map games like cod where verticality isn't much of an issue then the pc38x is the better pick. The imaging is only slightly better then the 560s but the separation between the sounds you care about and the ones you don't are there and much better. When I play cod I don't really care about map noises like a broadcasting radio sitting on the table or a tv making statics sounds or the non stop explosions that happen in every map, these sounds happen at different frequencies and with the 38x it turns the volume down on them while turning the volume up on the sound frequencies I do care about. Sounds like footsteps, crunching, guns reloading, shells hitting the floor, guns firing, and even the sound of clothes moving lol. With these sounds boosted and the "bad" ones toned down and the perfect imaging and more narrow sound stage it really does feel like you have wall hacks with the pc38x and that's why they are my top pic for competitive gaming. TLDR? read it you scrub I spent a lot of time and money figuring this out. Thank me latter after you get called out for cheating =D...unless its me...don't shoot me

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Nice. I didn’t like the pc38x, but glad to hear they worked well in cod

[@ImurTuta]

@@FreshReviewsYT yeah its interesting how different all our ears and preferences can be. I'll be keeping my 38x for gaming and the 58x for everything else while I return the 560s( even though I really want to keep them) and I think I'll get the tygr 300s next and compare those. You got another headphone shoot out comming for us?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@ImurTuta Hopefully soon! Great in depth review by the way. I really thought it was well written!!

[@jonathantran5821]

@@ImurTuta Hi Asa you have all the headphones ive been looking into, was very helpful to hear your comparisons. What did you end up thinking about the tygr 300r?

[@jonathantran5821]

Did the tygr also happen to hurt your earholes as you described with the 560s?

[@frieddayfriday]

i also have both. the 560s and 38x. i dont find any difference on sound stage whether its left/right or above/below you. the only difference i can tell is the clarity. so 560s is still better i guess, which is why it's my main and the 38x is for my son. but if somebody is having a hard time which one to get id say get the 38x its only $139 right now and you dont have to buy a seperate mic. no problem powering it up with my Aorus Z490 pro.

[@vinnybunny852]

I'm wondering the same. I play light games on Mac mini. How much better quality and value for price does the 560s provide over the 38x ? Also do let me know how much a decent mic for 560s and the 560's on best offer would cost me. What's better value for money here ?

[@rickygarcia1926]

How is the 38x in warzone can you hear the footsteps clearly and know where they are coming from?

[@frieddayfriday]

@@vinnybunny852 am not sure about the mac minis onboard soundcard capabilities. But like i said, positional audio is on par with 560s. Been using the 560s for a year so my ears are really used to it and when i got the 38x i can immediately tell that its lacking detail but after a couple of days of use it has gotten better. Let me tell you this if my son wants the 560s i have no problem using the 38x.

[@frieddayfriday]

@@rickygarcia1926 if you really want the better one and on a $200 budget go with 560s, better for movies and music too but not by much. id say right now at $139 the 38x is the better deal.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

What did you pair the headset with? It could be a sound card issue

[@Xxclover13xX]

Specifically for gaming (WZ1 and WZ2) what would you recommend for an inline mic with sound/mute control (ie VMODA Boom) and DAC/AMP as I have some weird feedback static loop on reboots of my PC when mic is muted. Once I unmute it goes away (whether I stay unmuted or mute again) until I reboot again. If inline mic is just not possible with a DAC/AMP, what standalone mic would you recommend? Thanks for any help you can provide!

[@grclink]

This video convinced me to impulse buy the hd560s. Just got them today, and they are just as good as you said they are

[@the_womp_and_only9062]

I've seen your other three videos and did a lot of research on other headsets and here's a list to burn a hole in your wallet over: dt300 tygr, at ad700x, hd800s, k7xx, 9500s/9600s, phidelio, and the ah d7200

[@pyrrhicwins5101]

A bit late but I second this. Really wanna see how the lower end SHP 9600 and ATH AD700x stack up against the likes of the TYGR PC38x and 560s. Bit hard to try all of these myself so a video would be much appreciated.

[@jonathantran5821]

I'm also curious on how these stack up, mainly the tygr, pc38x, 560s, and sph9500/9600

[@fliptout86]

For competitive use the 560 beats the 9500 and 9600 in soundstage and imaging. 560 like he says in this video beats the pc38x for competitive use in imaging and soundstage the pc38x is a all around gaming headset so it has plenty of base which you don’t want in competitive use

[@fliptout86]

Hd800s beats 560 in imaging and soundstage but it has bass aswell but if we talk about the hd800 originals that’s a different ball game it blows the 560 out easy but the cost is wild . As for the rest I can’t speak because I never tried the Fidelio at700 or 7xx

[@fliptout86]

@@vorkot1 i have hd800 first gen no mods and I think they are superb never had any issues in imaging they are my go to for long hour competitive fps sessions I feel they have the best sound stage and imaging out of all my headphones I have 9500, dt990s, pc38x, hd560s, hd 58x, hd660s, and mod house argon mk3 and the hd800 is on another level with sound stage and imaging but the argon is up there in soundstage

[@8Ro0omi8]

Great review 👍

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Thank you!

[@Juice_VI]

Thanks for talking about the PS5 as well. That is where I’ll be using the PC38X. I’m over my A50s and G Pro X Wireless.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

Definitely better than both those headsets. Hands down

[@Juice_VI]

@@FreshReviewsYT thanks for the confirmation. Like you said it helps coming from someone that plays at a high level vs just a reviewer. Although I’m nowhere near a pro player or a apex predator. But I do only play competitive shooters and I want the best sound advantage that I can get. Take care and I hope that I never see you in my public lobbies lol.

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@Juice_VI hahahaha, Unless we are on the same team right? Hahaha Let me know how you end up liking the headset

[@ripp123m]

Do you like them? I'm trying to see if I should buy these or the other one for console competitive gaming

[@FreshReviewsYT]

@@ripp123m if you have a good gaming amp/dac I would go with the 560S. If you don't want to mess around with anything extra the PC38X is a very good choice

[@elsuperudy0835]

Loved the video! I’m so happy I stumbled across this I’m definitely and already have sub’d keep it up man!

[@nXqd]

Great review. I have the cloud ii wired, it's good. How does this one compare to the hyper X. Thanks

[@chronicmayhem]

Have you covered the Sennheiser 58x? That's what I currently have and I'd love to see a comparison of it against the 560S for competitive games

[@sebvv5219]

He400i have a sensitivity of 93db/mw. Maybe the g6 was too weak?

[@balloontortoise9768]

Would directional audio still be top notch without an amp dac for the 560s?? Let’s say if the volume is comfortable and enough for me without. Kinda on a tight budget.

[@MertLDN]

Amp/dacs don’t really effect imaging but rather the sound quality and loudness.

[@Pablito5614]

Question for you, i use the pc38x on the xbox series s just wondering is there any way I can add some extra amp or dac to the console and still get game audio with chat?

[@FreshReviewsYT]

I think so! I believe things like the mayflower work with both PlayStation and the Xbox but if you’re sitting far away from the console it might not work well with the cables

[@telionheart640]

I play on Series S. Boutta upgrade soon thinking about about a thx db12 AAAamp or a Fiio A3 for my next HD560s or AKG 612 purchase shoot maybe hifiman idk yet but I currently use a Soundblaster e1 inline amp with mic and mic passthu and multidriver IEMs. Controller to e1 to ths headset and instantly anything i use gets waaay better audio.

[@brianvalencia4150]

I know I’m late to the party, and this might be a dumb question but any suggestions for sim racing headphones ? I see tons of videos with great advice except it’s all for fps games. I’m sure the audio won’t change dramatically on different games but just wanted to ask.

[@jayrese2358]

hey im between 38x and 560s , if im going to be playing on narrower soundstages like cod what is yr preference if not used with amp or dac im worrying that 560s wont have enough sound or be too "quiet" . and if pc38x is not as good at imaging/directional audio is it enough to neglige. or is the 560s just to good to pass up on (without dac or amp)

[@FreshReviewsYT]

It depends how good your on board sound is to be able to drive the 560s. But if you’re able to return them, I’d rather try the 560s to see if they work first over the pc38x

[@mickael7904]

I bought this headset and tested it with my creative sound card and my amp. And the result is really good. The sound reproduction in games is clear and you can tell quite easily where the sounds come from. I compared it to other headsets like mobius, astro A40, Sundara and clearly the HD 560 s is really good. On the other hand I tested the DT 900 Pro x and frankly I found it bad in games.

[@babonisfps9868]

save like Brazil, would an asus xonar dgx sound card be able to extract good sound for fps games? thanks

[@jtmcrazy3]

Whats a good dac/amp for entry level gaming with these headphones? And do i need one?

[@j.d.4697]

Really like this project though. Even as a non-professional gamer I value directional cues and especially sound stage, because of the genres I play.

[@syedzgaming]

Btw do you use 3d audio for ps5 with these headsets?

[@MrSabifa]

Thanks for the video! Do you have a video up which shows the mic quality of the ablet boom mic with the mayflower arc mk2?

[@bigdaddyyc]

Have you tried the EPOS h6PRO wireless or other wireless headsets? It'd be nice to see a wireless headset make your wallhack list.

[@cross-hairz800]

What would u recommend for ps5,rainbow six siege with 80ohms,detachable cable open or closed dnt matter to Me I have a steelseries gamedac as well

[@skatingmagician]

Great review! Also what is the mic called that you attached to your 560s? Could you possibly post a link?