Sennheiser HD560S Review - Is this the best value headphone in 2020?

[@markkunitomi7901]

Another big advantage (perhaps one that Andrew can't mention) is that its far preferable to buy something from Sennheiser than from Drop. No ridiculous waits, actual customer service, far better pricing outside the USA.

[@sipenarekbecha7193]

Drop aftersale support are meh ? 🤔

[@markkunitomi7901]

@@sipenarekbecha7193 I think meh would be a huge upgrade.

[@cuentadosdos5480]

@@markkunitomi7901 We need MEH plz !!!!!!

[@CrimsonKobaNakirigumi]

I can't even rate any headphone with an x because of Drop. They don't ship to my country, so for me and for many others those models are just a myth. 560s wins by default just for that simple fact.

[@uglitor]

Yeah. Ordering anything from Drop to European countries negates almost all of the savings after you add the shipping, taxes and customs charges on top of the price. I paid ~$150 for HD560s. HD6xx would have ended costing me total of $320 if I had ordered it from Drop. I wish reviewers would take this into account when doing these reviews. Not everyone in the world lives in USA and Drop is just a no go for most of us.

[@norsemanshorn3988]

One of the most informative technical presentations conveyed in understandable terms I've heard in the last two days of research. Great work. Thank you for the useful knowledge.

[@utadakami-sama8121]

Yes I was waiting for the GOAT headhone reviewer to review this

[@KenDupont]

Tyll is retired. Resolve is doing a pretty great job of taking up the mantle though.

[@woopygoman]

@@KenDupont Wall of Fame and honesty and consistency. No other reviewer has these traits right now. Especially a wall of fame which is important because reference headphones are not supposed to be replaced every year. Anyway... sad state of affairs if you ask me.

[@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797]

@@KenDupont I think Tyll relies too much on graphs and is too objective. But he is a legend

[@fclp67]

@@KenDupont who tf is tyll

[@KenDupont]

@@fclp67 look up Tyll innerfidelity

[@jamesbittle2138]

Way to go DMS!

[@joosteijkenboom1988]

Great review. Like the inclusion of the different amp scaling. Would love to see a standard phone/laptop included in a future review though.

[@hypnosHD]

I've had the HD650 and they were a bit claustrophobic, I was missing the soundstage I had with HD598. The 560S seems like nice middleground choice of soundstage and quality, without spending too much money. As one with a small budget, I'm going to get these at some point. Currently with my old AKG K702, which with a bit of EQ are not bad at all, and very nice for FPS-games :).

[@Jason75913]

K702's fidelity is in a different world if you plug it into an Audio-gd Reference/Master series amp/DAC on any kind.

[@mistersurrealist]

@@Jason75913It *should* be when you consider the price of that device.

[@dannybourne_]

Absolutely brilliant presentation/review. A real joy to learn and watch. Oh, one more thing: *SUBSCRIBED*

[@MapleYum]

Damn. This is a great review. So thoughtful. Now if only I could find one in stock.

[@ninhbac04]

get in line pal

[@DrAg0n3250]

Best buy. 1 day shipped it for like $15 iirc (wanted to avoid USPS Halloween and election mail)

[@MapleYum]

@@DrAg0n3250 Smart. I’ve gotten on a few wait lists in Canada. Doesn’t look like it’s officially released up here yet.

[@DrAg0n3250]

P C must’ve gotten lucky af 😂 serial # 914. (Senn biased) Personally idk why people keep posting ab sending these back? If you liked the 500 series fit but want 600 level sound these are the best. The price point is pretty much setting the new bar for headphones considering the SHP9600 and x2hr. No one has mentioned the biggest change I noticed tho; Made in China. Just seems weird for every review I’ve watch to skip over that when I remember ‘Made in Ireland’ going away being mentioned when the remodeling of the HD600 came around at the start of the year.

[@kimmasendo7109]

@@DrAg0n3250 pp

[@karma_moths]

What a great review! I bought these before the reviews came out and I've been wandering if I should have gone with the HD 600/ 650 because they might be better technically but I have a Magni 3+ and as your review explained really well with that kind of entry level amp there's not much between the two performance wise, so thanks very much for puttin' my mind at ease, all the best man :)

[@Assimilator702]

Get a pair of HD6XX while you still can. They’re VERY close to the HD 58X however the HD 6XX is a touch better and worth the slightly higher price. You really need to own that headphone since it IS the current benchmark and useful when deciphering reviews. You need a reference and the the HD 6XX is the reference everyone can and SHOULD own.

[@MrStingraybernard]

This headphone in my opinion is better then the 600 or 650 ,a lot more detail

[@karma_moths]

@@MrStingraybernard Nice one - ive been using them for mixing for the last year - they're very revealing - like you say plenty of detail. My brother bought the Hd 650's which sound great but seem to be a bit more forgiving and easier on the ears than the 560s - great for recreational listening but not as suited as the 560s for studio work in my opinion - bit wider soundstage on the 560s too.

[@maciejgeming8555]

For all of you who finds the 560s as: a bit too sharp in the top end / a bit too cold as whole / to less bassy... Try is with 598 CS pads. The difference is HUGE - those pads smoothes out the treble, gives real strong bass, and change the tonality more towards analog than digital side. Also the stage has improved in depth. Incredible difference. I've read about it from some polish reviewer and it all was true. The only thing that can be considered as downside is that vocals would not be as close as the were before.

[@ganymeade5151]

Everyone hears differently. The Sennheiser HD 569s sound best to me. I have tried all leading brands including the very expensive badge ones.

[@08874]

Which one did you buy? I really want to give a try😬 I only see the common replacement for the entire 500 series instead of a particular one for 598cs. And it seems they are different brands instead not the original?

[@bigjt37]

Love your very true comment. Measures better than most headphones at a much higher price point. 👍🏼

[@gpearce11]

To be fair, when you asked what the point is of a 120-ohm headphone, an important detail is that the 560s also has 110Db sensitivity. The result is that while the HD560s does want an amp for best performance, like the 300-ohm HD6XX, it CAN still run at acceptable volumes off a smartphone or laptop, which CAN'T be said of the HD6XX. So if you're only going to use an amp, then I agree that there's no advantage either way, but if you suspect that you may occasionally find yourself listening to it away from a proper headphone amp, that's a definite advantage to the 560s over the 6XX.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Yeah this is a good point.

[@snaps6113]

I can run my HD6xx or K702 directly on my phone or laptop with only 30% volume set and get it loud enough. If I set the volume to be over 60% it's completely ear-bleeding for me. Both of these headphones are considered to be with mid-low sensitivity. The thing is, volume alone is not a problem any more for high impedance/low sensitivity headphones nowadays with modern mobile devices, they can easily drive these headphones to 100 db+, which is already very dangerous for hearing loss. Unless the listener's hearing has been damaged way too much from high-volume music exposure, then they shouldn't have much problem in "getting the headphone loud enough". The only benefit of a PROPER dedicated amp for mobile device now is just to provide better sound separation, bass clarity and impact (when running at the same volume compared to un-amp'ed), and ofc this can be a big factor for consideration for people who value "sound quality" more.

[@jm56481]

I don't really comment but it's pretty shocking how accurate this review is. I had gotten the HD 650 and HD 560S off of amazon just to test drive both headphones. I initially loved the 650s, as they scaled very well with my topping 50 stack but I ended up returning them due to me paying $400. Legit cannot justify paying that much when the 6xx exist for $220 right now. I ended up keeping the 560S for my office/daily driver headphones paired with a LCD-X for music listening sessions. After my experience I would recommend the HD 6xx over the 560s if you can get them for $220 or less. The build quality is way better and again has way more scalability as you go through your audiophile journey. EQ'd on a higher end DAC & Amp the quality you are able to get at $220 is mind blowing

[@loki76]

Not if you want more soundstage. 560s is better.

[@drewmorg.]

560S is only $130 on Amazon right now!

[@mrfrosty3]

I don't think there are many headphones that get close to the quality of this at this low price, depending on your location. The 6xx is substantially more expensive outside of the US.

[@TheMstwntdLMSV123]

I’ve seen these regularly on sale for $150. Combine that with the recent price increase of the HD6XX, these seem like the new value king

[@rickybobby9885]

Where do you see this? Im looking to get some but Im consistently seeing $200+

[@TheMstwntdLMSV123]

@@rickybobby9885 it was on the Sennheiser website but it seems the sale is gone now. Must have been a holiday special

[@mg4u4ever]

Thank you for the very detailed and thorough review. I appreciate the comparison with the 6xx however most of thr times people forget about the 58x (which i enjoy. how would you say this compares to the 58x since i never heard the 6xx so i cant have a reference to what you compared it with. Thanks again and keep up the good work

[@soraflame66]

Yes!!!! I love my 58x to death!

[@pliedtka]

I moded my 58x a bit to lower the upper bass - lower mids (diyAudioHeaven) and put double layer of thin ladies stockings instead of the front foam - the infamous vail and speed of the highs. For $150 hard to beat.

[@Just_Pele]

If you can splash for a Valhalla 2 amp, get the HD6XX, you get some amazing benefits, even with the stock Valhalla tubes. If not, and you want to buy some really good cans that "just work" with nearly everything, get the HD560S. My personal taste runs towards planars, and I'd choose the HE5XX with a decent solid state amp, like the Topping A50 (and then buy a balanced cable for the HE5XX), but that's just my preference.

[@christiaanbergh5872]

I got these and sent them back to get the HE400i 2020 after hearing them. The 2020 version was a bit cheaper as well coming in at 169 US. He400i for fun 560s for work.

[@heyguyslolGAMING]

I bought this hp and used it for about 3 weeks. Its very light weight and comfortable BUT way too sibilant for my ears. I couldn't listen to them for any more than an hour or so. I'm sure they could be eq'd but I opted to return them and go w/ something else.

[@DeviantDeveloper]

Don't forget the 58X Jubilee, I'm in Europe, ordered from Drop delivered from US, even cheaper and easier to drive than 6XX.

[@czdot]

How much did you end up paying in the end? I was really bummed out when I found out they closed the EU warehouse in 2020.

[@SG-us4gz]

Wildly intelligent review. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this.

[@trellusg]

Thanks for another excellent, thorough review.

[@TheFabFoo]

Just got my 560S yesterday, had a two hour listening session with them last night and wow am I impressed. Coming from a pair of August EP650's and Sennheiser CX true wireless buds so its a big step up for me.. I have a Fiio KA3 Dac arriving tomorrow so can't wait to plug in the 560S again and here them with that. :)

[@spamcan9208]

How does it sound with the ka3? Right now I only have the DAC from whatever the Note 9 was built with and sometimes I use a home theater receiver as an amp. Not the most optimal setup and it feels like I'm missing out based on reviews. They sound good but I have no reference because I've never had/listened to this type of headphone before.

[@TheFabFoo]

@@spamcan9208 You should notice a pretty big step up. You really can't go wrong in just buying the KA3 and getting stuck in to a nice listening session.

[@spamcan9208]

@@TheFabFoo Thanks for the answer.

[@Marian1st.]

What an amazing review. It makes you feel like you’re watching a review from the team who made this product. Very informative. It kind of makes you feel like the other guys should go back to sound engineering school. 😂

[@alexp3577]

Now that's a review I have been waiting for! Now that you've mentioned scaling and that both HD560s and HD660s don't scale as well as HD650 - how do you think HD560s and HD660s compare to eacch other?

[@Tripokaridos22]

Thats false and myth 660s scale very good . other than that to me 6 series are all.amazing and better compare to 5 series.

[@maxiclasher]

@@kiavaxxaskew he is talking about the improvement in technical performance of the headphones when running them of higher end aplifiers

[@BunnyslippersEUC]

Damn you Andrew. I was eyeing the 560s. But than you mentioned the Sundara. I was looking at buying the Sundara yesterday. I listened to the Sundara at a hifi show last year. I only needed 20 seconds and go "Yeah these sound fantastic for the price". But first the Ergo 2 helmetphones.

[@SuperSeltzer]

I owned both but returned 6XX... I couldn't get over that Sennheiser veil... 560s had no veil whatsoever

[@saint_snow]

These look like they will be actually damn good for gaming. Decent highs and mids, bit analytical while having that speed, imaging and the much needed soundstage. Seems like they too a 6xx and tuned it more towards something that falls into an ideal gaming headphone. If this is true I will be definitely picking one up as I have been waiting for this for a while.

[@midorihibiki]

Yeah. I am thinking about get one HD560s for gaming, movies. Music still thinking about HD650, the mid the voices of HD650 are very realistic.

[@doobas2171]

its tuned for reference but that could work for gaming i guess

[@SahiPie]

Fresh Reviews (He was a Ex-CS pro) gives them high praise for gaming, especially competitive FPS.

[@surfision]

If that's your only purpose, yes. But they are also absolutely phenomenal for listening to music. They absolutely smash dt770 or dt990

[@saint_snow]

An update: I have had them since this post almost two years. They are exactly the same as my thoughts and a great "do all" headphone. They are amazing for fps games and my second pick from my current 800s which are probably the best in the space over anything. With music and just general use the 560s are great though with some genres, some might prefer to tune them with an equalizer to bring in a bit more warmth. I prefer the details so I run it stock for the most part.

[@loki76]

I have 4-5 Sennheiser's. Not a single one has ever broke for me. They might seem like plasticky, but they are durable. People that do not like this don't like flat/neutral sound. They are V shaped lovers. Or they like the Sennheiser sound with the veil on the top end, the roll off in the treble. These have a little more peak in the treble and otherwise very flat and neutral, but still with decent bass extension compared to many other Sennheisers. I have the 58X and I prefer my PC38X in sound. Simply because I prefer wider soundstage. The 58X is more anemic in that department, also feel there is a little bit more bass in PC38X.

[@RealPixelDude]

i use sennheiser hd555 headphones. they are really nice and i got them for 10 pounds (about 15 dollars) and they are great and they just plug straight into anything without an amp or anything i dont think i need to upgrade because they are great and good enough for me they are old but still good. they are silver and black and look just like these headphones. the avarage price that they sell for is about 40 pounds (about 50 dollars) so i think i scored something really good. good video btw

[@bla_ank]

Owning both, I'd say this is a pretty spot-on comparison

[@TheMrWafflefries]

Amazing review! Thank you! Just scored a pair of HD560s for $162.

[@xXLegendXx70]

I dont know where you get your prices from. But here in Denmark, the HD560s is half the price of what the HD600 or HD650 is.

[@simonnim321]

Doing research on the 6XX as I just decided to pull the trigger to upgrade my HD598's after 13 long years. I personally prefer more bass when at the gym and not really paying attention to vocals as much as just the rhythm and beat. But that's where my in ear bluetooth set comes in. When listening I enjoy to focus on the vocals and higher frequencies. I use my Alessandro's MS2's for that currently. Thank you for the review!

[@j.d.4697]

It makes sense to focus the performance of a headphone top pair best with the type of hardware that's in the price range of the same target audience who would buy those headphones, so I think Sennheiser nailed it. I personally love these cans.

[@FabioKasper]

Great review Andrew.

[@holliswong8519]

The 650 and 6xx is $600 here, and 560s is $299, I spent the other $300 on a topping amp. Thanks for the review.

[@bernamej]

Damn man ! You have made great progress. Hats off ! 100% ! Keep it up !

[@starvingrtist8714]

I bought mine in 2023 and now it ends with a 3.5mm connection, but the quarter inch jack is screwed on by default in the box.

[@divinecurrent9053]

Good stuff as always! Yeah the 4-6 kHz emphasis I heard as well, and I actually prefer the 58X to the 560S in most ways except bass tightness and soundstage. But if you EQ that 4-6 kHz area, you can get it to sound almost like a 650 with better technicalities. I still think the 6XX and 58X still do vocals better than the 560S, even with EQ.

[@87detto]

That veiled sound on the 58X though. Really killed the HP for me. 560S is more linear, more clear, and has a wider sounstage and the best bass extension of the three. Vocals I think sound fantastic on the 560S. The 600 has the best vocals imho.

[@loki76]

I have the 58x and the PC38X. I find the 58X a little anemic in sound. There is more of a soundstage to the PC38x for sure. I like that. I expect the 560s having wider and fuller sound instead of more closed in sound of the 58x. The fact the 560s has a bit of a peak in the treble is interesting. Almost all Senns have the roll-off and I feel like I need to EQ in a little treble for the clarity in high end. Sennheiser excel at mids though. They have excellent vocal range and not recessed. Something I prefer. The 560s seem like they are basically flat all the way until hitting a slight increase in treble. I could hate it (haven't tried them), but I might also like them a lot because the slightly less roll-off. It always felt like Sennheiser was the best all the way up until the higher parts. I think I have found that I do not like V-shaped sound too much. Not when mids are affected and recessed. The vocals take a backstage and feel drowned out. Like going to a concert where the mixing/sound engineers messed up and all you hear is drums and guitars and barely make out the singer. I watch a lot of movies and prefer the mids and vocals to remain clear.

[@mickael486]

I wonder why I don't hear much discussion about the 58x Jubilee's? And they have dual headphone jacks.

[@maurycyzych3129]

560s sounds really good paired with Dragonfly Cobalt

[@Tripokaridos22]

16:40 To me Sundara are a side grade Compared to HD660s , The reason is that i love Sundara clearness and sepperattion i got the WoW factor but after all this time to me HD660s sound more natural not Metalic like Sundara also hd660s instruments blend together more natural on Sundara sepperation is so big that doesnt feel realistic...Again Sundara sound amazing and i always get that omg they are so amazing on highs and what a sepperattion but these 660s sound so smooth effortless like they dont bomb u with detail but its there if u want to closely listen. Anyway i love both of them.

[@jode.]

Compared the HD660s to Sundara as well and for me the Sundara is more fun to listen to. HD660s does a great job with vocals but everything else to me is just more fun with the Sundara. HD660s in comparison seem like the music is playing in slow motion and have a paranoid feel to it. While on the Sundara the soundstage is great at times i wish the music were just a tiny bit closer and little bit warmer. Both are great headphones but in the end it comes down to own preference.

[@Tripokaridos22]

@@jode. honestly i love both of them Sundara like u said are more fun to listen anD hd660s are more natural more organic.

[@LeBeautiful]

Yeah, this is the new budget go-ahead king for the consumer.

[@h-dawg6462]

my experience with these are the total opposite. not treble boosted at all! got mine second hand, so maybe burn-in time is a thing after all. these headphones are a joy, as a music maker they are accurate and my mixes translate amazingly well. the "soundstage" isn't hyped or broad, bass is present but not boosted, it's just natural across all the frequencies. i love 'em!

[@olimphus26]

i love that 5xx design, in matte black it just looks sexy

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

5XX? You mean the planar?

[@olimphus26]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow nah lol, hd 5 series

[@changhwalee6395]

There is a rumor that hifiman he 5xx will be released through drop btw soon

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

@@changhwalee6395 All signs point to that being a wired Deva, which for the price may be okay. I haven't had the chance to hear it yet though so I can't say.

[@bigjt37]

@@TheHEADPHONEShow yeah deva driver, is that what you are hearing too, right?

[@Tomiply]

2:19 Reasonably comfortable? Meanwhile, for me, it's the most comfortable pair I've ever owned. I've had Focal, Philips, Beyerdynamic, HD 650s, Audeze, AKGs and so on, but nothing has come close to these.

[@monochromios]

Great video. I had the opportunity to try the HD560s and as you said it is a good headphone with some "but". 120 ohms sounds like a missing opportunity: a compromise between easiness in driving and better response with a good amplifiers. The aggressiveness is what really disappointed me: listening to some albums by Tony Williams focused on his job on drums the sound comes out like it is pushed too much on the higher side and makes the sounds not so enjoyable. A good headphone anyway especially for the price.

[@maciejgeming8555]

I just read that the version (with a shorter cable) brought some changes in the sound - a bit more bass, a bit less mids, and about 3db less treble. Did anyone also compare the new version with the old one?

[@tetrisgoat]

As the HD 650 has 216% of the price of the HD 560S, I think the HD 560S has far more value. Thank you.

[@sheep7255]

As one who's been pretty much daily driving it for over a year I think, they're extremely nice, very comfortable, and very good imaging for gaming. Soundstage is a tad narrow for being open back, but could somehow just be my setup. Would recommend

[@puciohenzap891]

Yep, your measurements confirm what I was hearing with the 560S - hot treble! I have a big head and the clamping pressure is high so the unit is probably even closer to the ear. I think the main culprit is that the 560S is trying to be a very resolving HP but is missing the transducer quality of the 600 and 800 series and so even if the 660S or 800(S) sound a bit hot in the treble, because of the higher quality of the unit it's not 'that' much of a problem.

[@kendokaaa]

At first I had ordered the HD6XX from Canada which would've ended up being around $320 CAD (maybe a bit more, I'm just guessing the import fees) while these are $240 after tax. I don't mind paying a bit more but considering how close they are and the added bass and better soundstage+imaging, these seemed like the better fit especially with the kinds of music I listen to.

[@SL1CKSHOT.]

I have just ordered some for pc gaming after so many good reviews of them, stepping away from your typical gaming headsets so hopefully they don't disappoint

[@sighliyah]

update?

[@andydogdixon1]

I am listening to you through the 560S. It is so natural and so detailed, as you speak I hear all the details in your mouth I hear the saliva in your Jaws. I apologize for being so direct, but this is what I get for buying these phones. I appreciate your review, thank you very much Mark Dixon

[@CowCatwithafancyHat]

This was a fantastic review. Thank you!

[@cremersalex]

I agree with your assessment. The mid-range (or lower treble) is a bit too elevated. Might be interesting for mixing and mastering but not so ideal for just listening to all kinds of genres. Luckily it was only 119.99 Euro.

[@jasonjulian6436]

It is super detailed. I use them if I'm trying to pick out parts in a song or with paying my guitar. I prefer to use my Sony mdra1m2 for casual listening by far. The Sonys are way more energetic and much more comfortable.

[@thelastrhino2581]

Your points regarding the impedance and whether the scaling is affected are relevant. I do think however that to the average viewer you are not making it clear in that section that the 6-series scale BEYOND anything anyone can imagine. The way you developed the argument it makes it sound like the scaling was necessary and without it the headphone is shortchanged. Well, it is, but only in comparison with something exceptional and unique. Compared to other headphones, 120-Ohm makes sense, and Sennheiser did want to develop something that can be used by mortals with less than top-notch or tube amplification. In my own experience, a Magni will make the 300-Ohm 6-series sound flat, whereas the 560S can realize close to its full potential on it. Do you see what I mean? In any case, I returned mine. Great review overall. See what Max Settings said about the Sundara vs the 6xx though.

[@cjesticvibe]

awesome review! I just didn't understand when you went over the detail retrieval point at 7:50. I keep hearing "This (holding the 560) may be a little bit better for detail retrieval on the 6xx but really not that much" so my understanding is the 6xx has better detail retrieval over the 560 or is it the 560 has better detail than the 6xx?

[@Raziel_SSJ]

Thanks for this detailed review.

[@h1a8]

How would you compare this to the 58x jubilee?

[@ImurTuta]

I have the 58x and I too would like to know this!

[@spektrograf]

I’ve had both in my possession, but kept neither. Both the 58x and 560s don’t really scale much with amps, as Resolve indicated. That being said they both work quite well off the headphone jack of a decent phone. They both sounded good for me off my LG V30. The 560s had a lot of presence and detail, which is good if you’re monitoring a recording session and looking out for issues to call for another take. To me, they would be a great tool. The 58x brings the flavors and some of the enjoyment of the 600/650’s without requiring a heavy investment into amps and dacs. Between the two, I’d take what you guys already have any day of the week, i.e. the 58x. All that being said we all hear differently and prefer different things, so trying is always recommended if possible. edit: my preferences don’t align with Andrew’s preferences (though I very much respect and value his reviews and how he strives to be clear in his evaluation and rationale), so if your perception and preferences align with his, adjust accordingly.

[@ImurTuta]

@@spektrograf I mostly game with my 58x and run them through a gsx1000 amp/dac. I find my 58x are amazing for rpg's and better then most headphones I've had for fps like cod...and that's where I'm looking to get a 2nd headphone. For competitive FPS gamming you want a narrower sound stage and pin point perfect imaging so you can hear where your enemies are comming from. Clarity helps alot too to tell the difference between footsteps on dirt to gravel to grass to concrete to tile to wood ect. I guess TLDR I'm looking for the best headphones for 3d virtual barbershop lol 😆

[@bubblebubble50]

If you like to listen to slow tempo swing jazz or classical music and enjoying analytical listening, you would want to go for 560s. But if you are rather into fast rhythm rock or hip hop edm punchier modern music stuff, you should go for 58x.

[@Jt19702]

Excellent reviews as always. How would the AQ Cobalt run the 6xx, 560s or Sundara's?

[@klaushaunstrupchristensen7252]

This seems to me like the perfect candidate for the Helmholtz resonator which Sennheiser are using in their 800S. With a resonator and a splash more upmarket plastic and pads it could be a most wonderful headphone with a spot on frequency response from 80 Hz and upwards.

[@ganymeade5151]

If budget is no problem, then go for it.

[@genaishivatov1737]

HD650 sounds rather crooked - they have an unreal rise in the mid-bass (when the double bass plays, it clogs the entire lower middle), a touch of synthetics on live instruments, the treble is rather modest. My friends, inexperienced listeners, immediately noted problems with bass.

[@jonmarinos7170]

I didn't really vibe with this headphone. I felt it lacked body and was too shouty. Returned them and got a Sundara instead. Couldn't be happier. They pair well with my DT 1990.

[@xk964264]

great choice wise man. i did the same stayed w the sundara these where to harsh

[@Andyhandle]

Great review, insightful and helpful. I haven't had sennheiser over ears, though I've got an ie600 (which is great especially for complex classical). I was considering this, a grado like the sr325x, perhaps even a focal of some sort. I enjoy a range of music including classical, female vocals, music that makes me want to dance. I tried some grados before but found they laches detail (but were fun to listen to). And I have edifier stax s3 spirit which are fine as bluetooth planars but poor on usability, and fit for me. I'm using a A&K player and occasionally my phone which has an ess sabre qud dac (and I have a headphone amp).

[@shaolin95]

Finally a Senn that is not all thin sounding. So much better than the 6xx and the likes

[@87detto]

Got this HP for 124€ new! Directly input into my motherboard (which actually has a proper DAC and amplification) and I'm all set and done. Sundara still costs 340€ which is more than double the price, heck almost triple! And then you still hear bad reports about Hifiman's quality and failing drivers (might be fixed? who knows). Sennheiser on the other hand is tried and tested with its quality (albeit being all plastic here) and getting spare parts and support in the future, it also feels like a safer route.

[@818de60]

amazing review, very helpful

[@prabinpaudel5572]

Damn the frequency response looks perfect for my hip dacs bass boost. 😍

[@RLTrane]

As someone with a hip dac and the hd560s I can confirm it works so well with the bass boost when needed. It works perfectly with it in my opinion

[@prabinpaudel5572]

@@RLTrane thank you. Glad to know. ☺

[@albhem_eh]

My neighbour recently got HD660S.. he wants to use Sennheiser for general listening & keeping his DT 770 Pro for mixing. He's the one who made me an audiophile last year & made me move from my Sennheiser in ears & change my opinion on over ears. I might get my first audiophile headphone next year as my UG starts. So his HD660S have hands down the best mid range I've heard so far.. the only audiophile headphone & the first one I've heard before is DT770 Pro so I've nothing else to compare. DT770 Pro is great but its mids always felt recessed for me so piano & guitar notes just felt like they sat back due to their more emphasised low end which does bleed into mid range more often. I listen to lot of jazz like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Keith Jarrett etc and alt & industrial rock stuff like from Led Zeppelin, The Who, Radiohead.. classical & indian classical music, indian film songs mostly from Rahman & some indie stuff, film OSTs etc. So for me i really appreciate a very detailed & yet flat midrange response which isn't too forward but has to be concise. So HD660s is great in that regard. Idk why people say its low end lacks but its tight, accurate & punchy enough for me. Its highs aren't as impressive but soundstage though I'm like so let down. So HD560S seems like a very good tuned headphone that 660S should've been. I'd definitely buy these after i get my beginner audiophile headphone with neutral sound signature like Shure SRH440 or SRH840. I'm a huge fan of Sennheiser sound ever since i bought their first in ear CX275s & now CX 300 & CX 80s.. so i hope Shure lives upto it. AMPs and DAC?! I'm still confused about 😅 mostly need a DAC to drive these from my phone for now. Will be getting a good lappy next year to run my WAV files i have.

[@prabinpaudel5572]

@@albhem_eh start with tin hifi t2 iem. Maybe they're available in India. I assumed you're from India as you said you listened to AR rahman. And then make a big enough jump to about 400 to 500 dollar setup. If you are willing to spend that is. 😁 And if you want a headphone buy new Hd280 Pro of sennheiser

[@loki76]

I find the Ohm ratings are not always accurate for the lack of a better word. There are some headphones at 35 Ohm that NEED an Amp and some at 150Ohm you can drive with a phone. I think the sensitivity rating is more indicative. Such as 93DB or 112DB.. The higher DB means they don't need as much power to reach a louder level.

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

Impedance (in ohms) and sensitivity aren't to be considered independently though. They both together give us an indication of how much amping a headphone requires.

[@gregwx]

IMO if you like HD600 or 6XX but want more sound-stage get HD660S, if you can't afford it get HD560S.

[@6643bear]

Hi , just bought mine the cable is much thicker and comes with a shirt 1/4 socket to 3.5mm plug. Interesting vid . My rotel a11 drives these very well . Also have now hd6xx and a alternate between the 2 and at 300ohms my A11 drives them well too . Regards mark

[@gnawrot]

Purchased HD580X Jubilee at $129 from drop. Will see how it sounds when they arrive.

[@Akirilus]

Yea bought one once, unfortunately I made the mistake of comparing it with the hifiman he400se, which prompted me to return it immediately. It sounded ok but, no comparisson.

[@jonathan4681]

Which do you perfer the 600, 6xx, or the 560s.

[@Patife_PT]

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. 🙏

[@christospoulos6048]

Hello,love the reviews from your channel. How does this compare to HD599? I see a lot of people have the HD599,so if we buy the 560s ,will that considered an upgrade? I use my HD599 straight from my phone,can the 560s driven from phone?

[@Tripokaridos22]

Its not upgrade its just different 599 are V shaped compare to 560s and warmer 560s are more neutral. Go to 6 series if u want something better.

[@danielfisch389]

Having read many reviews about the 599 and 560s, I learnt that the 560s is not recommended to be used on a tablet or phone due to the higher impedance (120 Ohms). As I need a replacement for my old 238i, I‘ll buy the 599 for my ipad air. Most reviews say headphones shouldn‘t have more than 80 Ohms when used on mobile devices.

[@alouisschafer7212]

Do you think its worthwhile to buy these in addition to the Hifiman HE400se?

[@Tallnerdyguy]

I actually like the closed in signature of the 6xx. If i want more open, i have other cans for that.

[@Jason75913]

same here

[@ammar5400]

Great review! for me, the 560s is the winner here over the 6xx, because of the mid-bass hump that ruins everything on the 6xx.

[@homer289]

You can fix that with an eq bruh

[@HiFiGOAudio]

Love the build quality of these!! though I still prefer my 6xx :)

[@ganymeade5151]

Very good video. Very informative and helpful. Thank you very much.

[@julianomarks4576]

Nice video man. Do you think I can run the HD560 from a SMSL M3 amp?

[@ganymeade5151]

After trying all of the leading headphones in the medium and higher price ranges; Sennnheiser HD 569 wired headphones work best for me. These are as good or better than some much higher priced badge headphones; that are elegant and beautiful; yet are very uncomfortable and heavy; creating headaches and ringing ears for some. These badge headphones are also very large and probably look and fit best on larger people. Planning to try the Sennheiser Bluetooth wireless headphones. However, they have mixed reviews right now.

[@stanfjc1]

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.

[@smkks]

That was my experience as well when I listened to them. They sound excellent in every aspect other than the treble which, sadly, was just a bit too sharp for my taste.

[@Justus8]

But if i plan on buying it for using it without an amp, should I just get another one? If so, what do you recommend?

[@Thunderkiss655]

Fantastic review!

[@citizenuk]

It's a pain to choose betwee 6xx and 560s. What's best for Rock / Metal? If connect to Fiio BTR5 ? With Tidal Pro for example

[@blockin9556]

I bought these as my first like "good" headphones, Reasons being, faster shipping than hd58x or anything on drop. Very easy to return on amazon if I had any issues. Also doesn't an amp (atleast at first) and i heard they were more comfortable than the other options at the price. Now that I have them they are decently comfortable and sound pretty good, do with the cable was better though its just realllllllllly thin. Happy with the purchase but probably am gonna want an amp.

[@eukitkuan8288]

Any chance of a review on the Philips Fidelio X3? Would love if you compare HD560S to the X3 :)

[@rikmid]

Me too!

[@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797]

HD560S much better in every way possible

[@MePaul747]

I just got these off an eBay seller I’ve bought from before for £50 - chat is this a W?

[@tuetktran9477]

How does the 560s compare to the 58x and which would you recommend?

[@TheHEADPHONEShow]

I was never a fan of the 58X. It sounded like a grainy, less detailed HD660s.

[@orthosympa6993]

Only consider the HD58x if you don't want to buy an amp. The 6xx is simply a better headphone than the HD58x and it scales a lot more

[@imabeliever85]

I should say right off the bat that this is an outstanding review, your analysis of this headphone is fascinating. I did not agree with your take on the RS2e, I like that headphone much more than you do, but I respect that you checked it out. I am not 100% sure what it means for a headphone to sound grainy. I like the 58X. It sounds really nice with just a cell phone. But, HD 600 is my favorite out of all the Sennheisers, It is hard to explain, it just sounds the most like the way I hear music in real life compared to other headphones I own. No elevated frequencies, no artificially wide soundstage, it sounds right. BUT, you definitely need an amplifier to light them up. The thing I like about the 58X is that they sound kind of similar, and you don’t need an amplifier

[@alexp3577]

Based on this review and other reviews I've seen: It used to be go for 58x if you want to never get an amp, otherwise go for 6xx. It seems like now if you don't plan an amp - go for 560s, but if you might - then you choose between 560s and 6xx depending on your preferences.

[@TheMaurob1979]

i had the 598 cs.. without amp was a bid dead.. dark.. with the amp this headphones was alive.. brilliant.. dynamic..amp volume at 9 max 10.. ( i don t remember the name of the amp but was 150 euros new)

[@Diego-bu7fh]

Una delle migliori Sennheiser, forse la migliore sugli alti

[@Psyclonus7]

I'm new to the terminology. This is an open back so that means that people around you can hear what you're listening too correct?

[@abananainspace]

2 years late but that's correct

[@samza9622]

Everyone buying these are not wearing them properly or burning them in properly hence some mixed reviews. You have to pull them down and back getting it in the best position where you're going to hear the sound more clearly and just better overall.

[@marln2157]

Great review, thank you!!

[@JTB--]

Who is this Resolve imposter with luxurious hair in this video? I was able to A/B the HD560S and HD490 Pro and if you're into Diminishing Returns go with or stick with the 560S. Great Budget HP

[@MaurizioOiziruam]

If I don't want to use an amp, should I consider the HD599?

[@Anomalyn1]

I have hd 599 and they do benefit from my ifi zen dac

[@Jason75913]

@@Anomalyn1 almost any kind of upgrade DAC is worth it with 599, they scale with better gear, just not as much as HD600 and such, but without the need for wall-powered amplifiers