New version of Sennheiser HD 560S (!)

[lowsag41]

while adjusting the volume its normal.
Volume is adjusted in small steps and that's what you are hearing.

Not while adjusting, you know when you move the windows sound slider and it plays a sound to let you know how loud you've set it to? That's the sound I hear what I described in but I don't change volume it's at 100 always.

 

[solderdude]

When there is something wrong with the headphone it will be repeatable and frequency and level dependent.
When something only occurs while adjusting something it is not a problem in the headphone.

Also reproducing very low frequencies at audible levels (sweeps etc.) will always result in hearing something other than a pure low frequency tone.

 

[lowsag41]

When there is something wrong with the headphone it will be repeatable and frequency and level dependent.
When something only occurs while adjusting something it is not a problem in the headphone.

Also reproducing very low frequencies at audible levels (sweeps etc.) will always result in hearing something other than a pure low frequency tone.

makes sense thank you so much. I'm asking about things like that because this is my first headphone and I want to make sure it's working properly because I won't be replacing it for years

 

[solderdude]

I haven't seen many defective HD560S around and they aren't easy to destroy either (200mW continuous power rating where no damage occurs over days).
The 9 pieces I had so far (still have 3 modified ones for sale) had no issues, rattles or other weird things happening.

 

[lowsag41]

I haven't seen many defective HD560S around and they aren't easy to destroy either (200mW continuous power rating where no damage occurs over days).
The 9 pieces I had so far (still have 3 modified ones for sale) had no issues, rattles or other weird things happening.

Could you please try it yourself? plug in the headset without EQ and don't adjust volume keep it as is but listen to the sound and see if you hear what I heard. I know it's normal but just to see if it happens to you as well. Mine are plugged into PC if that matters.

 

[Robbo99999]

Could you please try it yourself? plug in the headset without EQ and don't adjust volume keep it as is but listen to the sound and see if you hear what I heard. I know it's normal but just to see if it happens to you as well. Mine are plugged into PC if that matters.

I tried it on one of my HD560s and the tone it plays when you change the Windows 11 master volume slider seems pretty clean to me, there's no buzzing or clicking or anything weird. If I listen to sine tones using this online generator then I don't get anything weird either. Sometimes when listening to the bass tones I might think I hear a faint higher tone being played at the same time at a much much barely perceptible level. The online tone generator I use:

Online Tone Generator - generate pure tones of any frequency

www.szynalski.com

I think that faint higher tone that is just about heard in the background is either slight distortion or it's something else, @solderdude might know. Either way, I think I've heard the same thing in my other headphones when I've tried the same thing with them.
EDIT: actually the faint higher tone happen at pretty much all frequencies, I think it could be my ears.

 

[solderdude]

Not all windows machines may work the same in the audio part (drivers, versions etc.).
I use Linux (with E30) and other DACs which will certainly react differently from some windows O.S.
Also use DAP's which also will react differently.

In any case it isn't HD560S related for sure. It will just convert the incoming signal to SPL as accurately as possible.

 

[lowsag41]

Not all windows machines may work the same in the audio part (drivers, versions etc.).
I use Linux (with E30) and other DACs which will certainly react differently from some windows O.S.
Also use DAP's which also will react differently.

In any case it isn't HD560S related for sure. It will just convert the incoming signal to SPL as accurately as possible.

I’ll plug it into two laptops and make sure

 

[lowsag41]

I tried it on one of my HD560s and the tone it plays when you change the Windows 11 master volume slider seems pretty clean to me, there's no buzzing or clicking or anything weird. If I listen to sine tones using this online generator then I don't get anything weird either. Sometimes when listening to the bass tones I might think I hear a faint higher tone being played at the same time at a much much barely perceptible level. The online tone generator I use:

Online Tone Generator - generate pure tones of any frequency

www.szynalski.com

I think that faint higher tone that is just about heard in the background is either slight distortion or it's something else, @solderdude might know. Either way, I think I've heard the same thing in my other headphones when I've tried the same thing with them.
EDIT: actually the faint higher tone happen at pretty much all frequencies, I think it could be my ears.

Did you try it at max volume and no EQ? Ill try to test it on two laptops if it’s the same Ill probably return it since it shouldn’t sound like that, tbh I thought it sounded differently when I first got it but convinced myself that im just paranoid, ill see a after testing on laptop

 

[Robbo99999]

Did you try it at max volume and no EQ? Ill try to test it on two laptops if it’s the same Ill probably return it since it shouldn’t sound like that, tbh I thought it sounded differently when I first got it but convinced myself that im just paranoid, ill see a after testing on laptop

Yes, I tried it at max volume on the slider as well as at lower volumes (& no EQ), and it was a clean sound that Windows makes when you move the master volume slider. I don't really see how that Windows tone should be the one that highlights a problem in your HD560s, especially if you're not hearing it anywhere else. You just need to check it out by listening to music, playing a few different sine tones, see if it's fine. If you've got doubts I suppose you can return it for a replacement.

 

[lowsag41]

Yes, I tried it at max volume on the slider as well as at lower volumes (& no EQ), and it was a clean sound that Windows makes when you move the master volume slider. I don't really see how that Windows tone should be the one that highlights a problem in your HD560s, especially if you're not hearing it anywhere else. You just need to check it out by listening to music, playing a few different sine tones, see if it's fine. If you've got doubts I suppose you can return it for a replacement

I don't know it's really confusing me I'm trying to trigger it again but somehow it doesn't, this is driving me crazy. I'll keep it and assume it's my ears, for the sake of my mental health lol.

 

[Robbo99999]

I don't know it's really confusing me I'm trying to trigger it again but somehow it doesn't, this is driving me crazy. I'll keep it and assume it's my ears, for the sake of my mental health lol.

Hmm, yeah, I went back over your posts and you're on your third unit for one thing or another. I think you're probably a bit paranoid about what's going on. Probably forget about it and enjoy them for music or whatever you use them for.

 

[lowsag41]

Hmm, yeah, I went back over your posts and you're on your third unit for one thing or another. I think you're probably a bit paranoid about what's going on. Probably forget about it and enjoy them for music or whatever you use them for.

Yup the previous ones had clear issues, the first one had clear imbalance and the second had sharp edges. Not sure about this one but I'll keep it. Thank you

 

[lowsag41]

Hmm, yeah, I went back over your posts and you're on your third unit for one thing or another. I think you're probably a bit paranoid about what's going on. Probably forget about it and enjoy them for music or whatever you use them for.

So after testing it on other devices I noticed the low bass vibrating is still there for a few seconds and then it's gone, it's like the drivers are warming up lol. What I noticed also is the right ear sound louder which is the opposite of what's happening on my pc. There is also some kind of electricity sound when I spam the windows tone, that doesn't happen on other devices so I think I need an amp/dac or dac only not sure, what do you guys recommend? like nothing too crazy a max of $130 would be good.

 

[Robbo99999]

So after testing it on other devices I noticed the low bass vibrating is still there for a few seconds and then it's gone, it's like the drivers are warming up lol. What I noticed also is the right ear sound louder which is the opposite of what's happening on my pc. There is also some kind of electricity sound when I spam the windows tone, that doesn't happen on other devices so I think I need an amp/dac or dac only not sure, what do you guys recommend? like nothing too crazy a max of $130 would be good.

Hmm, I don't know what's going on with your situation, it's all a bit weird, so I can't in good faith recommend DACS or amps to you because it's probably not relevant to whatever's going on here, but for anyone here on ASR the general advice re buying DACS & amps is to buy one that's been measured here on ASR & measures well and there's indeed plenty of those, so anybody wanting to buy a DAC/amp would just search through the reviews here on ASR.

 

[lowsag41]

Hmm, I don't know what's going on with your situation, it's all a bit weird, so I can't in good faith recommend DACS or amps to you because it's probably not relevant to whatever's going on here, but for anyone here on ASR the general advice re buying DACS & amps is to buy one that's been measured here on ASR & measures well and there's indeed plenty of those, so anybody wanting to buy a DAC/amp would just search through the reviews here on ASR.

Since it gave me different sound levels on other devices I thought maybe the onboard DAC is just bad so thought an external one would help, as for the vibration if I still notice it I will return it, Thank you for the advice

 

[HeebieGenie]

The fact that I have seen these for $150CAD brand new on Amazon is amazing. They destroy any Bluetooth headphone I've owned up to this point, including some that cost $500. I bought them a bit over a month ago as my foyer into the hobby. I have been looking across the internet at different EQ settings and have found some nice ones, as well as trying my hand at doing it myself. It sounds nice stock and I am satisfied, but my qualms are primarily how this headphone doesn't "Layer" or "Separate" instruments as well as I would have expected, which becomes especially noticeable in very busy songs. It's as if the different notes don't stop fast enough in order to not "Bloom" over other notes. This isn't consistent across every song though, which makes me think some of them are just not as well mixed and mastered as I once thought they were. Also, it seems the treble is a bit grainy, and certain instruments in the midrange sound a bit "Low resolution" so to speak. But, I could be typing a load of rubbish, since my ears probably aren't well trained at this point. With that said, being able to change the sound of a headphone for free with EQ has been fun and it's just such a cool concept. And I have found some that clean up the sound quite nicely for my ears personally at least, I know everybody has different preferences.

 

[Robbo99999]

The fact that I have seen these for $150CAD brand new on Amazon is amazing. They destroy any Bluetooth headphone I've owned up to this point, including some that cost $500. I bought them a bit over a month ago as my foyer into the hobby. I have been looking across the internet at different EQ settings and have found some nice ones, as well as trying my hand at doing it myself. It sounds nice stock and I am satisfied, but my qualms are primarily how this headphone doesn't "Layer" or "Separate" instruments as well as I would have expected, which becomes especially noticeable in very busy songs. It's as if the different notes don't stop fast enough in order to not "Bloom" over other notes. This isn't consistent across every song though, which makes me think some of them are just not as well mixed and mastered as I once thought they were. Also, it seems the treble is a bit grainy, and certain instruments in the midrange sound a bit "Low resolution" so to speak. But, I could be typing a load of rubbish, since my ears probably aren't well trained at this point. With that said, being able to change the sound of a headphone for free with EQ has been fun and it's just such a cool concept. And I have found some that clean up the sound quite nicely for my ears personally at least, I know everybody has different preferences.

It's definitely a good headphone choice to have as your first headphone, and indeed it could be your last and I don't think you'd miss much. Historically whenever I've used my various HD560s with EQ then they've always been good with layering & being able to peer into the music to rest your attention on the various different parts so that you can hear "everything" that's going on within it, so I think HD560s is a resolving headphone, if we want to use that word. I also think the New Version of the HD560s is also good with layering & resolving even at stock, which would be the version you have now if you bought it within the last couple of years (can't remember the changeover date). EQ does tend to make New Version HD560s even more resolving as it boosts some elements that can improve clarity whilst also boosting subbass, for instance the following is the EQ I use for New Version HD560s (albeit I tweak it slightly beyond what you see in the following pic), and you can see that it boosts some of the upper mids & treble (which aid in clarity/layering) & it also takes a small amount out of the area that could be responsible for muddiness at 160Hz:

I think it's easy to be content with HD560s as your only headphone, if that's where you're at, I don't think you'll be gaining much beyond that.

 

[HeebieGenie]

It's definitely a good headphone choice to have as your first headphone, and indeed it could be your last and I don't think you'd miss much. Historically whenever I've used my various HD560s with EQ then they've always been good with layering & being able to peer into the music to rest your attention on the various different parts so that you can hear "everything" that's going on within it, so I think HD560s is a resolving headphone, if we want to use that word. I also think the New Version of the HD560s is also good with layering & resolving even at stock, which would be the version you have now if you bought it within the last couple of years (can't remember the changeover date). EQ does tend to make New Version HD560s even more resolving as it boosts some elements that can improve clarity whilst also boosting subbass, for instance the following is the EQ I use for New Version HD560s (albeit I tweak it slightly beyond what you see in the following pic), and you can see that it boosts some of the upper mids & treble (which aid in clarity/layering) & it also takes a small amount out of the area that could be responsible for muddiness at 160Hz:
View attachment 404509

I think it's easy to be content with HD560s as your only headphone, if that's where you're at, I don't think you'll be gaining much beyond that.

Oh it was your EQ! I appreciate you for posting it! You can really get all kinds of different flavours of sound from this headphone and EQ. I liked the sense of space and openness your EQ creates, it also gives some really nice snap, I think the correct term is a good sense of attack/decay, to things such as snare drums. And it was also one of the best for improving that sense of layering too out of the 20+ I currently have. The sense of layering is my biggest gripe stock, but after yesterday and today, I wouldn't describe it as bad stock, having really listened intently some more, it really does depend on the song from what I can tell. I guess the "Analytical" aspect from the advertisements of this headphone are accurate, lol. Because some songs now just sound bad and messy, which I've never experienced before. Whereas well mixed/recorded songs sound outstanding and everything is heard clearly in its own position. That's another thing, the imaging is fantastic.

I've heard that term "Resolving" to describe the overall detail/resolution, and texture. All of these different EQs do improve those aspects to a degree, like you said.

I don't have any better headphone to compare with, and my ears are new to this level of sound quality. I've already been getting the bug to buy something new, lol. But you are saying there's not much better? Surely headphones like the HD 800S or and HE1000 absolutely blow this thing away? Even an HD 600/Sundara I was assuming would be a clear improvement. That's what I've read/heard from reviews at least.

Sorry if I just spewed a bunch of nonsense, I am trying to understand all of this better as the weeks go by haha.

 

[unknownuser]

I have an HD6xx for music and HD 599 for games and other medias (before that AT M50x which was not terrible as first HP). I only listen an album or two per week so I rarely use the HD6xx to keep it in good condition but recently out of curiosity I watched few film trailers with it and I was in shock how much cleaner the sound is and the soundstage more precise but I wish for more bass.

I bought many years ago the HD599 on sale because it was recommended for games. Until now I thought that this muddiness was because of the compressed audio in games and YouTube and Netflix but now I looked up for measurements and the midrange is indeed muddy. I don't want EQ rather a different HP and I was out of the loop of the newer options and discovered the HD560S which seems to be a much better option where all these problems are solved and has better bass too. My problem is with the 5 series is that it's really cheap squeaky plastic just by moving my jaws it's making plastic noises, they are really comfy though.

I always wanted to try out different sounding headphones, would like to check out beyerdynamic because they tamed the treble on the new ones, but the DT 900 X Pro is also nothing special. Is there any other options for games,films than the HD560S under 300 euros without ear piercing treble? No need to be totally neutral like Sennheiser but if this is the only decent then I would make peace with the noisy plastic build. Good bass I really want however closed options are maybe not ideal for my application.
I really liked the HD 490 Pro until I read Amirs review, based on the ratings review I almost picked that but seems pricey just for the better build.
Anyway, 560S or should I still keep searching? Thanks in advance