Sennheiser HD560s Owner's Thread.

[atothek]

It's loud enough, def. Just was asking whether there would be some other advantage/"better sound" with the balanced connection.
Cheers.

 

[Count Arthur]

It's loud enough, def. Just was asking whether there would be some other advantage/"better sound" with the balanced connection.
Cheers.

Unlikely.

Balanced line level connections, have an advantage over single ended, primarily for noise and interference rejection, especially for longer cable lengths. However, with headphones, there isn't really a benefit, except for increased power, in some circumstances *.

If your headphones go plenty loud enough with your specific amplifier with a single ended connection, there isn't any advantage.

* Some headphone amplifiers have a balanced connections, XLR or 4.4mm TRRS, for example, for use with headphones with those connectors, without an adapter. However, the circuit isn't truly balanced, so you don't get any increase in power output capability.

 

[atothek]

thanks!

 

[usern]

Balanced line level connections

Just to clarify what line level connections mean - that's connection between electronic devices like DAC and amplifier, but balanced headphone cables do not offer noise and interference rejection

 

[unknownuser]

Excellent, pleased it's worked out for you!

Now my DAC is supporting more filters and types so I managed to add your original with PK filters, I'm total rookie but I boosted your 20Hz filter quite a bit, gain is 9 and kick drums and explosions are much better and I don't hear distortion or driver noise at my listening levels, I would go higher but afraid to do it.

Now with the DAC update I managed to compare to the my HD6xx using Amir's HD650 profile and the HD6xx is muffled compared to the HD560s, the 560s is quite a bit better. Only bass guitar still sounds more realistic with the HD6xx, maybe I just don't like Amir's profile but currently the HD560s sounds better to me.

 

[Robbo99999]

Now my DAC is supporting more filters and types so I managed to add your original with PK filters, I'm total rookie but I boosted your 20Hz filter quite a bit, gain is 9 and kick drums and explosions are much better and I don't hear distortion or driver noise at my listening levels, I would go higher but afraid to do it.

Now with the DAC update I managed to compare to the my HD6xx using Amir's HD650 profile and the HD6xx is muffled compared to the HD560s, the 560s is quite a bit better. Only bass guitar still sounds more realistic with the HD6xx, maybe I just don't like Amir's profile but currently the HD560s sounds better to me.

That's ok, shouldn't be a problem, if you like it with the extra bass it's fine. Increasing that 20Hz peak filter by 5dB is not quite as extreme as it seems on the surface because it's a peak filter at 20Hz so it's effect decreases the closer you get to 100Hz, so mainly you're just bumping up the really low subbass by adding another 5dB to that 20Hz filter. What you could try for a more balanced approach of tweaking the bass is to take that 20Hz filter back down to the original 4.1dB figure, then add in a Low Shelf Filter at 105Hz, Q0.71, then slowly increase that by by 1dB at a time until you like the sound - this way you're affecting the entire bass range & bumping that whole bass range up in a pretty balanced way, which is different to your current approach of just increasing that 20Hz Peak Filter. It's possible you'll end up with an even better and more balanced sound by tweaking the bass with the Low Shelf Filter I mentioned, and yes don't forget to take the 20Hz Peak Filter back down to 4.1dB if you're gonna try tweaking with the 105Hz Low Shelf Filter.

 

[unknownuser]

That's ok, shouldn't be a problem, if you like it with the extra bass it's fine. Increasing that 20Hz peak filter by 5dB is not quite as extreme as it seems on the surface because it's a peak filter at 20Hz so it's effect decreases the closer you get to 100Hz, so mainly you're just bumping up the really low subbass by adding another 5dB to that 20Hz filter. What you could try for a more balanced approach of tweaking the bass is to take that 20Hz filter back down to the original 4.1dB figure, then add in a Low Shelf Filter at 105Hz, Q0.71, then slowly increase that by by 1dB at a time until you like the sound - this way you're affecting the entire bass range & bumping that whole bass range up in a pretty balanced way, which is different to your current approach of just increasing that 20Hz Peak Filter. It's possible you'll end up with an even better and more balanced sound by tweaking the bass with the Low Shelf Filter I mentioned, and yes don't forget to take the 20Hz Peak Filter back down to 4.1dB if you're gonna try tweaking with the 105Hz Low Shelf Filter.

Either my unit can't handle it or it is interfering with the 20Hz filter because even 1dB is making the driver to rattle on low notes or whatever these noises are called For first try with my usual test clip (this clip was good till 2.5db I believe) it was fine but later with something else it was not good, bummer. Maybe the Q0.5 is the problem being too wide?

Using just the 105Hz without the 20Hz one seems problem free so far. I'll test it a bit but surely both together is not working. At least now I know how it does sound if I mess up, hopefully the drivers can tolerate it too haha

 

[Brandonfire2]

Just got a pair of these 560S (an sold my AKG K702 and my Sennheiser HD 6xx). I much prefer the 560S.
Anyway: To use with my Fosi DS2. Does it make sense to add a balanced cable to go into the 4,4 input of the Fosi? Anything better/more than used with the 3,5 input?

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0D7CMRQPW/?coliid=I2DGT4W8GDTGFP&colid=3R1X799YYUKN7&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Quiet a lot of money compared to the cans itself.

Having had both the 560 and Ds2, yes it makes sense. The 560 is 120 ohms, and needs decent power. While only 170mw out of the balanced plug, it is still better than the 130 out of the unbalanced. Perhaps not enough for some to make a difference, but I definitely felt that they sounded better when run off the balanced plug. Great set of cans and a great dongle!

 

[Robbo99999]

Either my unit can't handle it or it is interfering with the 20Hz filter because even 1dB is making the driver to rattle on low notes or whatever these noises are called For first try with my usual test clip (this clip was good till 2.5db I believe) it was fine but later with something else it was not good, bummer. Maybe the Q0.5 is the problem being too wide?

Using just the 105Hz without the 20Hz one seems problem free so far. I'll test it a bit but surely both together is not working. At least now I know how it does sound if I mess up, hopefully the drivers can tolerate it too haha

Well you have to take the 20Hz filter back down to 4.1dB before you start applying the 105Hz Low Shelf. The Low Shelf will be Q0.71

That really shouldn't cause a problem putting 1 or more dB into that Low Shelf, and of course you're increasing the Negative preamp by 1dB each time you increase the Low Shelf by 1dB. I find it hard to believe it's a problem associated with the headphone especially when you say just a 1dB Low Shelf suddenly triggers it, doubtful. I would say you've either accidentally left the 20Hz filter at your previous 9dB and or you're not increasing the negative preamp when you're adding the extra boosts and it's digitally clipping in the bass.

The thing you tried re not using the 20Hz filter at all and instead replacing it with the Low Shelf Filter is not ideal because it's the 20Hz filter that is bringing up the subbass, and you seemed to like that given you were at around 9dB on that filter, so you don't want to get rid of that filter. If you use 20Hz filter at 4dB then that's just bumping up the subbass to be level with Harman down to 20Hz, then the 105Hz Low Shelf Filter on top of that just increases the overall bass level in a more even way to fine tune the overall bass amount.

 

[atothek]

One more notice:
I had/tried 3 refurbished 560s cans from Sennheiser (99 EUR) and 1 brand new from amazon. The new one from amazon (150 EUR) sounded noticably better! Better separation, better and cleaner sound. I have no instruments to measure, but it was apparantly I noticable difference in favor of the new one. Might me be coincidence

 

[AMDfanTO]

I bought a 560s from Amazon Canada last year and the left cup developed a rattle and distortion when playing bass heavy music in less than 2 weeks. The sound was also a bit shrill, almost metallic but balanced. If they didn't start distorting I would've kept them.

I bought a pair of HD600 about a month ago and they sound phenomenal after a 3 db bass shelf. Overall I'm much happier with the HD600 but the value proposition of the 560s is phenomenal - minus the build quality issue.

I also have no issues with the soundstage of the HD600 despite what's been said about them. The 560s soundstage sounds like everything is floating just outside of my head but sounds a bit artificial. I actually find this worked against 560s for binaural audio recordings and HRTF 3d sound when gaming. The HD600 seems to be doing better for me on that side of things.

The HD600 have also made my other headphones pretty much obsolete. Coming from Shure SRH440, FIO FT1, 560S, and a few IEMs like the Zero Red, Zero 1 and 2, and Chu DSP. Even after EQing my Zero Reds to perfection, the mid range of the HD600 is hard to compete with.

 

[unknownuser]

Well you have to take the 20Hz filter back down to 4.1dB before you start applying the 105Hz Low Shelf. The Low Shelf will be Q0.71

That really shouldn't cause a problem putting 1 or more dB into that Low Shelf, and of course you're increasing the Negative preamp by 1dB each time you increase the Low Shelf by 1dB. I find it hard to believe it's a problem associated with the headphone especially when you say just a 1dB Low Shelf suddenly triggers it, doubtful. I would say you've either accidentally left the 20Hz filter at your previous 9dB and or you're not increasing the negative preamp when you're adding the extra boosts and it's digitally clipping in the bass.

The thing you tried re not using the 20Hz filter at all and instead replacing it with the Low Shelf Filter is not ideal because it's the 20Hz filter that is bringing up the subbass, and you seemed to like that given you were at around 9dB on that filter, so you don't want to get rid of that filter. If you use 20Hz filter at 4dB then that's just bumping up the subbass to be level with Harman down to 20Hz, then the 105Hz Low Shelf Filter on top of that just increases the overall bass level in a more even way to fine tune the overall bass amount.

Maybe I overlooked something, only the right driver is making noise by the way (If you know Gamers Nexus YouTube channel, their intro logo sound effect is making the noise for example). I'm using Element IV, could be a problem with its EQ?
Preamp: -6.75 dB
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 0.71
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 20.0 Hz Gain 4.1 dB Q 0.50
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 160.0 Hz Gain -1.3 dB Q 1.00
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1173.0 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 2.00
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1813.0 Hz Gain 2.8 dB Q 2.00
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3320.0 Hz Gain -2.1 dB Q 3.50
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3870.0 Hz Gain 3.6 dB Q 2.00
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4520.0 Hz Gain -3.7 dB Q 3.00
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 5280.0 Hz Gain -2.3 dB Q 3.00
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 6800.0 Hz Gain 4.1 dB Q 2.00

 

[Robbo99999]

Maybe I overlooked something, only the right driver is making noise by the way (If you know Gamers Nexus YouTube channel, their intro logo sound effect is making the noise for example). I'm using Element IV, could be a problem with its EQ?
Preamp: -6.75 dB
Filter 1: ON LSC Fc 105 Hz Gain 1.0 dB Q 0.71
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 20.0 Hz Gain 4.1 dB Q 0.50
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 160.0 Hz Gain -1.3 dB Q 1.00
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1173.0 Hz Gain -1.0 dB Q 2.00
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1813.0 Hz Gain 2.8 dB Q 2.00
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3320.0 Hz Gain -2.1 dB Q 3.50
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 3870.0 Hz Gain 3.6 dB Q 2.00
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 4520.0 Hz Gain -3.7 dB Q 3.00
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 5280.0 Hz Gain -2.3 dB Q 3.00
Filter 10: ON PK Fc 6800.0 Hz Gain 4.1 dB Q 2.00

View attachment 452550

That should be fine EQ wise in terms of the negative preamp used, so it's not that. Maybe you do have a faulty pair. I suppose you could try taking it apart & putting it back together again, in terms of taking off the earpads, and maybe you could check that there are no hairs sticking through the mesh and touching the driver, which can apparently make some strange noises. I mean a proper performing HD560s is gonna have no problem playing back loud music using that EQ.

 

[unknownuser]

That should be fine EQ wise in terms of the negative preamp used, so it's not that. Maybe you do have a faulty pair. I suppose you could try taking it apart & putting it back together again, in terms of taking off the earpads, and maybe you could check that there are no hairs sticking through the mesh and touching the driver, which can apparently make some strange noises. I mean a proper performing HD560s is gonna have no problem playing back loud music using that EQ.

Preamp gain was the problem, -6.75 dB is just not enough. Now it is clear, more rumble in games/films and the low notes in soundtracks are not thin anymore. Bass guitar is now full. So cool
If I won't find the magical EQ for the HD6xx then it's hard to go back to that, the HD560s is just better.

 

[Robbo99999]

Preamp gain was the problem, -6.75 dB is just not enough. Now it is clear, more rumble in games/films and the low notes in soundtracks are not thin anymore. Bass guitar is now full. So cool
If I won't find the magical EQ for the HD6xx then it's hard to go back to that, the HD560s is just better.

Strange, your negative preamp should have been ok before, but if it's better like that then fine. HD560s is a pretty low distortion headphone generally and also in the bass for an open back, so theoretically it never should have struggled with a Harman EQ and neither with your EQ which is just a bit more bass than Harman. Good, sorted!

 

[obsessive9119]

I picked up my 560S from Amazon last week for AU$220. So far I love them.

For the past 15+ years I’ve been listening to Beyer DT880s, DT250s and a pair of Alessandro MS Pros. Discovering EQ for the Beyers was a revelation, and really got me back into caring about audio. While I do love the MS Pros, they’re old enough and niche enough to never have been measured, so no autoeq is available and I’ve never been able to completely dial them in (though Grado bowl pads help a lot).

But now having a set of easy to drive, on-target headphones feels like a real treat. I’m sure the honeymoon will end and I’ll dig out the other ‘phones, but right now it’s hard to imagine why I’d bother.