Sennheiser HD560S Review (Headphone)

[solderdude]

I found a pair for just over £60 GBP from an outlet so had to give them a go. Unfortunately the channels aren't well matched, perhaps the reason for being sold as a return in the first place:
View attachment 409200

About 1.5-2.5dB below 3kHz and 3-5dB above.

@solderdude what do you think, typical or not? It's the original pre-2022 version believe it or not, has the velour headband pad and different cable/adapter.

The difference in level is a-typical for Sennheiser.
Is it possible the difference can come from the used headphone amp and or mismatch between L and R of the test fixture ?

 

[isostasy]

The difference in level is a-typical for Sennheiser.
Is it possible the difference can come from the used headphone amp and or mismatch between L and R of the test fixture ?

I had a careful look at the headphones and the right earpad is wrinkled and compressed compared to the left which looks new. I suspect this is the cause of the right channel SPL being measured higher as the pad being shallower brings the driver closer to the microphone.

I will return them and mention it to the seller and hopefully they can swap the earpad for a new one to resell.

FWIW I prefer my HD6XX although obviously it's not a fair comparison due to the above issue.

 

[Robbo99999]

These are down to £99 in the UK right now, nice price!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08HNFV61M?psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

 

[Count Arthur]

These are down to £99 in the UK right now, nice price!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08HNFV61M?psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Bargain!

 

[AdrwM3]

Hii, can anyone tell me how 560s sounds compared to he400se? Does it have the same problem of sounding tinny or too analytical? What can causes sound to fatigue

 

[solderdude]

HD560S is a marginally bright sounding headphone but does not have the 'tinny' sound and has a bit more 'body' in the lows and does not fatigue.

EQ can solve most of the issues but the 'fatigue' comes from +10dB peaking in the 8-10kHz range and because the usual industry standard fixtures don't measure that properly the EQ generated from those plots does not address this issue.

I would recommend to EQ that band and EQ the bass up a little before buying another headphone.

 

[Robbo99999]

HD560S is a marginally bright sounding headphone but does not have the 'tinny' sound and has a bit more 'body' in the lows and does not fatigue.

EQ can solve most of the issues but the 'fatigue' comes from +10dB peaking in the 8-10kHz range and because the usual industry standard fixtures don't measure that properly the EQ generated from those plots does not address this issue.

I would recommend to EQ that band and EQ the bass up a little before buying another headphone.

Which headphone are you saying has large peaks between 8-10kHz? My HD560s doesn't have +10dB peaking in the 8-10kHz range. That doesn't show in my miniDSP EARS measurements, and nor does it show in "hearing tests" I've done with HD560s. I think that goes for both New Version & Old Version HD560s. Following is New Version vs Old Version on miniDSP EARS and there's no +10dB peaking between 8-10kHz:
And here's my "hearing test" that doesn't show any 8-10kHz peaking: . Part of my natural hearing has a peak between 8-12kHz which I've tested on Anechoic Flat speakers and I also hear it peaking in all headphones I wear, so I have a natural peak in my hearing between 8-12kHz, so that considered then I don't hear a real peak in the HD560s between 8-10kHz, and the hearing test doesn't show a peak there anyway.

My HE400SE could maybe be argued that there's an 8kHz peak (although we have to be careful not to read too much into miniDSP EARS measurements when looking at something so "narrowband"), but I haven't tested that with a "hearing test", although I'd think I'd find it irritating if my HE400SE had a massive peak between 8-10kHz because my hearing has a natural peak in that range so I can hear that frequency range clearly. I'm sure the HD560s doesn't have massive peaks between 8-10kHz though. Yeah, so which headphone are you referring to, because it's not clear?

 

[solderdude]

Which headphone are you saying has large peaks between 8-10kHz?

HE400SE..

HD560S is just mildly 'bright' (4-6kHz)

sorry if my post was unclear. I reacted to:

Hii, can anyone tell me how 560s sounds compared to he400se? Does it have the same problem of sounding tinny or too analytical? What can causes sound to fatigue

 

[andymcbain]

These are down to £99 in the UK right now, nice price!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08HNFV61M?psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

This is very tempting indeed. I see there’s been two versions of these headphones? Is this the latest version that’s for sale?

I’ve been looking for something with a similar vibe to my HD650s - which I use all the time for music production and mixing, but never really for just listening and enjoying music. Tonally they sound great, but they’re just too narrow sounding for me to get immersed in the music.

Would I be onto a winner with the 560s?

 

[Limopard]

This is very tempting indeed. I see there’s been two versions of these headphones? Is this the latest version that’s for sale?

I’ve been looking for something with a similar vibe to my HD650s - which I use all the time for music production and mixing, but never really for just listening and enjoying music. Tonally they sound great, but they’re just too narrow sounding for me to get immersed in the music.

Would I be onto a winner with the 560s?

It's worth trying at least. The 560s is a bit more forward and less smooth than the 650. For soundstage width/depth questions other users may be more helpful, I don't hear that much of a difference here. Imaging is good with both headphones.

 

[Robbo99999]

HE400SE..

HD560S is just mildly 'bright' (4-6kHz)

sorry if my post was unclear. I reacted to:

Yep, so you're saying the HE400SE has a peak at 8-10kHz, I thought that's what you meant but wanted to clarify for myself & others because very easy to think you were talking about the HD560s especially as this is HD560s thread too. I might do that "hearing test" on my HE400SE just to see if I get any different results there in that area in comparison to the HD560s....just because I don't feel troubled by that area with my HE400SE & am curious to confirm (EDIT: would be a bit tricky to draw conclusions from a comparison because they have different frequency responses around 1kHz and mids so they'd be quite a lot to bare in mind when comparing the results).

 

[Robbo99999]

This is very tempting indeed. I see there’s been two versions of these headphones? Is this the latest version that’s for sale?

I’ve been looking for something with a similar vibe to my HD650s - which I use all the time for music production and mixing, but never really for just listening and enjoying music. Tonally they sound great, but they’re just too narrow sounding for me to get immersed in the music.

Would I be onto a winner with the 560s?

I think it's worth trying, and yes it would be the New Version that you'd get. At stock I find the New Version HD560s very neutral, so I think you'd like them given that HD600 & HD650 are also pretty neutral. You'll probably find the bass is better extended in the HD560s whilst still being neutral, so I think you'd enjoy that. You'll find the soundstage better on the HD560s too vs the HD600/650. I've got the HD600 and you're right it is narrow, so that's another win for the HD560s.

It's worth trying at least. The 560s is a bit more forward and less smooth than the 650. For soundstage width/depth questions other users may be more helpful, I don't hear that much of a difference here. Imaging is good with both headphones.

New Version HD560s is less forward than Old Version HD560s though, so there's that to consider if you're basing it on listening to Old Version HD560s.

 

[andymcbain]

Appreciate your insights everyone! I'll let you know what I think when they arrive