Sennheiser HD560S Review (Headphone)

[ciccio1378]

From measurements I'd say the HD560s would sound better after EQ because the DT700 Pro X seems to have a cancellation null in a section of the treble that can't be EQ'd up, here's frequency response measurements of both headphones:

Dropbox

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Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

In terms of using them without EQ that could be a judgement call, DT700 Pro X is generally more "screwed up" in terms of frequency response so you might notice a few areas where certain frequencies are over represented or under represented, whereas the HD560s doesn't have quite same problem - but the DT700 Pro X will sound darker than the HD560s so that could be related to personal taste issue. Overall HD560s is the headphone with overall more potential for better sound quality I would say.

From what you write I think it is not worth replacing the HD 560S with the Beyerdynamic.

 

[zonk]

I noticed the HD560S are £96 on Amazon UK at the moment. I think that's the lowest they've been on there, not as good as the £80 I paid back in March direct from Sennheiser, but still a good deal I think...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08J9MVB6W

*edit* They were £95 and sold by Amazon earlier today. The current price is not sold by Amazon.

The Sennheiser Outlet offered last weekend refurbished HD560S for 80€ (£70)

Edit:
I just saw it's still available for 80€, at least at the German Sennheiser Outlet page.

 

[Berwhale]

The Sennheiser Outlet offered last weekend refurbished HD560S for 80€ (£70)

Edit:
I just saw it's still available for 80€, at least at the German Sennheiser Outlet page.
View attachment 477713

I bought my HD660S refurb from Sennheiser in 2020. They were in mint condition and i've had no issues with them since. I'm not sure i'd 'risk' refurb for the sake of €20/£16 though.

 

[zonk]

I bought my HD660S refurb from Sennheiser in 2020. They were in mint condition and i've had no issues with them since. I'm not sure i'd 'risk' refurb for the sake of €20/£16 though.

The refurb ones are almost new or like new that's my experience. I had once that the outer package was damaged. And they have full warranty. In this case it's a 20% reduction to the regular price of a refurbished one. This price is an absolute no brainer.

The new ones are usually 149€ or so. Prices differ a bit from country to country.
£95 on Amazon is a very good offer too.

 

[Berwhale]

The refurb ones are almost new or like new that's my experience. I had once that the outer package was damaged. And they have full warranty. In this case it's a 20% reduction to the regular price of a refurbished one.

The new ones are usually 149 or so.

Does anyone pay £149? I bought my HD560S new from Sennheiser for £80 6 months ago...

They appear to have been £99 on Amazon most of the time since then...

 

[zonk]

Not £149, but in Germany the usual price is 149€, on special occasions down to 120€.

The best offers are still the refurbished ones for 99€ from Sennheiser Outlet, here in Germany. Looks like this headphone is in UK cheaper than in Germany.

 

[Berwhale]

It's €122.23 at the moment. Not much different from the UK in £. Pity the Swedes!

https://www.hagglezon.com/en/s/HD560S

On the other hand, ouch!

https://www.hagglezon.com/en/s/HD660S2

 

[Robbo99999]

I noticed the HD560S are £96 on Amazon UK at the moment. I think that's the lowest they've been on there, not as good as the £80 I paid back in March direct from Sennheiser, but still a good deal I think...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08J9MVB6W

*edit* They were £95 and sold by Amazon earlier today. The current price is not sold by Amazon.

When I looked just now it's still £95, but indeed Dispatched & Sold from Amazon, not third party. It's a good deal!

Does anyone pay £149? I bought my HD560S new from Sennheiser for £80 6 months ago...

View attachment 477719

They appear to have been £99 on Amazon most of the time since then...

View attachment 477720

I got the first pair pretty close to their original release, I think it was 2021 & it cost me £169, I paid the full price. Second pair I also paid £169 I think but not through Amazon at all, just a UK online shop. Third pair I got on a deal with a Amazon voucher I got from somewhere combined with a slightly lower sale price too so I think I ended up paying about £80 just before the New Version with the shorter cable went live. Fourth unit I got from Amazon and was New Version with shorter cable and I got that in a sale, I think £129. Lol, this was when I was mad about measuring multiple units from my favourite headphones, I did the same with K702. I don't sell them, I like to have the back ups and might be useful for some measurements or experiments later, but my interest is diminishing in that! No, but anyway, good price for that HD560s on Amazon right now!

From what you write I think it is not worth replacing the HD 560S with the Beyerdynamic.

Yes, I personally wouldn't swap an HD560s with that Beyer.

 

[zonk]

It's €122.23 at the moment. Not much different from the UK in £. Pity the Swedes!

View attachment 477725

https://www.hagglezon.com/en/s/HD560S

On the other hand, ouch!

View attachment 477726

https://www.hagglezon.com/en/s/HD660S2

I think the HD660S2 is overpriced.

 

[Berwhale]

I think the HD660S2 is overpriced.

It was available refurb for £228 (after 20% discount) on the UK Sennheiser Outlet 3 days ago.

I'm not sure if it's working now, the Buy Now button isn't working for me... https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-UK/p/hd-660-s-2-refurbished/clp9wy1t7fhf60avwgvtyko8i/

(picture from HotUKDeals - sister site to mydealz.de)

 

[zonk]

It was available refurb for £228 (after 20% discount) on the UK Sennheiser Outlet 3 days ago.

I'm not sure if it's working now, the Buy Now button isn't working for me... https://www.sennheiser-hearing.com/en-UK/p/hd-660-s-2-refurbished/clp9wy1t7fhf60avwgvtyko8i/

View attachment 477753

(picture from HotUKDeals - sister site to mydealz.de)

That's a very good price. The Buy Now button is still working for me. The Sennheiser days with 20% discount on new and refurbished started September 19 and end tonight September 22, as far as I know.

 

[iGmole]

Still loving my pair after 6 months. With a Fiio BTR13 and minor PEQ adjustments it sounds mighty fine to me.

Also I found a convenient use case for it. My family doesn't mind my violin practise but they absolutely hate the drone sounds (The Tuning CD) I often practise with to keep intonation on check. Being open back I can just put it in my phones and the violin sound to my ears is mostly unaffected, maybe a bit darker.

So it is an enjoyable hifi thing and a practise tool, for 120€ delivered it was an absolute steal I think.

 

[MarineSolder]

I did some adjustments to my custom EQ that I described before here

Post in thread 'Sennheiser HD560S Review (Headphone)'

Aug 6, 2025

Greetings ASR comrades!

An year has passed since I purchased the Sennheiser HD560S (2024). This decision was influenced mostly by this forum and measurements, which guided my choice. I bought them blind, as I didn't have the opportunity to audit them beforehand. After over 500 hours of listening with these headphones, I’d like to share my impressions, as well as my custom EQ settings that I developed over a 30-day-calibration period.

It’s nothing special straight out of the box, I wasn’t particularly impressed, just OK headphones. However, after extensive tuning and matching them with a...

• MarineSolder

Just for entertainment use...

 

[juliangst]

Are these be considered as an upgrade over DT1990?

I‘m debating if I should get new pads for my DT1990 or try something new with the HD560s.

 

[adelaidestevens]

Are these be considered as an upgrade over DT1990?

I‘m debating if I should get new pads for my DT1990 or try something new with the HD560s.

Depends on what your use case is. The DT 1990 is quite blunted compare to other open back headphone due to its dampening and should be considered semi open at best, whereas the 560s is much more open/expansive, but the headphone itself still has subtle flaws so I wouldn’t call it a huge upgrade from the 1990. If you like the beyer sound signature and only game I’d suggest grabbing the tygr 300r since they’re great at imaging and treble is a little more bearable. But if music is priority number 1 then honestly just get the 6XX and forget, they’re not too shabby for gaming either, less soundstage but imaging is surprisingly accurate.

 

[Robbo99999]

Are these be considered as an upgrade over DT1990?

I‘m debating if I should get new pads for my DT1990 or try something new with the HD560s.

Judging by the frequency response curve of the DT1990 I'd say the HD560s is a definite upgrade. Particularly the New Version HD560s (since sometime in 2022) is even better balanced than previous HD560s - the New Version toned down the treble a little and extended the bass a little - so I find New Version HD560s to be a very well balanced headphone at stock, and indeed more balanced than the HD600/650 (I have the HD600 which lacks bass extension).

 

[juliangst]

Judging by the frequency response curve of the DT1990 I'd say the HD560s is a definite upgrade. Particularly the New Version HD560s (since sometime in 2022) is even better balanced than previous HD560s - the New Version toned down the treble a little and extended the bass a little - so I find New Version HD560s to be a very well balanced headphone at stock, and indeed more balanced than the HD600/650 (I have the HD600 which lacks bass extension).

How is the long term comfort compared to DT1990? To me the Beyers are one of the most comfortable headphones.
And is the plastic of the HD560s cheap feeling or high quality? The only other Sennheisers I have are the HD25 lite and the plastic feels pretty indestructible

 

[Robbo99999]

How is the long term comfort compared to DT1990? To me the Beyers are one of the most comfortable headphones.
And is the plastic of the HD560s cheap feeling or high quality? The only other Sennheisers I have are the HD25 lite and the plastic feels pretty indestructible

In terms of comfort and quality feeling of build & aeshetics, to put in perspective I have following headphones: AKG K702, HD560s, HD800, HD600, Hifiman HE400SE, HE4XX, NAD HP50, Simgot EP5. I'd say the Sennheisers have the highest build quality (HD800, HD600 and the HD560s) in relation to the other headphones. The plastic of the HD560s doesn't feel cheap - it has a pleasing weight and feel to it, which feel durable & proven durable in a home environment, I think it looks good too. For me the long term wearing comfort of HD560s is very comfortable, I can wear them all day with no issues on the relatively rare but numerous in total occasions I have done so. The pad shape doesn't seem to change much nor quickly on the HD560s so I think they'll remain stable for you for a number of years before you need to change pads.

 

[Joffy1780]

Currently only £99 at amazon.co.uk!!

 

[adelaidestevens]

How is the long term comfort compared to DT1990? To me the Beyers are one of the most comfortable headphones.
And is the plastic of the HD560s cheap feeling or high quality? The only other Sennheisers I have are the HD25 lite and the plastic feels pretty indestructible

I would say the Sennheiser 500 series are some of the most comfortable available on the market, the pads are both wider and deeper than those of Beyers. Their plastic build also means that they are super light and is hardly noticeable when wearing them for long sessions.