Sennheiser HD560S Review: The New Standard - NOT!

I wonder if there's some lower harmonic that is pulling it out of whack? or maybe the housing or retaining structure has a sympathetic (out of phase?) vibration right around that point.

I'm curious if we can see this rounded-ness increase/decrease as we plot at other frequencies near 4.8kHz.

 

Maybe I'm thinking in a slightly different/tangential way.

This thing has an impedance peak around 75Hz right? Let's take 75*64 = 4800Hz. It's only the 6th doubling.
Perhaps I'm grasping at straws or chasing a herring, but I wonder if we'll see similar rounded behaviour at 2400, 1200, 9600, etc.

Can we calculate the period of that amplitude ripple on the 4800Hz burst? (would be fascinating if it was around 75 or 150)

 

Checked just now with a meter. The 598Cs/560S 2.5 to 6.3 non-mic cable (Senn part # 572266) has the same scheme as you found: the 2.5's topmost R and S (L- and R-, respectively) are tied to S at the 6.3.

On the mic cable, 572281, the 2.5's topmost R and S are tied to the 3.5's topmost R, the 3.5's S presumably being the mic. So it looks like the 560S shares the 598's internal balanced wiring and like the 598 will also work with the inline mic cable.

So @Golmang , Sennheiser part 572281 will do the trick for you if you want to add a mic.

 

Eh, I figured it might be a red herring, but in my head it felt like some kind of dual mass/spring system with one damping the other at specific frequencies. In plain body or spring systems, the natural resonant frequency pulls and affects behaviour whenever you approach the harmonics.

 

4.4 KHz ? to exclude Armaegis's question?

 

Hi guys, i'm a newbie and i've bought those headphones as my first big boy pair after a few recommendations on reddit.

Did i effed up?

 

You now have a point of comparison which is useful.

Listen to what you have, decide what you do and don’t like about them and read about other options to see what you would like to explore next. Also keep in mind synergy is important, you may hate headphones with one amp/DAC and love them with another.

Listening to various gear is important and much harder with Covid. There’s always good return policies and reselling though there is generally some financial loss with those options.

Welcome and be patient. It can take time to find what really suits you.

 

First wanna apologize for any layout or grammatical problems. I am on business trip this week so am writing this all out on my phone, which is not as easy as some might think.

Chain: Yggdrasil GS > DNA Starlett/EC BW2 > HD560S

Build: I found the build to be pretty bad. It felt much cheaper than the HD6X0 series. The plastic felt flimsy and maybe I just have a big asian head but felt like it could snap when I don't feel the same about my other headphones. Also the cable is meh and the 1/4 inch jack felt hollow. Pads were good and comfort was also nice due to low weight.

Sound:

Overall I found this headphone to be meh. Similar to the HD 558/598 I have tried before. Bass was just okay. It felt alittle flimsy to me, but also lacking the detail of something like the HD6XX. It neither impressed me with quantity nor quality.

Mids were good, vocals sounded realistic and present in the mix, but it felt like it was slightly washed over. Lacking deeper details overall.

Highs were elevated but not sibilant. I'm not upset with it, it added an increased sense of clarity and airiness but it felt slightly artificial.

Resolution was not on the standard of something like the HD6XX KISS. I think it wasn't bad, but just not on the same level.

Scaling ability wasn't there. I tried the HD560S with onboard audio as well as my "higher end" gear, and it did not scale the way a HD6X0 would. Was a bit disappointed at this.

Soundstage. I might actually be bad at telling soundstage but I felt it actually wasn't that big. Maybe I'm just not able to discern the differences in soundstage well, but it felt like a headphone and it didn't exactly feel wide. I haven't heard an HD800, so when I read this was similar I expected more but I was left feeling meh. Maybe I'm just not able to tell this very well though to YMMV.

I feel this headphone is too expensive for what it is. For the price one can get an HD6XX and I found this to be much better. I don't think this is the "giant killer" that many on youtube are touting. I think it'll have an audience with some on the entry level, but ultimately I feel it'll get lost to history as many headphones that are touted "giant killers" always do.

Thank you all for letting me participate in the loaner, hope you enjoyed the impromptu writeup

 

I will try them, since I've been looking for an upgrade to my beloved HD599 (i also own an HD600).
The only thing that worries me on this headphone, is how bright it might be.
I already think that the HD600 can feel bright with some types of music, so I remain a bit sceptical on that.
But, I try to keep an open mind against anything that I haven't tried myself yet.

And I'm an avid fan of the sound signature of the whole 5xx line.
I own a few of them and to my ears my HD599 beat my classic HD600 handsdown.
I know this is heresy for many out there but i can't help it.
Since I got them they have seen very little use.

The HD600 are very good and should have been a revelation for their time but they can't keep up with soundstage and low end when compared to my HD599. Sorry guys, don't get all riled up.
I tried to convince myself many many times that I had to prefer the HD600.
I said to my self, is there something wrong with me?
But no, it is simply a matter of taste and maybe the types of music I listen to.

Just to clarify, I use a dedicated desktop DAC and a DIY OTL tube amp somewhat similar to the Darkvoice/Bottlehead designs.

 

Both measurements above from @Vtory, should be comparable save for greater smoothing on the HD600. Seems to me the HD560S will suit you more for its better bass extension and alleged better headstage, though the 4.5~6kHz elevation and the blip at ~11kHz look somewhat worrisome to me. Also not entirely sure how an OTL will fare with the new Senns' lower impedance, might not be ideal.

EDIT: MiniDSP EARS squiggles from @purr1n, used Photoshop cuz I couldn't find HD560S in the GitHub archive. They look a fair bit closer here save for the HD600 having more upper-mid "bite" and less pronounced treble elevations. @Crinacle's uber-rig also seems to affirm that the HD560S is generally brighter than the HD600.

HD600: pink and denim; HD560S: red and green

​

What specific DAC? There are loads of desktop units, and while they generally offer more subtle a difference than headphones and amps that does kinda matter too.

Don't worry about offending people, preferences differ and as much as I'm part of the HD6X0 fanclub too that's primarily because I appreciate what they have to offer and don't much mind their shortcomings, never mind that I'm not running them out of a TOTL rig like some opine they need to sound passable

 

I'm also worried a bit, but until I try them there is no way of knowing.
I try to remain optimistic, since I'm of the opinion that you can't judge whether you'll like a headphone (or not) by simply looking at a frequency response graph.

Here I am not worried at all.
Since the tube amp can drive my HD599 with its 50Ω impedance nicely, It'll probably be fine with the 120Ω impedance of the HD560S.

It is a unit with a nice linear power supply (no wallwarts/switch type psu) and it's almost an entirely through-hole affair. This was an important aspect for further modding to me, plus I really don't trust the sound from SMD parts. Call me nuts, but hey, I am honest..

Uses an AKM4495SEQ DAC that uses an LME49720HA (metal can version) as part of the LPF output circuit. I changed/removed a few 'critical' capacitors/resistors here and there to add a bit of flavor. Turned out really well. But that belongs to another thread.

Anyway, I see it is still available albeit with another opamp installed: https://www.aliexpress.com/i/32813561018.html
I recommend it for a single ended output device.


I'm now considering to replace the opamp with valves but I might as well build a new, better DAC from scratch.
However, for the money and the work needed it is really really good sounding. No complaints. It is good value.​

You don't need much in my opinon. A good DAC and a nice valve head amp and you are good to go.
Or even a solid state design if that is your thing. If you can DIY, then it is better because you will cater the sound to your liking a lot easier.

And thanks for repying!

 

Like your comment on the YT ‘gurus’. Made me remember an old friend of mine who was an opthomologist with appalling taste in movies. He said something was great, it wouldn’t tempt you out of a burning building and if he hated something I’d queue to go - he never missed

 

My thoughts on the HD560S:

Gear used:

• Theta DS Pro Basic II -> Zampotech Bachelor & Gilmore Lite DIY clone
• Fiio X3II -> A3

I will first off agree here that they deserve to be in the "5" series of Sennheiser. I also think they are priced right. I will explain...

SQ
First off, they do have some space and clarity, not quite as detailed as HD650's, but there is some sense of space. More "in the room" feel that some other headphones, including LCD-2C. They are bass light, albeit "airy." Not quite as bad as something like Sundara, but it is certainly missing something in the low end department. The high end is not quite as harsh or as bright as some Grado's, but I know there will be comparisons. They are not extremely hard to drive, but they also will not blow you out hooked directly to your phone or your laptop.

Compared to the HD5xx "Jubilee"
The Jubliee has more bass and low end, especially in the mid-bass region. Where I think the 560S excels here is that there is more sense of space, more fine details, although the 5xx sounds fine out of the box with no fuss. Both are about the same in volume. The 5xx's have more of a high-mid presence while the 560S has a bright presence. The 560S's seemed to have just more separation of the instruments, and much less congestion. I also liked that the 560S did not have a hard clamp, are lighter weight, and have single cord entry.

Compared to the HD650
Yes, there was more low end, and it is about twice as hard to drive, but the 650 is no match. I could listen to 650's all day (and have). More detail, cleaner, and it is like drinking Evian after drinking tap water. I was just surprised that the Jubilee almost sounded almost muddy going back to it, but that is a discussion for another time.

The Worst Cable!
The biggest negative I can think of for these, besides the tremendously missing bass, is the stock cable. Holy cow, this rubberized thing is one of the worst stock cables I have ever encountered. I don't really mind the lock on the headphone end, is is just that cable is tangle prone, cheap feeling, out of control, and just overall "janky." It would be the first thing I would replace...seriously, I feel like Zeos complaining about this cable, it is that bad. And remember, this is a $199 headphone.

Overall
Where I think I had some advantage is my warm system...the Theta and the Bachelor was a nice paring. It did not make the low end slam, but gave the bottom some warmth and a soft round boost it needed. A great synergistic paring. With the A3, the bass boost was almost needed. So with some EQ and the right system, these can be quite nice, although I am not sure how they are any better than the 59x. So yes, I do think they are better in some ways to the Jubliee, yet not as nice as 600/650 and likely why they are priced as such.

 

Thanks for the review!

Something I've noticed is that in almost eveyrone's reviews, these headphones are compared against the classic HD600 and/or HD650. I suppose it probably has to do with the way prices are right now, plus the fact that HD6## family pairs are really nice reference points.

However, since this is essentially a new model of the HD5## series and as many have pointed out, it verily belongs to that family sound-wise, I'd love to read some comments on how it compares against the other top pair of the same family, the HD599.

I have both the HD599 and the HD600.
The HD600 is more of a collectors's item to me, since it's a milestone in the realm of headphones.
But in all honesty, I can't convince myself to like it better than my (slightly modded) HD599 pair.
That is another reason I'm eagerly waiting for someone to compare it in some detail, directly against the HD599.

Kind regards,
Nikos.

 

Some impressions of the HD560S so far, had them for a week or so.

These remind me of the Hifiman Arya or at least a budget version. Before you raise an eyebrow, the linear response with a bit of presence boost with fairly decent out of head type of sound is what to me the Arya sounded like. Now obviously Arya is more resolving, or really I should say more refined. The HD560S is a bit more rough around the edges particularly in bass quality. The HD560S has some nice bass extension, I'd argue it's one of the most extended dynamics I've heard recently but it has a sense of undefined bass compared to a good ortho or a top tier dynamic like say the Focal Clear.

The bass to mid transition is clean and seamless, so compared to an unmodded HD650 you don't get that fuzziness or warmth, one mans mud is another's lush so to speak. I hear male vocals sounding cleaner but less full than the HD650. The HD560s is more spacious, holographic so you get more breathing room between you and the vocalist, which the HD600 series misses. The HD560S has some forward upper mid presence, again, like the Arya. It doesn't come across as shouty or as piercing as it does on the HD600 or HD650, I don't know why as generally not having a bass boost would usually highlight that area. My guess it the design on the HD560S and overall FR giving them a more spacious sound puts more room between you and the peak, where as the HD650 or HD600 being more intimate = more immediate sound; not a fact just how I hear it or me talking shit.

The treble is nicely extended for me, to my preference of not too artificial like the DT880, enough air to make the headphone have range acceptable at both ends. On paper, pretty much a headphone what was missing from this price range. The staging perception as mentioned reminds me of the larger Hifimans, in that it doesn't have upper mid dips like the HD800 or DT990 to push things back to sound wider but instead offers a design that seems slot over you ears creating that distance between you and the driver. The Hifiman headphones rely on large surface areas and being really open, these being a dynamic have to rely on housing to make up for the lack of surface area, it's hard to explain I sort of know what I'm saying but can't word it. The HD558, 598 had the same design of course being a 500 series phone but those had somewhat of a bass boost what naturally will affect stage perception without an upper mid dip.

As I thought, these make great gaming headphones. They're fairly easy to drive, for my gaming rig I use a G6 which has driven everything I've thrown at it from HD800, Verites, Eikon, LCD-4, Hifiman range. The G6 doesn't need to be worked too hard as these are quite sensitive. The slight presence boost gives voices a nice standout in a busy scene, Playing Cyberpunk on the DT990's for example, I hear a lot of the environment first but dialog can get a bit lost in the mix which losing some impact from the scene. On the HD560S you get the dialog front and centre and the environmental noise takes a backseat as it should in certain scenes. Cyberpunk has a lot of heavy hits, low rumbles, thumps in it's soundtrack and I felt the extra bass extension did many scenes justice. The fairly wide stage was convincing walking and driving around night city.

In terms of things like dynamics, it has dynamic range, it doesn't sound muted at both ends like say a HD650 but it doesn't have much of a bass boost so doesn't sound dynamic in that sense, like an Audeze can sound flat when it comes to dynamic impact. This to me is the worst aspect of this headphone but it's something I can live with for the price but many newer ortho owners will be fairly used to this presentation, and finding a headphone that actually ends up being one of the best gaming headphones is a plus for me. In terms if I it's better than the HD650, they re different, if you want warmth, dark, go HD650. If you want more linear, spacious, open go HD560S, it's that simple.

I will say this is the most, un-sennheiser sounding sennheiser I've heard, it sounds like a dynamic take on a current Hifiman, at least to my ears. No I don't think it's a new standard as in reality it's not something that hasn't been done before but factoring in it's competition and price, I think it's in a good spot. I'd argue the Sundara is a slightly more refined headphone, Verum 1 is a slightly more refined headphone with a cleaner bass, HD6XX I hear as a different sounding headphone. Headphones are all about flavours regardless of price to me, you pay much more for something a tad better, same as the visual world, the GPU world.

In short, yeah I quite like it, the HD500 series needed some love, they're a different take on that series with it's more linear, even FR with about the same overall technical ability so jus don't expect Focal Clear performance, but if one finds their HD650 a bit dull, closed in this is an option. Here in the UK it's £170 so around the price of a DT990, 880 so it's worth it. If one is in a country where it's price is near say the Sundara and Verum, then it's a harder sale. I'd say the HD560S sounds more spacious than those two headphones, but those two have cleaner bass, high quality bass with similar traits in a lot of ways.

Things I don’t like:

The build is absolute shite, not MA900 shite, but close they look cool though, stealth black is a personal fav. Complaints wise, while the headphone is a good performer at a fair price, as a higher volume listener these tend to have that lowfi loss of composure at higher volumes that the HD598, 558 and some of the Beyers had. The HD650 is much better in this regard. I see where Purrin is coming from in that he sees it having HD558 technical ability, yeah I see that argument but I also think the HD560S has a different take for a sennheiser headphone so I personally don't mind this myself, kinder like how the HD800(and HD700 but we don't talk about that) was the odd one out in a lot of ways for better or worse. I could maybe to with a tad more mid bass elevation, that one would depend on my mood though.

Driving these, trusty Asgard 2 and SDAC for the most part. Have tried all the amps in my sig, I did find these can switch to slightly bright and slightly dark similar to how the Verum 1 would with different gear which is usually a sign of a more linear, extended at both ends kinder sound to me. The Vali 2 made the HD560S a tad laid back, Lyr 3 I felt gave them a bit more edge and excitement but the Asgard 2 I felt was the goldilocks, prob why I've yet to sale this thig it just works with everything.

In short relative to my taste.. yeah good, but if you own a Sundara, Ananda, Arya, Verum; pointless buy in my opinion unless you want a second headphone for gaming that's comfortable, yeah why not. I've also acquired the HE-5XX which is another good option in it's price range, may write impressions, I'm actually lazy so have to be in the mood to write, this took me longer than it should have to write.

 

How not right? Going off the rtings measurements, the HD560 seems to have more accurate bass than the HD600, HD5xx, or HD6xx: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/graph#18492/3992/325

I am currently mixing on closed back AT m50x (just with a focusrite solo interface) and trying to find the most accurate open backs to supplement. I need to be able to hear what's going on at 30-100Hz. I really don't want any frequencies to be like 8db off, at any point on the graph. Even 4db off isn't ideal for mixing, although it looks like just about every option is inaccurate in some areas.

Any other options? I've probably narrowed it down to the 6xx or 560. The Beyer DT990Pro are also under consideration, but their bass appears too strong from 100-200Hz, and the 10dB treble boost at 9kHz is not helpful: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/graph#18987/3992/329

Edit, this sonarworks tool is actually pretty useful for comparing headphone models you don't own yet, if just to see how off they are: https://www.sonarworks.com/reference

The HD600 and 6xx corrections both sound noticeably more accurate than the DT990. The HD560 isn't supported yet.

 

RTINGS's compensaion mandates a bass boost that, while some might find enjoyable, is absolutely horrible when you're aiming for some purported semblance of naturalness.

You may also need to consider what playback systems most people will be using and how many will have gear that can get down to sub-bass frequencies below 60Hz properly; if you're mixing for mass distribution then it only makes sense to take what your audience will likely end up actually hearing into account. You'll probably have people who enjoy HD600s and others who swear by bassy/v-shaped headphones (some use and enjoy both) so there's probably a bit of spread. Others would say the best option would be to invest in proper monitors but that's beyond my kenning to comment on.

Get Sonarworks or similar, their DSP does a decent job at making things sound more "natural" IMO, though their target skews a bit warm for me (could have been my upstream at the time, Bifrost MB>Garage1217 Sunrise III). Haven't tried with M50x but it's neat for HE4xx, TH-X00 Ebony (I used general Mahogany profile), HD650, HD600, and DT880. They still offer free trials so you can see if it works for you.

Modern DT880 (250 or 600ohm) with the felt disc front damping is a good affordable option for semi-open since they're pretty normal sounding other than a slight excess of warmth and mild mid-treble elevation that's more colouraton than offensive stabbiness depending on your hearing, but quick PEQ can alleviate either way. Spend a bit more and just get HD600s for an overall better (just my opinion) package. I find the upper mids a bit hot but many opine it's dead neutral sans bass rolloff and treble air. This applies to any decent headphone but just listen to how it presents bass on good reference mixes and grow accustomed to that so you know what to aim for.