Sennheiser HD560S vs Sennheiser HD600 Comparison

Before we do get to finishing the HiFiMAN Saga, we definitely have to compare the newest buzzword in the audiophile community (apart from the latest announcement of the HE5XX) to the big reference, the HD600!
I hope this video helps your purchasing decision. Thanks for tuning in!

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---- Featured: ----
** HD600 **

**HD560S**

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---- Top 5 Headphones of All-Time! ----

** Sennheiser HD600/6XX (Neutrality Benchmark, My Reference; My Favorite HP of All-Time)**

** Sennheiser HD800/s (High-End Detail, GRANDNESS)**

** HiFiMAN Sundara (HD600 - HD800 Love-Child) **

** AudioTechnica M40X (The only closed-back I actually like, but actually a great deal) **

** AKG K7XX (Multimedia Comfort Kings) **

[thelordgyoza]

Important to note for new buyers that the revised HD600 comes in the same crappy packaging as the 560.

[wwbdwwbd]

I can confirm that 560S are excellent for classical music, exactly as you said. I listen to classical almost exclusively, and 560S are superb for that purpose. From orchestral to chamber to piano to opera, these perform stupendously. The only quibble I have is that violins can sometimes sound too hot for my taste. To be fair, violins in real life also sound very hot to my ears, so I suppose this is actually a testament to the transparency of these headphones. It also helps that sound stage on these are far superior to HD600, making them better suited for orchestral and chamber music. In terms of timbre, it's a toss-up between the 560S and 600; they are both very natural.

[JonnyTenebrous]

Great video! My HD600s are almost 21 years old (with pads/cables/headband refreshed regularly) - they've probably been on my head for as many hours as not, and feel like "home". I now also own the HD 560S and my experiences with them mirror your own. However, I will certainly be keeping - and using - my 560S because they're the closest HPs I've ever found to a "portable" (around the house) set of 600s. With the 600s I'm always tethered to a DAC/Amp - usually when sat at my desk. With the HD 560s being much easier to drive while maintaining a reasonable level of quality, I can at long last get very good quality through my digital devices via small portable amp... or even just direct w/out amp is acceptable if I just want to chill out in the garden/couch/etc and not deal w/ cables. The 560S are going to be a great companion set to the 600s!

[akqr]

Hi there, just because the HD560S is terminated on one side doesn't mean it's only single ended. You can get a balanced (although single earcup terminated) cable, it's a 4 pole termination meaning two seperate grounds - thus can be made balanced.

[earlskeletor]

Interesting conclusion, I have actually found myself going the opposite way to you, in that, I find myself drawn to the HD560S over my HD600. I would conclude that anyone in the market for either should almost certainly try both!

[MrHandsomeStudios]

I tested both the 660S and 560S in a store 2 days ago together with a 800 dollar Dac/Amp and my personal iFi Zen Dac. For someone new to headphones and DAC/AMP's I was suprised the quality of the sound were very minimal with these two headphones. I was suprised at how flat 560S sounded. To me the choice between these two are of more of a preference than a "this headphone is clearly better". I enjoyed the the 660S more for music because it sounds warmer and I just felt the bass in the 560S were lacking. When testing them in the store I thought the earcups shape felt a tiny bit better on the 660S because the pressure felt a little bit more balanced out on my ear. In my country the 660S sells for more than double the price of the 560S so I ended up with the 560S. If someone would have asked me how much these 2 headphones costs (soundwise) I would guess they would be similair priced because both of them sounds amazing to my ears but seems clearly ment for different type of people. 560S sounds like it's for someone who don't want so much color to their sound and want it to be more neutral and true to the recording and 660S seems to be with people who want to have just a little more bass and warmth than the 560S.

[Al.j.Vasquez]

I've complained in the past that headphone reviewers tend to lose people with the overuse of audiophile terms as they provide nothing to have a perspective on, anything to understand what those terms and comparisons mean, you on the other hand, are the first one i've seen that points to specific parts of a song so we as users can grab our heaphones and put things into perspective. Yo deserve more subs for sure.

[yuribezminov]

As someone who has had every sennhieser (except the orpheus) I think the hd 560s is a very good value and has very good sound.
Its detail is insane for 200 usd I personally think if your not wanting to cough up 500 or more for a good pair of headphones these beat out for me so many headphones so if you are getting into audiophileia hd560s is the way to go for a first.

[injeolmi]

This was a nice video, chuckolatte. You solved some of my doubts regarding the 560S. I will keep watching your videos, they are really nice.Thank you!

[superdrunkdnb]

Excellent review!
I use the 560S for Gaming and the 58x for listening to Music (mostly bass heavy stuff).
They both perform great at their tasks.

[countach]

I own them both. I bought HD 560S a few weeks ago for their soundstage performace which of course outperforms the HD 600. BUT! That's pretty much it. In my opinion the overall sound quality of the HD 600 is still superior.

The HD 600 are definitely more refined and have more resolution in most sounds. The HD 560S seem more "hollow" and lifeless. The bass is quite weak on both headphones, so I slightly EQ it. Even so, I still prefer the HD 600 bass. The mids (and lower mids) on HD 560S are fine but on HD 600 - boy, their are enjoyable. Smooth as silk and just nice to listen to. The trebles on HD 560S are slightly more emphasized, which make them more lively but there is some harshness (grain) on them too. The HD 600 trebles are delicate and I've never experienced any harshness on them. The build quality of HD 600 is also better (it's not premium by all means but still superior to HD 560S).

So, there you have it. If you are into soundstage while maintaining a good sound quality - the HD 560S is a solid option. But if the narrow soundstage doesn't bother you that much - get the HD 600 and enjoy your music to the fullest.

[pascaljean]

Videos are adding up! Good job man. Always a fan!

[thedarkmage]

You can run the 560s balanced if you get a replacement cable

[lupe_g]

You could actually run the 560s balanced. Even Sennheiser mentioned that in forums. The headphone is trrs. The cable supplied isn't balanced tho.

[shawnwilliams]

Excellent review. I own both and my findings match yours to a T. I'm keeping the 560s, I do enjoy them and as a side benefit they made me appreciate my 600's even more, if that is possible, lol.

[SuperSeltzer]

I hate the Sennheiser veil. 560s does not have that.. and with EQ I can give it enough bass and tone down peaky regions in treble. I love my cans with or without EQ though.

[pat]

The HD 560S income port is 2.5mm TRRS with L+ L- R+ R-, so it does support Balance. It's just the cable in the box is Single End, & Sennheiser seems not selling Balanced cable for it. I have HD 560S & I've ordered a custom made 2.5mm to 4.4mm Balance cable for it

[fhf]

personally, using the HD 560s with the IFI Zen dac V2 with firmware 7.2 (cookies and cream) sounds very 3D and makes everything sound more immersive as hell. You should try it. IFI delisted that FW for some reason but i still have the original file.

[GentlemanSauer]

Legend has it, those construction guys are still at it to this day

[Michalos]

You get similar boxes with both new headphones - new HD 600 has similar box to the HD 560s.