Sennheiser Hd 560s Open-back Audiophile Headphones – Neutral Reference Sound, Wide Soundstage

Sennheiser HD 560S Open-back Audiophile Headphones

The Sennheiser HD 560S is a wired, open-back, over-ear headphone built for analytical and reference listening at home. Sennheiser tunes it for a natural and accurate presentation rather than a bass-boosted one, so recordings are heard with their tonal balance intact. The open earcups allow sound waves to expand naturally instead of being trapped in a sealed chamber, which is central to the headphone’s spacious stereo image. A detachable cable, replaceable velour earpads and a weight of 240 g without the cable make it a practical long-term listening tool for a desk, listening chair or studio setup.

Key features

• Open-back, dynamic transducer design for natural sound expansion
• Reference-oriented tuning with extended low-frequency reach
• Angled transducers using Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement (E.A.R.)
• Frequency response of 6 Hz to 38,000 Hz (-10 dB)
• Low distortion: THD below 0.05 percent at 1 kHz and 90 dB SPL
• Detachable cable with 6.3 mm plug and 3.5 mm adapter
• Velour earpads and ventilated cups for long sessions

Sound and tuning

Sennheiser specifies a frequency response of 6 Hz to 38,000 Hz, a sound pressure level of 110 dB at 1 kHz and 1 V RMS, and total harmonic distortion below 0.05 percent at 1 kHz and 90 dB SPL. The transducer uses a polymer-blend membrane, and the design brief emphasises detail retrieval with fast, clear bass rather than elevated bass. In practice that means low frequencies are present and controlled, midrange instruments and voices sit in correct proportion, and high frequencies are reproduced with the detail needed for critical listening, mixing checks and comparing recordings. Because the tuning is deliberately neutral, the HD 560S responds predictably to different sources and recordings.

Open-back design and soundstage

The earcups are fully open and ventilated. Sound is not sealed in, so the presentation feels wider and less in-the-head than a typical closed-back headphone, and the angled driver alignment of the E.A.R. design recreates the listening geometry of stereo loudspeakers placed in front of the listener. The trade-off is inherent to the format: the HD 560S provides very little isolation from outside noise, and sound leaks out into the room. It is therefore best suited to quiet indoor environments rather than offices, travel or shared spaces where leakage would disturb others.

Comfort and build

At 240 g without the cable, the HD 560S is light for a full-size open-back headphone. The around-ear velour earpads are soft and breathable, and the ventilated cups do not need to touch the ears themselves, which helps during extended listening. Both the earpads and the cable are replaceable, so wear parts can be renewed instead of replacing the whole headphone. The headband distributes the modest weight evenly, and the open construction avoids the heat build-up that sealed pads can cause over several hours.

Connectivity and source pairing

This is a purely wired headphone with no battery, Bluetooth or active electronics. Nominal impedance is 120 ohms. The detachable cable terminates in a 6.3 mm plug suited to headphone amplifiers, audio interfaces and hi-fi equipment, and a 3.5 mm adapter is included for portable players, laptops and other compact sources. The 110 dB sensitivity means many capable headphone outputs will drive it adequately, while a dedicated amplifier or DAC and headphone amplifier combination can provide additional headroom. The cable connects to the earcup with the HD 500 series twist-lock fitting and can be replaced if damaged.

For listeners who want an honest, spacious and low-distortion view of their music at home, the HD 560S remains a focused reference headphone: open, neutral and built around replaceable parts for years of use.