The Sennheiser HD 560S are wired open-back headphones meant for listening to audio in quiet environments. They deliver a flat sound profile that should suit most musical genres and deliver audio consistently. They're also very comfortable, with a relatively lightweight design and plenty of plush padding. Like most open-backs, they're poorly suited for use on the go, with terrible noise isolation, high levels of audio leakage, and a bulky construction. Otherwise, if you're looking for a pair of comfortable headphones with an immersive soundstage, they're a great choice.
Our Verdict
The Sennheiser HD 560 S are passable for sports and fitness, though they aren't meant for this purpose. While they offer a surprisingly stable fit, they're still quite bulky and don't have any sort of on-board controls to make playback adjustments. Their audio cable can also snag on something while you're on the go.
- Comfortable, relatively stable fit.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- No on-board controls.
- Bulky design.
The Sennheiser HD 560S headphones are poor for commuting and traveling. They're very bulky and barely block out any noise, so you're likely to hear the rumble of bus and plane engines as well as the chatter of fellow commuters. Thankfully, they're very comfortable, even during extended listening sessions.
- Comfortable, relatively stable fit.
- Terrible noise isolation.
- No on-board controls.
- Wired-only connection limits versatility.
- Bulky design.
- No included microphone.
The Sennheiser HD 560S headphones are a poor choice for office use. They don't block out much background noise and leak a lot of audio. Their wired-only connection also limits their range of connectivity. Thankfully, they're comfortable enough to wear throughout the entire workday, so if you work in a private, enclosed room and don't need to make calls, these will work well enough.
- Comfortable, relatively stable fit.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- Terrible noise isolation.
- No on-board controls.
- No included microphone.
The Sennheiser HD 560S are wired-only headphones and aren't suitable for this use.
The Sennheiser HD 560S are an okay choice for wired gaming, as long as you don't plan on using a mic, or have an external one. They're very comfortable and have a flat sound profile that gives equal emphasis to both sound effects and in-game dialogue. The left and right drivers are very well matched, so you can pinpoint enemy fighters accurately in the stereo field. Their sound is also very consistent from wear to wear, and their wired-only connection guarantees latency-free audio.
- Impressive stereo imaging performance.
- Consistent audio delivery.
- No included microphone.
- No sound profile adjustment features.
The Sennheiser HD 560S have great audio reproduction accuracy. They deviate very little from their flat sound profile, apart from a few unruly peaks in the treble range that can render cymbals alternately dull or piercing. Their left and right drivers are also very well matched in terms of phase and frequency, so objects are accurately located in the stereo field. You also won't notice any unwanted coloration from harmonic distortion at typical or elevated listening levels.
The Sennheiser HD 560S are bad at blocking out noise around you. Whether it's the low rumble of a bus engine driving past your open window, a chatty roommate, or the whine of a nearby PC, you'll hear most of the sound around you.
The Sennheiser HD 560S don't have a built-in microphone.
The Sennheiser HD 560S have great frequency response consistency. You likely won't perceive significant deviations from the headphones' measured sound signature, even if you wear glasses or have thick hair.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 12, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
- Updated Mar 12, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test, and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
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Updated Oct 02, 2025:
We've added a mention of the FIIO FT1 Pro in the Bass Profile - Target Compliance box.
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Updated Sep 24, 2025:
After noticing an error in some target deviation calculations, we updated this review's Bass, Mid-Range and, Treble Target Compliance scores, as well as its Peaks and Dips score. As a result, some Usages and side-by-side text may also have changed.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sennheiser HD 560S only come in one variant: 'Black.' Our unit's label is available to see here.
If someone comes across a different variant of these headphones, let us know in the comments below so that we can update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sennheiser HD 560S are open-back headphones designed for neutral listening. Their sound profile is generally flat, and they're comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time without discomfort. That said, they do lack a little low bass. To an extent, that's par for the course with open-back headphones, but alternatives like the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO and HiFiMan Edition XS have a thumpier bass. All three of those options are quite bulky and don't have any sort of on-board playback controls, but if casual use is your priority, you'd be better off checking out headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless or the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless, which can work wirelessly and offer features such as ANC (active noise cancellation). Finally, if price is a priority, the Philips SHP9500 cost a fraction of the 560S, but they have even less bass.
If you're looking for alternatives, check out our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best open-back headphones.
Both the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the Sennheiser HD 560S share open-backed designs. They also have broadly similar sound profiles, with the Beyerdynamic offering a bit more low-end, while the Sennheiser have a more even top-end, but some may prefer the high-frequency sheen on the Beyerdynamic. The Beyerdynamic feel better built and comfortable, though they clamp a bit harder. On the other hand, the Sennheiser have a lighter-feeling fit, so choosing between them may come down to your personal taste.
The Sennheiser HD 560S are better headphones if you want a better PRTF performance, which can be indicative of a more immersive sound. The Sennheiser are open-back headphones that are more comfortable and have significantly better-matched L/R drivers. However, the Audio-Technica are closed-back headphones that are better built and more versatile if you need headphones that don't leak sound and provide some passive isolation.
The Sennheiser HD 560S and the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO are meant for different applications, so which is better is determined by your needs. The Sennheiser are open-back headphones with a much better PRTF accuracy, which is indicative of a wider soundstage. They're much more comfortable and have a more consistent bass delivery. On the other hand, the Beyerdynamic have a closed-back design, which supplies more low-end. The headphones leak less audio, and they isolate you from a bit more ambient sound, so you can wear them in noisier spaces than the Sennheiser. They also have a significantly better build quality.
The Sennheiser HD 560S and the Philips SHP9500 have different strengths, and you may prefer either. Both models are great open-back headphones for their open and spacious listening experiences, but the Sennheiser are more stable to wear. On the other hand, the Philips are a bit more comfortable, so they can feel less fatiguing to wear for long listening sessions.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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