Sennheiser HD 560S
Sennheiser HD 560S Open-Back Over-Ear Wired Headphones – Neutral, Natural Sound for Music, Gaming, and Content Creation, Black
Our Best Value in Best Open-Back Headphones at Every Budget. Here is the full rundown: the specs, what we like, the trade-offs, and who it is for.
$149.95
Sennheiser HD 560S Open-Back Over-Ear Wired Headphones – Neutral, Natural Sound for Music, Gaming, and Content Creation, Black
Best for: Aspiring audiophiles who want honest, do-everything sound under $200.
If the SHP9500 is the gateway, the HD 560S is the upgrade you grow into. Sennheiser tuned it to be neutral and honest, so you hear the recording instead of a flavored version of it. Detail retrieval is excellent, and the soundstage is wide enough that some reviewers rate it above pricier Sennheisers.
It is light, the velour pads are plush, and clamp force is gentle, so it disappears over a workday. At 120 ohms it is happy from a decent dongle or PC jack, though a small amp gives it more authority.
Like most reference open-backs, the bass stays polite. It is accurate rather than punchy, and the tuning can feel slightly clinical until your ears settle in (a touch of EQ wakes it right up). For honest sound that does everything well under $200, it is very hard to beat.
What we like
- + Very neutral, accurate reference tuning
- + Wide soundstage and strong imaging
- + Light and comfortable with plush velour pads
- + Only needs a modest source to sing
Watch outs
- - Polite bass with little low-end slam
- - Can feel clinical until you adjust
- - Mostly plastic build
- - No isolation (open-back)
Full specs
| Driver | Open-back dynamic |
| Back type | Open-back over-ear |
| Impedance | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL |
| Frequency response | 6 Hz - 38 kHz |
| Cable | Detachable, 3.5mm + 6.3mm adapter |
| Pads | Velour |
| Weight | ~240 g |
| Sound | Neutral, slightly bright |
Editor's note
These quietly became my default work-from-home pair. The tuning is so even that I stop noticing the headphones and just hear the music, which is exactly what I want for a long session. I do wish the clamp was a touch lighter, the first week it pressed a little until the band loosened up.
Price & history
Price checked Jun 24, 2026. Prices change often, so verify the live price on Amazon.
How it compares
Part of a buying guide
We chose the Sennheiser HD 560S as our best value after comparing it head to head with the other top options.
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