Sennheiser HD 560S: Open Back Sound for Any Desk

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There is a moment when headphones stop being an accessory and start being an instrument for listening. For a lot of people, the Sennheiser HD 560S is that moment. It is an open back, wired headphone built for hearing what is really in a recording, but it is also easy to drive and comfortable enough to wear all evening. Here is what makes it special and who should buy it.

What it is

The HD 560S is an open back, over ear headphone from Sennheiser. Sennheiser says it is tuned to reveal the truth in your music without sacrificing the bass response that complex modern music needs. It sits in the company's audiophile range, and Sennheiser positions it for both hi fi listening and music work.

The key specs, according to Sennheiser:

• Design: open back, around the ear
• Impedance: 120 ohms
• Frequency response: 6 to 38,000 Hz
• Sound pressure level: 110 dB
• Total harmonic distortion: under 0.05%
• Weight: 280 g
• Cable: detachable, 3 meters, with a 6.3 mm plug and a 3.5 mm adapter

The angled drivers

The headline feature is Sennheiser's E.A.R. design. The transducers inside each ear cup are angled rather than facing straight into your ear. Sennheiser says this recreates the optimal triangular listening position, the same idea as sitting in the sweet spot between two speakers, for a wide and articulate soundstage.

The result is music that feels spread out in front of you instead of pinned to the sides of your head. That matters for long listening sessions and for any work where you need to judge where instruments sit in a mix. If you want to understand why open designs feel more spacious in the first place, read our guide to open back vs closed back headphones.

Easy to drive

A lot of serious headphones need a dedicated amplifier. The HD 560S is more forgiving. Sennheiser describes its low impedance drivers as flexible enough to reproduce hi fi sound on virtually any audio device, including portable players, laptops, receivers and audio interfaces. At 120 ohms it sits in the middle of the range. Our explainer on headphone impedance covers what those numbers mean.

That said, a good source still helps. Plugging the HD 560S into a small DAC from our guide to the best portable DACs and headphone amps, or into one of the best audio interfaces for home recording, gives it clean power and a proper volume knob.

Comfort for long sessions

Sennheiser calls the experience "barely there", and the 280 g weight backs that up. Lightweight headphones matter more than people expect. The difference between a pair you can wear for an hour and a pair you can wear for an afternoon often comes down to weight and clamp. The detachable 3 meter cable gives you room to move around a desk, and Sennheiser includes a drawstring bag for storage.

Why it is cool

The HD 560S is a rare headphone that serves two kinds of listener. Audiophiles get an open, detailed sound for records and streaming. Musicians and producers get a reference that Sennheiser says is suited to music tasks as well as hi fi. Sennheiser specifically pitches it at people evaluating their music's entire journey through the audio path, which is a fancy way of saying you can trust what you hear.

It also fits neatly into Sennheiser's lineup. If you love the sound and later want to step up, the HD 600 and HD 650 are the next rungs on the same ladder.

Who should buy it

Buy the HD 560S if you listen in a quiet room, want an open back headphone that works without a big amp and value comfort for long sessions. It is a strong first serious headphone for music lovers and a good mixing reference for home producers.

Skip it if you need isolation. As an open back design it leaks sound and lets the room in, so it is not the pair for a commute, an open plan office or recording vocals next to a microphone.

Where to buy

Sennheiser sells the HD 560S directly, and audio retailers carry it widely.

For more studio gear, browse our home studio picks.