Sennheiser HD 599 SE vs Sennheiser HD 560S
Quick take: The Sennheiser HD 599 SE costs $10 less.
Which one to buy
Sennheiser makes these as two takes on the same budget open-back, and owners settle the choice with one question: do you want to relax or to analyze? The HD 599 SE is warm and smooth with relaxed treble. You can listen for hours without fatigue, and it's often the first open-back owners recommend to friends. The HD 560S is the neutral one. It's more detailed, has a wider and more precise stage, and has bass that extends lower than the 599's, which rolls off. Owners call the 560S the family's gaming pick and the cheap reference for checking mixes.
The costs of each run the other way. The 560S's treble is bright enough that a small EQ cut around 5-6kHz is common, and its neutral tuning exposes bad recordings. Its plastic build feels cheap, and it clamps firmly out of the box. The 599 SE is lighter (250g vs 280g), and owners rank it more comfortable for glasses and long sessions, but detail-focused listeners call its treble veiled. Both are fully open, so both leak sound and let it in, and both have replaceable pads and detachable cables.
At list prices of $160 and $170 they look the same, but both regularly sell well below list. The 599 SE drops to around $85-100 several times a year.
Sennheiser HD 599 SE
Worth it when comfort and fatigue-free evening listening matter more than detail, or if treble tends to bother you.
Sennheiser HD 560S
Best if you want accuracy for mixing, gaming with precise positioning, or bass that goes lower, and you don't mind applying an EQ cut for bright recordings.
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 599 SE | Sennheiser HD 560S |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$160 | ~$170 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wired & Studio | Wired & Studio |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | — | — |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | — | — |
| Codecs | — | — |
| Bluetooth | — | — |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | 38 mm | — |
| Weight | 250 g | 280 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | No | No |
| App EQ | No | No |
Pros & cons
Sennheiser HD 599 SE
- ✓Classic gateway into open-back listening
- ✓Runs fine from a laptop — no amp myths apply
- ✓Warm, relaxed treble stays easy for hours
- ✓Superb 250g velour comfort, even with glasses
- ✓Ships with both 6.3mm and 3.5mm cables
- ✓Regularly drops to $100 — patience pays
- ✗Bass rolls off at the bottom like most open-backs
- ✗Everyone in the room hears your music
- ✗Zero isolation makes it useless for commutes
- ✗Paying the $160 list price is a mistake
- ✗Relaxed treble trades away detail versus the MDR-7506
Sennheiser HD 560S
- ✓Reference-grade neutral tuning with bass extension the HD 600/6XX lack
- ✓Excellent imaging and a relatively wide stage — superb for gaming
- ✓110 dB sensitivity means dongles and interfaces drive it fine
- ✓Light 280g with roomy earcups for long sessions
- ✓Detachable 1.8m cable plus 6.3mm adapter
- ✓Very low distortion (<0.05% THD) at the price
- ✓Frequently discounted well below its $200 list
- ✗Elevated treble with occasional sibilance — the usual first EQ target
- ✗All-plastic build feels cheap next to how it sounds
- ✗Open back: no isolation, full leakage
- ✗Revealing tuning is unkind to bad masters
- ✗Included cable terminates 2.5mm at the cup, limiting aftermarket options
Sennheiser HD 599 SE vs Sennheiser HD 560S: common questions
Is the HD 560S or the HD 599 SE better for gaming?▾
Owners generally say the HD 560S, because its wider, more precise stage places footsteps clearly. The 599 SE works well for casual and single-player games thanks to its comfort, but it doesn't resolve as much.
Do the HD 599 SE or the HD 560S need an amp?▾
Neither strictly does. The 599 SE is 50 ohms and runs fully from a laptop or dongle. The 560S is 120 ohms but sensitive, so a decent dongle gets it loud, and an amp mostly adds headroom and slightly firmer bass.