Sennheiser HD 560S vs HD 599 SE

What published reviews say about each, where the two differ, and who each one suits.

Summed up from 16 published reviews

Sennheiser

HD 560S

The Sennheiser HD 560S deliver accurate, spacious open-back sound and long-session comfort, but offer no isolation, portability, or modern features.

Best for: Critical listening, mixing, and quiet at-home music sessions.
Skip it if: You need isolation, portability, wireless features, or punchy bass.

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Sennheiser HD 560S

Sennheiser

HD 599 SE

The Sennheiser HD 599 SE delivers comfortable, balanced sound with strong value, ideal for rock and long listening sessions despite its plastic build and open-back design.

Best for: Budget open-back listeners who enjoy rock
Skip it if: Skip if you need noise isolation or deep bass

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Sennheiser HD 599 SE

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Specs side by side

Spec	Sennheiser HD 560S	Sennheiser HD 599 SE
Best for	Studio, Music	Music
Fit	Over-ear	Over-ear
Connection	Wired	Wired
Noise cancelling	No	No
Microphone	No mic	No mic
Ear cups	Open-back	Open-back

Rows where the two differ come first.

Where only one fits

use: HD 560SStudio

What reviewers like, and what they don't

Sennheiser HD 560S

Detailed, natural, balanced sound suits critical listening. 1 2 3 4
Spacious soundstage presents instruments with precise separation. 2 3 4 6
Lightweight, well-padded design stays comfortable through long sessions. 1 2 3 4
Strong value for audiophile-leaning, reference-oriented performance. 1 2 5 8
Open-back leaks sound and admits ambient noise. 1 2 3 4
Wired-only design lacks Bluetooth and modern conveniences. 3 5 6 7
120-ohm impedance benefits from a capable amplifier or DAC. 2 4 5 6
Restrained, neutral bass may not satisfy bass-forward listeners. 2 6 7

Sennheiser HD 599 SE

Excellent value for price 1 5 7
Comfortable for long listening sessions 1 2 4 6
Wide open-back soundstage and imaging 1 6 7
Included long cable with adapter 2 4
Balanced sound with warm mids and clear highs 1 5 7
All-plastic build feels inexpensive 1 3 5
Not foldable or highly portable 1 2 4
Open-back design offers no noise isolation 6 8
Bass lacks strong impact for bass-heavy tracks 3 5 7

Ranked in our guides

Guide	HD 560S	HD 599 SE
Best open-back headphones	#8	–

Sources

We don't test products ourselves. This page sums up 16 published reviews, read on October 23, 2026; each point above links to the reviews that make it.