The Sennheiser HD560S is designed for listeners who are analytical audio enthusiasts and for a headphone with such a monumental task, the price point of the HD560S is really modest. From the high ratings and praise that this open-back headphone has gained over the years, we definitely have no doubt about its sonic performance. Still, without a good headphone amp to unlock its potentials, the Sennheiser HD560S would not be able to truly shine.
We are here today to learn more about the sound characteristics and sonic performance of the Sennheiser HD560S. The goal is to have a better understanding of this talented HD560S and find the best matching headphone amps to pair with the audiophile headphone. A list of the best amps will be provided later on after we have learned more about the Sennheiser HD560S.
Table of Contents
Sound Characteristics and Merits of Sennheiser HD560S
For a headphone built for analytical listening, it will need to be really comfortable. The Sennheiser HD560S is lightweight and very well-padded, not to mention, the velour earpads do not trap too much heat. The stability of the HD560S is top-notch too, allowing us to move around without worrying the headphone will fall off. It is not very tight and overall, this is a very comfortable headphone to wear. It is an open-back design, so expect sound leakage where people near you will be able to hear what you are listening especially at loud volumes. The noise isolation will not protect you from environmental noises and we will suggest you use the Sennheiser HD560S in a quiet indoor room.
The Sennheiser HD560S looks absolutely stylish and is a pity is not portable enough to wear outside without any hassle. It has a very impressive frequency response of 6Hz to 38kHz (-10dB). With an impedance of 120 Ohms, the HD560S is not difficult to drive which is great. Since it is an open-back design headphone, we will not be expecting ample deep bass reproduction but at least high accuracy in its overall bass performance.
More Details at Amazon – Sennheiser HD 560S Audiophile Headphone
The level of clarity is astounding, it is a revealing headphone that will dig out a massive amount of details and produce them out in spades. Subtle details and nuances can be heard in crystal clear sound quality. It is an unforgiving open-back headphone, if there is something bad with the recording, it will let you know without any sugar coating. This accuracy will be essential for audio mixers and a splendid delight for analytical audio enthusiasts. The soundstage is not as wide and deep as we expected but it is faithful to the source without any overemphasis.
Sennheiser HD560S overall bass performance is tight and agile, with impeccable precision. Even so, the deep bass reproduction is light and not as prominent. The highs are extended and bright, it can be quite harsh sounding but it didn’t reach a level of cringe. The mids are very detailed and full-bodied, providing us with natural-sounding vocals and musical instruments. The stereo imaging is equally remarkable, with incredible precision, and is highly defined as well. The Sennheiser HD560S delivers music presentations filled with rich details and would be good for casual listeners too as this might allow you to hear subtleties that you have missed out on.
The Sennheiser HD560S has a neutral and bright overall sound reproduction with amazing accuracy. It sounds flat throughout the frequency range and doesn’t sound dark. It is transparent and insightful, for a headphone with this level of capability and at this price point, the Sennheiser HD560S is truly worth the investment especially for professionals and analytical audio enthusiasts. Bass fanatics on the other hand might not find HD560S appealing. We have gathered enough information and data, with this, we will be able to prepare a list of the best headphone amps to pair with your Sennheiser HD560S open-back headphone.
Sennheiser HD560S Specifications
- Wearing Style: Headband (Over Ear)
- Transducer Principle: Open, Dynamic
- Frequency Response: 6Hz-38kHz (-10dB)
- THD: 0.05%
- Jack Plug: 6.35 mm with 3.5 mm adapter
- Impedance: 120 Ohms
- Weight: 240g (0.53lbs)
Best Amps to pair with Sennheiser HD560S
The Schiit Audio Magnius is one of the best headphone amps to partner with your Sennheiser HD560S as firstly it is more than enough to drive your HD560S with ease. The neutrality of the Magnius is amazing and really suits the characteristics of the Sennheiser HD560S headphone. There are plenty of details been dug up and revealed by this Schiit headphone amp, along with the sonic prowess of the headphone, they will leave no stones unturned. The Schiit Audio Magnius has a slightly faster music pacing which adds a bit more energy into the overall music performance and making it sound more engaging.
Schiit Audio Magnius Balanced Headphone Amp
If you like a warmer sound signature to be added into the overall sound reproduction without compromising the music details then the DarkVoice 336SE is the one for you. It is an OTL headphone amp that will provide a warmish sonic characteristic and a smoother music delivery. The DarkVoice 336SE not only drives your Sennheiser HD560S but also helps to make the music presentation sound more pleasing to the ears. The overall sound reproduction still has plenty of details and you might even want to tube roll so to further fine-tune the sound quality to your liking.
More Details at Amazon – DarkVoice 336SE Tube Amp for Headphones
Not fond of tube headphone amplifiers but would still want a bit more warmth in your music delivery. The iFi Zen DAC will be that excellent amplifier choice to pair with your Sennheiser HD560S. It is a powerful headphone amp with a built-in D/A converter that enables you to play back high-resolution audio files while driving your Sennheiser HD560S efficiently. It is a very highly rated headphone amp that knows how to entertain its listeners with its slight hint of coloration and warmth. The iFi Zen DAC is still capable of producing very detailed music presentations and the True Bass function will provide a tad punchier performance.
More Information at Amazon – iFi Zen DAC
The Schiit Audio Vali 2+ is another amazing tube headphone amplifier to go for and match with the Sennheiser HD560S headphone. The Vali 2+ is capable of presenting its listeners with a transparent and detailed music delivery, there is also a hint of warmth so to ease the edges off a little. This tube headphone amplifier will work really well with the Sennheiser HD560S as it doesn’t just smudge the overall sound reproduction with silky sweetness. Instead, the Schiit Audio Vali 2+ complements and supports the HD560S. Of course, you can also count on tube rolling to tune the sound quality a little.
If you want a powerful built-in D/A converter but don’t wish to invest too much then perhaps the FiiO K5 Pro might interest you. It is a very well-regarded headphone amplifier with AK4493 DAC chips that support up to 32bit/768kHz resolution and you will be able to playback native DSD high-res audio files. The K5 Pro is also powerful enough to drive the Sennheiser HD560S. The sonic characteristics of the FiiO K5 Pro help to add a bit of warmth and smoothness, making the music presentation a tad more pleasing to the ears. The Sennheiser HD560S will provide the transparency and insights needed for a detailed musical delivery.
More Details at Amazon – FiiO K5 Pro AK4493EQ Headphone Amp
For gamers who are looking to gain an edge in competitive gaming, the Schiit Audio Hel 2 will be an exemplary gaming DAC/Headphone amplifier to go with the Sennheiser HD560S. The Schiit Audio Hel 2 uses a high-quality AKM AK4490 D/A converter which also makes it ideal as a desktop amp. It is a versatile headphone amp that is worth your time to check out. Another gaming headphone amplifier you might be interested in will be the Sennheiser GSX 1000. Since both are from the same company, their sound signatures should integrate seamlessly together. The GSX 1000 is a highly accurate and detailed amplifier, it is an excellent choice to match with your Sennheiser HD560S headphone.
More Details at Amazon – Schiit Hel Gaming DAC Headphone Amplifier
More Details at Amazon – Sennheiser GSX 1000 – Gaming DAC and EQ, Headphone Amp
To Conclude
Each headphone amplifier listed here will complement and support the Sennheiser HD560S with its own distinct sonic characteristics. You can select the headphone amp that best suits your requirements or based on your budget. The shortlisted headphone amps should be auditioned so that you can make sure you like their sound quality first before making your final decision. If possible you might want to do a side-by-side comparison of the shortlisted headphone amplifiers as this will help you to determine the difference in sound quality much easier.
