Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Sennheiser HD 558 is the better pick: it ranks #87 of 523 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 4.2/5), against #405 (rated 2.9/5) for the Sennheiser HD 515. If you want one new, the Sennheiser HD 550 ranks #8 at $199.95.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 515: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. Watch for: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
The Sennheiser HD 558 is the better-sounding choice. An open back over-ear with a high preference score of 86 and a light 0.6 lbs (260 g) frame. Watch for: Sub bass rolls off early, falling 6 dB below target at 38 Hz, a 5.2 dB peak near 3.1 kHz adds glare, and dips near 10 kHz and 11.5 kHz dull the top treble.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 558 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the Sennheiser HD 550 instead.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural.
eBay
An open back over-ear with a high preference score of 86 and a light 260 g frame.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 515 | Sennheiser HD 558 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $110 Discontinued | $179.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #405 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones | #87 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 120 ohms | 50 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 14Hz - 26kHz | 15Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (255 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 86 (1 squig.link measurement, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.50 dB standard deviation | 2.38 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.81 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.04 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 71 Hz (-10.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-8.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Sensitivity | - | 112 dB |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve combines the independent measurements credited below, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Sennheiser HD 515 from daemonxar; the Sennheiser HD 558 from auricularesargentina, all via squig.link.
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