Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used, though neither ranks well in its class. Used, the Sennheiser HD 515 is the better pick: it ranks #318 of 429 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 2.9/5), against #411 (rated 1.6/5) for the Sennheiser HD 559. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 429 over-ear headphones, and the Dan Clark Audio E3, ranked #1 at $2,299, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The Sennheiser HD 515 is the better-sounding choice. 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 case for the Sennheiser HD 559: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. The catch: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 515 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 Dan Clark Audio E3 instead.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 515 | Sennheiser HD 559 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #318 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones | #411 of 429 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 | 14Hz - 26kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 27 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.50 dB standard deviation | 4.40 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.81 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.07 (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 28 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Weight | - | 9.9 oz |
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 515 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. An 8.7 dB peak near 3.2 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp. Sub-bass is 10.7 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble. A Harman score of 58 places it in the lower part of the over-ear rankings.
Full Sennheiser HD 515 review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.50 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 14Hz - 26kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 120 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 71 Hz (-10.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.81 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,274 Hz | +11.9 dB | 1.20 |
| Peak | 3,125 Hz | -15.5 dB | 1.54 |
| Peak | 8,856 Hz | +4.8 dB | 2.40 |
| Peak | 262 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.78 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,176 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.51 |
| Peak | 1,588 Hz | +1.5 dB | 3.80 |
| Peak | 75 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.86 |
| Peak | 5,360 Hz | -1.2 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Sennheiser HD 559 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. It uses 1 x 38mm dynamic.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. Presence sits about 3 dB low with a 14.7 dB dip near 9.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite. Sub-bass is 5.7 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble. A Harman score of 27 places it in the lower part of the over-ear rankings.
Full Sennheiser HD 559 review and specifications →
| Released | 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.40 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 14Hz - 26kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 27 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 50 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 9.9 oz |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +16.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -15.5 dB | 0.29 |
| Peak | 8,586 Hz | +6.4 dB | 1.38 |
| Peak | 1,333 Hz | +5.9 dB | 1.86 |
| Peak | 1,855 Hz | +4.2 dB | 3.75 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,971 Hz | -3.3 dB | 4.77 |
| Peak | 3,736 Hz | +2.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,108 Hz | -1.3 dB | 5.23 |
| Peak | 2,286 Hz | +1.1 dB | 5.82 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- Sennheiser HD 559 vs Sennheiser HD 555
- Sennheiser HD 559 vs Sennheiser HD 598
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- Sennheiser HD 559 vs Sennheiser HD 800
- See all 12 comparisons