Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 569, if you are buying new, though neither ranks well in its class. The Sennheiser HD 515 ranks higher than it (#318 vs #403 of 417 over-ear headphones, 2.9/5 vs 1.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Sennheiser HD 569 is still sold new at $129.95. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 417 over-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Dan Clark Audio E3 instead, ranked #1 at $2,299.
The Sennheiser HD 515 is the better-sounding choice. Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. The tradeoff: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 569: A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. Watch for: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 5 dB low and presence is down 4 dB, with an 11.7 dB dip near 10 kHz, so the sound is dull and veiled.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 569, since the Sennheiser HD 515 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 515 | Sennheiser HD 569 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | $129.95 |
| Ranked | #318 of 417 in Over-Ear Headphones | #403 of 417 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 120 ohms | 23 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 14Hz - 26kHz | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.50 dB standard deviation | 3.97 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.81 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 71 Hz (-10.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Sensitivity | - | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | - | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
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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 |
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Sennheiser HD 569: $129.95 Amazon $129.95 eBay
Same family: the Sennheiser HD 599 (higher-end model, ranked higher, rated 3.6/5).
Pros: A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. A 23 ohm impedance and 115 dB sensitivity make it very easy to drive from a phone. A bass lift of about 5 dB suits listeners who prefer a warm, bassy sound.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 5 dB low and presence is down 4 dB, with an 11.7 dB dip near 10 kHz, so the sound is dull and veiled. The warm tilt and bass emphasis can make mixes sound heavy. At 300 g, wired only, it is rated below the Logitech G Pro X and the Jabra Evolve 40.
Full Sennheiser HD 569 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.97 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 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 | -0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 79 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.60 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 4,676 Hz | +3.2 dB | 5.65 |
| Peak | 818 Hz | -1.9 dB | 1.41 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 280 Hz | +1.7 dB | 2.28 |
| Peak | 2,195 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 3,255 Hz | -3.5 dB | 4.88 |
| Peak | 154 Hz | -1.1 dB | 2.14 |
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