Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Sennheiser HD 598 is the better pick: it ranks #193 of 417 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 3.6/5), against #318 (rated 2.9/5) for the Sennheiser HD 515. If you want one new, the Dan Clark Audio E3 ranks #1 at $2,299.
What the Sennheiser HD 515 does well: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. The tradeoff: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
The Sennheiser HD 598 is the better-sounding option. Measured response gives it a solid Harman preference score of 73 with a 2.69 dB spread. The catch: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 598 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.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 515 | Sennheiser HD 598 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #318 of 417 in Over-Ear Headphones | #193 of 417 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 | 12Hz - 38.5kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.50 dB standard deviation | 2.69 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.81 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.49 (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 40 Hz (-8.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Sensitivity | - | 112 dB/Vrms |
| Weight | - | 0.6 lbs (270 g) |
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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 598 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Measured response gives it a solid Harman preference score of 73 with a 2.69 dB spread.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. Sub-bass is 8.2 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble. Treble sits about 4.2 dB low, so it sounds a little dark.
Full Sennheiser HD 598 review and specifications →
| Released | 2010 (16 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.69 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 38.5kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-8.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.49 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (270 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 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 | +6.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 133 Hz | -4.1 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 9,039 Hz | +5.9 dB | 1.59 |
| Peak | 1,721 Hz | +3.6 dB | 1.95 |
| Peak | 5,447 Hz | -3.8 dB | 4.67 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,293 Hz | -2.1 dB | 5.08 |
| Peak | 66 Hz | -0.8 dB | 2.52 |
| Peak | 728 Hz | +1.5 dB | 5.53 |
| Peak | 98 Hz | +1.1 dB | 4.37 |
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