Short answer: a tie on sound quality. Both are rated 4.5/5 (#6 and #7 of 216 over-ear headphones) at nearly the same price ($199.95 vs $199.95), so choose on features and fit.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 550: A preference score of 94 in oratory1990’s measurement, with only 1.63 dB of deviation and an almost perfectly neutral tilt, means voices, instruments and mixes sound natural and accurate. The tradeoff: Sub-bass averages 6 dB below target and falls 6 dB under by 34 Hz, so deep electronic bass and organ notes lack rumble.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 560S: It scores 93 on the Harman preference model, with the midrange and presence region (200 Hz to 6 kHz) within about 0.2 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound very natural. The catch: Bass is lean, with sub-bass about 5 dB under target and 60 to 200 Hz about 1.2 dB under, which can sound thin on pop, hip hop and electronic music.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 550 or the Sennheiser HD 560S on features: they are rated the same for sound quality at close to the same price.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 550 | Sennheiser HD 560S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $199.95 |
| Ranked | #6 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #7 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 94 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 93 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.63 dB standard deviation | 1.58 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 150 ohms | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106.7 dB/mW | 110 dB SPL (1 kHz, 1 V) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (237 g) | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 6Hz - 38kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 550: $199.95 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: A preference score of 94 in oratory1990’s measurement, with only 1.63 dB of deviation and an almost perfectly neutral tilt, means voices, instruments and mixes sound natural and accurate. Midrange and presence stay within about 1 dB of target, so vocals are clear without any harshness. At 237 g it is light, and 106.7 dB/mW sensitivity lets it reach normal levels from most sources despite its 150 ohm impedance.
Cons: Sub-bass averages 6 dB below target and falls 6 dB under by 34 Hz, so deep electronic bass and organ notes lack rumble. A 5.9 dB dip near 9.5 kHz slightly softens cymbal shimmer, and the open back leaks sound and offers no isolation. The Philips Fidelio X2HR earns the same rating for less money.
Full Sennheiser HD 550 review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.63 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 39.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 94 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 150 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106.7 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (237 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 | +8.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 67 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.34 |
| Peak | 9,968 Hz | +3.2 dB | 1.23 |
| Peak | 1,280 Hz | -2.1 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 2,040 Hz | +2.2 dB | 1.90 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,135 Hz | +2.3 dB | 5.98 |
| Peak | 5,001 Hz | -1.7 dB | 5.47 |
| Peak | 56 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.46 |
| Peak | 83 Hz | +0.6 dB | 3.02 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Sennheiser HD 560S: $199.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: It scores 93 on the Harman preference model, with the midrange and presence region (200 Hz to 6 kHz) within about 0.2 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound very natural. At 240 g it is the lightest of the top group, and the open design gives a wide soundstage. Its 120 ohm impedance is still manageable from most modern sources.
Cons: Bass is lean, with sub-bass about 5 dB under target and 60 to 200 Hz about 1.2 dB under, which can sound thin on pop, hip hop and electronic music. Treble is also pulled back, with a deep 8.5 dB dip near 9.8 kHz that softens cymbals and sibilance. The open back leaks sound and provides no isolation.
Full Sennheiser HD 560S review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.58 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 38kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 93 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL (1 kHz, 1 V) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.6 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 | +9.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,983 Hz | +4.4 dB | 2.63 |
| Peak | 54 Hz | -5.4 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 1,148 Hz | -1.5 dB | 2.38 |
| Peak | 491 Hz | +0.6 dB | 1.23 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,451 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.91 |
| Peak | 4,502 Hz | -1.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,937 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.93 |
| Peak | 5,639 Hz | -0.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons