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 #504 (rated 1.6/5) for the Sennheiser HD 559. If you want one new, the Sennheiser HD 550 ranks #8 at $199.95.
The Sennheiser HD 558 is the better-sounding pick. An open back over-ear with a high preference score of 86 and a light 0.6 lbs (260 g) frame. The tradeoff: 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.
What the Sennheiser HD 559 does well: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. Watch for: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
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.
An open back over-ear with a high preference score of 86 and a light 260 g frame.
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Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 558 | Sennheiser HD 559 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 Discontinued | $149.95 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #87 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones | #504 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (1 squig.link measurement, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 27 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.38 dB standard deviation | 4.40 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.04 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-8.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 50 ohms | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB | - |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) | 9.9 oz |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 14Hz - 26kHz |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
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 558 from auricularesargentina; the Sennheiser HD 559 from boizoff, all via squig.link.
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