Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 569, if you are buying new. The Sennheiser HD 558 ranks higher than it (#87 vs #501 of 523 over-ear headphones, 4.2/5 vs 1.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Sennheiser HD 569 is still sold new at $129.95.
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 catch: 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.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 569: A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. The tradeoff: 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 if you want one new; the Sennheiser HD 558 is discontinued, so only look for it used.
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An open back over-ear with a high preference score of 86 and a light 260 g frame.
eBay
A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone.
Amazon $129.95 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 20, 2026 at 10:35 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 558 | Sennheiser HD 569 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 Discontinued | $129.95 |
| Ranked | #87 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones | #501 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (1 squig.link measurement, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.38 dB standard deviation | 3.97 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.04 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-8.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 50 ohms | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
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 569 from elrics, hadoe and listener, all via squig.link.
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