Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 600. It ranks #15 of 523 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 4.4/5) at $284.99 and is still sold new; the Sennheiser HD 558 ranks #87 (rated 4.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 558: 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.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 600: It earns a preference score of 91, with the midrange from 200 Hz to 6 kHz within about 0.1 dB of target, giving vocals and acoustic instruments a very natural tone. Watch for: Sub-bass is about 7.9 dB below target, so bass lacks rumble and weight on electronic and hip hop tracks.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 600. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Sennheiser HD 558 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
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An open back over-ear with a high preference score of 86 and a light 260 g frame.
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It earns a preference score of 91, with the midrange from 200 Hz to 6 kHz within about 0.1 dB of target, giving vocals and acoustic instruments a very natural tone.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 558 | Sennheiser HD 600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 Discontinued | $284.99 |
| Ranked | #87 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones | #15 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (1 squig.link measurement, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 91 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.38 dB standard deviation | 1.88 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.04 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.02 (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 42 Hz (-8.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 50 ohms | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB | 97 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 12Hz - 40.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 42mm 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 600 from aden, auricularesargentina, boizoff, cammyfi, daemonxar, dl, elrics, kr0mka, kuulokenurkka, listener, ragnarok, sai, superreview, suporsalad and therollo9, all via squig.link.
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