Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 650, if you are buying new. The Sennheiser HD 558 ranks higher than it (#87 vs #102 of 523 over-ear headphones, 4.2/5 vs 4.1/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Sennheiser HD 650 is still sold new at $330.
What the Sennheiser HD 558 does well: 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.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 650: A preference score of 84 and a warm tilt of minus 0.27 give a relaxed, smooth sound, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz, mids and presence all within about 0.6 dB of target. Watch for: Sub-bass is about 7 dB under target and the 6 to 10 kHz treble is nearly 5 dB low, with a 9 dB dip near 9.3 kHz, so cymbals and air sound dull and rumble is missing.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 650 new; the Sennheiser HD 558 is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
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.
eBay
A preference score of 84 and a warm tilt of minus 0.27 give a relaxed, smooth sound, with bass from 60 to 200 Hz, mids and presence all within about 0.6 dB of target.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 558 | Sennheiser HD 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $179.99 Discontinued | $330.00 |
| Ranked | #87 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones | #102 of 523 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (1 squig.link measurement, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 84 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.38 dB standard deviation | 2.10 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.04 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.27 (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 40 Hz (-7.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 50 ohms | 300 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB | 103 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 41kHz (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 650 from auricularesargentina, cammyfi, capraaudio, hadoe, kuulokenurkka, listener and sai, all via squig.link.
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