Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 569, if you are buying new, though neither ranks well in its class. The Sennheiser HD 559 measures as well as it (#411 vs #406 of 429 over-ear headphones, 1.6/5 vs 1.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Sennheiser HD 569 is still sold new at $129.95. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 429 over-ear headphones, and the Dan Clark Audio E3, ranked #1 at $2,299, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 559: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. Watch for: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 569: A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. Watch for: 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, since the Sennheiser HD 559 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 559 | Sennheiser HD 569 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | $129.95 |
| Ranked | #411 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones | #406 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 50 ohms | 23 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 14Hz - 26kHz | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 9.9 oz | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 27 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.40 dB standard deviation | 3.97 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Sensitivity | - | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
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- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Sennheiser HD 800
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 559 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. It uses 1 x 38mm dynamic.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. Presence sits about 3 dB low with a 14.7 dB dip near 9.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite. Sub-bass is 5.7 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble. A Harman score of 27 places it in the lower part of the over-ear rankings.
Full Sennheiser HD 559 review and specifications →
| Released | 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.40 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 14Hz - 26kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 27 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 50 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 9.9 oz |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.1 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 | +16.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 57 Hz | -15.5 dB | 0.29 |
| Peak | 8,586 Hz | +6.4 dB | 1.38 |
| Peak | 1,333 Hz | +5.9 dB | 1.86 |
| Peak | 1,855 Hz | +4.2 dB | 3.75 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,971 Hz | -3.3 dB | 4.77 |
| Peak | 3,736 Hz | +2.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,108 Hz | -1.3 dB | 5.23 |
| Peak | 2,286 Hz | +1.1 dB | 5.82 |
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Sennheiser HD 569: $129.95 Amazon $129.95 eBay
Same family: the Sennheiser HD 599 (higher-end model, ranked higher, rated 3.6/5).
Pros: A wired closed-back headphone with a built-in microphone. A 23 ohm impedance and 115 dB sensitivity make it very easy to drive from a phone. A bass lift of about 5 dB suits listeners who prefer a warm, bassy sound.
Cons: 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. The warm tilt and bass emphasis can make mixes sound heavy. At 300 g, wired only, it is rated below the Logitech G Pro X and the Jabra Evolve 40.
Full Sennheiser HD 569 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.97 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 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 | -0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 79 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.60 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 4,676 Hz | +3.2 dB | 5.65 |
| Peak | 818 Hz | -1.9 dB | 1.41 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 280 Hz | +1.7 dB | 2.28 |
| Peak | 2,195 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 3,255 Hz | -3.5 dB | 4.88 |
| Peak | 154 Hz | -1.1 dB | 2.14 |
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