Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 560S. It ranks #7 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $199.95; the HIFIMAN Edition XS ranks #14, rated 4.4/5, and costs $209, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sennheiser HD 560S does well: It scores 93 on the Harman preference model, with the midrange and presence region (200 Hz to 6 kHz) within about 0.2 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound very natural. The catch: Bass is lean, with sub-bass about 5 dB under target and 60 to 200 Hz about 1.2 dB under, which can sound thin on pop, hip hop and electronic music.
What the HIFIMAN Edition XS does well: A preference score of 90 with a nearly flat tilt shows a well balanced tuning, and bass from 60 to 200 Hz is only about 1 dB above target. The catch: A 6 dB dip near 9.4 kHz sits next to a roughly 9 dB peak at 11.9 kHz, and the air band runs about 5.5 dB above target, so the top end can sound uneven and sharp on bright recordings.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 560S. It is rated higher for sound quality than the HIFIMAN Edition XS and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 560S | HIFIMAN Edition XS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $209.00 |
| Ranked | #7 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #14 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 93 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 90 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.58 dB standard deviation | 1.83 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 120 ohms | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL (1 kHz, 1 V) | 92 dB |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) | 0.9 lbs (405 g) |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 38kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sennheiser HD 560S:
- HIFIMAN Ananda Nano vs Sennheiser HD 560S
- Philips Fidelio X2HR vs Sennheiser HD 560S
- Sennheiser HD 550 vs Sennheiser HD 560S
- Sennheiser HD 560S vs Sennheiser HD 505
- Sennheiser HD 550 vs HIFIMAN Edition XS
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 560S: $199.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: It scores 93 on the Harman preference model, with the midrange and presence region (200 Hz to 6 kHz) within about 0.2 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound very natural. At 240 g it is the lightest of the top group, and the open design gives a wide soundstage. Its 120 ohm impedance is still manageable from most modern sources.
Cons: Bass is lean, with sub-bass about 5 dB under target and 60 to 200 Hz about 1.2 dB under, which can sound thin on pop, hip hop and electronic music. Treble is also pulled back, with a deep 8.5 dB dip near 9.8 kHz that softens cymbals and sibilance. The open back leaks sound and provides no isolation.
Full Sennheiser HD 560S review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.58 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 38kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 93 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 120 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL (1 kHz, 1 V) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.6 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 | +9.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,983 Hz | +4.4 dB | 2.63 |
| Peak | 54 Hz | -5.4 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 1,148 Hz | -1.5 dB | 2.38 |
| Peak | 491 Hz | +0.6 dB | 1.23 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,451 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.91 |
| Peak | 4,502 Hz | -1.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,937 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.93 |
| Peak | 5,639 Hz | -0.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
HIFIMAN Edition XS: $209.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 90 with a nearly flat tilt shows a well balanced tuning, and bass from 60 to 200 Hz is only about 1 dB above target. Presence and treble stay within about 1 dB of target, which keeps vocals and guitars clear. The planar drivers are 18 ohms and 92 dB, so it works with most amplifiers, and its rating matches the Sennheiser HD 600 and Austrian Audio Hi-X60.
Cons: A 6 dB dip near 9.4 kHz sits next to a roughly 9 dB peak at 11.9 kHz, and the air band runs about 5.5 dB above target, so the top end can sound uneven and sharp on bright recordings. Sub-bass is about 3 dB light under 60 Hz, which trims deep rumble. The open back leaks sound and gives no isolation, and at 405 g it is not especially light.
Full HIFIMAN Edition XS review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.83 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 90 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 92 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (405 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.8 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 | +5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 87 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.33 |
| Peak | 1,896 Hz | +4.0 dB | 1.92 |
| Peak | 2,896 Hz | -3.7 dB | 3.11 |
| Peak | 1,420 Hz | +1.3 dB | 3.89 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,585 Hz | +1.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 70 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.12 |
| Peak | 111 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.64 |
| Peak | 927 Hz | -0.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons