Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 569, if you are buying new. The Sennheiser HD 579 ranks higher than it (#243 vs #393 of 407 over-ear headphones, 3.4/5 vs 1.6/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Sennheiser HD 569 is still sold new at $129.95.
Why pick 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.
The Sennheiser HD 579 is the better-sounding pick. Its tonal tilt of -0.60 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright. The catch: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 569 if you want one new; the Sennheiser HD 579 is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 569 | Sennheiser HD 579 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.95 | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #393 of 407 in Over-Ear Headphones | #243 of 407 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 28 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 68 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.97 dB standard deviation | 2.94 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -2.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.60 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 23 ohms | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB SPL/V | - |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) | 0.6 lbs (250g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 28kHz |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Sennheiser HD 579:
- Sennheiser HD 550 vs Sennheiser HD 579
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 600
- Sennheiser HD 505 vs Sennheiser HD 579
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 650
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 800
Prices on this page were last checked October 13, 2026 at 3:17 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 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 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs HIFIMAN HE-R9
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Audio-Technica ATH-A990Z
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Logitech G Pro X
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Audio-Technica ATH-G1
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 M
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs AKG K271 MKII
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Sennheiser HD 820
- Sennheiser HD 569 vs Sennheiser HD 515
- See all 17 comparisons
Sennheiser HD 579 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Its tonal tilt of -0.60 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright. It uses 1 x 38mm dynamic.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. Its 2.94 dB spread is less even than the best measured sets.
Full Sennheiser HD 579 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.94 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 50 ohms |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.60 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 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 | +6.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 135 Hz | -4.4 dB | 0.45 |
| Peak | 1,680 Hz | +4.0 dB | 1.08 |
| Peak | 2,973 Hz | -4.4 dB | 4.33 |
| Peak | 33 Hz | +1.0 dB | 3.41 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,202 Hz | +6.7 dB | 2.00 |
| Peak | 5,676 Hz | -3.1 dB | 2.19 |
| Peak | 6,705 Hz | +2.2 dB | 5.29 |
| Peak | 630 Hz | +0.8 dB | 3.85 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 518
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 555
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 598
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 515
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 800
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 820
- Sennheiser HD 579 vs Sennheiser HD 650
- See all 11 comparisons