5 Years with the Sennheiser HD 560S: Would I Still Buy Them Today?
Quick Overview
- Product: Sennheiser HD 560S
- Purchased: February 2021, Sennheiser UK
- Price: £150
- Main Uses: Gaming, music, work, podcasts
- Setup: Creative Sound Blaster X3 DAC/amp
- Ownership Period: 5 years
- Would I buy again? Yes
I don't consider myself an audiophile. I simply enjoy good audio and wanted a pair of headphones that I could use every day for gaming, music, YouTube, and general work. Five years later, I'm still using the same pair.
For those who are unfamiliar with this brand, Sennheiser is a German audio company with a long history of producing professional and consumer audio products, from microphones to headphones. The HD 560S sits within their enthusiast headphone range, offering an accessible entry point for people looking for detailed, open-back audio without moving into the high-end price range.
This isn't a technical review. I don't have knowledge of frequency response graphs or measurements so I cannot comment on the accuracy of the sound. This is simply my experience living with the HD 560S for the last few years.
When I was shopping for headphones, I wanted something that delivered great sound without breaking the bank. The HD 560S stood out as a the best option for my needs, with excellent value for the money. After watching several reviews and first impressions from tech YouTubers, I was convinced enough to give them a try. At the time, in February 2021, I paid around £150, and looking back, it's still one of the best tech purchases I've made.
My Daily Usage
The HD 560S has become my main pair of headphones. They have become part of my everyday workflow, whether I'm concentrating on work, jumping into a gaming session, or simply listening to music or podcasts in the background.
For the audio setup, I paired the HD 560s with the Creative Sound Blaster X3 DAC/amp. While the headphones can be plugged directly into a PC, I personally found using dedicated DAC provided a noticeably better listening experience.
Five Years Later: Audio Quality & Build Quality
After five years of daily use, I still enjoy wearing my HD 560s.
The clarity is still there. Music continues to sound detailed and balanced, with clear separation between instruments and vocals. The open-back design continues to be one of my favourite aspects. I still notice small details in games, that are easier to miss with some of the other headphones I have used.
Being able to pick up directional audio cues, rather than artificially enhanced.
The build quality has also impressed me. These pair of headphones survived many drops, constant wear, and countless hours of use. They now have some scratches and clear signs of ageing, but they continue to work exactly as they did when I first bought them.
The velour ear pads have softened over time. In hindsight, I should have probaly replaced them sooner.
What Suprised me
My first experience with open-back headphones was genuinely surprising. Compared to the closed-back headphones I had previously owned, everything sounded much more open and spacious. It became easier to pick out instruments, voices, footsteps, and other directional audio cues in competitive FPS games.
I wear glasses, and comfort has never been an issue. The velour ear pads remain comfortable, even during long sessions, which was one of the reasons I chose them in the first place - coming from leather headphones.
Five years later, these impressions haven't really changed. I still appreciate the clarity and balanced sound every time I put them on
Things I like
Balanced sound profile. Wide and natural soundstage. Clear separation between instruments and vocals. Easy to identify footsteps. Comfortable enough for all-day use, even while wearing glasses. Lightweight design. Great value for money. Replacement ear pads are readily available.
Things I don't like
The velour ear pads tend to attract dust and lint, so they need cleaning every so often. The included cable was much longer than I needed for my desk setup, so I replaced it with a coiled cable.
Another small annoyance is the 2.5 mm locking connector on the headphones themselves. It meant I couldn't simply reuse the standard 3.5 mm cables I already owned, again this is me being picky.
Would I Still Recommend Them?
Absolutely.
Even after five years of daily use, the HD 560S have been reliable, comfortable, and consistently enjoyable to use for everything from music and gaming to everyday work.
If you're looking for a pair of open-back headphones in the sub-£200 price range, I still think they're an excellent choice.