Sennheiser HD560S

Smok3y

Smok3y

Smok3y

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Just purchased some refurbished Sennheiser HD560S headphones from Sennheiser website for the what I thought what bargain price of around £62 (they were/are £79.99 but there's 20% discount code applied when checking out).

Anyway, when I was browsing these forums before buying I saw a video, clicked on it and went to the guys YouTube channel where he has a review of the headphones but suggests that as they are 120ohms you may or may not need some helpdriving them?

Anyone shed any light or advice? They will primarily be used for gaming, YouTube and music listening on PC and console.
 
Smok3y said:
but suggests that as they are 120ohms you may or may not need some helpdriving them?
Click to expand...

Though they have quite high impedance they are quite sensitive headphones so will work fine off lower powered sources, though there are some minor benefits to matching up the output capabilities with the impedance of the headphones, but most people probably wouldn't notice the difference.

Headphone Impedance And Sensitivity Explained | The Master Switch

Confused about headphone impedance and sensitivity? We can help, with our full guide, explaining everything you need to know about this audio topic.
www.themasterswitch.com www.themasterswitch.com

I have the 505s and we have some 560S knocking around somewhere (not mine) and they work fine off the average PC audio output or sound card.
 
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Rroff said:
Though they have quite high impedance they are quite sensitive headphones so will work fine off lower powered sources, though there are some minor benefits to matching up the output capabilities with the impedance of the headphones, but most people probably wouldn't notice the difference.

Headphone Impedance And Sensitivity Explained | The Master Switch

Confused about headphone impedance and sensitivity? We can help, with our full guide, explaining everything you need to know about this audio topic.
www.themasterswitch.com www.themasterswitch.com

I have the 505s and we have some 560S knocking around somewhere (not mine) and they work fine off the average PC audio output or sound card.
Click to expand...

I have seen they sell an add on mic, although it's very rare I use a mic is it worth getting do you know?
 
Smok3y said:
I have seen they sell an add on mic, although it's very rare I use a mic is it worth getting do you know?
Click to expand...

I've not tried it but Sennheiser usually do stuff like that well. I use a BoomPro clone with my 505s though it isn't perfect and can swing around a little in the socket which the official mic won't do.
 
Smok3y said:
Anyone shed any light or advice? They will primarily be used for gaming, YouTube and music listening on PC and console.
Click to expand...

From a console perspective you ideally need a dongle, DAC/AMP, or something. When I had mine they were 'OK' to get sound out of the PS4/5, Xbox controllers, but they are above the 28 ohms rating of the Dualsense. Even something cheap like a Creative SoundBlaster X1 will help them. On PC I suspect there is more chance your PC/Laptop onboard sound will drive them adequately.

That said some people do like on the controller aux port.

Nice price btw.
 
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They arrived today from Germany took 3 days from order. Listening to some Deftone atm, very impressed. Sound a lot clearer than the Arctis 7 I was/am using.

They will be mixed use so hopefully gaming sounds just as good.
 
@Smok3y how are you getting on with them? I had been looking at the Hyper X Cloud or III but like you I don't often need a mic so could get the add on later. Puts it about the same price as the Arctis Nova 5 but I like the idea of a better all round set for music and gaming, less hassle being wired too.
 
They have replaced an old pair of SS Arctis 7 and blown away especially in games like Hunt where I am hearing things I couldn't hear before making it easier to tell where enemies are coming from. I 100% wouldn't go back to a gaming headset. They also work fine on either my Xbox or PS5 pad. Don't know what else say really, everythings just clearer and not muddled or blending in with other sounds. They also sound neutral maybe like nothing too bassy or too much treble but i'm no audiophile either.
 
Nice, my daughter has the Nova 7s but that is way more than I was budgeting for. The RTings review of the Nova 5s did say they have poor left/right balance and that would annoy me, even with my middle age ears :cry:. Think I will go for the HD560s while the offer is on, the mic can wait.
 
Mine came and i'd say like new except the cable wasn't coiled up the best but the headset looks like new same as packaging etc.....
 
I ordered them earlier, looking forward to trying them. I've been using my Sony Pulse 3D headset but it is annoying moving the dongle everytime and the batteries don't last as long as they used to. They do sound good in Elite Dangerous, very easy to track enemy sounds in dog fights, so if they work as well as that I will be happy. 560s be better for music when I'm not gaming at my desk.
 
I been looking at mics today, seems you can get a boom type mic from Ali for around the £10 or less mark. Should do for the odd time I/you may use it. Might get one ordered.
 
Smok3y said:
I been looking at mics today, seems you can get a boom type mic from Ali for around the £10 or less mark. Should do for the odd time I/you may use it. Might get one ordered.
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Check the reviews on them - I got a cheap boom pro style clone and it doesn't stay tight in the socket (a known issue) - while not the end of the world as it doesn't fall out or cause any audio interference it isn't ideal when it moves around freely.
 
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Mine arrived, got them plugged in to test. Nice sound profile but weirdly the Windows balance setting has the left and right reversed. Then to make matters worse, if there is any pressure on the lead/connection on the left cup the speaker on that side cuts out, even if I move my head and the lead rubs my shoulder. Will be sending them back :(.

Edit for update: At least it was a quick and easy return. Only option was refund and it was accepted and returns label/instructions issued within a couple of minutes.
 
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Timber said:
From a console perspective you ideally need a dongle, DAC/AMP, or something. When I had mine they were 'OK' to get sound out of the PS4/5, Xbox controllers, but they are above the 28 ohms rating of the Dualsense. Even something cheap like a Creative SoundBlaster X1 will help them. On PC I suspect there is more chance your PC/Laptop onboard sound will drive them adequately.

That said some people do like on the controller aux port.
Click to expand...

As a complete aside I was answering a question on reddit the other day about the HD 560S and although I don't own them anymore someone was asking about powering them from a Dualsense. I grabbed the HD 58X (because it's about the closest pair I have in terms of Ohms resistance and sensitivity specs) and tried them on the Dualsense. And to be honest they sound fine, like I'm not sure they do need a DAC/AMP just for gaming. Obviously a DAC/AMP will have potential benefits; cleaner MIC, not compressed audio, physical controls for volume etc. I do remember the Dual Shock 4 having lower volume than the Dualsense and maybe that was the reason for my original comments.

They aren't as consistent as something like the PC 38X, but it did sort of highlight why sometimes you have to re-test this stuff.
 
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