Professional but not po-faced, the Sennheiser HD 560S strike a clever balance between analysis and enjoyment.

The 560s at their current price is an incredible value. To get comparable sound out of speakers, you’d have to spend far more than $200 on room treatment alone. Speakers that cost exponentially more than $200 will not sound as accurate as these headphones. Personally, I’d take these over the currently more expensive Sennheiser HD 650 / HD 6XX because of the more elaborate soundstage and more articulate frequency response. The HD 650 has an undoubtedly more subdued/laid-back sound so it’s easy to imagine someone preferring those for casual listening.

Sennheiser made a near perfect pair of studio monitors with the HD 560S. Flat bass response? Check. Neutral and uncolored midrange? Check. Extended treble with a bit of lower-treble emphasis to highlight mastering flaws? Check. Fairly easy to drive? Check. Good soundstage and imaging? Check, and check. The only real issue is that the retail price of the HD 560S is too close to the venerable HD 650 (especially the HD 6XX version), and it’s hard to ignore such a giant looming shadow.

The Sennheiser HD 560S offer an even and analytical listen, they’re just missing an extra ounce of energy and fun

The Sennheiser HD 560S is a rock-solid choice if you're aiming to grab a set of headphones that live by the computer but don't break the bank. They're not going to make you forget about ultra high-end headphones, but they offer extremely good performance for the price at the tradeoff of build materials being a little cheaper.

While they're slightly lacking in low-bass, most mixes should still have adequate body and warmth. Vocals and lead instruments are present, detailed, and clear in the mix, and audio is delivered with impressive consistency. They have a decently immersive soundstage, too.

The Sennheiser HD 560S is a set of open, passive headphones that are in a price range that has long been crowded with wireless options. Convenient, yes, but the sound is far from what you get here. In fact, the HD 560S sounds better than any wireless headphone I can think of – regardless of price range.