There’s a version of home listening where you put on closed-back headphones and the sound is technically fine. And there’s another version where you put on open-backs and the music feels like it’s happening in the room with you. The Sennheiser HD 560S belongs firmly in the second category.
Open-back headphones bleed sound in both directions - not ideal for commuting or shared offices - but at home, they offer something closed-backs struggle to replicate: a wide, natural soundstage where instruments exist in space rather than collapsing into a point between your ears. The HD 560S achieves this with Sennheiser’s transducer technology tuned to their “natural” target curve: extended, accurate treble without harshness, controlled bass that doesn’t bloom, and mids that let voices and acoustic instruments render clearly.
The 120-ohm impedance means you’ll get more from a dedicated headphone amplifier or a DAC with a decent output stage, though they’re driveable from a laptop or phone at lower volumes. The build is utilitarian - matte plastic, fabric headband, oval ear cups - but nothing feels fragile. The cable detaches on both sides using a standard 2.5mm connector, making replacement cheap and straightforward.
At £129, the HD 560S sits at an interesting price: above the enthusiast entry point where quality becomes inconsistent, but well below the tier where diminishing returns starts in earnest. If you listen to music seriously at home and haven’t tried open-backs, this is the pair to start with.