The catch
Sennheiser HD 560S
Music leaks out of open cups, and room noise gets in.
Side by side
Sennheiser HD 560S vs HD 600 Guide: Both leak into the room, HD 600 reaches farther
Quick verdict
HD 560S is the one for a desk source close by and a short 3.5 mm connection. HD 600 fits better when its included 3 m lead is the one that reaches a home hi-fi setup. Both are open-back, so neither solves the problem of a noisy room or listening privately next to someone else.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Cable reach goes up 67% with HD 600
The lead supplied with it is 1.2 m longer than in the current HD 560S package.
Where this comes from
HD 560S supplies 1.8 m and HD 600 supplies a 3 m lead. (3 - 1.8) / 1.8 × 100 = 66.7% more supplied reach.
The catch
Sennheiser HD 600
Conversations and household noise will still reach you.
Sennheiser HD 560S
- Why pick it
- Your headphone output is right beside you.
- You like the supplied 1.8 m cable better.
- The catch
- Music leaks out of open cups, and room noise gets in.
Sennheiser HD 600
- Why pick it
- A 3 m supplied lead is required.
- The chair is farther from your headphone amp.
- The catch
- Conversations and household noise will still reach you.
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What this page compares
Sennheiser HD 560S and HD 600 compared on cable reach, connectors and quiet-room requirements, plus why a higher impedance is not a verdict on what to buy.
HD 560S is the one for a desk source close by and a short 3.5 mm connection. HD 600 fits better when its included 3 m lead is the one that reaches a home hi-fi setup. Both are open-back, so neither solves the problem of a noisy room or listening privately next to someone else.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
A small desk, with the output at arm’s reach
Less surplus cable comes with HD 560S.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Better fit
- Sennheiser HD 600
- Good
A hi-fi amp roughly 2 m from your chair
The HD 560S 1.8 m lead falls short even before routing slack.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Caution
- Sennheiser HD 600
- Better fit
A room shared with a partner who is asleep
Playback escapes from the open cups on both.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Not suitable
- Sennheiser HD 600
- Not suitable
You want a headphone with no recharging
Passive wired designs are what both are.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Similar
- Sennheiser HD 600
- Similar
In practice
Differences you will notice
Cable reach goes up 67% with HD 600
The lead supplied with it is 1.2 m longer than in the current HD 560S package.
How we worked this out
HD 560S supplies 1.8 m and HD 600 supplies a 3 m lead. (3 - 1.8) / 1.8 × 100 = 66.7% more supplied reach.
A source two meters away sets them apart
A measured 2 m route is more than a 1.8 m lead can cover. With a 3 m lead, 1 m remains before any extra routing slack is accounted for.
How we worked this out
The shortfall is 2 - 1.8 = 0.2 m, and what remains is 3 - 2 = 1 m. Distance must follow the actual cable route.
A higher impedance does not score quality
The nominal impedance of HD 600 is 2.5 times higher, but that does not establish a better result with your source.
How we worked this out
300 / 120 = 2.5. An electrical comparison also requires sensitivity and source output.
Plug in your setup
Which headphones suit the way you listen?
Start with how you listen. Charging over USB is not the same as playing audio over USB, and some headphones need power even on a cable. These answers are placeholders until you apply your own.
Sennheiser HD 560S
Fails these checksThis model cannot play over Bluetooth.
Sennheiser HD 600
Fails these checksThis model cannot play over Bluetooth.
Battery figures are maker claims for the stated mode. They do not reflect measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age all change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak some sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not judge sound quality, mic quality or amplifier power.
Option A
Sennheiser, HD 560S
HD 560S
An open, wired pair meant for a quiet desk, with a 3.5 mm plug and a cable you can replace. Leave it at home if other people sit nearby.
- Best for
- Quiet-desk listening with nothing to charge
Facts we checked
- A 1.8 m cable and a 6.3 mm adapter are what the current US package lists.
- A 120-ohm dynamic driver is what the manufacturer specifies.
- Open-back is the design of the earcups.
Option B
Sennheiser, HD 600
HD 600
A wired open-back pair for a listening spot that stays put. Its 3 m cable stretches to a nearby hi-fi system, so the amp does not have to sit on your lap.
- Best for
- Sitting quietly in a chair close to a headphone amp
Facts we checked
- Without a battery or wireless radio, the manufacturer lists 260 g.
- A detachable cable of 3 m is supplied.
- A rating of 300 ohms applies to the dynamic open-back driver.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 560S | Sennheiser HD 600 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplied cable length | 1.8 m | 3 m | Reach grows by 1.2 m with HD 600. |
| Nominal impedance | 120 ohms | 300 ohms | Loudness is not compared directly by the ratio. |
| Cup construction | Open-back | Open-back | Tolerance for sound leakage is required with both. |
| Audio connection | Analog, with 3.5 and 6.3 mm compatibility | Analog, with 3.5 and 6.3 mm compatibility | Each needs a headphone output and not a USB charging port. |
| Cable attachment | Detachable | Detachable | A damaged audio lead can be replaced on both. |
| Battery or wireless connection | Neither | Neither | Neither needs a charge, and neither makes wireless calls. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Sennheiser HD 560S
- If your phone only has USB, you need a separate headphone adapter.
With Sennheiser HD 600
- 300 ohms is not a sound-quality rating, so check what your source can output.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Your headphone output is right beside you.
Go with Sennheiser HD 560S. If the source is close, HD 560S is the simple desk option. The current US package lists 1.8 m, so old listings that show another cable length are worth checking.
A 3 m supplied lead is required.
Go with Sennheiser HD 600. From a listening chair, HD 600 can reach a nearby amplifier with no extension, which the HD 560S package might need. Measure the path the cable will run around furniture, and ignore the straight gap.
Decision guide
How to decide
For a nearby desk source and a short 3.5 mm connection, go with HD 560S. When the included 3 m lead has to reach a home hi-fi setup, go with HD 600. Both are open-back, which means neither fixes a noisy room or private listening beside someone else.
Take the shorter lead if it reaches
If the source is close, HD 560S is the simple desk option. The current US package lists 1.8 m, so old listings that show another cable length are worth checking.
More reach can alter the whole setup
From a listening chair, HD 600 can reach a nearby amplifier with no extension, which the HD 560S package might need. Measure the path the cable will run around furniture, and ignore the straight gap.
Open-back is no fix for noise from outside
The room gets into what you hear with both. If household noise is why you want to replace your current headphone, a closed model is what addresses the constraint that matters.
What this page can’t tell you
- Because current and older published figures disagree, HD 560S weight is left out.
- Nothing here says one tuning is better for everyone.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the headphones we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
21 of the 60 models checked meet every need here: “I want music even with a dead battery”, “I connect to a headphone jack”, and “I do not want something else to charge”.
21 models fit, out of 60 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I want music even with a dead battery”, “I connect to a headphone jack”, and “I do not want something else to charge”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser HD 560S |
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| Sennheiser HD 600 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Sennheiser HD 560S
Your headphone output is right beside you.
See price & reviews on AmazonSennheiser HD 600
A 3 m supplied lead is required.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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