The catch
Sennheiser HD 560S
Music leaks out of open cups, and room noise gets in.
Side by side
Sennheiser HD 560S vs HD 620S Guide: HD 620S has closed cups for a shared room
Quick verdict
HD 620S is the one if you share a room or need closed cups around household noise. HD 560S is the one for a quiet private listening spot where open-back leakage is acceptable. A 1.8 m analog lead comes with both, so the bigger difference is the room each suits.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Sharing a room is a firm limit
When leakage from open cups is a dealbreaker, go with the closed HD 620S. The two are not interchangeable.
Where this comes from
The official construction specs list HD 560S as open and HD 620S as closed.
The catch
Sennheiser HD 620S
Active noise cancellation is not included.
Sennheiser HD 560S
- Why pick it
- You listen on your own in a quiet room.
- Sound leaking from an open back is fine with you.
- The catch
- Music leaks out of open cups, and room noise gets in.
Sennheiser HD 620S
- Why pick it
- Your partner or colleague sits close by.
- A closed wired headphone that needs no charging is what you want.
- The catch
- Active noise cancellation is not included.
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What this page compares
Choosing between HD 560S and HD 620S? See open versus closed listening in a shared room, the cable reach they have in common and the limits of passive noise isolation.
HD 620S is the one if you share a room or need closed cups around household noise. HD 560S is the one for a quiet private listening spot where open-back leakage is acceptable. A 1.8 m analog lead comes with both, so the bigger difference is the room each suits.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
You have someone working beside you
To limit spill, the closed HD 620S is the better place to start.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Caution
- Sennheiser HD 620S
- Better fit
You’re alone in a quiet bedroom
This is the kind of setting HD 560S’s open design calls for.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Better fit
- Sennheiser HD 620S
- Good
On a flight, you want ANC
HD 620S is closed, yet neither model has ANC.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Not suitable
- Sennheiser HD 620S
- Not suitable
The cable run to the output is 2 m
The 1.8 m leads in both packages already fall short before any slack.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Caution
- Sennheiser HD 620S
- Caution
In practice
Differences you will notice
Sharing a room is a firm limit
When leakage from open cups is a dealbreaker, go with the closed HD 620S. The two are not interchangeable.
How we worked this out
The official construction specs list HD 560S as open and HD 620S as closed.
A longer model name gets you no extra cable reach
On a 2 m cable route, each one comes up 0.2 m short.
How we worked this out
Each supplied lead: 2 - 1.8 = 0.2 m.
A closed back is not the same as active noise cancelling
The enclosure on HD 620S is different, but it lacks the battery-powered cancellation system found in a travel ANC headphone.
How we worked this out
There is no ANC system in HD 620S. It is a passive, wired, closed-back design.
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 620S
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 620S
HD 620S
If you cannot offer open-back headphones a quiet room, this closed wired pair is the alternative. Its 1.8 m lead detaches, and there is no wireless connection.
- Best for
- A wired pair for a home office you share
Facts we checked
- Closed-back construction is used for the earcups.
- The detachable 1.8 m cable terminates in 3.5 mm, and a 6.35 mm adapter is supplied.
- Impedance of the driver is 150 ohms.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 560S | Sennheiser HD 620S | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Open-back | Closed-back | Whether using them in a shared room makes sense comes down to this. |
| Supplied cable length | 1.8 m | 1.8 m | Neither adds any reach. |
| Nominal impedance | 120 ohms | 150 ohms | This small difference says nothing about which is louder. |
| Cable attachment | Detachable | Detachable | Either lead is replaceable if damaged. |
| Analog connectors | 3.5 mm and supplied 6.3 mm adapter | 3.5 mm and supplied 6.35 mm adapter | Common headphone outputs work with both. |
| Active noise cancellation | No | No | The isolation HD 620S offers comes from its build and does not rely on ANC. |
| Microphone or Bluetooth | Neither | Neither | Neither works as a wireless headset for work 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 620S
- Without a microphone on the included cable, work calls are out.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You listen on your own in a quiet room.
Go with Sennheiser HD 560S. HD 620S deals with a condition that no EQ or cable change can solve on HD 560S. Closed cups help keep playback in and room sound out, though no passive headphone makes a room disappear.
Your partner or colleague sits close by.
Go with Sennheiser HD 620S. HD 560S is still a sensible open-back choice when nobody nearby needs silence and outside sound is low. Buying closed only because its number is higher ignores that context.
Decision guide
How to decide
Pick HD 620S if you share a room or need closed cups around household noise. Pick HD 560S for a quiet private listening spot where open-back leakage is acceptable. With a 1.8 m analog lead supplied for both, the room is the main difference between them.
The recommendation shifts in a shared room
HD 620S deals with a condition that no EQ or cable change can solve on HD 560S. Closed cups help keep playback in and room sound out, though no passive headphone makes a room disappear.
Use the open design where it is quiet
HD 560S is still a sensible open-back choice when nobody nearby needs silence and outside sound is low. Buying closed only because its number is higher ignores that context.
Your connection plan barely changes
Short detachable analog leads and conventional headphone plugs are used on both. USB-only devices still need the right DAC, and neither gives you a microphone over the stock cable.
What this page can’t tell you
- This comparison has no measured amount of isolation.
- Weight is left out, since the sources give no clean common basis for this pair.
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 620S |
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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
You listen on your own in a quiet room.
See price & reviews on AmazonSennheiser HD 620S
Your partner or colleague sits close by.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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