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Greetings mate, and Welcome aboard! Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music (NOT gear), all over again, so…
This article will cover and house all Sennheiser HD500 series impressions and research that I’ve compiled over the years!
We’ll begin by discussing the general sound quality of the 500 series and then go into specifics for each comparison.
We’ll also cover genre, gaming, and amplification needs.
By the end,
you should know exactly how these will sound and which one is most worth a purchase.
I will be frequently returning to it as I update impressions and/or add headphones.
These include the HD555, 515, and 590, as well as the newer HD559, 569, 579, etc.
There are almost too many to keep up with at this point, but this guide will attempt to cover all bases.
With that, let’s get rolling!
Table of Contents
General Sound of the 500 Series
Genre
Gaming, Soundstage, & Comfort
Build
Amplification
HD518 vs. 558
HD595 vs. 598
HD558 vs. 598
HD598 vs. 599
HD560S
Final Word + Q&A
General Sound of the 500 Series
After owning, demoing, and researching various HD500 models dating back to 2014, I can tell you with confidence that the sound differences between them are quite marginal.
It mostly comes down to some minor cosmetic disparities and subtle comfort changes.
Aside from that, the sound signatures are very very similar (at least as far as the ones we’re going to discuss).
There are some weird caveats though.
For instance, the HD559 looks to have a much more pronounced mid-bass rise (similar to the older HD518) which probably won’t sound that good per my own experience in headphones with similar-looking specs.
The Koss Porta Pro is an example of a headphone that has a similar rise in the same regions and one that I ultimately don’t think is ideal.
With most 500 models,
you’re getting a supremely relaxed sound, with fairly significant sub-bass roll-off, a present mid-bass rise (albeit more tastefully done on some of the older iterations), an ultra-flat mid-range with a bit of emphasis in the presence region, and a bright-ish treble.
The treble on these is in no way dark as with the HD600/650, etc., but it’s also not overly bright or essy.
It kind of sits in the middle, but may not sound as refined as some higher-tiered headphones.
With the 500 series, you’ll want to kick back and relax over extended listening sessions due to their almost impeccable comfort levels and overall non-fatiguing sound.
Genre
They work best with lighter genres such as Jazz, Classical, Folk, Acoustic, and generally more laid-back music.
You will also find that while they can and will work with harder genres, you won’t want to push the volume too much.
They simply won’t respond well and may even introduce some subtle distortion and transient issues.
This is also apparent in AKG’s K600/700 series.
In other words,
these aren’t headphones you’ll really want to bang your head with as they perform much better at lower volumes (Metal Homies I’M LOOKIN’ AT YOU!!)
The bass will have trouble keeping up, and the treble will start to sound fuzzy and weird.
This was apparent to me when demoing the HD 598 specifically.
Gaming, Soundstage, & Comfort
However, if you’re a gamer and/or watch a lot of film, you may want to stop everything and purchase a pair of 598s, 599s, or 560s’.
The reasons are twofold:
Comfort
One of the main reasons these headphones remain relevant after many years is their comfort factor.
Out of the 130+ headphones that I’ve demoed at the time of this writing, the 500 series is certainly in the top 3 most comfortable ever.
It may even be #1.
You won’t need to adjust or even take them off for any reason outside of bathroom breaks, to make food, or to, you know, go to sleep.
Who does that anymore?
The clamping force is just about perfect, and the headphones don’t dig into the top of your dome.
They also aren’t heavy or bulky, and you can feel comfortable wearing them with the blinds open without feeling like someone’s going to break into your apartment and beat you up because you look like such a nerd.
It’s a win-win situation, friend.
The velour padding is soft and supple, and you can even replace the pads when they wear down.
Soundstage
In addition to that, the Soundstage on 500 series headphones are remarkable.
You’ll get frequent out-of-your-head moments, but the spacing and separation of sounds are also quite excellent.
With film, it’s more of the same;
you’ll start to feel like you’re hearing stuff inside of your apartment or even outside.
This will frequently cause you to pause the film, game, or song and take them off to make sure you’re not about to get obliterated by Jason Voorhees.
FPS gamers should certainly consider a 500 series headphone because of all that I mentioned above + the fact that you can easily attach a Boom Pro and plug it into a nice Amp/DAC.
Do keep in mind you will need a 3.5mm female to 2.5mm male such as this one.
The reason is that all HD500 series headphones have 2.5mm female slots into the earcup.
I’d recommend you snag a Creative SoundBlasterX G6 for the Amp/DAC.
Gamer’s heaven.
My friend Luke, who let me borrow the HD 598 a few years ago for a demo, still uses them to this day for gaming because of how good they are.
Update: His baby stepped on it and one side went out, lol. He told me he’s going to try and fix it. Those darned babies. You can’t trust ’em!
Build
The build of a 500 series headphone is light and nimble, but not cheap.
They’re made of mostly plastic, but it doesn’t necessarily feel like plastic that will break down over time.
I can attest to this after owning a used HD 558 for quite a while.
It feels a little flimsy meaning the parts move around a bit, but I never felt like it was going to break down or malfunction in any way.
Do note that they may or may not survive if you happen to sit or step on them as in the case above with Luke’s.
Sennheiser employs their traditional click mechanism for the adjustments and a single cratered pad (hearkening back to the HD650s) at the top for the headband on the 560S.
The 650’s cratered pad.
The cups on all 500 models are oval-shaped and provide just enough room for your ears to tuck inside, and you won’t feel your ear digging or touching too much.
I have the 560s on my head right now and I can feel the back of my ear touching the pad, but it’s not a complaint; just an observation.
The fit will also largely depend on the size of your own auricles.
If you happen to have Dumbo-sized ones, you’re pretty much SOL buddy.
Heavens to Betsy look at the size of those things!
Amplification
Let’s take a look at all Impedance and Sensitivity numbers for the 500 series and determine if we will need an amp.
- Sennheiser HD515. 50 Ohm Impedance, 108dB
- Sennheiser HD518. 50 Ohm, 108dB
- Sennheiser HD555. 50 Ohm, 112dB
- Sennheiser HD558. 50 Ohm, 112 dB
- Sennheiser HD559. 50 Ohm, 108dB
- Sennheiser HD569. 50 Ohm, 108dB
- Sennheiser HD579. 50 Ohm, 106dB
- Sennheiser HD595. 50 Ohm, 112dB
- Sennheiser HD598. 50 Ohm, 112dB
- Sennheiser HD599. 50 Ohm, 106dB
- Sennheiser HD560S. 120 Ohm, 110dB
As you may well imagine, none of these headphones are particularly hard to drive.
What’s interesting is that the 560S deviates a little in that its impedance is a bit higher, but I’m still not finding it hard to drive at all with low gain on my K5 Pro.
I’m at 11 o’clock right now.
I wouldn’t go too crazy trying to find the perfect pairing.
A K5 Pro will more than suffice, but you may also look to the cheaper K11 which is arguably a better value.
Similarities
All of these headphones are open back, circumaural, velour padded, lightweight, and plastic.
They all have roughly the same build and comfort levels.
They all have replaceable earpads.
They all have R and L indicators on the inside of the headband in small letters, all have the 2.5mm detachable half-turn click cable, and they all have traditional click mechanisms for the adjustment.
With that, let’s get into some individual comparisons before wrapping up.
Sennheiser HD518 vs. 558
Dope.
You’ll notice that they both feel pretty light in your hands and are made pretty much entirely of plastic.
The HD558 that I owned at one point did in fact feel a bit flimsy, but it was still built well if that makes sense (mentioned earlier).
I didn’t get the sense that it was going to just fall apart on me or anything, but I was also a bit skeptical of dropping it on purpose even though I did so in the official video IIRC.
The other aspect that makes this tolerable is comfort.
You’ll be able to wear them both for extended periods without so much as a single adjustment.
Main Differences
Padding
The 558’s pads are just a bit better and feel more comfortable on your head, but the distinction isn’t huge.
They contain the velour padding that we’ve come to know and love in Sennheiser headphones.
The 518’s pads feel more like cloth, but the headphones are still very comfortable overall.
Bass
The mid-bass on the HD 518 is pretty similar to that of the 558 and 598, and in my opinion too boosted/fuzzy, etc. This is definitely a problem in a lot of consumer headphones, and unfortunately eeks its way into many 500-series models as well.
Soundstage
Soundstage is pretty similar on both and generally very good.
It’s open and spacious, but perhaps not as wide as something like a K702. You’re getting a nice open image, and it certainly sounds “out of your head” most of the time.
I would say 500 series headphones do an excellent job of immersing you in gameplay, film, etc. without sounding unnatural or artificial.
Sennheiser HD595 vs. HD598
A Classic Original.
Main Difference
The main difference here was the treble, and likely why the 595 was discontinued if I had to take a guess.
It’s incredibly rolled off, to the point where you probably wouldn’t enjoy it even if it was still in circulation.
In fact, the entire signature after 1kHz seems to just kind of drop off gradually.
Another subtle difference is the build of the 595.
It’s not markedly different but does feel a bit underwhelming in comparison to the 598s.
Again, not a huge discrepancy.
Sennheiser HD558 vs. HD598
This was one of the most interesting comparisons for me because of the dialogue amongst folks going back then.
A lot of people claimed that if you took out the foam strips inside of the driver, the HD558 would sound nearly identical to the 598.
And they weren’t wrong.
With the strips in place, the sound is just a bit too relaxed for me.
It’s actually boring if I can put it frankly.
Once I took them out, the sound signature mirrored that of the 598. Brighter treble, crisper sound, etc.
Again,
keep in mind that these headphones can sound ever so slightly distorted at higher volumes; an unfortunate reality with the 500 series.
They’re meant to be listened to at quieter volumes with delicate and unassuming genres that place more emphasis on vocal passages, light strumming, and the intricacies of the instrument and human voice rather than the weight and impact that accompanies most pop, EDM, hip-hop, and dance music.
Even with that said, they’ll still sound remarkable with Rock; something that’s always been Sennheiser’s bread and butter when it comes to making good audiophile-type headphones.
Weight
Another small difference, and one you’ll see in my review below, is that of weight.
The HD558 felt a tad flimsier than a 598 and my scale backed this up.
The 558 is 20g lighter and while it’s not a huge difference on paper, you will definitely notice it when they’re on your melon.
Sennheiser HD598 vs. HD599
Main Differences
The HD599 is perhaps the closest to resembling a true audiophile headphone; something in the neighborhood of its HD600 cousin.
This time around, the bass is considerably less rolled off than it was with a 598, and graphs clearly indicate this to be true.
Instead of a roughly 10-12dB roll-off below 100Hz, it’s more like 5 or less.
This is a welcome change for peeps who do enjoy those types of harder genres.
Keep in mind that the mid/high bass going into 200Hz and on is still a bit elevated maybe more than necessary.
This has always been a point of contention for me with this series and consumer headphones in general. In other words, there’s absolutely no need to boost the mid-bass/high-bass where all the mud and bloat reside as it only results in a whole heap of problems down the road.
- Required Reading: How To EQ Bass And Why It’s Important
If I had to put money on it,
I’d wager that in the case of the 599 and 560S, Sennheiser decided to make a headphone as close as possible to the HD600 without charging HD600 prices (They also boosted the bass on the 560S; more on that in a jiffy!)
I think Metal571 would agree as well, and I trust his ears quite a bit when comparing headphones that I’ve both heard and haven’t heard.
Video Review (HD 599)
Credit to my boy @Metal571
And if you were interested in my original HD598 review,
My Video Review (HD 598)
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Sennheiser HD560S
Rounding out this series full circle, and a headphone that represents a sort of 500 series “crux” or coda if you will, is the HD560S.
The HD560S takes the “500 sound” and kicks it up a notch like Emeril Lagasse.
Do keep in mind that it’s still a mostly “500-sounding” headphone, but there is one noticeable difference.
Bass
There’s a subtle bass shelf now, and it’s a real treat to listen to.
I think this is what mid-fi-bass-head-bass should sound like if you’re going to boost it.
It’s not overly forward and has some nice impact and thump in the mid-bass area without being overdone like your mom’s meatloaf.
You hungry?
Outside of the bass, the trademark 500 sound is there; present mid-range, treble just north of neutral (read: it’s leaning towards bright but still knows its place), and a mostly flat mid-range with a bit of emphasis in the presence region; anywhere from 1-3k.
The hallmark sound is there in spades, the comfort is impeccable, and the build is solid.
A 560S definitely outperforms a 598 in terms of resolving power, and for me, that’s not debatable.
- Required Reading: Deciphering Audio Resolution: Unveiling Sonic Detail and Clarity
Any grain or fuzziness has been rectified.
I no longer get the sense that pushing these headphones is going to result in any sort of perceived distortion.
Transient response and timbre also seem a bit improved.
I would say that by and large, this is a mid-fi headphone on creatine.
There’s a little bit of a boost in performance, but it still mostly functions as a mid-fi offering.
Listening to music is still enjoyable,
it’s just that it can sometimes be kind of dull if I’m being honest.
This is something I’ve always taken issue with regarding 500 series headphones, and the 560S is no different.
I would liken my impressions to something like a K612.
The great thing about the K612 (and the 560S, etc.) is that everything sounds mostly correct.
The not-so-great thing about the K612 (and the 560S, etc.) is that everything sounds, mostly correct.
Do keep in mind that the 560S is light years better than a K612 when it comes to pretty much everything else.
On paper, they’re both incredibly neutral, but the 560S is a superior headphone in every way.
I talk more about this in the official HD560S review.
As far as the overall sound of the 560S, “dull” is something that most people are going to notice right away.
You put them on your head, you’re listening to music for a while, and then…
I don’t even know how to explain it.
Your attitude may become kind of ho-hum, or business as usual.
It’s like that scene in The Breakfast Club when Bender comments on Brian’s lunch after rummaging through the bag and embarrassing him.
“Well, Brian, this is a very nutritious lunch. All the food groups are represented. Did your mom marry Mister Rogers?”
to which Brian responds sheepishly, “Uh, no. Mr. Johnson.” 🙁
That’s exactly what it’s like to listen to a 560S, (or any Senny 500 headphones for that matter).
It’s non-obtrusive, non-threatening, friendly, pleasant, typical, nerdy, geeky, etc., etc. (insert more word salad).
They’re the type of headphones you’ll listen to if you wear a button-up sweater and tie. Lol.
A sound that I love for certain things (gaming and/or long sessions), but not quite as much for listening to music and getting pumped.
Strong Points
The fantastic part about this very neutral, unassuming sound is that without a doubt you’re going to notice more going on.
Instruments have better decay and trail off, sounds are spaced out nicely, and the Soundstage is pretty expansive on all models.
You’ll hear a lot more going on farther out to your right and left, and even above and below!
The problem for me is that I don’t really get excited when I listen to music through a 500 headphone, and that sentiment hasn’t changed since 2019 or so; even with the advent of the 560S in recent years.
It may be a bit more technically proficient than the HD598, and yes, the sub-bass most certainly digs down deeper, but it’s still by and large a very “HD500 sounding” headphone.
So it’s black and the grilles have some cool indentations surrounding a newly implemented holographic Sennheiser logo which is now elevated a tad.
If I could quote Matt Foley for a second,
“Well WHOOPTY FREAKIN’ DO!!”
Or la-dee-freakin’-dah.
For me, this is just another case of shiny object syndrome; an ever-growing issue with headphones and Amp/DACS specifically.
Don’t even get me started on that one.
Don’t get me wrong. I like the 560S. It sounds good.
It’s just that the way people yammered on and on about it as if it was the second coming of Jesus left a bad taste in my mouth when I finally put it on my head and went, “This is what people were circle jerking over?”
Again, the 560S is still a mostly “500-sounding” headphone.
In other words,
it’s still mid-fi.
It still mostly sounds like mid-fi.
Put another way, there’s a stark contrast between this and an LCD-2, Ananda, or Utopia, and though those headphones are markedly more expensive, I’m simply using them to make a point.
All of those headphones are infinitely more resolving than a 560S and pretty much no one will argue that.
Final Word
Whenever I make recommendations, I mostly bypass the 500 line in favor of a 6XX or K702.
That will only continue after hearing the 560S.
It’s not that I don’t like the sound or appreciate what Sennheiser has made.
It’s just that these may not be necessary when looking at the broader picture of headphones out there.
That is to say that I would not personally ever purchase one (in most cases, see below) because I have no use for it.
Why is that?
Well, because HD6XX is the headphone that almost completely turned the hobby on its head.
There are very few reasons why I would ever buy a 560S (or any 500 series headphone) if I could just get a 6XX or HD600.
Either of those headphones is better in every way aside from the claustrophobic, narrow Soundstage – something that’s always been a problem with the 600 series.
I would personally never use an HD600 for gaming and have said as much countless times in videos and articles.
So what do I recommend?
K702 ready for action.
Let’s first outline some questions that will help clarify my answer.
Q: Are the HD600 and 6XX more resolving than a 560S?
A: Yes.
Q: Does it matter?
A: Yes, but only because of the fact that for only about $20 more, you can get that extra resolution in the 6XX. In 2016 I paid around $300-400 for the HD600 (It was $330 on the dot IIRC).
Q: Would I pay that now?
A: Not when I can get a 6XX for around $220 or less.
Q: Would I pay for the 560S?
A: Not when I already have a K702.
Q: Would I pay for the 560S if I didn’t already have a 702?
A: I would lean towards yes.
As it stands now,
and because I have the K702, I don’t really need a 560S for gaming and film; tempting as it may be to get one.
You may need one though!
That is to say that listening to it doesn’t make me want to sell my 702 and get a 560S for full-time gaming and film duties.
It kind of sort of almost does?
But not quite.
I still like the 702 as my jack of all trades, but your mileage may vary.
I can listen to it with anything and everything and be completely happy and satisfied.
Learn More:
As for an amazing complement to the K702, I like the 6XX.
Find out why:
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Sennheiser HD500 Series Shootout and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.
Would you invest in a 500 series headphone? I would love to hear your thoughts and/or experience with any of these. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
10 comments
Hey what’s up Stu. Kinda random, but I’m looking for a budget headphone just for movies (under $100). With that being said, if you had to choose between the HD 559/518 and the Porta Pro, which one would you choose?
Hey man! For movies, probably 559 out of those 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Ok cool. Preciate it man!
Welcome! 🙂 Keep me posted!
Hi Stu! Greatly appreciate this guide. I have used a pair of HD598SE for years now. I feel kind of stuck with them since I don’t find marginally better headphones to be worth the investment, and pairs in a higher price class would require also investing in a better amp/dac. Though I’ve only been using mine with a scarlett 2i2. Do you think buying a dedicated amp would give more sound quality for the price than buying a new pair? Or would it be worth it to go all in and upgrade both? Best regards
August,
Thank you for the kind words! Glad I could help. Yeah, you are in an interesting dilemma though the 560S is a better headphone across the board. What do you mainly use them for? If you have a 2i2 I’m assuming you do some sort of reference work? The DAC rabbit hole is something you shouldn’t definitely avoid at all costs lol. To answer your question, no it’s not going to make a difference. It will be a colossal waste of money. Here’s a video on why. I had a first gen 2i2 and loved it. I use a Volt 2/HS7/K702/FT1 for all my beats/raps, etc. and also really enjoy it.
All that said, I do think a headphone upgrade would be in order but you don’t need to burn money on a DAC imo. What would you be looking to spend for a new headphone? Your preferred sound signature and anything else will help me narrow down some great options.
Talk soon,
-Stu
Glad to hear that DACs are a bottomless rabbit hole I don’t need to consider ahaha. I do some recording but I use them for gaming, music, media consumption, etc. more than reference. I really enjoy the soundstage but I’m open for anything. I also really like the mids of the hd598, but could definitely do with some more bass. I imagine most options for studio headphones aren’t really going to lack in terms of comfort but that is a really important factor for me (p.s I don’t find beyerdynamics comfortable at all for some reason). In terms of price maybe the ohm range that the scarlett can support would be the limiting factor? My intention was to make a bigger investment in something that I actually hear a difference with, as I intend to keep them for a long time. Thanks again for you considerations!
Sidenote: I’m a little tired of the shallow sound of the hd598 and I also don’t mind moving away from reference style headphones to ones better suited for listening experience. I kinda just want a blast listening to music and gaming and currently my earpods do a better job of that xD
Yes, please just don’t go down the hole xD You’ll regret it at some point.
The 560S has a nice subtle bass shelf and it’s a better headphone, so you may try it. That said, the dullness thing with 500 series headphones has always bothered me thus why I typically don’t recommend them.
Soooo… if you’re looking for Soundstage and more bass, you may just want to graduate to something like an Ananda or Edition XS. Either will be marked step ups from a 598.
I will say the Soundstage isn’t going to be as wide, but they’re very open with excellent resolution and separation between sounds. The bass response is a flat line but you can EQ up 60-90Hz if you need to. My problem with the 598 is that it sounded too bloomy in the mid-bass and boosted areas (200-300Hz) that should have been cut; resulting in some bloat. Outside of that it was a very good headphone but yeah, you can do better nowadays. And yeah lol, you never want to blast a 598 as it results in pretty bad distortion but I’m sure you already knew that. It’s a headphone that doesn’t respond well at all to higher volumes.
Anyway, hope that helps! Let me know and keep me posted.
-Stu
That helps a lot! The edition xs seems to be available here in Norway, though I could import the Ananda or other hifiman headphones without much extra fees (as store bought electronics here are marked up in price roughly equivalent in price to the original with the import fees included). Between them and other hifiman products, what do you recommend? And do they work fine with the scarlett? Thanks!
August,
Yeah man they should be fine with the Scarlett as they don’t require all that much power plus I believe the 2i2 provides plenty. I used to own a 1st generation 2i2 but which one do you have? I’m curious to know what the Output Impedance is first. The Edition XS is what I’d go with if you prefer a somewhat darker, more subdued treble and the Ananda is brighter. Source file is important and some tracks will sound essier regardless, but the Ananda does lean bright.
Keep me posted!
-Stu