Sennheiser HD 560S Review: The Footstep Headphone
★★★★½ 4.5/5Reviewed 2026-06-15
A wide, precise, near-reference open-back at a mid price — the strongest value pick for competitive positional audio. The one genuine audio edge, at the point where it saturates.
Where to buy
Sennheiser HD 560S
Premium · live price at your regional store
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AimBench score
Product verdict — build, value & fit, not win-rate.
The good
- +Wide stage + precise left-right imaging — top-tier footstep localisation
- +Near-neutral, slightly bright tuning keeps the 0.5–5 kHz footstep band clear
- +120 Ω but efficient — runs fine off most sources, scales a little with an amp
- +Comfortable for long sessions; honest mid-range price
The catch
- −Open-back leaks sound both ways — useless in a loud room or at a LAN
- −Needs a separate mic (no built-in) — budget for one
- −Bright tuning isn't for everyone if you also want it for music
AimBench insight
Its neutral tuning is already footstep-optimised out of the box — skip any 'gaming' EQ preset, which usually adds bass that buries the very cues this headphone keeps clear.
Specs
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 560S |
|---|---|
| Type | Open-back |
| Impedance | 120 Ω |
| Footsteps (positional) | 5/5 |
| Tonality | neutral |
| Price class | Premium |
Footstep clarity, then refinement
Headphones aren't scored on a "best-built" composite like mice — the one genuine competitive audio edge, positional (footstep) clarity, saturates around the mid-price class (~$80–150). So we rank on footsteps to the floor, then read the rest — comfort, music, convenience — for what it is: refinement, not an edge. First, whether the tuning keeps the ~0.5–5 kHz cue band clear:
Footsteps (the floor): 5/5 positional · beyond footsteps (refinement, not an edge): all-round/comfort 4/5 · music 4/5.
See how it places in its class on the headphone by-budget guide, and why audio is a floor, not a booster.
Positional audio is the one part of an audio chain that's a real competitive edge — hearing where a footstep comes from, first. The HD 560S is the value king of that single job: a wide, precise open-back stage with imaging that punches well above its price, and a near-neutral tuning that keeps quiet footstep transients from being buried under bass.
The honest ceiling
Here's the part the audiophile forums won't lead with: positional accuracy saturates. A competent mid-priced open-back plus the free in-game HRTF and a footstep EQ gets you essentially all the directional advantage there is. The HD 560S sits right at that knee. Spending more buys you tonality and comfort — nice things — not more footsteps heard. Audio is a floor, not a booster.
Driving it
At 120 Ω it's efficient enough to run off most onboard outputs, but it tightens up on a clean amp. Don't overspend — our drive-match guide for the HD 560S works out exactly how much power it needs and names the cheapest amp that delivers it.
Loud room or LAN player? An open-back is the wrong tool — its leakage cuts both ways. Switch the dashboard's "Where you play" to Loud / LAN and it'll steer you to a sealed closed-back or IEM instead.
More reviews
The rating is an editorial product verdict (build, value, fit, how well it clears the competitive floor) — not a win-rate claim. Specs are sourced; the buy link is an affiliate link to your regional store, where the live price shows.
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