Main trade-off
Sennheiser HD 560S
Open cups let room noise in and music out.
Head-to-head
Sennheiser HD 560S vs HD 600: HD 600 reaches farther, both leak into the room
The short answer
Choose HD 560S for a nearby desk source and a short 3.5 mm connection. Choose HD 600 when the included 3 m lead better reaches a home hi-fi setup. Both are open-back, so neither is a solution for a noisy room or private listening beside someone else.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
HD 600 adds 67% cable reach
Its supplied lead is 1.2 m longer than the current HD 560S package.
What this is based on
HD 600 supplies a 3 m lead and HD 560S supplies 1.8 m. (3 - 1.8) / 1.8 × 100 = 66.7% more supplied reach.
Main trade-off
Sennheiser HD 600
It does not isolate you from conversations or household noise.
Sennheiser HD 560S
- Choose it for
- Your headphone output sits beside you.
- You prefer the supplied 1.8 m cable.
- Main trade-off
- Open cups let room noise in and music out.
Sennheiser HD 600
- Choose it for
- You need a 3 m supplied lead.
- Your headphone amp is farther from the chair.
- Main trade-off
- It does not isolate you from conversations or household noise.
About this comparison
Compare Sennheiser HD 560S and HD 600 by cable reach, connectors and quiet-room requirements. See why higher impedance is not a buying verdict.
Choose HD 560S for a nearby desk source and a short 3.5 mm connection. Choose HD 600 when the included 3 m lead better reaches a home hi-fi setup. Both are open-back, so neither is a solution for a noisy room or private listening beside someone else.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
Small desk with output at arm’s reach
HD 560S supplies less surplus cable.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Better fit
- Sennheiser HD 600
- Good
Hi-fi amp about 2 m from your chair
The HD 560S 1.8 m lead is too short before allowing routing slack.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Caution
- Sennheiser HD 600
- Better fit
Room shared with a sleeping partner
Both have open cups that allow playback to escape.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Not suitable
- Sennheiser HD 600
- Not suitable
You want a rechargeable-free headphone
Both are passive wired designs.
- Sennheiser HD 560S
- Similar
- Sennheiser HD 600
- Similar
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
HD 600 adds 67% cable reach
Its supplied lead is 1.2 m longer than the current HD 560S package.
How we reached this conclusion
HD 600 supplies a 3 m lead and HD 560S supplies 1.8 m. (3 - 1.8) / 1.8 × 100 = 66.7% more supplied reach.
A two-meter source distance separates them
A 1.8 m lead cannot cover a measured 2 m route. A 3 m lead leaves 1 m before accounting for extra routing slack.
How we reached this conclusion
2 - 1.8 = 0.2 m short. 3 - 2 = 1 m remaining. Distance must follow the actual cable route.
Higher impedance is not a quality score
HD 600 has 2.5 times the nominal impedance, but that does not establish a better result with your source.
How we reached this conclusion
300 / 120 = 2.5. Sensitivity and source output are additional requirements for an electrical comparison.
Check your own setup
Which headphones work with the way you listen?
Start with the way you listen. USB charging is not the same as USB audio, and some headphones need power even with a cable. These choices are examples until you apply yours.
Sennheiser HD 560S
Does not meet these checksThis model does not play over Bluetooth.
Sennheiser HD 600
Does not meet these checksThis model does not play over Bluetooth.
Battery figures are manufacturer claims for the stated mode, not measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not assess sound quality, microphone quality or amplifier power.
Choice A
Sennheiser, HD 560S
HD 560S
An open wired pair for a quiet desk, with a replaceable cable and a 3.5 mm plug. Keep it at home if people sit close by.
- Best matched use
- Listening at a quiet desk without charging
Checked facts
- The current US package lists a 1.8 m cable and a 6.3 mm adapter.
- The manufacturer specifies a 120-ohm dynamic driver.
- The earcups use an open-back design.
Choice B
Sennheiser, HD 600
HD 600
A wired open-back model for a fixed listening spot. The 3 m cable reaches a nearby hi-fi system without placing the amp on your lap.
- Best matched use
- A quiet listening chair within reach of a headphone amp
Checked facts
- The manufacturer lists 260 g without a battery or wireless radio.
- A detachable 3 m cable is supplied.
- The dynamic open-back driver is rated at 300 ohms.
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Sennheiser HD 560S | Sennheiser HD 600 | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplied cable length | 1.8 m | 3 m | HD 600 adds 1.2 m of reach. |
| Nominal impedance | 120 ohms | 300 ohms | The ratio does not directly compare loudness. |
| Cup construction | Open-back | Open-back | Both require tolerance for sound leakage. |
| Audio connection | Analog, with 3.5 and 6.3 mm compatibility | Analog, with 3.5 and 6.3 mm compatibility | Both need a headphone output, not a USB charging port. |
| Cable attachment | Detachable | Detachable | Both can replace a damaged audio lead. |
| Battery or wireless connection | Neither | Neither | Neither requires charging or provides wireless calls. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Sennheiser HD 560S
- A USB-only phone needs a separate headphone adapter.
If you choose Sennheiser HD 600
- Check the output of your source rather than treating 300 ohms as a sound-quality rating.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
Your headphone output sits beside you.
Choose Sennheiser HD 560S. HD 560S is the straightforward desk option if the source is close. Its current US package lists 1.8 m, so old listings showing a different cable length deserve a check.
You need a 3 m supplied lead.
Choose Sennheiser HD 600. HD 600 can reach a nearby amplifier from a listening chair without an extension that the HD 560S package might need. Measure the routed distance rather than the straight gap through furniture.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Use the shorter lead when it fits
HD 560S is the straightforward desk option if the source is close. Its current US package lists 1.8 m, so old listings showing a different cable length deserve a check.
Longer reach can change the whole setup
HD 600 can reach a nearby amplifier from a listening chair without an extension that the HD 560S package might need. Measure the routed distance rather than the straight gap through furniture.
Do not buy open-back to fix outside noise
Both let the room into the listening experience. If household noise is the reason to replace your current headphone, a closed model changes the constraint that matters.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- HD 560S weight is excluded because current and older published figures differ.
- No claim is made that one tuning is universally better.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current headphones comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
Compared set
21 of 60 models checked match every need here: “I want music when the battery is empty”, “I plug into a headphone jack”, and “I do not want another thing to charge”.
21 matching models from 60 checkedSee the checked facts and calculation notes
Match countThe count uses the current product-to-need assignments for “I want music when the battery is empty”, “I plug into a headphone jack”, and “I do not want another thing to charge”. A need with no documented match does not count.
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser HD 560S |
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| Sennheiser HD 600 |
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Sennheiser HD 560S
Your headphone output sits beside you.
See price & reviews on AmazonSennheiser HD 600
You need a 3 m supplied lead.
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.