Headphones – Sennheiser HD 560S vs. Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X
If you’re a gamer or an audiophile, you know how important it is to have a good pair of headphones. But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one to choose? Recently, my significant other bought me the Sennheiser HD 560S headphones as a gift, and as someone who has used the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X headphones for years, I was interested to see how they compared.
First off, let’s talk about the Sennheiser HD 560S. These wired headphones are an absolute dream as far as a total package of price, performance and features. The open-back design provides a spacious soundstage and natural sound reproduction, making them perfect for gaming, music production, and any other audio-related tasks where you need to hear every detail. The frequency response is excellent, with a nice balance between the low, mid, and high frequencies. I particularly enjoy the clarity of the vocals, which really stand out in these headphones.
Now, let’s compare that to the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X. These headphones are also open-back and have been my go-to headphones for years previously. They have a similar sound profile to the Sennheiser HD 560S, with a focus on detail and clarity. The bass response is not as pronounced as the Sennheiser, but it still provides a satisfying punch when listening to music or playing games. The biggest difference between these two headphones is in the soundstage. While the Audio Technica has a good soundstage, the Sennheiser is on a whole other level.
When it comes to comfort of wearing, I have a slight preference for the Audio-Technica over the Sennheiser headphones. The Audio-Technica has a somewhat odd-looking split headband setup, which I found had to slightly modify by putting a hair band between the two middle “pieces” in order to provide some stability. But they were by far the more comfortable headphones to wear for long periods of time gaming or streaming, wearing my glasses as well. The Sennheiser headphones are also very comfortable to wear for long periods, but they become a bit more noticeable over time with the sides pushing my ears against my glasses to be honest. Still, I use the HD 560S regularly now, the slight difference in discomfort hasn’t put me off from using them.
So, which one should you choose? It ultimately comes down to personal preference and budget. The Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X is a bit more expensive than the Sennheiser HD 560S. If you have the budget, I highly recommend the Audio-Technica. However, if you’re on a budget, the Sennheiser is absolutely a fantastic option.
One thing to keep in mind when choosing between open-back and closed-back headphones is the environment you’ll be using them in. Open-back headphones are great for use in a quiet environment, such as a home studio or a gaming room, as they allow for sound to leak in and out. This can be a problem if you’re in a noisy environment or if you need to keep your audio to yourself. Closed-back headphones, on the other hand, are better suited for use in a noisy environment, as they block out external sounds and keep your audio contained.
Both the Sennheiser HD 560S and the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X are great open-back headphones for gaming, music production, and other audio-related tasks. If budget is a top consideration, the less expensive Sennheiser HD 560S might be the choice for you. If comfort is the highest priority however I would recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X for long periods of wearing, particularly if you wear glasses. Just remember to also consider the environment you’ll be using them in when deciding between open-back and closed-back headphones, both of these headphone models are of the open-back type if that’s what works for you.