Introduction

I got the 560s on a B-stock sale. I have wanted to try them, so jumped at the opportunity. My main aim was to hear what the great tuning I read in reviews was all about, and possibly acquire a “reference” headphone as the rest in my collection have a colored tuning.

The 560s are fantastic value for money for $200, let alone on sale. The 560s are a fun listen, get the basics right, and an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a starter headphone or just an additional one (like me!). Let’s dive in.

Comfort

I wear glasses and have a large head - finding headphones that provide good comfort is a challenge. The 560s have comfortable pads, are lightweight, and large cups that easily sit around the ears. The biggest issue for me was the clamp force, which is quite strong. I had to remove my glasses to listen to them, which would not be an acceptable long-term solution as I like to listen to headphones also while working or reading. The band is plastic, so it cannot be easily stretched. It can be stretched over time though, using yoga bricks or similar, and it is very effective. I left them there for a couple days, and they are now very comfortable and OK to wear with glasses!

Sound

One premise: I listen at moderate volume (60s db on average), so keep that in mind as you read my impressions.

I find these headphones just sound “right” and very balanced. Bass is present, quick and controlled. It doesn’t rumble, nor goes very deep, but it gets the job done well in all but the most bass-focused songs (I wouldn’t pick the 560s for EDM). Vocals are clear and engaging. The treble was a tricky spot for me, as it sounded a bit piercing and fatiguing. I read this in some reviews as well. I tried switching to a hybrid tube amplifier (Schiit Vali 2+), and that completely fixed the issue for me, so suggest trying it if you experienced something similar.

Soundstage is good. There is separation between the instruments, you get a good feel for the size of the environment where the track was recorded. Overall, I find the soundstage to not get in the way by appearing overly intimate or overly dispersed. For context, I returned the 6xx because of the very narrow soundstage. I own the 8xx, and the 560s soundstage is not that big, but frankly I find limited incremental return on the 8xx soundstage outside of orchestral music.

Conclusion

I found the 560s to be an impressive well-rounded performer. I really enjoy listening to music on the 560s. I believe that for those of us who approach hifi as having enough quality in the reproduction system to enjoy music the way it was meant to sound, the 560s could reasonably be the only headphone we ever need.

And for those of us, like me, who like music but also find joy in exploring how different gear influences the reproduction of beloved songs, the 560s provide a baseline of solid competence, against which alternatives can be measured, and true excellence appreciated.