Sennheiser · Open-back · 1989–early 1990s
Sennheiser HD 560 Ovation
Sennheiser launched the HD 560 Ovation in 1989 as the top of its open around-ear range, above the HD 540 Reference. It's a 300-ohm design with velour pads, a light 210 grams and a gentle clamp, made in Germany. The cable plugs into both cups, and the stock plug had a clever extra, a socket on its back so a second HD 560 could run from the same headphone output. In the early 1990s the Ovation II followed with a little more sparkle, and that line led straight to the HD 580 Precision of 1993. When you buy an HD 560 you're buying an early chapter of one of Sennheiser's best-known families.
HD 560 Ovation (1989)HD 560 Ovation II (early 1990s)
Spec at a glance
- Maker
- Sennheiser
- Type
- Open-back
- Made
- 1989–early 1990s
- Impedance
- 300 ohms
- Sensitivity
- 94 dB (rated)
- Driver
- 38 mm dynamic
- Fit
- Around-ear, open, velour pads
- Weight
- About 210 g
- Made in
- Germany
- Also listed as
- HD560, HD-560 Ovation, HD 560 Ovation II
Before you plug in
What it needs, and what wears out
- Drive it fromWants a headphone amp
- A 300-ohm load rated for up to 200 mW, so give it a headphone amp rather than a phone.
- Pads
- Velour around-ear pads. The foam inside softens and flattens over time, and Sennheiser no longer sells spares, but plenty of aftermarket velour pads fit.
- Cable
- Detachable 3 m cable into both cups with Sennheiser's two-pin connectors, ending in a 6.3 mm plug. The original plug had a pass-through socket so a second pair could share one headphone output.
Should come with it
- The original cable with its pass-through plug
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.
What to check
Most have poor contact at the two-pin cup connectors, which makes a side crackle or drop out. The pads flatten as the foam inside softens.
- 01Dropouts: Ask the seller to play music and move the cable gently at each cup. Both sides should stay on with no crackle.
- 02Pads: Look at the pads from the side in the photos. Thick, springy velour is good, and flat pads just mean a new set.
- 03Version: Check the model label for Ovation or Ovation II. Both are worth having, so it's about knowing what you're getting.
- 04Cable: Check that the cable is included and has its original plug. The pass-through plug is a nice extra but not essential.
- 05Amp: Make sure you have a headphone amp for it. A 300-ohm pair sounds dull and quiet straight from a phone.
New to used headphones? How to check a used pair covers pads, cables, channel dropouts and fakes, and impedance and your amp explains what will drive it.
Find one on eBay
We haven’t been through this model’s listings yet. Search eBay and run every listing through the checklist above. Ask for close photos of the pads, the headband and both ends of the cable, and pass on any seller who won’t send them.
Search “Sennheiser HD 560 Ovation” on eBay ↗eBay searchCompare with
Sennheiser
Open-backSennheiser HD 540 Reference
- Years made
- 1985–1992
- Impedance
- 300 ohms
- Drive it from
- Wants a headphone amp
$220–$240 typical ask
Sennheiser
Open-backSennheiser HD 565 Ovation
- Years made
- 1996–2001
- Impedance
- 160 ohms
- Drive it from
- Plays from a phone
$75–$120 typical ask
AKG
Open-backAKG K 240 Monitor
- Years made
- 1984–2004
- Impedance
- 600 ohms
- Drive it from
- Wants a headphone amp
$80–$210 typical ask