Sennheiser’s latest creation of audiophile headphones is the HD 5 Series. These headphones are crafted for high-fidelity and comfort in mind. Each of the over-ear models use Sennheiser’s proprietary E.A.R technology (Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement) which channels the audio directly into your ears. The physical design of these models is also basically the same. So what’s the real difference in each of these similar looking headphones? Let’s take a look at the specifics and so you can decide which one is best for you.

Sennheiser HD 5 Series Comparison

There are two main types of headphones in the Sennheiser HD 5 Series, open-back and closed-back. The open-back headphones are typically for home audiophile listening and the closed-back are designed for noise-isolating listening on the go or in public environments. Both styles however are engineered for audiophile quality sound. Lets start by taking a look at the 3 open-back headphones in the series and then the 1 closed-back.

Sennheiser HD 559 open-back headphone

The HD 559 is the entry level open-back headphone in the Sennheiser 5 Series. This 50 Ohm headphone has a frequency range of 14Hz – 26kHz and has a sound pressure level rating of 108dBSPL. The HD 559 comes with 1 detachable 3 meter cable that connects to a standard 6.3 mm (1/4″) jack. This headphone features a soft cushion padding on the earcups and headband for premium home listening audiophile is great for all types of music especially rock and electronic genres. You’ll get the best sound results using this headphone with a home stereo or headphone amplifier.

BUY – Sennheiser HD 559 Headphone

Sennheiser HD 579 open-back headphone

his audiophile headphone is the next step up in the open-back models of the Sennheiser 5 Series. This sleek is an elegant grey color and features a frequency of 15Hz – 28kHz and has in impedance of 50 Ohms. The HD 579 comes with 1 detachable 3 meter cable with 6.3 mm (1/4″) jack and 1 adapter for 3.5 mm connections. With an increased frequency range the HD 579 is best suited for all types of music with an increased clarity on the high-end. As with most open back headphones, these headphones will perform best when used with an amplifier.

BUY – Sennheiser HD 579 Headphone

Sennheiser HD 599 open-back headphone

The Sennheiser HD 599 is the top open-back headphone in the 5 Series. This headphone features a more classic look and has premium padding accross the entire headband and extra soft earpads. The HD 599 is also 50 Ohms but has an even wider frequency range of 12Hz – 38.5kHz. This headphone comes with 2 detachable cables. One is a 3 meter cable that connects to any 6.3 mm (1/4″) jack and the other is  a 1.2 meter cable with 3.5 mm connector for mobile devices. The Sennheiser HD 599 will sound its’ best when paired with a high-end home stereo or headphone amplifier and is perfect for jazz, classical and classic rock music genres.

BUY – Sennheiser HD 599 Headphone

Sennheiser HD 569 closed-back headphone

The HD 569 is one of the two closed-back headphones in the 5 Series. The 569 is optimized for excellent noise isolation on-the-go and has a frequency range of 10Hz – 28kHz. The HD 569 is only 28 Ohms and includes a 3.5 mm cable with inline controls making it perfect for mobile devices. It also comes with 6 m long cable with 6.3 mm connector for use with home stereo systems. The inline microphone and controls work with any Apple or Android device. This one-button control can play, pause, advance tracks and receive/end calls but does not include volume.

BUY – Sennheiser HD 569 Headphone