Sennheiser HD 569
MSRP $179.95
“It’s hard for us to imagine anything as fun for $180 as Sennheiser’s beautiful HD 569.”
Avg
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Rich and detailed sound
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A huge, dimensional soundscape
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Elegant and robust design
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Excellent passive noise isolation
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Comfortable and ergonomic cut
Against
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Mid-range sound is best for acoustic instruments
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There’s no case or collapsible headphones to make traveling difficult
Sennheiser’s HD 500 series represents a long pedigree of rich, clear-sounding headphones that are well above their price range, such as the excellent — and surprisingly affordable — HD 598. The company’s latest pair, the HD 569, are no exception, offering blissfully detailed sound, a sleek and subdued look, and luxurious padding, all at a price that barely borders the $200 line. What’s not to love? Not much, as you’ll discover in our full Sennheiser HD 569 review.
Out of the box
While $180 may sound like an expensive proposition to those outside the hi-fi world, it’s a pittance for rewarding sound, which means there isn’t much budget for other accessories. The HD 569s are packed with the right savings, including no case and a few extras. Encased in a thick layer of foam, the headphones come with a thick, quarter-inch fixed-terminated cable for professional applications and headphone amplifiers. However, we think most customers will use them more with standard devices, and luckily there’s a shorter 3.5mm cable that boasts a single-button microphone.
Features and design
As part of an established series, the HD 569 inherits a host of family characteristics, including oversized closed-back earcups, a bulbous plastic band, and thick stacks of padding along the cups and top band, covered in silky-smooth felt. The same synthetic felt also adorns the outer part of the headphones. While the all-plastic body doesn’t scream luxury, the overall aesthetic is chic, stepping beyond mere minimalism for a quality look and feel.
The headphones are placed back at an ergonomic angle and rotate slightly around the horizontal and vertical axis to achieve an excellent fit. Unlike many modern headphones, the headphones do not fold up for easy travel. However, the tight clamping force and massive pads not only allow for a secure and comfortable fit, but also create impressive passive noise isolation to block out unwanted ambient sound.
In true Sennheiser style, both detachable cables connect to the left earcup via a 2.5mm screw-on termination, ensuring they won’t pop out without your blessing. The thicker cable with a quarter-inch plug is nearly 10 feet long, while the 3.5mm cable extends just 4 feet for on-the-go convenience.
By the numbers, the headphones boast 38mm drivers that use Sennheiser’s “Ergonomic acoustic refinement (EAR), basically designed to better direct sound into your ears. The headphones boast a frequency response of 10Hz to 28kHz and an impedance of 23 ohms, making them easy to power with portable devices. Weighing in at just over 1.6 pounds — they’re heavy over-the-ear, but you’ll never feel it thanks to the comfortable design.
Audio performance
Within the first few minutes of listening, we knew the HD 569s were special, delineating detailed, organic-sounding acoustic instruments with sparkling clarity and rich warmth. In fact, the first few tracks we listed gave the impression that we were listening to much more expensive records. Those who like richly drawn instrumentation and close-to-a-whisper vocals will have it moments with these cans. Memories of some of your favorite songs will be created, and that’s pretty impressive for a pair of headphones that cost under the $200 mark.
The HD 569 delivers center-bursting vocals with equal mixes of sharp clarity and ruddy resonance.
One of our favorite moments came when we invited a new favorite, Joshua Tree in headphones, the latest from Deb Talan of indie duo The Weepies. This clever little U2 homage to electro-acoustic pop absolutely shines through the HD 569, offering vocals that pop in the center with equal mixes of sharp clarity and ruddy resonance. Acoustic guitar is a favorite among these cans, and here they serve up that shrill nickel string shine with just the right amount of cool metal and smooth sheen. The song’s wandering percussion on the right is brilliantly paper-cut, while the low bass offers a full and solid foundation.
Staying near our acoustic library, we had many similar moments of reverie. Bella and Sebastian’s sweet love lament Dress yourself up The HD 569 handles well. The deep and spacious soundstage offers plenty of room for sparse instruments to play, allowing small hints of tape to softly echo from the left-placed vocals to the front right. The trumpet solo in the middle is breathy in attack, revealing the bubble of the player’s lips before the golden colors of the horn leak out.
Of course, for just $180 there are some trade-offs that have to be made in fidelity. Although they are fairly well balanced, with no obvious frequency deviations, the HD 569s tend to focus on the center of the sound. On the bright side, this equates to a blend of dark color and superior midrange articulation that brings out the best in many of our favorite instruments. Alternatively, however, this also means that they give up a bit in the far range of sound.
The bass is actually quite full and tight in the lowest frequencies, but loses a bit of power in the upper and mid-bass registers. The result is a little less speed and excitement than we’d like in certain genres, including heavier rock songs and complex electronic music. Perhaps even more noticeable is the roll in the upper register, resulting in reduced clarity and fluidity in higher synth tones, strings and percussion like tambourines or bells.
It’s quite possible that the overall balance between the HD 569’s frequencies accentuates that lack of definition at the top, as we found ourselves judging the panels against more expensive models like the Audeze Sine — which frankly isn’t fair. In any case, while listeners more inclined to heavy rock production or complex symphonic music will want to weigh these factors, the HD 569 shines in all genres, offering warmth, clarity and detail to spare.
Warranty
Sennheiser offers a robust two-year warranty on the HD 569, guaranteeing that the product is “free from defects in workmanship, parts, materials and workmanship under normal and accepted use.” You can find more on the Sennheiser warranty page.
Our example
The Sennheiser HD 569 are a stylish, comfortable pair of headphones with impressive sound, especially for those who love acoustic music. Honestly, it’s hard to find something as fun as these $180 cans, which provide a fantastic way to sink into the music and let it take you somewhere else.
How long will it last?
The Sennheiser brand has now passed the century mark, and the quality of its products has remained a mainstay. While the HD 569’s plastic case may not be as sturdy as some of its metal competitors, it’s robustly built and should last for years with proper care.
What are the alternatives?
There are plenty of worthy competitors to the HD 569 at or around $200, including the HD 598 (reviewed here) we mentioned earlier, which can now be had for much less than their original MSRP.
Other solid choices at this price point include Yamaha’s latest studio boards, the HPH-MT8, which offer a bit more extension in the upper register along with tighter bass; or the Thinksound On2, which has a deeper bass response and crisper top end, though you’ll lose that smooth warmth we love about the HD 569’s midrange.
Should you buy it?
Yes, and doubly so if acoustic instruments are your main concern. While serious bass heads may want to look elsewhere, Sennheiser’s HD 569 offer a rich, clear and opulent sound signature with serious comfort and excellent passive noise isolation making them a great contender in the crowded mid-range headphone market.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn