If you want a lightweight, open-air design with clear treble and midrange for a laptop, choose Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X; if you need a more analytical, reference-style sound for focused listening, choose Sennheiser HD 560S.
Both are wired, open-back headphones, so neither is meant to block out the sounds around you. The real choice is between the ATH-AD700X’s low-pressure fit and the HD 560S’s emphasis on neutral, detailed listening.
Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X vs Sennheiser HD 560S at a Glance
• Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X: 53 mm drivers, clear treble and midrange, and a lightweight open-air design; the trade-off is that its open construction does not isolate you from surrounding noise.
• Sennheiser HD 560S: Tuned for natural, analytical listening, with angled drivers designed to create a wide soundstage; its 120-ohm impedance is higher than the ATH-AD700X’s listed 38 ohms.
• For concentrated listening: The HD 560S is the more explicit fit for evaluating detail, comparing recordings, and listening closely to music or game audio.
• Choose the ATH-AD700X if low-pressure wear and clear mids and highs matter most; choose the HD 560S if neutral presentation and analytical detail are your priority.
The ATH-AD700X is built around 53 mm drivers and a full open-air design. Audio-Technica describes its sound as clear in the treble and midrange, while its low-pressure ear fit is intended to feel natural rather than clamp down tightly. A lightweight aluminum honeycomb casing and self-adjusting 3D Wing Support round out a design centered on comfortable listening.
That makes it a compelling option for someone looking for headphones for laptop use at a desk, especially when comfort and a spacious, open feel matter more than shutting out the room. Its wired 3.5 mm connection and listed 38-ohm impedance are straightforward features to consider for a computer setup. The supplied 6.3 mm adapter also gives you another connection option.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-21 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The trade-off is the open-back construction: it offers no noise control, so nearby conversation or other room sounds can remain part of your listening environment. I’d skip it if you need isolation for a shared workspace, commute, or noisy room. And although shoppers sometimes search for the best on ear headphones for laptop, this model is an over-ear design, not an on-ear one.
The HD 560S is aimed at listeners who want a natural, accurate sound and enjoy hearing the details in a recording. Sennheiser describes it as a neutral, analytical headphone, with angled driver alignment intended to create a broad, articulate soundstage. The open, around-ear design and velour earpads are presented as features for comfortable extended sessions.
The main consideration is that the HD 560S has a higher listed impedance than the Audio-Technica. That is not, by itself, a guarantee of how loud it will sound with a particular laptop, but it is worth considering if you want to connect directly and avoid extra equipment. Its open design also means it will not serve as a way to block out outside noise.
• Best fit for laptop listening with a lower listed impedance → Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X. Its stated impedance is 38 ohms, compared with 120 ohms for the HD 560S. That makes the Audio-Technica the more natural first pick if you want to keep a computer setup simple, though the specifications alone cannot guarantee performance with every laptop.
• Best for clear treble and midrange → Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X. Those are the sound qualities its description specifically highlights, making it a fit for listeners who want those parts of the mix to stand out.
• Best for analytical listening and recording comparisons → Sennheiser HD 560S. Its neutral tuning is intended to help reveal differences between recordings, remasters, and audio sources.
• Best if you want an open, low-pressure fit → Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X. Its full open-air design and self-adjusting 3D Wing Support are designed to minimize pressure on the ears.
• Best for locating directional sound in games → Sennheiser HD 560S. Its description emphasizes an articulate soundstage and the ability to help listeners identify where sounds are coming from.
• Best if you want a stated frequency range extending to 38 kHz → Sennheiser HD 560S. The ATH-AD700X lists a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz in its key features; the HD 560S lists a range of 6 Hz to 38 kHz.
• Best for a lightweight aluminum-cased design → Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X. Its aluminum honeycomb casing is described as lightweight, while the HD 560S emphasizes velour earpads and angled driver alignment.
• Best for blocking out office or household noise → Neither. Both are open-back or open-air headphones, and neither lists noise control. If isolation is essential, these are not the right designs to choose between.
A search for the best bluetooth earbuds for laptop points toward a different kind of product: both of these headphones are wired, not Bluetooth earbuds. That distinction matters if wireless convenience is a must. For a wired desktop setup, though, their open designs and different sound priorities make the comparison more useful than a wireless-versus-wired label alone.
I’d choose the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X for my laptop if I wanted a wired, open-air headphone with a low-pressure fit and a focus on clear treble and midrange. Its listed 38-ohm impedance also makes it the more straightforward option to consider for a direct computer connection.
I’d pick the Sennheiser HD 560S instead for focused, analytical listening and sound detail. For a general laptop setup, though, my preference is the ATH-AD700X—provided I do not need noise isolation.
Both are wired, open-back headphones, and both include a 3.5 mm connection option through their listed connectors or adapters. The ATH-AD700X has a lower listed impedance, while the HD 560S is designed around analytical listening.
For a simple laptop setup, I’d start with the ATH-AD700X because its listed impedance is 38 ohms, compared with 120 ohms for the HD 560S. If your priority is a neutral presentation for close listening, the Sennheiser has the clearer match.
No noise-control feature is listed for either model, and both have open designs. Expect outside sounds to remain audible rather than being sealed out.
Neither model is wireless: both are wired. Both are also over-ear designs, so neither is a match if you specifically want Bluetooth earbuds or on-ear headphones.
• ThinkWrite Technologies TWT Audio Ergo vs Hengliyuan Classroom Headpho
• HyperX Cloud Stinger Core vs CYBERDOT Open Ear Earbuds
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.