If you want a lighter, open-back headset for side sleepers who listen on their back or turn only occasionally, choose Audio-Technica ATH-R50X; if you need a more analytical sound for focused music listening and gaming, choose Sennheiser HD 560S. Neither is designed for sleeping on your side: both are over-ear, open-back wired headphones, so their earcups can press against a pillow and let sound through. The R50X is the more comfortable-looking fit on paper, while the HD 560S puts more emphasis on revealing detail.
• Audio-Technica ATH-R50X: 207 g, fully open-back construction, replaceable velour earpads, and two detachable cables. Trade-off: it remains a wired over-ear headphone, not a sleep-specific design.
• Sennheiser HD 560S: analytical tuning, angled drivers, and an open soundstage suited to close listening and gaming. Trade-off: its listed weight is 240 g, and its 120-ohm impedance is higher than the R50X’s 50 ohms.
• For longer listening sessions: the R50X has the lower listed weight and a headband designed for comfort; the HD 560S has velour contact points and ventilated earcups.
• For cable flexibility: the R50X includes detachable 3.0 m and 1.2 m cables; the HD 560S is supplied with a cable and an adapter.
• Choose the ATH-R50X if you want a lighter reference headphone with extended bass and accurate midrange.
• Choose the HD 560S if you prioritize analytical listening, detail, and directional cues in games.
The ATH-R50X is an open-back wired headphone aimed at reference listening and audio production. Its stated strengths are extended bass, accurate midrange, and a wide, realistic soundstage. The fully open construction is intended to let air move freely through the earcups, supporting a spacious presentation and quick transient response. For mixing, mastering, or listening in a private space, that design can be appealing; it is not a way to shut out nearby noise.
Its listed weight is 207 g, compared with 240 g for the HD 560S. Audio-Technica also describes a redesigned headband, cooling open-back earcups, and replaceable velour earpads. Those details make the R50X the more compelling option on paper if you expect long, seated sessions and want to keep the headset’s physical burden modest. The two detachable cable lengths add practical flexibility: the longer cable can suit a desk or studio setup, while the shorter one may be easier to manage near a computer.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
I would skip the R50X if you need a headphone for actual side sleeping, quiet listening beside other people, or wireless use. The over-ear cups can meet a pillow, and the open-back design does not isolate the listener from the room. It has no wireless connectivity or noise control listed. For someone searching for a headset for side sleepers, these are the important limits: a lower weight may help during ordinary listening, but it does not make an over-ear headphone pillow-friendly.
The HD 560S is designed for analytical listening. Sennheiser describes its tuning as natural and accurate, with smooth bass and an emphasis on hearing the details within recordings. Angled drivers are intended to create a wide, articulate soundstage, while the product description also points to focused music comparisons and gaming where identifying sound direction matters. That makes it a reasonable fit for listeners who want to pay close attention to a mix or track positional audio.
Its open, around-ear design uses ventilated cups and velour earpads, described as soft against the skin and comfortable for extended listening. The listed weight is 240 g. Its specifications include 120-ohm impedance, a 6.3 mm headphone jack, and a 3.5 mm adapter. Those details matter when choosing what to connect it to: the supplied adapter accommodates a 3.5 mm connection, while the impedance is higher than the R50X’s 50 ohms.
I would pass on the HD 560S if your main goal is the lightest option here, a compact headphone to wear in bed, or a way to keep sound from disturbing someone nearby. It is also wired and open-back, with no noise control listed. Its focus is listening detail, not sleep comfort or isolation. The open cups may feel ventilated during desk use, but they do not turn it into a suitable pillow-side design.
• Best fit for a lower listed weight → Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. At 207 g, it weighs less than the HD 560S at 240 g.
• Best for audio production with extended bass and accurate midrange → Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. Those qualities are specifically part of its reference-listening profile.
• Best for analytical music listening → Sennheiser HD 560S. Its stated aim is neutral, detailed listening that makes differences within recordings easier to examine.
• Best for hearing directional cues in games → Sennheiser HD 560S. Its product information describes pinpointing sound direction as part of its gaming use.
• Best for choosing between cable lengths → Audio-Technica ATH-R50X. It includes detachable 3.0 m and 1.2 m cables, both connecting at the left earcup with a 2.5 mm twist-lock connector.
• Best if you want a 3.5 mm connection included as an adapter option → Sennheiser HD 560S. It uses a 6.3 mm jack with a 3.5 mm adapter.
• Best for side sleeping → Neither. Both are wired, open-back, over-ear headphones; the available design details do not support recommending either as a sleep headset.
• Best if you’re comparing either one with a waterproof kids headset for side sleepers or the best extra bass sports earbuds for side sleepers → Neither category is a match. These products are adult-oriented wired headphones, and neither sheet lists waterproofing, a kids’ fit, or sports-earbud construction.
The practical distinction is less about one being universally better and more about the listening job. The R50X is lighter and gives you two cable lengths, with a profile suited to production and broad everyday listening in a quiet place. The HD 560S leans toward careful analysis and gaming, with an angled-driver design and a higher listed impedance. Both share the same fundamental compromise: open-back cups favor an airy presentation over privacy and environmental isolation.
My Verdict
I would choose the Audio-Technica ATH-R50X for its lower listed weight, replaceable velour earpads, and two detachable cable lengths. For long sessions at a desk, those practical details give it the edge for my needs. But I would recommend neither as a true headset for side sleepers: both are open-back over-ear designs, not sleep headphones. If gaming detail and analytical listening matter more to you, the HD 560S is the more targeted alternative.
Neither is designed specifically for side sleeping. Both are open-back, wired, over-ear models, so a pillow may press against the earcups, and neither is described as isolating sound from the room.
The ATH-R50X is listed at 207 g, while the HD 560S is listed at 240 g. That makes the R50X the lighter option by the supplied specifications, though weight alone does not establish pillow comfort.
The HD 560S is the more clearly gaming-focused choice in its product description, which highlights detail and directional cues. The ATH-R50X is positioned more around reference listening and audio production.
The HD 560S includes a 3.5 mm adapter for its 6.3 mm jack. The ATH-R50X comes with cables ending in a 3.5 mm stereo mini-plug and also includes a 6.3 mm adapter. Check the current price on Amazon if that is part of your decision.
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