If you want a closed-back wired headphone that keeps sound from leaking into the room, choose beyerdynamic DT 770; if you need an open-back headphone with a wider, more natural sense of space, choose Sennheiser HD 560. For TV watching, the main choice is between contained listening and an open presentation; neither model is wireless.
• beyerdynamic DT 770: Closed-back construction helps limit sound leakage, and its 80-ohm version is designed for studio monitoring. The trade-off is a fixed wired connection and a long cable that may need managing near the sofa.
• Sennheiser HD 560: Open-back earcups and angled drivers are designed to create a spacious, lifelike presentation. The trade-off is that an open design does not isolate the listener from room sound or keep headphone audio contained.
• Choose the DT 770 if you want more separation from the room and less sound escaping; choose the HD 560 if you want an open presentation for focused listening.
• Both are over-ear, wired headphones with cables around 3 meters long, so a convenient connection to your TV or audio equipment matters with either pick.
The DT 770 is the more practical choice when listening privately matters. Its closed-back design is intended to reduce sound leakage, a useful trait when someone else is reading or sleeping nearby. That construction also makes it the stronger fit for recording situations where microphone pickup of headphone audio can be a concern. For TV, the same enclosure can help make listening feel more contained, although the headphones themselves do not provide wireless convenience or active noise control.
This version has an 80-ohm impedance and a wired 3.5 mm connector, with a 1/4-inch adapter included. The supplied 3-meter straight cable gives room to sit back from nearby equipment, but it is still a physical tether. Check the output connection on your TV, receiver, or other audio device before choosing it. The 80-ohm specification is presented for versatile studio use; it should not be confused with a wireless or self-powered setup.
The black velour ear pads are described as soft and breathable for extended listening, and the over-ear fit is built around long studio sessions. Its frequency range is listed as 5 Hz to 35,000 Hz, but a wide published range alone does not determine whether a headphone will suit your taste. One practical advantage beyond listening is serviceability: the pads, headband, and drivers can be replaced.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-17 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the DT 770 if you want an open, airy design, a detachable cable, or a wireless way to watch TV.
The HD 560 takes the opposite approach. Its open-back earcups are designed to let sound waves expand naturally, while angled drivers aim to create a broad, lifelike sound field. That makes it a compelling option for someone who wants dialogue, music, and soundtrack details to feel less confined to the earcups. For television, this may appeal during a quiet, focused program or a music-heavy film when a spacious presentation is the priority.
It is wired, with a detachable 3-meter cable and a 6.3 mm plug plus a 3.5 mm adapter described in the product information. That combination offers connection flexibility, but you still need to confirm that your TV setup has a compatible output or an appropriate audio connection. The stated impedance is 120 ohms, and the product description notes low-impedance drivers with flexibility across devices such as laptops, audio interfaces, and A/V receivers. Either way, the cable—not a wireless link—is what connects you to your source.
Sennheiser highlights natural reference sound, controlled bass, and a lightweight design for longer sessions. The listed frequency range is 6 Hz to 38 kHz. Those figures and design choices point toward careful listening rather than isolation: an open headphone lets more of the room in and more of the headphone sound out. If you share a room, watch late at night, or need to keep nearby people from hearing your program, that openness can be a drawback rather than a benefit.
Who should skip it: Skip the HD 560 if you need closed-back isolation or want to keep TV audio from leaking into the room.
• Best fit for limiting sound leakage → beyerdynamic DT 770. Its closed-back construction is the key difference if people nearby should hear less of your program.
• Best fit for an open, spacious presentation → Sennheiser HD 560. The open earcups and angled drivers are designed to produce a wider, more lifelike sound field.
• Best for a shared room or late-night listening → beyerdynamic DT 770. Its closed design is more appropriate when you want listening to stay contained, though it is not described as active noise-canceling.
• Best for letting room sound remain audible → Sennheiser HD 560. The open-back design does not isolate you from what is happening around you.
• Best for a replaceable cable → Sennheiser HD 560. Its cable is detachable; the DT 770’s listed cable is a 3-meter straight cable.
• Best for long studio sessions and replaceable parts → beyerdynamic DT 770. Its velour pads are designed for extended wear, and the pads, headband, and drivers can be replaced.
• Best for connecting through either a 3.5 mm or 1/4-inch plug → beyerdynamic DT 770. It has a 3.5 mm connector and a 1/4-inch adapter; the HD 560 includes a 6.3 mm plug with a 3.5 mm adapter.
• Best for TV watching without a cable-free setup → neither has the advantage. Both are wired, so the connection point and cable reach in your room should guide the decision.
For TV use, start with the way you watch rather than with the frequency range. If you want less headphone sound escaping into the room, the DT 770’s closed-back design has the clearer practical advantage. If you want to hear more of your surroundings and prefer an open, roomy presentation, the HD 560 is the more natural match. These are different design priorities, not interchangeable claims about one headphone being universally superior.
Next, check the connection on the device that will send audio to the headphones. Both models have long cables, but the plugs are arranged differently: the DT 770 uses a 3.5 mm connector with a 1/4-inch adapter, while the HD 560 comes with a 6.3 mm plug and a 3.5 mm adapter. An adapter can address plug size, but it does not make a wired headphone wireless. If your television is across the room or lacks a suitable headphone output, you may need to think through the rest of your audio setup before deciding.
Also consider the people and sounds around you. The DT 770 is the more sensible pick when privacy and reduced leakage matter. The HD 560’s open earcups may feel more natural to someone who dislikes a closed-in listening presentation, but they make it less suited to a quiet shared room. Neither product’s supplied information describes wireless TV listening or active noise cancellation, so do not buy either expecting those features.
The phrases “best sports earbuds for TV watching,” “best open ear headphones for TV watching,” and “best spatial audio headband headphones for TV watching” describe other kinds of searches, but these two products are wired over-ear headphones. Between them, the HD 560 is the open-back choice, not a claim of spatial-audio processing. The DT 770 is closed-back, not an earbud. If those specific form factors or capabilities are essential, these models may not match what you are looking for.
I would choose the beyerdynamic DT 770 for TV watching if my priority were a more contained listening experience in a shared room. Its closed-back design, long cable, and replaceable parts make a practical combination for private listening and extended sessions. I would choose the Sennheiser HD 560 instead when an open, spacious presentation matters more than isolation. My pick for the use case here is the DT 770, but only if a wired connection and its closed-back character suit your setup.
FAQ
For more contained listening and reduced sound leakage, the DT 770 is the better fit because it has closed-back earcups. Choose the HD 560 if you prefer an open-back presentation and do not need isolation.
Both are described as wired headphones. The DT 770 has a 3.5 mm connection with a 1/4-inch adapter, while the HD 560 has a 6.3 mm plug with a 3.5 mm adapter; check which output your TV or audio equipment supports.
No. Its open-back design is intended to let sound expand naturally, not to isolate the listener from the room. It is a better match for a quieter setting where hearing some surroundings is acceptable.
The DT 770’s pads, headband, and drivers are described as replaceable, giving it a serviceability advantage. The HD 560 has a detachable cable, which is useful if cable removal or replacement is important to you.
• Voistek Headset vs Wantek USB Headset comparison
• MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones vs Generic Over Ear Headphones
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.