If you want a wired over-ear headset with a clear microphone for gaming and TV watching, choose beyerdynamic 718300; if you need open-back headphones for spacious, natural music listening, choose Sennheiser HD 560. For most TV viewers who also want to talk while gaming, I’d choose the beyerdynamic. The Sennheiser is the more focused pick for listening closely to music.
beyerdynamic 718300 vs Sennheiser HD 560 at a Glance
• beyerdynamic 718300: Its standout advantage is the integrated microphone, paired with over-ear design and a wired 3.5 mm connection. Its trade-off is that it is built around headset use, not an open-back listening experience.
• For gaming and conversation: Choose the beyerdynamic if you want a headset with clear speech transmission and a fit intended to stay secure during long sessions.
• For focused music listening: Choose the Sennheiser if you value open-back presentation, detailed reference-style sound, and a detachable cable.
• For TV watching: The beyerdynamic is the more practical all-rounder when watching goes hand in hand with gaming or voice chat; the Sennheiser is the more music-oriented choice.
The beyerdynamic 718300, also called the MMX 300 Second Generation, is a wired, over-ear headset designed with gaming and multimedia use in mind. Its most useful distinction in this comparison is the integrated microphone. The product information describes its microphone as supporting clear speech, which makes the headset a natural fit for voice chat as well as listening. The 3.5 mm connection and volume control add straightforward wired operation.
Its design also reflects extended sessions. The headset is described as lightweight, while its higher clamping pressure is intended to help it remain in place during long gaming sessions. That secure fit could suit someone who moves around in their chair or shifts position while playing. The materials include metal and high-grade plastics, and the listed frequency range is 5 Hz to 35 kHz. Those figures describe the product, but they do not tell the whole story of how it will sound with a particular television or gaming setup.
I would consider this model if I wanted one pair of headphones for TV, gaming, and conversations, especially when the microphone matters. I would skip it if my main goal were an open, airy presentation for carefully listening to music, or if I did not want a headset with a snug fit. The provided information describes sound isolation as a feature, but it does not provide a specific noise-reduction figure, so I would not treat that as a guarantee of blocking household sounds.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
The Sennheiser HD 560 is a wired, over-ear, open-back headphone aimed at listeners who want a natural and spacious presentation. Its earcups allow sound to travel more freely than a closed design, and its drivers are angled to create a wider listening field. That makes its central appeal different from the beyerdynamic’s: it is designed around music listening and soundstage, not around a built-in microphone or gaming headset features.
Sennheiser describes the sound as reference-oriented, with extended low-end reach and controlled bass. The listed frequency range is 6 Hz to 38 kHz, and the headphone uses a 120-ohm impedance. Those specifications can help identify the product, but they cannot guarantee that every source will drive it equally well or that every listener will prefer its tuning. The included cable is detachable and 3 meters long, with a 6.3 mm plug and a 3.5 mm adapter described in the product information. That offers connection flexibility for compatible listening equipment.
I would choose the HD 560 if I mainly wanted to sit down with music and hear a broad, open presentation. The listed lightweight design is also a point in its favor for longer listening sessions. I would skip it for voice chat, since the supplied information does not list an integrated microphone. I would also avoid choosing it on the assumption that open-back headphones isolate sound: the HD 560 is explicitly open-back, and its noise control is listed as none.
• Best fit for gaming with voice chat → beyerdynamic 718300. Its integrated microphone and headset design make it the clearer match when speaking to other players is part of the session.
• Best for open-back music listening → Sennheiser HD 560. Its open earcups and angled drivers are designed to produce a spacious, natural listening field.
• Best for a secure fit during long gaming sessions → beyerdynamic 718300. Its higher clamping pressure is intended to keep it in place, though listeners who dislike a snug fit may find that a drawback.
• Best for a detachable cable → Sennheiser HD 560. Its cable detaches and is described as 3 meters long, with a 6.3 mm plug and a 3.5 mm adapter.
• Best for microphone clarity → beyerdynamic 718300. Its high-quality microphone is specifically identified as a feature for speech intelligibility.
• Best if you want sound isolation as a listed feature → beyerdynamic 718300. Its product details identify sound isolation; the HD 560 lists no noise control. Neither description supplies a measured level of isolation.
• Best for TV watching plus gaming → beyerdynamic 718300. It combines over-ear listening with a microphone, which is useful when a TV session also involves multiplayer play or conversation.
• Best for TV watching as a music-listening experience → Sennheiser HD 560. Its open-back construction and wide soundstage are better aligned with someone prioritizing musical space over headset functions.
These distinctions matter more than the brand names alone. “Beyerdynamic vs Sennheiser headphones” is not simply a choice between two versions of the same kind of product. The 718300 is a headset with a microphone and a secure-fit emphasis. The HD 560 is an open-back headphone built around a spacious listening experience. If you want one pair to cover gaming, voice chat, and regular TV watching, the beyerdynamic has the more directly useful feature set. If the microphone is irrelevant and soundstage is your priority, the Sennheiser makes more sense.
The open-back design deserves particular attention before choosing the HD 560 for television. An open presentation can make listening feel less confined, but it is not the same as isolating you from the room. The Sennheiser’s product information lists no noise control, while the beyerdynamic lists sound isolation. That does not establish exactly how much outside sound either product will reduce. It does show that the HD 560 is the more openly designed option, and that may not suit a noisy room or a listener who wants to keep TV sound private.
Some shoppers searching for the best sports earbuds for TV watching may actually be looking for something compact and wireless. Neither of these products is an earbud: both are wired, over-ear headphones. Similarly, someone looking for the best open ear headphones for TV watching should note that open-back does not mean the same thing as an open-ear wearable. The HD 560 has open-back earcups; it still sits over the ears. And neither product is a spatial audio headband. The HD 560’s wide soundstage comes from its open-back design and angled drivers, not from a headband-based spatial audio feature.
Connection details can also shape the decision. The beyerdynamic uses a 3.5 mm jack, while the Sennheiser is listed with a 6.3 mm jack and a 3.5 mm adapter. The supplied information does not specify which connectors a particular television has, so check your TV’s audio outputs before choosing either one. Both are wired, and neither should be mistaken for a wireless TV headphone system. If the cable arrangement or connector would make your living-room setup awkward, that is a practical reason to look beyond this pair of options.
Comfort is personal, so the design descriptions are more useful than a blanket promise. The beyerdynamic is described as lightweight and has a firmer clamping force intended to keep it secure. That can be welcome for gaming but may not suit everyone. The HD 560 is also described as lightweight, with an emphasis on comfortable extended listening. Its open-back construction may appeal to someone who dislikes a closed-in listening feel. I would weigh those design aims against whether you prefer a secure headset fit or an open headphone feel.
My Verdict
In my opinion, I would buy the beyerdynamic 718300 for TV watching if I also wanted a microphone for gaming and conversation. Its headset design, 3.5 mm connection, and secure-fit emphasis make it the more versatile choice for that mixed use.
For TV watching combined with gaming or voice chat, the beyerdynamic 718300 is the more practical fit because it has an integrated microphone. For listening to music through a TV setup, the HD 560 may suit someone who prefers open-back headphones and a wide soundstage.
The beyerdynamic 718300 is a headset with a microphone intended to provide clear speech. The supplied details for the Sennheiser HD 560 do not list an integrated microphone, so I would not choose it when microphone use is essential.
The beyerdynamic’s product details list sound isolation, while the Sennheiser HD 560 lists no noise control and has open-back earcups. The available information does not give a measured isolation level, so neither should be treated as a guaranteed way to block specific sounds.
Choose the Sennheiser HD 560 if you want an open-back design, angled drivers, and a wide listening field. Choose the beyerdynamic 718300 if a microphone and a headset suited to gaming and multimedia are more important than an explicitly open-back presentation. If price matters to your decision, check the current price on Amazon.
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