Sennheiser

Sennheiser 508697 HD 599 Open-Back Headphones Black

4.5 (8200 reviews)

Experience wide, natural soundstage and all-day comfort with Sennheiser's open-back HD 599 headphones.

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Overview

The Sennheiser HD 599 open-back headphones sit in the sweet spot between entry-level and audiophile-grade listening, delivering a refined, natural sound signature that the 500 series is known for. The open-back design allows air to flow through the ear cups, eliminating the pressurized feeling of closed-back headphones and producing a spacious soundstage where instruments and vocals feel positioned around you rather than inside your head. Sennheiser's proprietary E.A.R. (Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement) technology angles the transducers to direct sound more precisely into the ear canal, resulting in improved imaging and a more lifelike listening experience.

Comfort is a clear priority in the HD 599's design. The large, velour-covered ear pads distribute pressure evenly and allow airflow to keep your ears cool, while the padded headband and lightweight 260-gram build make these headphones easy to wear for hours at a stretch. The detachable cable system is a practical touch, with both a long 3m cable for home audio setups and a shorter 1.2m cable for connecting to laptops or portable devices. With a 50-ohm impedance, the HD 599 is undemanding enough to sound good from a phone or laptop headphone jack, while still scaling up nicely when paired with a dedicated headphone amplifier. These headphones are best suited for home use — music listening, gaming, mixing reference, or podcast consumption — where their open-back sound leakage is not a concern.

Key Features

Open Back and Around Ear Headphones

Ergonomic acoustic refining (E.A.R. ), which directs the audio signal directly to your ear

Thanks to the large earmuffs with soft, replaceable ear pads, there is no pressure on your ears, just sound

Sound Pressure Level: (SPL)106dBSPL (1kHz/1Vrms)

RCA Plug

Specifications

Brand
Sennheiser
Model
508697
Type
Open-Back, Over-Ear
Acoustic Technology
Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement (E.A.R.)
Impedance
50 Ohm
Sound Pressure Level
106 dB SPL (1kHz/1Vrms)
Frequency Response
38,400 Hz
Connectivity
Wired
Plug
6.35mm Jack / 3.5mm with adapter
Cable Length
3m (6.3mm) / 1.2m (3.5mm)
Cable Feature
Detachable
Ear Pad Material
Velour, Replaceable
Weight
0.26 kg
Color
Black
Included Components
HD 599 Headphones, 3m Cable (6.3mm), 1.2m Cable (3.5mm), 6.3mm to 3.5mm Adapter

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Open-back design produces a wide, airy soundstage with natural instrument separation
  • Lightweight build at 260 grams with plush velour ear pads allows comfortable extended listening sessions
  • Detachable cable system with two included cable lengths adds versatility for different setups
  • 50-ohm impedance is low enough to be driven by phones, laptops, and portable players without a dedicated amp
  • E.A.R. driver angling improves stereo imaging and tonal accuracy

👎 Cons

  • Open-back construction leaks sound in both directions, making them impractical for noisy environments or shared spaces
  • No active noise cancellation despite what some product listings suggest — these are purely passive, open headphones
  • Bulky over-ear design is not portable or suited for on-the-go use
  • The 3m primary cable is unwieldy for desktop use without cable management
  • Plastic construction feels less premium than metal-bodied competitors at a similar price

Frequently Asked Questions

Open-back means the ear cups have ventilated housings that allow air and sound to pass through. This creates a wider, more natural soundstage but does allow sound to leak out, making them best suited for quiet, private listening environments.
Yes. The large velour ear pads are designed to be removable and replaceable, which helps extend the lifespan of the headphones.
The headphones come with a 3m cable with a 6.3mm straight jack, a 1.2m cable with a 3.5mm straight jack, and a 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter, covering both home hi-fi and portable device connections.
With 50-ohm impedance, the HD 599 can be driven by most devices without a dedicated amplifier, though a quality DAC or headphone amp can further enhance their performance.
E.A.R. stands for Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement. It angles the drivers within the ear cups to direct the audio signal more naturally toward your ears, improving spatial accuracy and tonal balance.