The Sennheiser HD 505 Copper Edition is another new consumer headphones released under license by Sonova. While the design is largely similar to the recent models like the HD 620S and the HD 560S series, the HD 505 is a little more striking with the copper colour accents that add a touch of style. And they retail at S$399 in Singapore.
The choice of a plain brown retail package is puzzling as it does not describe the product when displayed on the retail shelves, but it is clear that Sennheiser is playing its part in reducing carbon footprint with its 100% recyclable packaging.
I also noticed that on the safety guide in the package, there is a mention of “HD 550”.
As of 26 Feb 2025, there were no search results but I found someone from France sold a “HD 550” with photos. It appears to have the standard retail box design and the body is entirely in black just like the HD 620S. But given “HD 550” appears on the safety guide, I can safely say (pun intended) that the HD 550 and the HD505 use identical design mould, and that the transducer will be different.
Anyway, back to the HD 505, it feels more comfortable to wear compared to the HD560S fitted with similar pads. The ear cushions seem to fit better on my head. I also prefer the velour ear cushions compared to the HD620S leather ones. At 237 grams, the HD 505 is also the lightest among these recent predecessors.
I have a concern though about the choice of leather pad wrap around the headband. They don’t look easily replaceable unlike the HD 620S or HD 560S headbands with adhesive cushion pad. When the synthetic leather starts to peel, that’s when the headphones lose its desirability, and owners would have to find solutions to cover the headband peel. Clearly the HD 505 is targeted at consumers who are more attracted to form than function.
But let’s move on to discuss the most important feature of the HD 505 – its sound. And while I received this review headphones more than two weeks back, on the very day of launch announcement 10 Feb, I had to focus on completing my FiiO headphones review before jumping onto this. The package comes with a 1.8m single-ended 3.5mm connector with 6.3mm adapter, but for his review, I tested using with my personal third-party 4.4mm balanced cable which makes the HD 505 sound clearer as it delivers more power to the transducers. With the stock cables, while you can just turn up the volume, it just doesn’t sound as clear and balanced.
As much as I want to be objective about sharing my opinions, the judgement is always subjective as long as there is human element. Graphs don’t lie, but they only tell part of a story. I do not have equipment to perform headphones measurement, but thanks to proliferation of headphone reviewers, it is not difficult for you to find comparisons of the frequency response curves. Before I talk about my impression, here is an excerpt taken from the Sennheiser website:
…the sound of a piano returning to its resting position; the subtle hum of a tube amp; the saxophonist inhaling; a synth line buried deep in the mix. The HD 505 reveals a whole new world of small details like these. And it works for everything: music, movies, and gaming, too! People sometimes call it “high resolution” or “analytical” sound. (Contrast this with lesser audio products tuned for big, sloppy bass and crazy amounts of treble — but weak or mushy in the middle.)
I took a much shorter time to like the Sennheiser HD 505 compared to the FiiO FT1 Pro, which goes to show how close to mainstream the HD 505 is tuned. While the FT1 Pro is a tad dark for my taste, the HD 505 is just right. The treble is a little more detailed and clearer, but still not as excessive as the recent IE-series. My ears did not demand for brighter tuning when I listen to them, which is a good thing.
The midrange is very enjoyable. I like headphones with prominent midrange but tuned to exude warmth without sounding too muddy. Thanks to the open-back form, the resonance is dispersed effectively. Upper midrange is also tuned to deliver vocal intimacy with subtle air, Kenny G’s saxophone never get to hurt my ears.
The bass is also giving out adequate rumbles that indicate to the listener that there are low frequency outputs, but not the bass-head kind of intensity, fortunately. Mid-bass is also sounding clean and linear which translates to good musical support to the rest of the frequency.
The HD 620S is a closed-back headphones and so its audio characteristics is different and cannot be compared directly. One who likes the closed-back will not like open-back, and vice versa, because of the acoustic chamber around the transducer. It’s like comparing a pair of speakers when listening in a small studio versus a concert hall.
Between the two, I favour the open-back HD 505 because the sound is more open, more natural. What the HD 620S is good at is the better clarity and finer performance details, like the reverbs in the recording, more intense bass, able to enjoy in a noisy room. But I cannot listen the HD 620S at too high a volume as the sound just gets too pushy without any space to release, hence the upper midrange is not as tonally accurate. On the other hand, the HD 505 is best enjoyed at high volumes, and depending on your ears sensitivity, you will feel closer with all the recorded elements without the unwanted sound pressure.
How does the HD 505 compare to the HD 800S? Should I even compare? Yes actually. Both have their plus points. The HD 800S excels in the sound staging, instrumental separation, a lot more analytical, and its details are much more obvious. The HD 505 is comparatively less detailed, but it is less fatiguing to listen to because the treble is less elevated, while the bass has more presence. I would say the HD 800S is more enjoyable for instrumental genres, while the HD 505 works great for all genres.
Verdict
The Sennheiser HD 505 are excellent headphones to get consumers started on the audiophile sound. There is no massive bass nor excessive treble transparency. What it delivers are dynamic refined sound, balanced to allow the listener to experience the full frequency range without under- or over-representing.
If you already own the other famed headphones like the HD 650, I don’t think you should be swayed to get the HD 505, because the HD 505 is not created to beat the HD 650, but to win new consumers who have not owned an audiophile Senn. For a slightly cheaper alternative, you can check out the FiiO FT1 Pro that I just reviewed last week. Finally, there is no better way to decide than to visit your preferred audio shop that offers test units to try.
