Updated October 2026 · prices checked Oct 10, 2026. Discontinued amps (Magni Heresy, Atom Amp+, DX3 Pro+, Asgard 3) replaced with current models.
The Short Answer
If you want an amp at all: about 9 to 11 V into 120Ω, roughly 19 dB of headroom, under 0.1Ω output impedance.
The one-box pick from a bare laptop: about 3.9 V from the 6.35mm jack, roughly 12 dB above what the HD 560S needs.
The Sennheiser HD 560S is a 120Ω dynamic headphone that Sennheiser rates at 110 dB SPL at 1 kHz from 1 V. Run the numbers and it needs about 1 V RMS and 8 mW for 110 dB peaks — which is what a decent phone dongle or laptop jack already provides. Among the audiophile Sennheisers, this is the one that genuinely works without an amplifier.
So the honest recommendation has two halves. If the HD 560S is plugged into an Apple dongle or a reasonable laptop jack and you listen at sane levels: you are not missing much, spend nothing. If you listen loud, play dynamic material, or want the chain to grow with a future headphone: a Schiit Magni (Unity) ($119) or JDS Labs Atom Amp 2 ($129) adds about 19 dB of headroom, and a FiiO K11 R2R ($170) adds about 12 dB while replacing your DAC too.
What you should not buy for this headphone: an OTL tube amp. The section below explains why the pairing that flatters the HD 600 actively harms the HD 560S.
For the headphone itself: it’s the budget pick in my classical music guide and the top overall pick under $200 .
The Power Math
The arithmetic used in every pairing guide on this site, applied to the HD 560S:
- Sennheiser’s spec: 110 dB SPL at 1 kHz, 1 V — that’s 110 dB/V directly. (In dB/mW terms: 110 − 10·log10(1000/120) ≈ 101 dB/mW.)
- Voltage for 110 dB peaks: 1.0 V RMS. Current: 1.0/120 = 8.3 mA. Power: ~8 mW.
- With 6 dB of headroom (2× voltage): 2.0 V, ~33 mW.
- Output impedance ceiling (Z/8 rule): ≤15Ω to keep the frequency response as tuned.
Compare that to the HD 600’s 2.45 V requirement and the whole story is visible: the HD 560S sits on the easy side of the phone-output line, the 300Ω Sennheisers sit beyond it. The general theory is in What is headphone impedance? and Do I need a headphone amp? .
Sources vs the Requirement
Requirement: 1.0 V for 110 dB peaks, 2.0 V for comfortable headroom. Figures are manufacturer specs or ASR measurements; “derived” means calculated from a published voltage.
| Source | Available into ~120Ω | Headroom vs 1.0 V | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone jack / generic dongle | ~0.5–1 V typical | −6 to 0 dB | Quiet-to-adequate; varies by device |
| Apple USB-C dongle | ~1 V (ASR measurement) | ~0 dB | Reaches level, zero reserve |
| Laptop / motherboard 3.5 mm | ~1 V typical, Zout 1–30Ω+ | ~0 dB | Works if Zout is low; some jacks color the bass |
| FiiO K11 R2R (6.35mm) | ~3.9 V derived from FiiO’s 32Ω and 300Ω ratings | ~+12 dB | Comfortable |
| JDS Labs Atom Amp 2 | 9.25 V into 150Ω (JDS) | ~+19 dB | Effortless |
| Schiit Magni (Unity) | ~9–11 V derived from Schiit’s 50Ω and 300Ω ratings | ~+19 dB or more | Effortless |
| Topping DX5 II (6.35mm) | ~8.4–8.7 V derived from listed 32Ω and 300Ω figures | ~+18 dB | Effortless |
| Schiit Asgard X (¼-inch) | ~10 V derived from Schiit’s 50Ω and 300Ω ratings | ~+20 dB | Effortless |
Two honest readings of this table. First, every desktop amp is so far past the requirement that “which amp has enough power” is a solved question at $99 — differences between them on this headphone are output impedance (all fine), noise floor (all inaudible), and ergonomics. Second, the unamplified row isn’t a disaster the way it is for the HD 600: ~0 dB headroom means the average level is fine and only the loudest dynamic peaks compress.
Why Not a Tube Amp
The famous Sennheiser-plus-OTL-tube pairing — Darkvoice 336SE, Bottlehead Crack — works because the HD 600 and HD 650 are 300Ω with an impedance peak far above that. An OTL amp’s output impedance of 30–120Ω against 300Ω+ produces a gentle, mostly pleasant bass lift.
Against the HD 560S’s 120Ω, the same output impedance is a third to a full multiple of the headphone’s impedance — far beyond the 15Ω ceiling. The voltage divider now swings hard with the headphone’s impedance curve, and the result is response deviation you can hear as loose, uneven bass, not gentle warmth. If you want a softer, weightier HD 560S, a gentle low-shelf EQ does that precisely and for free, on any of the solid-state amps above. The background theory is in tube amp vs solid state .
Complete Chains at Three Budgets
| Budget | Chain | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | Existing dongle/laptop jack | $0 | Legitimate with this headphone; upgrade when you notice peak compression |
| ~$120 | Laptop USB → Magni (Unity) or Atom Amp 2 | $119–$129 | Fixes headroom; DAC later if ever |
| ~$170 | FiiO K11 R2R (USB in) | ~$170 | One box, done: the most common endpoint |
| ~$200 | Schiit Magni (Unity) with DAC card | $199 | One Schiit box |
| ~$270 | Schiit Modi 5 → Magni (Unity) | ~$268 | Separates for the upgrade-path minded |
Buy links: HD 560S See today's price for the Sennheiser HD 560S on Amazon ↗ · Magni (Unity) See today's price for the Schiit Magni (Unity) on Amazon ↗ See today's price for the Schiit Magni (Unity) from Schiit ↗ · Atom Amp 2 See today's price for the JDS Labs Atom Amp 2 from JDS ↗ · FiiO K11 R2R See today's price for the FiiO K11 R2R on Amazon ↗
What Changes vs the Other Sennheisers
- HD 600 / HD 650 (300Ω): genuinely need a desktop amp; tubes are a legitimate flavor. Guides: HD 600 , HD 650 .
- HD 58X (150Ω, discontinued): rated 104 dB at 1 V, so it needs about 2 V for 110 dB peaks, much closer to the 300Ω models than its impedance suggests. Guide: HD 58X .
- HD 550 (150Ω, 2025): listed at 106.7 dB/V, about 1.5 V for 110 dB peaks. A dongle gets close; any desktop amp here covers it.
- HD 560S (120Ω): works unamplified, improves modestly with a $119 amp, and should skip tubes. You just read the guide.
Final Recommendation
Run the HD 560S from whatever you own for the first month. If you never hear the loudest passages flatten out, you’re done, and the money belongs in music or a future headphone. If you do, buy a Magni (Unity) or Atom Amp 2, or the K11 R2R to solve DAC and amp at once, and consider the chain finished. This is one of the cheapest headphones to drive properly in the entire mid-fi catalog; treat that as the feature it is.
Related: Best headphones under $200 · Best headphones for classical music · Headphone amp reviews, ranked · How we research · HD 550 vs HD 560S vs HD 505 · Best amp for HD 490 Pro