The HIFIMAN HE-560 V4 is a headphone I’ve had for a couple of years, sometimes I may have written it off, or I didn't develop a real taste before I got around to judging it. The HE-560 V4 is a great headphone and is one of my favorite value headphones I’ve purchased.

My HiFi hobby habits were very sporadic and impulsive when I decided to purchase. I didn’t slow down and learn some base definitions before diving head first, but that can also be the fun of the hobby.

As I’m getting deeper into exploring the most important part of my chain, the sources, I've been able to discover the versatility of the HE-560 V4, and how surprised I am years later that a headphone I purchased on Adorama years for a Black Friday sale turned out to be such an enjoyable headphone.

The HIFIMAN HE-560 V4 is a lightweight headphone with a high-quality, reference sound. This headphone unsurprisingly complements neutral headphones like the HD 600 very well, but with the Sennheisers being more forward.

The HE-560 V4 is a planar magnetic headphone, and it has a wider sense of stage compared to the HD 600 and HD 650. I would argue that the more intricate layering provided by the HE-560 V4 makes it a more engaging and intimate headphone, and the ambiance it provides really encapsulates you in a different way.

The HE-560 V4 pulls you into the sound with its resolution; it's an intimate presentation that isn’t as precise and defined in the note quality as the HE6se V2 or HE1000se, but is still highly musical. It sits somewhere between the HD 600, HE6seV2, and HE1000se as a jack-of-all-trades. It provides a large soundstage with the ability to render complex dynamics with instrument separation to engage the user. It has a more neutral-warm sound signature with an open and wider layering to the sound.

The bass is smooth, impactful, and thorough, going to the lowest of lows while also reaching middle-ground in its quality and slam where it excels in its presentation. The bass quality gives character, and depth to a track.

The HE-560 V4 is definitely an option that I'd wholeheartedly recommend for someone wanting to experience a smooth, engaging, dynamic, and quality sound. It has a nice ambiance through its dynamism, capturing all the details in its stage, and giving the notes definition and an encompassing atmosphere. 

I’ve found that the HE-560 V4 pairs perfectly with neutral gear. Because, at its base, the quality is resolving; when you mix the neutral details into the HE-560 V4, it becomes very lively, not in the sense that it’s a little bright, but it’s very dynamic while being non-fatiguing due to it's warmer base signature.

It can be a great experience listening to the HE-560 V4; it can get very energetic and engage you in the sound with its versatility and more relaxed signature. At $269 during Black Friday for a budget headphone like the HE-560 V4; it’s a steal. The HE-560 V4 is a reference-grade headphone and provides intimacy and detail with great engagement. I would recommend the HE-560 V4 to anyone looking for an atmospherically cozy setting.

Product Links:

HIFIMAN HE-560 V4: Amazon

Sources: Audio-GD HE-7, Topping D90SE, Yulong D18

USB: Singxer SU-6

Amplifiers: ampsandsound Kenzie OG Rev 2, ampsandsound Nautilus