Studio & Professional Headphones
Sennheiser HD 480 PRO Plus
7.7/10SoundGuys scoreRead our review ›
$399at Amazon
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1 / 10Sennheiser
Sennheiser HD 490 PRO
Sound
3.6/ 5
SoundMDAQS OverallMDAQS Overall — measured in the SoundGuys lab.
See the lab data ↓Frequency response · Isolation · Audio quality
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Key specs
Acoustic Design
Open-backClosed-back56%Open-back37%Semi-open8%
Open-back appears on 37% of the 63 studio & professional headphones we've cataloged (of 67).
Impedance
130 ΩAbove average130 Ω
18 Ω120 Ω
above average for studio & professional headphones — based on 54 of 67 we've cataloged.
Connection Type
Most commonWired-3.5mm92%Wired-6.35mm8%
Wired-3.5mm is the most common — on 92% of the 65 studio & professional headphones we've cataloged (of 67).
Weight
260 gBelow average260 g
120 g544 g
below average for studio & professional headphones — based on 55 of 67 we've cataloged.
Sound
- Acoustic Design
- Open-back
- Impedance
- 130 Ω
- Driver Size
- 38 mm
- Driver Type
- Dynamic driver
- Frequency Response
- 5-36000 Hz
- Frequency Response High Hz
- 36000 Hz
- Frequency Response Low Hz
- 5 Hz
- Max Spl
- 128 dB SPL
- Sensitivity
- 96 dB/mW
Connectivity
- Connection Type
- Wired-3.5mm, wired-6.35mm
- Cable Type
- 3.5mm single-ended, 6.3mm
Design
- Weight
- 260 g
- Color Options
- Black
- Ear Pad Type
- Velour, fabric
- Detachable Cable
- Yes
- Foldable
- No
- Headband Type
- Adjustable over-head
Build
- Material Chassis Primary
- Plastic, metal
Identity
- Model Number
- 700286
Microphone
- Microphone
- No
Release
- Date
- 2024-01
- Msrp Usd
- 399.99 USD
- Year
- 2024
Lab data
How we test ›Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
Sennheiser HD 490 PRO Frequency Response (measured on a B&K 5128)
Click a line or a legend entry to highlight it. Click again to clear.Tap a legend entry to highlight its line. Tap again to clear.
Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | -6.6 |
| 25 | -5.1 |
| 32 | -3.6 |
| 40 | -2.6 |
| 50 | -2.0 |
| 63 | -2.0 |
| 80 | -1.8 |
| 100 | -1.9 |
| 125 | -2.2 |
| 160 | -2.6 |
| 200 | -2.7 |
| 250 | -2.6 |
| 315 | -2.3 |
| 400 | -1.9 |
| 500 | -1.6 |
| 630 | -0.8 |
| 800 | -0.6 |
| 1000 | 0.6 |
| 1250 | 1.6 |
| 1600 | 1.7 |
| 2000 | 3.0 |
| 2500 | 6.5 |
| 3150 | 8.1 |
| 4000 | 10.4 |
| 5000 | 8.1 |
| 6300 | 9.2 |
| 8000 | 4.8 |
| 10000 | 2.7 |
| 12500 | -0.4 |
| 16000 | -3.0 |
| 20000 | -24.4 |
Sennheiser HD 490 PRO Attenuation (measured on a B&K 5128)
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Solid lines: passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -0.0 |
| 26 | -0.0 |
| 33 | -0.1 |
| 41 | -0.0 |
| 52 | -0.0 |
| 65 | 0.1 |
| 82 | -0.1 |
| 103 | -0.1 |
| 130 | 0.0 |
| 163 | -0.1 |
| 205 | -0.1 |
| 259 | -0.1 |
| 325 | 0.0 |
| 410 | -0.3 |
| 516 | -0.2 |
| 613 | -0.3 |
| 772 | -0.7 |
| 972 | -1.2 |
| 1220 | -2.2 |
| 1540 | -0.7 |
| 1940 | 2.0 |
| 2440 | 1.3 |
| 3070 | 3.7 |
| 3870 | 9.9 |
| 4870 | 17.6 |
| 6130 | 21.8 |
| 7720 | 13.3 |
| 9720 | 5.9 |
| 12200 | 11.2 |
| 15400 | 12.7 |
| 19400 | 2.9 |
Sennheiser HD 490 PRO MDAQS
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores, Scale 1 - 5
Mean opinion score
3.7
3.6
2.9
3.6
TimbreDistortionImmersivenessOverall
Virtual mean opinion scores (MOS) on a 1–5 scale, modeled from the measured response by HEAD acoustics’ MDAQS (Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score) model. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
SoundGuys review
SOUNDGUYS rating
Reviewed byChase BernathBrand & Partnerships ManagerReviewed March 2024
6.8/ 10
Worth a lookIsolation2.4
Comfort & fit9.5
Connectivity6.5
Design9.0
Portability5.0
Features8.0
The verdict
The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO are a great option for anyone doing professional audio work. The design is tailored for producers and mixing engineers, with swappable ear pads providing sound and comfort options. With durability, versatility, and excellent sound quality, you can't go wrong with these if you want open back headphones.
✓Liked: Neutral sound, Two ear pad options, Lightweight and comfortable, Free dearVR MIX-SE plugin
✕Could be better: Difficult to swap the ear pads
Owners
How we verify ownersNobody who owns the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO has written in yet.
Owner reviews are not paid for, not solicited from specific owners, and not rewritten by us: at most we proofread typos, which is shown on the review’s own page and which the author can undo. The commission SoundGuys may earn on this page comes from retail links, never from owner reviews.
Own the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO?
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Questions from readers
What readers ask about the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO, answered by the people who own it.
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Ask the first question →Video reviews and comparisons for this product.
Features & Opinions
More from the team ›Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 made me realize I'm a stem guyMy quest for the perfect do-it-all earbuds might be harder than I thought.
Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterThe Sennheiser Momentum 5 earbuds make your AirPods look like e-wasteDead batteries kill more earbuds than anything else. Sennheiser just fixed that.
Adam BirneyManaging Editor3 headphones I would buy instead of the AirPods Max 2These premium headphones deliver class-leading ANC, longer battery life, and more flexibility for less money.Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterThe end of budget audio's best bargain: RIP HD 6XXIt was one hell of a run.
Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.
Tom TriggsContributorThe 5 best headphones to look forward to in 2026Strap in — we're in for a wild year.Tom TriggsContributorI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help youChristian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-large
Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterThe Sennheiser Momentum 5 earbuds make your AirPods look like e-wasteDead batteries kill more earbuds than anything else. Sennheiser just fixed that.Adam BirneyManaging Editor3 headphones I would buy instead of the AirPods Max 2These premium headphones deliver class-leading ANC, longer battery life, and more flexibility for less money.Dave CarrVideo Producer/WriterThe end of budget audio's best bargain: RIP HD 6XXIt was one hell of a run.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.Tom TriggsContributorThe 5 best headphones to look forward to in 2026Strap in — we're in for a wild year.Tom TriggsContributorI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help youChristian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeMore Studio & Professional Headphones
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