Sennheiser’s New HD 490 PRO Headphones For Audio Engineers Sound Great

Most of the headphones that I assessment are made for customers. They are tuned to offer a dynamic bass and vast soundstage. While this may be spectacular, it’s not at all times an correct copy of the sound that the recording engineer or producer of a bit of music supposed. And how a bit of music is recorded and blended issues. That’s the place these new Sennheiser HD490 Pro headphones are available in.

Announced at NAMM 2024, the Sennheiser HD490 PRO are over-the-ear (circumaural), open-back, dynamic headphones which were created by Sennheiser’s skilled audio division and made with recording engineers and producers in thoughts. These are the last word headphones for an prolonged mixing session, guaranteeing that the ultimate combine is pristine.

The Sennheiser HD490 PRO is offered in a fundamental model with one set of ear pads and a 1.8m cable. There’s additionally a Pro Plus model that comes with two totally different units of ear pads; one for mixing and the opposite for producing. They are comprised of totally different supplies however each provide consolation throughout prolonged periods and with the open again design, there’s loads of air flow to maintain ears feeling recent.

The rationale behind the brand new design of the HD490 PRO is all the way down to the truth that the music business has modified considerably prior to now decade or so. Producers and engineers have huge quantities of computing energy that they’ll use to sculpt sounds on a recording. The result’s that typically, mixes may be crowded with complexity and competing frequencies can muddy the soundstage, creating audio blind spots.

To produce a clear combine and create a first-class combine, you want a pair of headphones that may unpick all these sounds in order that an ordered combine with all devices being heard clearly may be long-established to present the form of outcome that may win a Grammy.

To sort out this challenge, Sennheiser’s audio engineers set about creating the last word pair of headphones designed for the proper combine. The HD 490 PRO headphones have a large sound stage that’s perfect for exactly localizing all of the parts of a dynamic combine. Sennheiser’s engineers specified ultralight voice coils which might be quick sufficient to supply an genuine copy of a fancy combine. The dynamic 38mm drivers have an impedance of 130Ω and are perfect for plugging right into a mixing desk or skilled amplifier.

The HD490 Pro are a few of the most uncolored-sounding headphones I’ve ever examined and they’re in all probability top-of-the-line pairs of headphones at reproducing the whole audio spectrum whereas nonetheless defining a pure and full-bodied bass that’s produced by a particular low-frequency cylinder.

Sennheiser’s Open-frame Architecture minimizes the resonances and distortion from the motive force and creates a clear and uncolored sound that’s perfect for prolonged listening periods and that gained’t tire your ears. Lots of headphones are tuned to seize your consideration if you first put them on however they find yourself supplying you with a headache after half-hour. The transducers within the HD 490 PRO are set at a slight angle to breed the positioning of a typical monitor loudspeaker setup.

Sound high quality is just half the battle when you’re sporting headphones all by a working day. To make the HD 490 Pro as comfy as attainable for skilled use, Sennheiser created a light-weight and ergonomic design that might get rid of any strain factors on the wearer’s head. The headphones weigh in at 260g and the headscarf doesn’t press on the delicate apex level of the cranium. You will see there’s a notch lower out of the padded headband for that function.

The circumaural ear pads have patented smooth consolation zones across the temples the place the arms of eyeglasses may trigger an issue. The smooth consolation zones guarantee that there’s a good acoustic seal even when the wearer has glasses. Sennheiser has additionally utilized for a patent for the particular axes geometry of the HD 490 PRO. This design makes positive that the headphones adapt optimally to the wearer’s head when they’re placed on, sustaining an equal contact strain it doesn’t matter what the form of the consumer’s head.

Before designing the HD 490 PRO, Sennheiser carried out the most important skilled headphone survey the corporate has ever undertaken. The survey found that skilled customers stated impartial and flat reference audio was a very powerful characteristic they seemed for in studio headphones.

However, Sennheiser seemed additional into the survey, it found {that a} barely hotter sound was most well-liked over a 100% impartial response. To please its prospects, Sennheiser opted to offer its prospects with two pairs of headphones in a single by offering two totally different units of ear pads that had been fastidiously designed to form the sound in a different way.

The HD 490 PRO has two units of ear pads. The producing pads are made with velour and produce a barely hotter response that creates perspective and helps customers choose the general sound of a mixture. Meanwhile, the blending ear pads are made with material and produce a really flat and impartial sound that dives into the small print when a sound reference is required in ending off a mixture. Both units of ear pads are washable which is each hygienic and sustainable.

There’s one thing else that comes with the HD 490 PRO headphones: a free license for the dearVR MIX-SE plugin from Dear Reality. The plugin turns a DAW right into a digital mixing surroundings, simulating the fastidiously designed acoustics of perfect mixing serving to to create a balanced and constant translation of a mixture on totally different techniques.

One characteristic I like concerning the HD 490 PRO is how the removable headphone cable may be plugged into the precise or left earpiece for various recording setups and consumer preferences. The connector has a lock and it is a very safe plug design. A patented cable coil construction reduces the vibrations or microphonics. If the cable rubs towards the blending desk or some clothes, it gained’t transmit that sound to the headphones. There are clear left and proper designations on the within mud covers of every driver, whereas the headscarf fork carries braille info.

Although the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO are designed for mixing and producing, I believe these are some of the satisfying pairs of open-back headphones for music lovers. The impartial sound steadiness is near perfection, however in contrast to a whole lot of flat-response headphones, the HD 490 PRO have simply sufficient heat and bass extension to make them excellent for listening to well-recorded music.

Trying them out with some early Blue Note recordings or a few of Ella Fitzgerald’s songbooks, and the delicacy and articulation of the HD 490 PRO are there to listen to. These headphones are a delight. They sound excellent all through the frequency vary plus they’re a dream to put on.

The open-back design means your ears by no means overheat. Of course, as an open-back design, you do want to make use of them someplace quiet as exterior noises can attain your ears. Likewise, sound leaks from the HD 490 PRO like a proverbial sieve so I wouldn’t advocate them for the every day commute.

Verdict: Whether you’re producing your music or mixing a recording for another person, the brand new Sennheiser HD 490 PRO are about the most effective you may get by way of clear sound and dynamic soundstage. Despite their neutral-sounding profile, the HD 490 PRO don’t sound dry or flat. They have sufficient heat to make for an important combine and are merely chic with well-recorded music. The goodness doesn’t cease with the sound; these are a few of the most comfy over-the-ear headphones you’re ever prone to put on. The light-weight design means they are often worn for hours on finish. Overall, the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO are in all probability the most effective pair {of professional} open-back headphones available on the market.

Pricing & Availability: The HD 490 PRO is delivered full with two totally different units of ear pads (mixing and producing) plus a 1.8 m headphone cable and a dearVR MIX-SE license. The Price is $399 / £399 / €399. The HD 490 PRO Plus headphones are priced at $479 / £479 / €479 and features a 3m cable, a transport case, plus an additional material headband pad along with the usual velour headband. All the extras that ship with the Plus mannequin are additionally obtainable as particular person equipment if you wish to improve later. A balanced headphone cable is offered as an non-obligatory additional for $39 / £39 / €39.

More data: sennheiser.com

Tech Specs:

• Ear coupling: Circumaural.
• Transducer precept: Dynamic.
• Transducer diameter: 38mm.
• Frequency response: 5 – 36,000Hz, 100Hz (-10 dB).
• Sensitivity: 105dB SPL (1 kHz/1 V_rms); 96 dB SPL (1 kHz/1 mW).
• Max. sound strain degree: 128 dB SPL (1 kHz, 5% THD).
• THD: <0.2% (1 kHz, 100 dB SPL).
• Impedance: 130Ω (1 kHz)
• Power ranking: 300mW (100h, noise IEC 60268).
• Weight (w/o cable): 260g.