New Sennheiser HD490 Pro

[RoA]

Not a fan of all the different layers of thin-looking plastics held together by screws. I love the simplicity of the HD580 design that's followed through the HD600 to HD660S2. Just a baffle with the pads clipping on one side and the driver and grille on the other. All thick durable plastic.

Sennheiser made these for the pro market. Whilst only time will tell I would make a calculated guess based on Sennheiser's design history that the 490's are exceptionally well built.

 

[Count Arthur]

Sennheiser made these for the pro market. Whilst only time will tell I would make a calculated guess based on Sennheiser's design history that the 490's are exceptionally well built.

Yes, I'd say that Sennheiser know a thing or two about making lightweight, durable headphones.

These would probably survive a flight on a Boeing.

 

[Moderate Dionysianism]

I wouldn't consider buying a Sennheiser with a number less than 600.

HD380Pro is an absolute beast, tremendous comfort, zero noticeable distortion, great sound straight out of the box.

 

[isostasy]

HD380Pro is an absolute beast, tremendous comfort, zero noticeable distortion, great sound straight out of the box.

I believe they were joking

 

[truckers_atlas]

Probably just to look nice in the promo video. Better ones in the release briefing:

Still no mention of device used or compensation. Assuming B&K 5128 based on above interview and use of 5128 measurements for recent HD660S2 and IE200, though those are shown uncompensated.

Listener reverse-engineered the Sennheiser measurement to find that it was calibrated against a flat diffuse field target for a 5128.

Here's what the Sennheiser measurement looks like for both pads with that calibration removed:

And the 490 Pro compared to other headphones (Sennheiser HD800S, Hifiman Edition XS, Sennheiser HD650):

 

[Pule]

I believe they were joking

Yes, hd380 have a terrible peak in the high mid and bad balance. Okay, isolation is better than average

 

[Dazerdoreal]

I think it might to be wise to wait for an actually measured curve by a trusted reviewer which is not reverse engineered.

 

[MayaTlab]

Listener reverse-engineered the Sennheiser measurement to find that it was calibrated against a flat diffuse field target for a 5128.

Here's what the Sennheiser measurement looks like for both pads with that calibration removed:

View attachment 344457

And the 490 Pro compared to other headphones (Sennheiser HD800S, Hifiman Edition XS, Sennheiser HD650):

View attachment 344458

View attachment 344459

View attachment 344460

There are some inconsistencies between the measurements Sennheiser showed in their promo video and the ones from the press release, particularly for the producer pads.

Ie, between that :

And that :

or that :

Directly compared :

I've applied REW's variable smoothing as it's the one that gets visually closer to the "promo" curve.

I think it might to be wise to wait for an actually measured curve by a trusted reviewer which is not reverse engineered.

Yes, and then wiser still to listen to them I guess .

 

[isostasy]

Listener reverse-engineered the Sennheiser measurement to find that it was calibrated against a flat diffuse field target for a 5128.

Here's what the Sennheiser measurement looks like for both pads with that calibration removed:

View attachment 344457

And the 490 Pro compared to other headphones (Sennheiser HD800S, Hifiman Edition XS, Sennheiser HD650):

View attachment 344458

View attachment 344459

View attachment 344460

Not convinced this is correct. He says "Posting measurements from the video posted on page 2": what does he mean? If the Sonic State one, then that's not a 5128 so not sure how that helps. If the Sennheiser one, then I don't know how he knows "they were originally DF-compensated".

If you take the Sonic State measurement and EQ their HD600 to the HD490 (mixing pads, the brighter ones) you get this:

If I were to be silly and put this into GRAS and 5128 measurements of the HD600 you get this:

 

[isostasy]

And velour pads (producing):

 

[threni]

I think it might to be wise to wait for an actually measured curve by a trusted reviewer which is not reverse engineered.

But...but...they've got YouTube channels and beards and everything! And now you want numbers?

 

[Booker]

Looking at the HD 490 Pro in the product video, the headphones look to me like Sennheiser's answer to the SONY MDR-MV1.

 

[Berwhale]

I am liking the look of those washable earpads with channels for spectacle arms!

 

[deadkrillin]

Not convinced this is correct. He says "Posting measurements from the video posted on page 2": what does he mean? If the Sonic State one, then that's not a 5128 so not sure how that helps. If the Sennheiser one, then I don't know how he knows "they were originally DF-compensated".

These are measurements before the ones taken by the video makers, during the discussion with Gunnar matching the ones posted by you earlier in the thread from the release briefing.

That being said, because their pro division declined to disclose whether the measurement was Diffuse Field calibrated or "Diffuse Field Loudness Equalization" calibrated, indeed we are flying blind until we get an independent reviewer to measure one of these.

 

[LearningToSmile]

Not sure what the official MSRP is but I see them from $399 to $479 up for preorder, which seems a bit steep. Suppose they do need to recuperate the cost of shipping with two pair of pads but it seems kind of a waste as I'm sure most people will settle on just one. They do specifically boast about the "extremely wide" soundstage, so if that competes with 800s it might be a bit of a bargain.
The industrial design is pretty nice, if inoffensive, certainly more attractive than HD600 or the awful egginess of 560S.

 

[isostasy]

These are measurements before the ones taken by the video makers, during the discussion with Gunnar matching the ones posted by you earlier in the thread from the release briefing.

View attachment 344486
That being said, because their pro division declined to disclose whether the measurement was Diffuse Field calibrated or "Diffuse Field Loudness Equalization" calibrated, indeed we are flying blind until we get an independent reviewer to measure one of these.

Ah, well yes as you say they don't say what the calibration is so I don't think listener is being responsible at all making concrete statements like "they were originally DF-compensated", "I can say confidently that this is an easy skip for me".

All he says is "there's a non-zero chance that it's *not* what I've assumed it is." ... right ... this is an arrogant way of saying "There's a large chance I'm wrong" and making no disclaimer.

 

[Rhamnetin]

I'm looking forward to reviews of this one. I wonder what the bass distortion is like this time.

I wouldn't consider buying a Sennheiser with a number less than 600.

I'd take the HD 560S over the 600/650/6XX (former 6XX owner here). But I wouldn't go for any of the models above that.

 

[deadkrillin]

Ah, well yes as you say they don't say what the calibration is so I don't think listener is being responsible at all making concrete statements like "they were originally DF-compensated", "I can say confidently that this is an easy skip for me".

All he says is "there's a non-zero chance that it's *not* what I've assumed it is." ... right ... this is an arrogant way of saying "There's a large chance I'm wrong" and making no disclaimer.

I'm inclined to agree. I think it's also uncontroversial to say that it is irresponsible of Sennheiser to publish the measurement without disclosing this critical information in the first place.

I just hope someone with a decent rig does eventually get them. I'm not certain any of the larger review outlets will, as it seems Sennheiser has completely ignored them with this release. Many pro audio reviewers have released videos today about the 490 Pro, but nothing from Headphones.com, Crinacle, DMS, ASR, Joshua Valour, Zeos, Passion for Sound, or any of the other large headphone reviewers. Maybe because the "Professional" side of Sennheiser doesn't mingle with the audiophile consumer segment?

 

[JustJones]

Not sure what the official MSRP is but I see them from $399 to $479 up for preorder, which seems a bit steep. Suppose they do need to recuperate the cost of shipping with two pair of pads but it seems kind of a waste as I'm sure most people will settle on just one. They do specifically boast about the "extremely wide" soundstage, so if that competes with 800s it might be a bit of a bargain.
The industrial design is pretty nice, if inoffensive, certainly more attractive than HD600 or the awful egginess of 560S.

490 Pro $399 Pre Order

Sennheiser HD 490 Pro Open-back Studio Headphones

Open-back Circumaural Headphones with Neodymium Magnet Driver Design, Switchable Earpad Sets, and DearVR MIX-SE Plug-in

www.sweetwater.com

490 Pro Plus $479 In Stock
Looks like you get extra headband cushion and carry bag?

Sennheiser HD 490 Pro Plus Open-back Studio Headphones

Open-back Circumaural Headphones with Neodymium Magnet Driver Design, Switchable Earpad Sets, DearVR MIX-SE Plug-in, Case, and Headband Pad

www.sweetwater.com

 

[JIW]

Here are the specs missing from the product page: https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us/catalog/products/headphones/hd-490-pro/hd-490-pro-700286

Sensitivity is comparable to HD600 at 102 dBSPL at 1V and HD650 at 103 dB SPL at 1V per Sennheiser specs but also to HD660S/S2 each at 104 dB SPL at 1V. Using maximum power of 300mW and maximum SPL of 128 dB SPL gives sensitivity of 103 dB SPL at 1 mW and 112 dB SPL at 1 V.

THD at <0.2% at 100 dB SPL, 1 kHz is rather high compared to <0.1% of HD600, <0.05% of HD650 and <0.04% for HD660S/S2.