Sennheiser HD 490 Pro Headphone Review

[markanini]

The pre-ringing video is using linear phase filter, but we are using minimum phase filters with EqualizerAPO so it doesn't matter. @BZ22 also didn't clarify if he uses minimum phase or linear phase filters to EQ headphones so it's just muddy waters and I wouldn't go looking for any artifacts in my headphone EQ based on that.

Are you assuming that the video tries making a case against headphone EQ? I don't see how when it shows 2 out of 3 modes operating normally.

As far as EqualizerAPO it supports loading VST based EQs, many of which have linear-phase modes. These are erroneously pushed as a superior type of EQ, basically weaponizing knowledge gaps and misconceptions about phase relations.

To someone in audio production circles this is an important conversation to have. To someone outside of that space this context is probably unfamiliar.

 

[SteveW]

You have got to be JOKING, right? Have we gone insane calling a 399 dollar headphone "kind of the low end"? That's more than the 600/650's!
There is zero excuse for a headphone not to be target compliant no matter the price, unless the manufacturer deliberately chooses not to follow the Harman curve.
What we're seeing in the graphs is simply a rather broken headphone in the lower regions that will be very bass shy and may produce very bass heavy mixes...

This a headphone from Sennheiser's Pro division. Or rather, from Sennheiser, not from Sennheiser Hearing, which is a brand of Sonova Consumer Hearing.
It's headphone geared towards professional users in music or media production. It's not a Hi-Fi headphone for consumers.

But the Harman curve is an averaged preference curve for consumers. If you look at the actual research by Sean Olive, he makes it quite clear that many professionals actually prefer less bass than the average.

So I'd say this headphone is very much target compliant - you're just not the target.

 

[Vamp898]

This a headphone from Sennheiser's Pro division. Or rather, from Sennheiser, not from Sennheiser Hearing, which is a brand of Sonova Consumer Hearing.
It's headphone geared towards professional users in music or media production. It's not a Hi-Fi headphone for consumers.

But the Harman curve is an averaged preference curve for consumers. If you look at the actual research by Sean Olive, he makes it quite clear that many professionals actually prefer less bass than the average.

So I'd say this headphone is very much target compliant - you're just not the target.

Also a lot of targets are based on flat measuring studio reference monitors in an anechoic chambers (that are sometimes, depending on the target, then put into an room) while music is made with studio reference monitors that are calibrated to be flat inside the room.

In theory, most of these targets are correct, but as no sound studio and/or musician uses these targets to actually make music, music will sound wrong on Headphones and/or Earphones that follow these targets. These are highly theoretical targets used for sound science, but not in the real world.

That is the exact reason why all Harman following Headphones/IEM sound unbalanced with a lot of songs and fatiguing to most. They have an insane push in the presence area that was not there when people mixed/mastered the music on their monitors inside the studio.

That is why even the Reference Monitor Headphones from Neumann do not follow these target curves.

 

[Faterror]

Hi. I have creative g6. Is the G6 amplifier power enough for normal operation of hd 490 pro? Or should i look for another amplifier? Many thx., for help!

 

[Somafunk]

Hi. I have creative g6. Is the G6 amplifier power enough for normal operation of hd 490 pro? Or should i look for another amplifier? Many thx., for help!

Review below, more than enough power for the hd490

Review and Measurements of Sound BlasterX G6

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Sound BlasterX G6. I purchased it last month for USD $150 from Amazon including shipping. Typical of PC audio connectivity devices, the Sound BlasterX G6 is a combo device which includes an audio DAC, ADC, and headphone amplifier. This being...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[DEF]

How would you compare them to EQ'd HD 800 S?

 

[solderdude]

With or without EQ ?
With which pads ?
Comfort wise ?
Price wise ?

These are very different headphones targeted at different usage (pro vs home listening)

I returned the HD490 Pro (even though I liked it with cloth pads) and kept the original HD800 (with EQ)

producer pads:

and mixer pads:

Without EQ the HD490 Pro is more neutral but has an emphasis on voices and some instruments and is less 'sharp' in the upper treble.

 

[DEF]

With or without EQ ?
With which pads ?
Comfort wise ?
Price wise ?

These are very different headphones targeted at different usage (pro vs home listening)

I returned the HD490 Pro (even though I liked it with cloth pads) and kept the original HD800 (with EQ)

producer pads:
View attachment 397962

and mixer pads:
View attachment 397961
Without EQ the HD490 Pro is more neutral but has an emphasis on voices and some instruments and is less 'sharp' in the upper treble.

I have the HD800S since a week now and have tried all equalizer presets out there I could find on AutoEq and this forum.

It's fatiguing! I start to feel ear pressure because of the frequency response.
NO keeper.

I guess, I will go back to Focal Utopia once I got the cash.

 

[solderdude]

HD800(S) is not properly measured in the range above 8kHz on the 'usual fixtures' so EQ is wrong in most cases above 8kHz.
That's right where the fatique is.

I just lift the bass (not Harman level), fill-in the 3kHz, lower the 6kHz peak and use the toiletpaper mod (non invasive, easy to do) to get rid of the fatique.

It is my most used open headphone, followed by the S5X.

 

[xaviescacs]

"HD800 toiletpaper" on google right now...

 

[DEF]

"HD800 toiletpaper" on google right now...

I won't put toiletpaper into my headphone.
Moreover I am pissed they messed up default tuning so badly.

 

[DEF]

HD800(S) is not properly measured in the range above 8kHz on the 'usual fixtures' so EQ is wrong in most cases above 8kHz.
That's right where the fatique is.

I just lift the bass (not Harman level), fill-in the 3kHz, lower the 6kHz peak and use the toiletpaper mod (non invasive, easy to do) to get rid of the fatique.

It is my most used open headphone, followed by the S5X.

With all due respect. Even with EQ I feel that these headphones head real issue with Bass whilst providing the stage.

I got Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro and they are much easier to handle.
The only better Headphones I had tested were Focal Utopia.
Back on 770 Pro, something is indeed missing, but that's not worth ~ 2 grand for me.

Focal Utopia would be 3 grand max for me. But by now they are 4.5 to 5 grand.

 

[xaviescacs]

I won't put toiletpaper into my headphone.
Moreover I am pissed they messed up default tuning so badly.

I don't own that headphone, but it's on my wish list competing with some dan clark's.

One has to admit the toiletpaper guy has some experience with this one and with headphones in general, so it would be unwise to disregard his word... IMHO

 

[DEF]

I don't own that headphone, but it's on my wish list competing with some dan clark's.

One has to admit the toiletpaper guy has some experience with this one and with headphones in general, so it would be unwise to disregard his word... IMHO

These and the Dan Clarks are not even comparable. Dan Clarks with AMTS only have small sweet spot. HD 800 S sound same without needing to search that spot

 

[DEF]

HD800(S) is not properly measured in the range above 8kHz on the 'usual fixtures' so EQ is wrong in most cases above 8kHz.
That's right where the fatique is.

I just lift the bass (not Harman level), fill-in the 3kHz, lower the 6kHz peak and use the toiletpaper mod (non invasive, easy to do) to get rid of the fatique.

It is my most used open headphone, followed by the S5X.

You say it's not invasive but with the demo unit I probably aren't meant to remove earpads and get dekoni ones and then put 2 layers toiletpaper under it.
In the time I have done that my 30 days might be over. The pads probably take some time to arrive in Germany... so much hassle?

 

[Chagall]

I didn't find EQed HD800s fatiguing or any issues with my DCA E3. Both are keepers...for me.

If gun to my head to keep only one, it would be HD800S just because of the weight and the openness. Still, I would miss the E3..

 

[DEF]

I didn't find EQed HD800s fatiguing or any issues with my DCA E3. Both are keepers...for me.

If gun to my head to keep only one, it would be HD800S just because of the weight and the openness. Still, I would miss the E3..

Well what EQ did you specifically use?
I tried all from https://autoeq.app/ and amirm's EQ and the treble is too much.
I could try again with >only< EQ, but then please support me in this.

 

[Chagall]

Well what EQ did you specifically use?
I tried all from https://autoeq.app/ and amirm's EQ and the treble is too much.
I could try again with >only< EQ, but then please support me in this.

A variation of oratory1990's EQ, tuned to my preference - less bass.

 

[DEF]

A variation of oratory1990's EQ, tuned to my preference - less bass.

What? Even... less?
The Bass Quality is already poor, and you even diminish it further...
And you don't specifically dim down the highs?

 

[staticV3]

The Bass Quality is already poor, and you even diminish it further...

Less bass than oratory's default Harman settings, not less than stock (I assume).