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Sennheiser HD 490 Pro Headphone Review

Rate this headphone:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 10 5.4%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 82 44.1%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 72 38.7%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 22 11.8%

  • Total voters
    186
Less bass than oratory's default Harman settings, not less than stock (I assume).
Yea but I still have the HD 800 S at home and I was hoping it can be 'fixed'... With just EQ. But all I did was resulting in a really fatiguing experience...
I come from a DT 770 pro
And Focal Utopia
 
Yea but I still have the HD 800 S at home and I was hoping it can be 'fixed'... With just EQ. But all I did was resulting in a really fatiguing experience...
I come from a DT 770 pro
And Focal Utopia
EQing a headphone usually means some trial and error until you get it right.

Highly unlikely that the first preset you try is magically the one.
 
EQing a headphone usually means some trial and error until you get it right.

Highly unlikely that the first preset you try is magically the one.
Well I tried 8 different ones already. But yea, I guess I need to try harder to like this crap :D
 
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?
you would not have to change pads. Only need to take out the dustguard. just pull it out it is loose in there. put 1 ply of a 3-ply toilet paper on the driver and put the dust guard back in. 10 seconds work and not invasive.
 
I prefer these (490) to the 600, 650, and 800 which I've all owned. The 800 was actually my least favorite. The spaciousness thing was cool but the frequency response is whack, IMO. Different strokes for different ear holes and all that though.
 
I won't put toiletpaper into my headphone.
Moreover I am pissed they messed up default tuning so badly.
(I tried the toilet paper, but found that it was detrimental to the soundstage, instead I found a High Shelf EQ that did broadly the same thing didn't damage the soundstage, that was my perception, so my own view is not to use toilet paper in HD800s - but it is true that the toilet paper reduces the treble & reduces the peaks.)
 
What? Even... less?
The Bass Quality is already poor, and you even diminish it further...
And you don't specifically dim down the highs?
I agree with you on the bass front, I use more bass than the Oratory EQ stipulates, if I remember rightly. (albeit I don't boost the lowest subbass as much, but I think I've got more 30Hz area.)
Actually, I should look things up before I type, following is the EQ I use vs the Oratory EQ (albeit this is Oratory's EQ from yr 2020), and my EQ is the blue line (and note these are the Total EQ Curves, it's not the headphone measurement):
My HD800 EQ (K702 EQ emulated) vs Oratory 2020.jpg
(Oratory has made his EQ a bit brighter though in his latest EQ which came out in June)
I should also point out this is HD800 & not HD800s, but there's some similarities of course between the headphones, (it's really just at 5.5kHz where they're majorly different).
 
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Man, I wish these would go on a good sale soon, I've had my eye on them since they launched!

They meet all the criteria I'm looking for in a pair of headphones: stock FR that's easily EQ-able, low distortion in the lower end for being a DD (one of the lowest I've seen regardless of price), better materials and build quality than the HD560S, less than 300g in weight, apparently the most comfortable alongside the HD800S, and backed by a reputable brand like Sennheiser (so they’re presumed to be very durable and I know there won’t be a lack of official or third-party accessories in the future).

If only they cost around $250...
 
Man, I wish these would go on a good sale soon, I've had my eye on them since they launched!

They meet all the criteria I'm looking for in a pair of headphones: stock FR that's easily EQ-able, low distortion in the lower end for being a DD (one of the lowest I've seen regardless of price), better materials and build quality than the HD560S, less than 300g in weight, apparently the most comfortable alongside the HD800S, and backed by a reputable brand like Sennheiser (so they’re presumed to be very durable and I know there won’t be a lack of official or third-party accessories in the future).

If only they cost around $250...
It's 32 hours now, and I still have listening fatigue and sensitiveness. They really were hell for me, even EQ'd my ears didn't like them.
 
Man, I wish these would go on a good sale soon, I've had my eye on them since they launched!

They meet all the criteria I'm looking for in a pair of headphones: stock FR that's easily EQ-able, low distortion in the lower end for being a DD (one of the lowest I've seen regardless of price), better materials and build quality than the HD560S, less than 300g in weight, apparently the most comfortable alongside the HD800S, and backed by a reputable brand like Sennheiser (so they’re presumed to be very durable and I know there won’t be a lack of official or third-party accessories in the future).

If only they cost around $250...
I got them when they were released at full retail and I think they’re worth every penny.
If that’s still a bit too steep for you, I very much recommend saving up for them.
 
Man, I wish these would go on a good sale soon, I've had my eye on them since they launched!

They meet all the criteria I'm looking for in a pair of headphones: stock FR that's easily EQ-able, low distortion in the lower end for being a DD (one of the lowest I've seen regardless of price), better materials and build quality than the HD560S, less than 300g in weight, apparently the most comfortable alongside the HD800S, and backed by a reputable brand like Sennheiser (so they’re presumed to be very durable and I know there won’t be a lack of official or third-party accessories in the future).

If only they cost around $250...
I auditioned them at the store, and they felt good and sounded great.
If I hadn’t found a used HD800 for $530, I would have bought the HD490.

I think it’s better to buy them right now if you really want them!
 
Man, I wish these would go on a good sale soon, I've had my eye on them since they launched!

If you search around you may find an open box pair, I was lucky and found my pair that way for £270ish earlier this year which is £50 less than current pricing.
 
It's 32 hours now, and I still have listening fatigue and sensitiveness. They really were hell for me, even EQ'd my ears didn't like them.

Equalizing is definitely complex and requires quite a bit of trial and error to achieve the desired results. In that sense, I don't think I'd have an issue with this particular model (knowing that I've managed miracles with models that have a much worse FR).

I got them when they were released at full retail and I think they’re worth every penny.
If that’s still a bit too steep for you, I very much recommend saving up for them.

The thing is, I've become extremely sensitive to the cost/benefit ratio after trying out true beasts like the HE400se with my personal EQ (and I say this having owned much more expensive gear a few years ago, when I was at the peak of the hype for this hobby).

And although I value good build quality, materials, and comfort as much as -if not more than- the sound itself, it's also true that I find it really hard to justify buying something that's 5 or 6 times more expensive than something else that already sounds TOTL tier with EQ (referring to the HE400se I had).

I auditioned them at the store, and they felt good and sounded great.
If I hadn’t found a used HD800 for $530, I would have bought the HD490.

I think it’s better to buy them right now if you really want them!

I really want them but I don't feel a huge urgency to get them (I enjoy music most of the time with my TWS), but I'll keep an eye out to see if, with Black Friday approaching or with some local offer, I can get them.

I'll definitely keep them on my radar!

If you search around you may find an open box pair, I was lucky and found my pair that way for £270ish earlier this year which is £50 less than current pricing.

That's a possibility too, for sure.
 
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