FINALLY a gaming review of these. Been waiting for this review! Running these through the K11. Do they have the same slight separation deterioration as the K9 Pro on the K11 or worse?
Techne!! I thought of you for this one. The ambient noise in palworld on this can is insane. I can listen to the waterfalls and wind blowing for hours 🤣
Given that you've emphasized the topping dx9, I think it's high time that you compare your wall hack certified tier list to motherboard audio ( if applicable). I know that would mean more time spent on testing, but it's something that, I believe, would be helpful for your viewers. Great video as always.
The problem with that is everyone’s board is different. So even if I had a bad experience it doesn’t necessarily mean someone else would with potentially a better chip
@@FreshReviewsYT Makes sense actually, how about maybe for reference point atleast? or maybe try comparing those to your recommended budget dacs? because here lies the problem, not everyone has the luxury to splurge 1300 usd on the topping dx9. 200? 400? no problem, but 1300? that's a lot of commitment for audio equipment. What if there was someone like me who was just sick of how bad gaming headsets were and just decided to look for something else (how i found this channel) but doesn't have anything over 200 or even 100 to spend on new gear (also me) and that's how I ended up with the Truthear Crinacle Zero paired with a 10 usd dongle and that was such a game changer for me. Will always be grateful to have found this channel and I don't want new comers to think that they need to spend 1300 to get a similar experience that you had on your reviews and testing.
@@RenbroNL I actually own them and call them my "endgame" - I can spend all day with them on my head and never get fatigued due to the light weight build and the comfortable wing mount headband (it's not for everyone's head though, so it's a hit or miss). If not for the cable I sometimes forget that I'm wearing them. BUT, I've seen weird claims that say completely opposite things about them, and I would love to see someone with competitive skills test them out and put their opinion on the table.
@@D3humaniz3d Own these and the HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite, and I juggle them. The R70x is bonkers for detail ajd soundstage, and the Zeus Elite may not be as wide but it's very detailed and it's a lil more fun in it's tone.
Hello Fresh! Got DT 900 PRO X after your review and pair it with iFi Zen Dac v2. Then got DT 1990 PRO and added ZEN CAN to the stack with Zen Dac v2. Now I got HD 490 Pro and put my DT 1990 PRO aside. HD 490 Pro wow, just wow. Thanks for your handy reviews Man!
@Sammy0h For sure. They so well sounded and lightweight. I used DT 1990 Pro for about a year playing Tarkov mainly. I got my pair HD 490 recently and can hear everything in Tarkov so much better. My teammates called me a cheater once I used DT 1990 because I was able to hear the enemy much better than they do. Now, they can not believe I'm not cheating - because I hear everything way waaay better than with DT 1990. The first day when I got HD 490 and started to play Tarkov with them, I had a feeling like I played with earplugs wearing DT 1990. HD 490 is phenomenal and extremely comfortable to wear if I compare them vs DT 1990 PRO or DT 900 PRO X. It is also very good for music. I'm using them with cloth earpads straight out of the box. P.S: I wish Sennheiser paid me for this review 😂. It is amazing headphones for gaming and music. Definitely my main headphones now, and I'm currently selling all the rest of the headphones I have.
@@verokeyy Hey. I don't use IEM's and can compare only vs DT 1990 PRO, DT 900 PRO X, Philips X2HR, SHP9500 and ATH-M50X. HD 490 PRO beat them all in terms of sound in competitive FPS and comfort. For Tarkov HD 490 PRO feels like legal cheating. I hear well better than on DT 1990 PRO which was my last main pair of headphones. I use them on stack iFi Zen DAC v2 + iFi Zen CAN. iFi Zen DAC v2/v3 only is more than enough for HD 490 PRO.
@@FreshReviewsYT My current headphone and favorite that i have tried thus far is the harmonicdyne zeus elite, how do you think these compare for music listening? Also my audio source is fiio q15. also have you had chance to try simgot ea500lm?
If you are trying to decide which headphone to buy for competitive fps, stop here. I own the 560S, 900 PRO X and the 490 Pro. The 490 Pro are significantly better than the 900 PRO X and most importantly, they are also the most comfortable headphones. You do not need an expensive dac, I run these with a zen dac v2 just fine.
Other games with very good sound are: TLOU 1 remake and TLOU 2 Forza Horizon 5 The Resident Evil franchise after the 2 Remake CSGO Hellblade 1 and 2 Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
Just got mine and I'm running it with an ifi zen dac v2 and they sound amazing! Definitely do what you say, imaging is amazing. I finally can say I have found a headset that allows me to hear things I've never been able to hear, that's even with my Kiwi ears orchestra lites. I can hear people coming up behind mid fight in Apex, which I even struggled with my Orchestra lites. Awesome headphones! I personally don't think there anything special for music tbh and that might just be my opinion but nothing stands out to me. Very clear and clean sounding, not a lot of bass, for music. But I haven't used the velour cups so maybe the bass would be better for music.
Yes precisely! The velour will be more flavorful for music. So glad you love them! I’m having a hard time putting them down myself. They are fantastic for gaming
@@FreshReviewsYT Was kind of blown away when I killed an octane and then immediately heard his teammate coming up behind in a fight. Then I heard someone going up a Zipline about 30-40 meters away and could hear it and pinpoint it right away.
Hey so you use just the dac, no amp? I’m kind of a noob in this topic but did you eq your headphones or do you just plug them in the dac and use at is? And do you use the balanced or unbalanced port?
I’ve been using the Steel series arctis nova pro wireless for almost 2 years. Would this be an upgrade? I don’t have a dac atm but what would be a cost effective dac to pair with the 490 pro plus if I were to get it. Amazing video btw!
Absolutely, it'll be a very noticeable upgrade in sound quality. There are lots of nice affordable dongle dacs these days such as the Moondrop Moonriver Ti or the Questyle m12/m15. Schitt or ifi audios' lower end gear are all great desktop solutions too.
Both headphones are very good. I give the slight edge to the 490. Probably not worth the full upgrade, but I do have to say I do give the gaming lead to the 490
I’ve had the HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite since August and I love how they sound but the build quality is seriously bad. My first pair had an unbearably loud creaking sound coming from the left ear cup every time I would slightly move my head or open my mouth to talk or when I would chew on my food. I returned them back to Linsoul for a replacement and they sent me a new pair. I’ve been using my second pair for a few months now and it had no issues up until a week ago where there is now again the same creaking sound coming from the left earcup everytime I slightly move my head, talk, or chew on food etc. I have seen a couple people online who have also experienced the same creaking sound as well. Also, the headband could do with a tiny bit more padding as well personally as I feel like the top of my head gets a bit fatigued after wearing the Zeus Elites for a few hours. HarmonicDyne seriously need to improve their build quality. After watching this video I l think I might just get the HD 490 Pros and not worry about build quality as these seem really well built.
Hey Fresh ! Cheers from Switzerland, Do you mind sometimes try your "audio setup" on a game like EFT ? for me it's where i see changes between one and another. Continue your work it's amazing and fresh to get a gaming point of view !
@FreshReviewsYT I watched this video over a month ago and you sold me on them. My first step into a true quality headphone for gaming. Along with my first step I bought a Topping DX3 Pro Plus to go with the 490. Do you think I'm leaving a lot on the table using this DAC/amp?
@@FreshReviewsYT Really appreciate the rapid response. You gave me the comfort in buying these in the first place and now you confirmed it. I've been loving them!
loved the video you should do a video on sound settings in your games so we can have a deeper insight on what ur hearing ie. if you have htrf enabled on valorant etc
I hope this helps some of you with your decision making. I play COD 99% of the time and am a 3KD player for reference. I decided to pull the trigger on these, I have DT 900 pro's and Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lights as comparison. I Run Art is war audio tune. After watching Biffle, Shifty etc with their audio I could never understand how they could pinpoint, locate and hear players so well. Even though I had "A Tier" headphones. This has totally changed with the 490 pros. I have never heard positional accuracy like it. I can hear people swinging corners. I can slide cancel corners, break cameras and Prefire so much better. I can turn on kids when I hear them behind me. They don't sound "better" than the others, but the positional audio is on a different level. Yes they are expensive, but am so thankful I pulled the trigger. Would not hesitate.
Hi, I'm in the process of upgrading to a better audio setup. Currently, I'm using the HD 560S + ifi Zen Dac. After watching your videos, I'm torn between which of these two headphones are better for competitive gaming and getting more enjoyment out of games. I'm considering the HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite and the HD 490 Pro Plus. As I mentioned, the source will be the ifi Zen Dac, but in the future, I plan to upgrade it to something even better. Which of these headphones would you recommend more and find a bit better, as they seem to be very close in performance?
I might need to get a better source. I learned that the ps5 through mini dac doesn’t really affect audio quality since the smsl c200 can connect directly with ps5 via uac 1.1. This means I can buy the higher end stuff like your dx9 or the geshelli gear.
bro now that you made many of us buy the hd 490 pro, it's time for you to show us a dac/amp in around 300-400 (even 500 if not possible for less)range that comes close to dx9 detail soundstage separation clarity 🙂
Hey Fresh, I am curious what "deterioration in separation" you had experienced when you were using the K9 PRO AKM version dac. I am eyeing on an AK4191+AK4499EX DAC/AMP, I want to make sure I can test out the issue you mentioned once I got it to see if it would hinder the hd 490 pro performance.
Between the HD 490 and the HD 600, which one would you choose? I'm looking between the Beyerdyamic DT990 pro and the HD 600, I didn't know about these HD 490, that's why the doubt, although I don't know if you've tried the HD 600 or if you plan to try them.
@@artemuswithauCompletetly different headphones, I got both, HD650 will be good for Valorant, CSGO, but will lack the soundstage and separation for open world shooters. The 900 Pro X are much better headphones for competitive games, but they are quite bland (still better than 560s) and can be sibilant for some. Overall I would recommend trying out 900 Pro X or HD 490 Pro Plus
My current audio combination is the iFi Audio Zen Signature Bundle HFM and Beyerdynamix DT 900 Pro X, is an increase possible with the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro?
got these headphones but onfortunately one speaker wasnt working or very low volume. i didnt manage to get full sound by wiggling the cable and from what i heard of them they were awesome for gaming. i sent them back and just have an email to say my replacements are on the way i cant wait. sounded great with a fiio k5 pro ess.
Hi, Fresh! Hope you're doing well. Geat review of HD 490 Pro. I'm really inclined to get a pair of them in the near future. In fact, debating between them and Hifiman Edition XS, now. Haha! I have a suggestion: I really think that it'd be great if you could review Aune S9C Pro and compare it to the Fiio K9s and the favorite DX9. In fact, your review of HD 490 Pro is what made me less certain about getting the Fiio K9 AKM due to its subpar performance driving the HD 490 Pro even when compared to the K9 Pro. I've read and watched great audiophile reviews on the S9C Pro and it sounds like it could be a great dac/amp for gaming too, but no one has reviewed it from an exclusively gaming perspective. Obviously, your audiophile review of it would be an added benefit, too. It would be also great if, in the comparisons, you test the S9C Pro with the Wallhack-tier headphones. But, I already know that you've got that part covered if you happen to review it. Keep up the good work, brother.
@@jross1798 lol I know stock they suck but with EQ they come pretty close to 800s. But yeah these 490's seem veeeeery enticing. I've been thinking for a while that if Sennheiser made an HD600 with better soundstage it'd be perfect for me and this seems close to that
I've purchased the Kiwi orchestra lite based from your recommendations. I'll be picking this up as my next headset for gaming. I almost purchased the dt1990 pro. Glad i saw this. Thanks Fresh!
You won't regret it. I ordered both this and the Audeze Maxwell. Maxwell arrived earlier, but since the 490 Pro was in it only took me hours to decide that is one I want to keep. I ordered the Tea Pro as well, to cover the bass & thick fun side of my listening.
Which ear pads do you think would be better outside of competitive gaming? Would the velour’s warmer tone maybe be better for immersive single player games, music, and/or movies?
I am very interested myself in the MDR-MV1. I haven't seen anyone talk about them in terms of gaming, but Sony has always produced a nice sound for me.
The Maxwell and the MM-100 I guess you mean? The imaging is a little more precise with the MM-100 and I found the soundstage to be more realistic then the Maxwell. They didn't have the depth for things in the distance where as it felt organic with the MM-100 to know how far away a gun battle was taking place for example. Otherwise they are very simular. The MM-100 is a little more airy and subdued because it isn't close back as well.@@An_Enraged_Pig
you’re the goat. trusted your reviews in the past and haven’t been let down. was on the fence about picking them up vs 2 other headphones but your review locked in my decision.
Ah man, so many options to choose from in the audio space. currently I only have the em6l but I've been thinking about getting some headphones for those days I don't feel like wearing an IEM. curious if the dx3 pro+ will sound better than my motu m2 interface I have my xlr mic going into -- that interface is praised for having a good dac. I could either get these, or the dx3pro + AND either the 900 pro x or 560s. So many choices xD
I know you are a hardcore HD560S guy but HD400 Pro is the new version of HD560S after Senn sold of their privat customer sound division, but people are saying there is a small difference, have you tried the new HD400 Pro yet? And that you still haven’t tried AKG K702 is close to criminal, they are insane for gaming, the resolution, soundstage and imagine is out of this world.
Great review as always! So they work great on your $1,300 amp, not so great on a $650-$800 amp, would it even be worth it to consider these for something in the budget range? I'm running the EM6L's on a Schiit Magni Unity right now and for my peasant/uncultured ears they sound great. Do you think the quality would suffer too much if I tried to run these on the Magni?
It might be worth a try. Have to always keep in mind that even though I tested them on expensive amps, it doesn’t exclude the possibility of them shining on less expensive things. This is just all I had on hand to test it on. In fact in general, I’ve had better experiences on cheaper things in terms of depth and separation compared to the k9. Such as the smsl do400 and topping dx3 pro+
@@FreshReviewsYTwhich budget amps would you recommend to pair with these headphones. Dumb question but can I listen to music and hear gameplay while talking to friends on these headphones? Like a “gamer” headset basically
Wow it's great to hear a Sennheiser can outside of the HD 800 series That doesn't have the dreaded three blob imaging. We'll have to give these a shot. My current rabbit hole/search is finding a closed-back over ear that I like almost as much as my HD 800s. I moved to a busy City and have to deal with a higher noise floor. The LCD XC came extremely close but they are way too heavy for long sessions. Just got in a pair of DCA aeon noires that I'm hoping to test more this week. Would love to hear your thoughts if you have any experience with a closed set you enjoy.
I've personally tried lots of different closed backs and can't say why anyone would bother when IEMs can provide a similar soundstage with superior detail retrieval and imaging for a lower price.
@@VexxedSR comfort and convenience mostly. I have rolled through a ton of IEMs and haven't found a single pair that don't hurt after a while. I especially find them awkward while eating and don't find them as easy to throw on and off throughout the day when I get up and down from my desk. I'm sure custom molded IEMs would solve a lot of my gripes, but that is more of a purchase commitment as the cost of the molds hold 0 resale value. That and the need to clean them regularly is something I deal with. Lots of personal reasons why I prefer over ear cans, but if you have a favorite IEM for detail retrieval and imaging (I care more about imaging than stage size) I'd love to give them a try!
@@FTGTapGod My favourite would be the QDC Anole VX, great comfort, out of this world detail retrieval and imaging but costs an arm and a leg. Cheaper options I would just go and try the Shuoer S12, Hexa or the Olina SE and pick the one that sounds best to you. Kiwiears Melody is also a good choice if you want something with more bass.
@@VexxedSR well I'll check them out. So far I've tried Starfield, Blessing 2, the Samsung/akg earbuds, and some midrange Sennheiser IEs. Nothing has sold me on IEMs even though I quite liked the Starfield for gaming. Maybe I just need to try higher end options around $500-1000.
Plus just means a bag and extra cable. Not really worth the extra $80 imo. At least if you're not moving the headphones between locations all the time. The headphones are exactly the same for both versions and they both come with extra ear cups
Hey FreshReviews, I recently got the headset today and they sound absolutely amazing for gaming. I am using the Fiio K11 to run them, but I was wondering since the amp/dac is a very budget option would it be better to get the 560s?
Awesome hear you talk about soundstage depth and layering in gaming, terms that only audiophiles use, but that are very important for gaming. Also, waiting your reviews of the HE1000se, i hear those have the better layering ever
@@MertLDN I have not sat down and done an in depth a/b test but from swapping things around one morning I want to say the soundstage is bigger on the Dx9 but I'm not completely sure. It was quick but it was something that stood out to me. The Dx9, like the element 3 has the ability to switch to UAC1 mode but unfortunately the PS5 doesn't recognize it being connected. This leaves me to believe there needs to be a firmware update to get it to work. Topping support said they were planning on testing it out on a ps5 so take that for what it's worth. The element 3 works great so from a gaming perspective I don't have the ability to find out if the Dx9 offers something more.
Hello ! Thanks to your video I decided to buy the HD 490 pro. I use it with the ifi zen dac v2 + ifi zen can combo for music, movies and gaming and the result is incredible! I can't imagine what it would be like with DX9..
Wow you have these. I was considering waiting for your review but I have the zeus elite being delivered today. Got them new for £230. The hd490 are £333 from thomann UK, should i stick or twist?
The Zeus elite is great. Imo the hd490 wins for gaming. But it might be worth trying the Zeus elite and seeing how you like them. Comes with a great package
@@FreshReviewsYT I'll probably get the 490s now and compare! Have you seen the sound test in pubg? Seems a good test for objective comparisons ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-d9Alchz89gE.htmlsi=3gu4cHkqJQtODNlT
@FreshReviewsYT bro i asked if youd tried out the pubg sound test but for some reason the comment has disappeared, it seems ideal for testing headphone imaging in gaming so i'll repost: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-d9Alchz89gE.htmlsi=3gu4cHkqJQtODNlT
absolutely loving this series, been a massive help already. Just wondering though if a comparison video between all the current "wall hack" headphones is in the works for the near future? awesome content, keep it up
I purchased these based off your review. I did order the SMSL C200 to pair with these. Is this setup going to work well together? Should I use the Velour or Cloth pads for Warzone? Thanks for all your help!
Just got mine today! love them so far and the comfort is extremely nice! Do you ever EQ any of these headphones when you go from game to game or just regular use?
