I have been working every day with the 490 for 1 month, having been a professional for a very long time, I own around ten headphones (references) I can confirm that in terms of comfort, frequency curve it is indeed the best for Me ! expensive but so effective. mixing with headphones becomes much simpler with this one. the best!
You made it actually harder to decide. 😂 Can't decide between the 600s or 490 as my first open back pair. I own Bose QC45, galaxy buds 2 and the truthear Hexa. The Hexas blew my mind couple weeks ago and I'm hooked and looking for a similar experience headphone wise.
That's tough! It depends what you want from a headphone! HD 490 if you want less resolution/more casual sound delivery with deeper bass, and more excited treble. HD 650/6XX if you want the best possible mid-range tonality you can get (great for vocals, acoustic guitars, etc). If you listed to hip-hop/EDM, I think you'd like the 490 more.
@@GadgetryTech Sorry for the delay getting back to you. Thanks for your reply. I'm looking at your review now on the Aune AR5000 and I have to ask you; between the 490 Pro Plus and the Aune AR5000 which is better in COD MW3/BO6? Price isn't an option between the 2.
Please, I have been able to try the *Hifiman Arya Organic* and I have fallen in love, they seem perfect to me, but currently they are not affordable, so I am looking for some headphones for less than 500€ that come close to their sound and that are also very comfortable. I think these *Sennheiser HD 490 Pro* are the closest to what I'm looking for, *or are there others that are closer like the Linsoul HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite?* I would greatly appreciate anyone who can help me decide.
I have been working every day with the 490 for 1 month, having been a professional for a very long time, I own around ten headphones (references) I can confirm that in terms of comfort, frequency curve it is indeed the best for Me ! expensive but so effective. mixing with headphones becomes much simpler with this one. the best!
I picked the 490 over the 6xx because i read the 6xx doesn't have good imaging and i play games. I wanted a well rounded headphone. I'm really happy with them
Hey man, just wanted to give you a quick kudos for what you do. Real glad to find someone who has a similar attitude towards gaming and music that doesn't buy into snake oil but still has enough fun to recognize that some things have their own little magic.
I think the problem with the 490 is that it is too expensive. Particularly as the teardowns have shown that the 560S & 490 Pro share the same driver. In the UK it's £350 or £419 (depending on accessories). The HD 560S is £130 atm.
@@PantsaBear Sure, but that isn't going to help straight away. I do think price drops will help. That said these also highlight what a bargain the HD 560S is atm.
@@labaningombam8556 That would put them at £210 new, which probably is worth it. They still seem to retail for £350 or £419 in the UK (depending on the version) which is still way too much imo. I think they should be around £2-300 personally, even with the improved build versus the 560S. I have owned the HD 560S and think it's a very good pair of headphones although I no longer own them (the hinge bump in the ear cup rubbed on my ears and I didn't like that - something the 490 is very unlikely to do).
so you're saying you can't eq the 560s and they're not comfortable?!? 😆 dude, they are literally the hd 400 pro, built for studio applications and superior comfort !! i own two of them!
If you spend time listening to them they will grow on you big time. I thought my 560S sounded somewhat the same at first but it has a closer sound to the 650 tone wise but not as warm and not dark and veiled. I will no longer use my 650's to be honest. I cant handle the lack of soundstage, image, lack of bass and lack of detail. 650's can make some music sound better due to the lack of detail. But I would rather hear it the way it is supposed to be heard. The 490 Pro truly are well worth the money, if you have it. On top of that the 490 Pro are the most comfortable headphones I have ever used. And honestly the 650's are good considering they are very old. But the 490 Pro blows them out of the water. The 650/6xx is just too veield, dark and compressed as well as the lack of soundstage and image as I said before. But to each there own. Though it is a simple fact that the 490 Pro is better than the 650 in every way. lol.
I bought both the VZR Model One and Acezone A-Spire based on your glowing reviews, struggling to decide between the two. Playing warzone only and want to know if you would recommend one over the other? Main concern is footsteps and imaging (would love to also get the airstrikes to be way less quiet) Look forward to hearing your thoughts
checking back in on this... i own both and have a few days left to return for refund. would love your feedback since you seem to have a good pulse on all this stuff
After all the research I’ve done, I’ve been using the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro for the last quite of few months. In my opinion that’s the best headset on the market. When you get to that price point, it starts becoming a nicpick battle.
i own a Sennheiser PC363D and i tried briefly listening to a HD660S in a local store -- both sounded kinda same to me so i gotta give it a listen again when the time (to buy) comes. if you have listened to a PC363D, which HD400 or HD600 series headphones sounds closest to a PC363D? because i really like the PC363D but i want to replace it soon.
Feels illegal to be this early to view a recently uploaded video. I recently stumbled upon your channel and you helped me decide between the Corsair HS80 and HS80 MAX headsets. Can't wait for the HS80 MAX to arrive! Can't recommend your channel enough! Love your content! Keep it up!
its eazy to get Umff out of HD800 :D 5db 105hz low shelf filter and lower the 6k peak. its easy the best headphone for comfort, gaming, video and audiophile music in my head. insane technicality! with my ears its have better technicality than HE1000V2 stealth! largere stageing, better imagine and laying more true to life timbre (with EQ) the only thing HE1000 does better is bass. i own a HD600 and HE1000v2 stealth and if u EQ HD800 right yea, i think its the best headphone if u dont want to spent 5/6000 dollars on headphones.
20:08 You have comfort issues with 560S? Say whaaaat? I have used Audio-Technicas, Beyerdynamics, Focal, a bunch of Sennheisers, Philips, Sony, various gaming headsets from HyperX, SteelSeries, Razer and so on, but the 560S is by far the most comfortable I've used. I even tried the HD 650, but didn't like it because the clamping force was insane and it was huge on my head. I probably could've loosened it up over time, but I didn't.
Bought HD490 Pro and Sony MDR-MV1 at same time just a week ago. Ended up returning HD490 . I have 600 , 650 and 660S2 and i could not even force myself too keep them...especially when MV1 for me sounds way more open , more detailed , more punchy and waaay more comfortable.
Looking for fun and comfortable gaming headphones with good imaging, I already have the TYGR, do you think I should I upgrade to the HD 490 Pro? These two seems to be the kings when it comes to being lightweight and comfortable for wearing all day. If you could make a video comparing between the two that would be awesome, or just a reply would be greatly appreciated :)
Thanks for the review. I got them yesterday. The sound is clean and the overwhelming win for me is the weight. Compared to the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X, these are as light as a feather. Win win for the FPS games I play, and general YT videos like this. :)
Great review as usual, arguably the best ones out there. Can I suggest reviewing the ATH-M50xSTS? It's expensive for a wired headset but comes with a great mic. It also works as review of the ATH-M50x itself. I got mine the other day, the comfort isn't ideal, but I'm satisfied overall (e.g. great mic).
joe how does the hd800s sound plugged in the ps5 controller while playing call of duty and have u try it with the shiii hel 2 connected to the hd800s on the ps5 if so can u tell me how they sound?
If ears touches the driver it's a no go for me, I hate that, why should it be so difficult for the manufacturers to make sure there is room for the ears, there are many headphones that have this problem.
I love the Hifiman Sundara Closed Back Headphones I caught them for $150 on Amazon on sale from $400 but of course $150 is the regular price now 😂😂😂🤦🏿🤷🏿 But out of all the Audiophile headphones I have I like them the best the only minor negative is after awhile your ears will start to cook 🔥😱😱😱
I bought these for gaming based on FreshReviews's recommendation.I mainly play Call of Duty Warzone. I immediately fell in love with these and decided to keep them. I A/B tested these with my Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite, HD 490 Pro beats Orchestra Lite every single time. I am not sure why you had a subpar experience when you used them for gaming, I didn't experience any sound cue loss. I found HD 490 Pro gives me more details and depths, and the sound stage is much wider than IEMs which often give you a very intimate experience. The sound experience is also very immersive, and the comfort is top-notch as I barely feel it on my head. Maybe it's like what FreshReviews pointed out, the source really matters for these? Btw, I paired my SMSL C200 with them and they performed phenomenally and beat the Orchestra Lite.
@@Cemito Based on the reviews I read online, 6XX will be much more intimate, the sound stage seems to be the weak point of 6XX. I really like the wide sound stage of HD490 Pros when paired with my SMSL DACs.
Joe is like a great friend doing a great job enthusiastically explaining, describing the differences of headphones to a noob ass me. i like your presentation and authenticity! the comparisons really help me have an idea of what's what.
I own the 560s, the 490 Pro, and a few others. The 560s are by far the most comfortable headphones I have ever used, and I've been using them for the last 30 years. It’s very easy to forget you're wearing them. Every time someone complains about the clamping force, I know they’ve only tried the 560s briefly and haven’t used them daily. Use them every day, and after a month, they become the most comfortable headphones. The 490s are actually the same headphones in a different chassis. Yes, they use the same driver. Still, I think the correct name for the 490 Pro should be 560 Pro. Since I bought the 490 Pros, I’ve stopped using the 560s. In my case, I use the 490 Pros with mixing pads because I find these pads cooler for prolonged use. Although the velour pads are very nice, they start to accumulate moisture from sweating. In summary, the 560s are the best 'cheap' headphones out there. The 490 Pros are great, but if it’s not for music production, it probably doesn’t make sense to buy them.
I am on the verge of buying 490 Pro, or Hifiman Edition Xs. For music, gaming, build quality and comfort, which one is the better choice? I can't seem to decide between these 2. Bit worried about the build quality of Hifiman as well
I would challenge statement that 490 pro are for audiphiles and professionals. They are more likely for music enthusiasts and enjoyers who want a headphones with a character. Of course it can be used in music production, but I consider it as extra feature. I like the V shape audio profile and good staging. For music enjoyment, I don't want headphones that sound bland from flat profile.
I think the small coil on the HD490 cable is to minimize microphonics? What HD650 has over HD6xx is a slightly better cable and ditto for driver matching (at a cost). I wonder if the perceived better dynamics on HD6xx over HD800s is just higher distortion numbers? You certainly can't EQ the bass on 6xx as well as 800s. I would love to see you review the Neumann NDH 30 (also made by the Sennheiser pro division) which shares the same driver as HD560s and 490 Pro but implemented differently.
The most speaker like sound I’ve ever heard from headphones comes from the Bose QC Ultras (both in ear and over ear). Their immersive audio feature sounds way better than apple’s Spatial Audio for music. Legit sounds like you’re sitting in front of a well tuned sound system with head tracking. If I’m using immersive audio on the headphones and there are speakers setup in front of me, my brain is fully convinced that the sound is in fact coming from those speakers. You should check them out!
For someone, like yourself, who primarily uses headphones for Music (Rap, EDM, Rock) and gaming with hints of movies and RU-vid. Would you recommend the Meze 109 Pros or the 490 Pros? Appreciate the feedback and I'm a big fan of your content.
@gadgetrytech I found away to fix clamping pressure for headphones thought I would share. Works really well on a lot of cans. Using on 560s and Pc38xs now. Couldn't wear those previously for long. It doesn't add hardly any weight either. I take two small black zip ties and rap them around the lower part if the bands where the adjust is. Then I take 1/2 or 3/4 velcro and run it across top and feed it through the zip ties on each side and then attach it back on top. Hard to explain but thought I would try. Makes clamping force adjustable and really doesn't look too bad.
I’d appreciate an answer from you on this Q: you’ve said in the Pulse Elite review that the detal retrieval is the best in it’s price bracket; between HD560s and Pulse Elite, which one would you honestly say that has better detail retrieval & imaging? Thanks a lot for all of your hard work! I watch all of your videos!
Once I plugged my 560S to a tube amplifier... I stopped searching for "more". It aligned itself pretty dang closely to the 6 series, the only drawback being I can't take the entire setup outside :'D
Joe, sorry to go off-topic, but can you do a video on how to eq the Sony Pulse Elite for pc gaming, using the Steelseries Sonar eq? Btw, The Techne dropped a video on the Pulse Elite, showing that the earcups can be removed. He said that Wicked Cushions is working on replacement earpads for it. Thank you for your service! 😁🍻
Great videos as always, Given you have that many Sennheiser product maybe you could do a line up and share your opinion. I have an OG HD600 and I love it but don't listen to it much anymore. Also any advice to hook up my xbox to my Arya? got the Organic on my Mac, and got my stealth doing nothing at the moment.
yea please, but in reality maxwells have everything , amp, AI , Atmos, Wifi-blutooth ,usb dongle for consoles- and tv. 490 open vs Maxwell closed back. this dont. this have drivers that's it. but im curious how they stack up also, but I feel if your looking at the maxwells your looking at a total packet.
Maxwells are great I have 2 pairs. But..to me they are the best wireless all around sounding gaming headset. Most of the time I’m using My Wired Headphones for games. My wired audiophile headphones all perform better than maxwells. But for wireless they are very good. Still I reach for my TB Stealth’s at times for COD and footstep fps games. But I hang up my TB stealth’s when I’m not Playing FPS. Maxwells switch profiles and will play anything with them. Hope that helps a bit. I also use a Astro A40 DAC for Xbox and a Shill Hell 2 and Soundblaster G7 for PS5. It’s a lot of fun to play with different headphones and get these different experiences.
Hey Joe, I bought a stealth pro as you suggested but the headset wouldn’t pair and when it did it would cut out after a few seconds I’m guessing it was a dud…? Picked up the A50x as that’s all eb games (GameStop) had in my local area should I return the A50s and order another stealth pro unit?? I only really want a headset that works well for rainbow six siege although I can hear footsteps with the A50s after Eq it feels rather weak.
Don't know about the newer Sennheiser 600 series, but the older ones have an almost hair-thin wire connecting the earcups. It's prone to breaking, making the audio cut out in whatever earcup is affected. There are YT videos instructing people on how to repair it. But it's not easy, due to the thin wire. I have the 650 and 669, and the wire malfunctioned on both.
You mentioned that you used an EQ for the producing pads to help their sound, so you have those changes saved somewhere and also what program do you use to EQ wired headphones like this?
Hi joe i didn't even know these existed until your review currently using the meze 109 pro with the fiio k11 dac amp but returning the meze 109 pro because of ear cups kind of smelled burnt after 3 to 4 hours they where kind of choking me maybe the drivers aren't to strong but im going to give these a shot how is the base for story games and movies thank you joe your still my best headphone reviewer stay safe and happy gaming to all
I am so damn glad that you mentioned those raised cup protective fabrics, they simply drive me insane since my ears lightly touch them, it's takes a great deal out of the comfort, I had been using only the grey pads and I did not realize that I can slightly improve this by using the the black ones, which are only a tiny bit larger but large enough that my ears don't touch those damn raised letters so much. I seriously almost send these back because of this. What a tiny bit of a disastrous design choice they made for no real benefit. As you mentioned I hope someone makes replacement fabrics for this so I can use the grey ear pads as well, I found them a tad more breathable.
Out of all those audio RU-vid channels yours is certainly the best. Very in depth review. I really want to get these and return the 560s because they have that foam block, but you did mention that the L and R are scratchy but the pad can be removed
detail review as usual, everytime I think of pro reviewer of headphone I think of you. can you review Focal Bathys and compare with maxwell etc? wireless, wired dac, etc... also, what do you think of Sennheiser 58x compare to these? will keep supporting your channel
Impressive review. It lines perfectly with my own findings and comes off very genuine. This to me is the most accurate review of these headphones. Gained a sub! To mention a little about my experiences with these headphones and to provide some context: I'm a Sennheiser fanboy (nutcase, collector, whatever) since 2005, and currently have every headphone from their 6X0-lineup except for the HD660S2. I could ramble on about my thoughts regarding current Sennheiser/Sonova but will try not to get too derailed here. Regarding the HD490 Pro, the producer pads felt comfy but they made my ears warm as well. The sound profile with the mixing pads were more to my liking, but my ears also touched the letters on the inner foam which resulted in comfort issues, that to me is a flaw in the design. I also found that the cable due to the coiled design actually made constant noise when it came in contact with my body. I would have had to replace the cable had I kept them. The reason I returned these is that to me the comfort and my preference of sound in the HD6X0-line is better. I must be an oddity, but I've never been bothered by the clamp even with no stretching and really like the firm hold on my head. The pads also never get warm, I could keep them on my head all day with no issues. I've also tested the HD560s, but did not appreciate the brighter, thinner sound.
Great review . I've heard 3 other reviews and some are on the fence but a few are in agreement saying that it does everything ok . Not great but more than passable . I believe you've done a review on the Sony open back that came out last yr . Same price. 4 bills
It really does come down to preference. I purchased the VZR model ones based on his review and I personally thought they were awful out of the box, I have no idea how to eq, I've tried and I just don't know what I'm doing. I bought the 490 pros and these are now my daily drivers for FPS games and I think the imaging is much more accurate than the VZR's that @GadgetryTech prefers for FPS. I actually preferred the VZR's for music because of how bass forward they were but it made gaming unbearable for me. So again, everyone's sound preference will be different.
Hi, great video, interesting comparison, I fitted the custom cans bass mod to my 6xx, does improve the bass at the bottom end, I agree that 560 is more brighter audio . I do like the build and mini xlr cable far better that the other sennheisers . The 560 at the moment selling £130, but now am seeking the 650 is currently selling for £229 in the U.K. Regards Mark
You're good at what you do, mate. Unbiased, to the point and quite informative. Just found your channel. These look aesthetically pleasing. I quite like this design for the newer Sennheisers. I would hope they play around more with closed backs.
As always, a very comprehensive, informative, and helpful review of all these products. Thank you for your time and efforts and for sharing this with us all. Much appreciated. Stay well, Sir.
i noticed wicked cushions released their ear pads for the pc38x and they're compatible with the hd560S. i don't know if you've done a video for them yet. if not i'd love to see one since i think it's almost time for me to do a pad swap on my hd560S. maybe the wicked cushions will make them more comfortable for you? Keep up the great work. i really enjoy the reviews.
I love Portishead and know exactly what you're talking about!! Bjork and Massive Attack sound amazing on them as well. Bjork has some moments of sibilance but the back tracks are incredible.
Open back is by far my favorite, provided I don't have to worry about the impact my external environment. Custom pads can change comfort, physical feel, space, weight, and most importantly, sound quality. That answer varies widely
I have the 560S and had the 660S2. Clamp goes away when you just wear them. The 560S loses all clamp when you wear them. They became literally the most comfortable headphone I have ever owned. Nothing else comes close. I cannot even tell they are on my head.
@@the12gaugeshotty I agree I had a 560S for two years and the clamp was fine after some weeks of stretching. I always leave my headphones around a box of just the right size to keep them pre stretched just under the size they need to be stretched to fit over my head so when I put them on they're already perfect. Just dont ever stretch out headphones using the pads since they'll flatten way too fast, use the space between the hinges above the pads. I now use a 6XX, its clamp was worse but its more easily fixed immediately by bending the metal but I didn't both with that, just stuck with my box method.
Sennheiser has been a brand I've really wanted to dig into. Their headphones are something of a legend, but sometimes I stay away because of price or how some people feel they are too clinical. I do love a funner headset, which is where my Zeus Elite (please review) and R70x come in. I like that extra warmth to them, and the Zeus does have some fun to it, but the 6XX has always had my eye, and so does that 490. That price is a sore spot, so maybe the 6XX may be my jumping in point. Awesome review, regardless!
No the sennheiser 660s2 is too intimate and the clamp force is a joke these 490 pro have a better soundstage and the imaging is better and the comfort is all day long every day can't go wrong with the sennheiser 490 stay safe and happy gaming to all
as someone who plays guitar I tend to listen more to instruments. For me planers sound the best. For gaming I am torn between dt 1990 h6 pro and kiwi orchestras lite iems
Oh man those Orchestra Lites are awesome! I have some issue with long term fitment/comfort but overall the sound is excellent. Can't go wrong with any of those in gaming.
900 Pro X is likely sooner than the other tbh. Sennheiser has never been in contact with me, and from my listening tests I've done at shows, I wouldn't be purchasing the 660s2 any time soon
The new HD 490 Pro isn’t meant to be comparable to ‘audiophile’ models/a successor or iteration on the HD 600/6XX/650/800S, etc. When you look at the included plug-in package + cables + ear pads, etc., it’s clearly designed as a pro mixing and production headphone that competes with headphones like the Beyerdynamic DT 1770/1990 Pros. I snagged a set before reviews dropped and my focus has been more about appreciating all of the new design ideas Sennheiser introduced here - like articulating ear cups, easy to swap pads and such - and I fully expected to hear a flatter, more neutral sound profile. I mean, we’re having a conversation about apples and oranges and acting surprised that there are so many differences 🍎🍊🤔
I get your point, but design and accessory wise the 490s are appealing to a wider market. It's purely esthetics, but I wanted Sennheisers for a while (hd600) and these the first pair to catch my eyes. Look and comfort are a big factors too for a lot of us. 😉
since Sennheiser has sold off the consumer division, the HD590 is definitely trying to appear to both the consumer and the pro markets, in order to catch the HD600 audiophile crowd. If you’ve watch the interview of the Sennheiser engineer, he’s mentioned the HD600 so many times during the interview.
@@dc99yt - That assumption may turn out to be controversial for some. The 490 Pro has more ‘production’ characteristics that just might confuse or disappoint anyone used to Sennheiser’s ‘consumer’ sound. I have a pair of HD 600s too and I got the 490s because I wanted a more neutral and balanced headphone that would let me hear music closer to the way it was originally mixed + work well with a variety of genres. So far, so good. I also knew the 490’s shipped with a plug-in that lets you apply different virtual sound stages, and that indicated to me they would probably handle EQ better than the HD 600/650/6XX’s, etc. It will be interesting to hear reports back when more people start experimenting with the 490 Pros that way. Not to mention the inevitable modding and customization ahead.
