Engineers and creators who make music use speakers or headphones that allow them to hear all components evenly when working. This is called a reference device. Unlike general music listening equipment, reference speakers and headphones are characterized by accurately and clearly producing even small sounds without emphasizing specific sound ranges.

German audio manufacturer Sennheiser has launched reference studio headphones ‘HD490 Pro’. These professional headphones were developed for music creators such as engineers, producers, and creators, providing a wide stage and accurate, clear sound. Although it has an open structure, the bass detail is good. This makes it easy to produce high-resolution sound sources or stereophonic sounds. It also fully responds to the latest trend of creating music by layering multiple sounds.

Comfortable fit without problems even for long periods of work

As the HD490 Pro is a product for professionals, it provides a comfortable fit even when worn for long periods of time.

The appearance is simple. The round headband is connected to ear cups that reflect the latest Sennheiser headphone design trends. The product's serial number, model name, and a QR code that links to the product introduction page are engraved on the inside of the right headband. The weight is relatively light at 260g excluding the cable.

The headband is flexible enough to twist within a certain range without any problems. The tension is also moderate. Ergonomic design reduces pressure. The headband length can be adjusted to 13 levels on the left and right. Even people with large heads can wear it with some roominess.

The ear cups are an over-ear type that covers the entire ear, so they do not put pressure on the ears even if worn for a long time. In addition, it is an open structure with good ventilation, so it is not stuffy and reduces ear fatigue. Both ear cups each rotate 180 degrees. When worn, it rotates appropriately according to the shape of the head, and it is easy to move the neck even when worn around the neck. L and R are embossed on the inside of the ear cup, and Braille ‘L (⠇)’ is placed on the left hinge, making it easy to distinguish between left and right even in the dark.

The ear pads are removable. If the ear pads are worn or damaged due to long-term work, they can be easily replaced. The ear pads of the HD490 Pro are also washable. You can use it more hygienically by putting it in a laundry net and washing it.

There are two types of ear pads provided as standard: producing ear pads made of velvet and mixing ear pads made of cloth and leather. Musical tendencies vary depending on the material. Producing ear pads have richer bass, and mixing ear pads reproduce sound evenly in all areas.

The cable uses a patented coil structure. Noise generated by the cable shaking or touching the desk or arm is not transmitted to the ears. Thanks to this, you can focus on your work without being disturbed by noise. The cable is removable, and the connection terminal for headphones is a 4-pin mini XLR. Both ear cups have terminals, so you can connect them wherever you want depending on the studio environment. A rubber stopper is also provided to block unused terminals. The standard source device connection terminal is 3.5mm.

HD490 Pro is divided into basic and plus models. The difference between the two is the standard accessories. A 1.8m cable, mixing ear pads, and producing ear pads are standard, and the Plus model additionally provides a 3m cable, headphone case, and headband pad. Each cable comes with a 3.5mm to 6.3mm stereo adapter. In addition, Dear Reality’s ‘DearVR MIX-SE’ software license, which implements a three-dimensional sound mixing environment, is provided free of charge. The price is 645,000 won for the HD490 Pro and 765,000 won for the HD490 Pro Plus.

Captures the sense of space, resolution, and bass

The HD490 Pro maintains the advantages of open-type headphones while making use of the detail in the bass, which is considered a drawback. Sennheiser explains that it has concentrated its engineering expertise to enable production, mixing, and mastering of complex music.

HD490 Pro reduces total harmonic distortion (THD), which refers to the ratio of audio waveforms and unwanted signals, and minimizes resonance through an optimized open frame structure. Additionally, a specially designed low-frequency cylinder was applied to reduce bass loss from open-type headphones. Thanks to this, sounds in all areas are clearly and accurately realized.

The driver is equipped with a strong neodymium magnet to quickly output audio signals. You can enjoy a more dynamic sound while remaining faithful to the original sound. The transducer that emits sound was placed at an angle to fit the ear canal. This is for the efficiency of sound transmission.

When you actually listen to music, you can experience a natural sense of openness, spaciousness, and excellent resolution. In songs such as Adele’s ‘Hello’ and the movie ‘The Greatest Showman’ OST ‘the Greatest Show’, a very wide stage is depicted. In the case of instruments that are far away, it creates a sense of distance that is difficult to reach. You can feel the three-dimensional effect not only left and right, but also front and back.

All sounds are reproduced clearly regardless of range or volume. The sound separation and balance are good, so even in music where several instruments are mixed, the sounds made by each instrument can be distinguished in detail. The starting and ending points are clearly expressed without being obscured or obscured by other instruments or vocal ranges. The drums and cymbals do not miss until the moment they stop sounding. You can feel it in OneRepublic’s ‘Rescue Me’ and Rebecca Pidgeon’s ‘Spanish Harlem’.

In the case of sharp high notes or vocals, there is almost no sibilance and it is as natural as if you were facing each other. Even the husky vocals feel close to real voices, so you can listen to them without feeling uncomfortable.

If you use producing ear pads, you can experience more powerful and solid bass. Through this, the sense of volume and weight is sufficiently expressed. The mixing pad evenly implements the entire sound range. The bass is reduced and a sound similar to existing studio reference headphones is produced. Of course, the separation, resolution, and sense of space of each sound range remain the same.

The wide stage and clear sound can be felt even when listening to stereophonic sound. After experiencing the Dolby Atmos demo sound source, I was able to enjoy it by following the location of the sound. Of course, the HD490 Pro does not support Dolby Atmos, but it fully demonstrates its value in stereoscopic sound.

High-quality reference headphones, HD490 Pro

HD490 Pro is a headphone with a design and performance worthy of reference headphones. It faithfully reproduces sounds in all ranges with a wide sense of space and accurate separation and resolution. Another advantage is that it is open-type and still preserves the details of the bass. This helps you perform complex musical work in a detailed and clean manner.

In addition, it supports various convenient features such as a flexible headband with appropriate tension, a comfortable fit even when used for a long time, well-ventilated and easy-to-replace ear cups, and a cable that reduces noise. Due to the nature of the reference headphones, which reproduce all sounds clearly, it is inevitable that ear fatigue will be severe if you listen for a long time, but other elements are focused on increasing operator convenience.

Even if you are not a music worker, it will provide sufficient satisfaction if you value resolution and detail. Of course, as these are reference headphones, the sound does not stimulate a grand sense of space or emotion. However, it is enough to enjoy resolution and detail. Additionally, you can experience enhanced bass sound by adding producing ear pads.

Of course, you have to pay that price. It is about 140,000 won more expensive than the Sony MDR-MV1, a studio reference headphone that is being talked about a lot these days.