Engineered to deliver accurate mixes for demanding professionals, the Sennheiser HD-490 PRO Headphones provide musicians, producers, engineers, and content creators with an open-backed headphone monitoring solution that's ready for today's workflows. Everyday mixes now routinely demand massive computing power, surgically precise parameter automation, and dramatically enhanced audio resolutions. With this increased creative horsepower comes increased complexity and the potential for audio blind spots like crowded, muddy mixes with competing frequencies—making your choice of headphones critical. The HD 490 PRO advanced headphones are designed to capture all the subtleties that could make or break your mix, ensuring your work sounds as good to listeners in the real world as it does in your production studio.
Engineered to deliver accurate mixes for demanding professionals, the Sennheiser HD-490 PRO Headphones provide musicians, producers, engineers, and content creators with an open-backed headphone monitoring solution that's ready for today's workflows. Everyday mixes now routinely demand massive computing power, surgically precise parameter automation, and dramatically enhanced audio resolutions. With this increased creative horsepower comes increased complexity and the potential for audio blind spots like crowded, muddy mixes with competing frequencies—making your choice of headphones critical. The HD 490 PRO advanced headphones are designed to capture all the subtleties that could make or break your mix, ensuring your work sounds as good to listeners in the real world as it does in your production studio.
The Perfect Mix of Clarity, Comfort, and Reliability
Harnessing decades of Sennheiser engineering expertise, the HD 490 PRO headphones are equipped to handle all the complexities of today’s music production, mixing, and mastering.
Featuring an open-back design that delivers an extremely wide, dimensional soundstage and ultraprecise sound reproduction, the HD 490 PRO studio headphones give you the clarity you need for critical listening, so you can make important mixing decisions with confidence.
Full-Spectrum Audio Accuracy
Achieve enhanced clarity and balance in your masters with Sennheiser's innovative Open-frame Architecture, delivering a comprehensive, precise, and intelligibly defined audio experience. This advancement significantly aids in the identification and resolution of issues related to panning placement and conflicting frequencies, ensuring a more refined final master.
At the core of each HD 490 PRO earcup is a state-of-the-art neodymium magnet and an innovative low-frequency cylinder. These components synchronize and work together to deliver full, accurate, and clearly defined bass, helping you pinpoint and resolve troublesome low-end frequencies that can hinder the achievement of meticulously clear mixes and masters.
Includes dearVR MIX-SE Virtual Mixing Plug-In
The HD 490 PRO mixing headphones include the innovative dearVR MIX-SE plug-in from Dear Reality, placing you in the sweet spot and turning your DAW into an ultimate virtual mixing environment.
The dearVR MIX-SE software simulates the carefully designed acoustics of ideal mixing studios, helping you ensure a balanced, consistent translation of your mix on different systems.
All-Day Comfort and Long-Term Durability
Handcrafted and German-engineered with built-to-last components and a lightweight, flexible design, the HD 490 PRO lets you feel the music and forget about the headphones.
Carefully engineered ergonomics eliminate pressure points, while the open-back design provides natural ventilation, making hours of music feel like minutes.
Two sets of switchable ear pads, each with a unique sound signature, comfortable for long hours of mixing and producing, eliminate ear fatigue, and are designed with sustainability and durability in mind—they’re both washable and replaceable.
The HD 490 PRO helps you achieve your full creative vision by eliminating audio blind spots, putting you in full control of every detail, and ensuring accurate playback beyond the studio.
At a Glance
Backed by decades of Sennheiser engineering, technology, research, and development
Open-back design with an extremely wide dimensional soundstage and ultraprecise localization
Uncolored frequency response for honest, dynamic sound reproduction across the full spectrum
Innovative low-frequency cylinder system for full, accurate, and clearly defined low end
Sennheiser Open-Frame Architecture reduces total harmonic distortion (THD) and minimizes resonance, improving audio accuracy
Includes Dear Reality dearVR MIX-SE plug-in, turning your DAW into an ultimate virtual mixing environment via advanced spatial audio technology
Two unique sets of ear pads for producing or mixing help eliminate ear fatigue and pinpoint frequencies
Sustainability-inspired with washable, replaceable pads and FSC-certified, forest-friendly packaging
Geometrically angled earcup design optimizes transducer placement for a consistent listening experience
State-of-the-art neodymium magnets for superior driver performance and efficiency
Patented cable coil structure blocks cable-borne noise, ensuring the clearest signal
Ultralight voice coil for remarkably authentic and dynamic audio reproduction
Right and left ear jacks with detachable cable easily adapts to any studio configuration
Patented accessibility features braille-guided L/R earcups and grooved ear pads for eyeglasses
Open-mesh metal earpiece covers provide natural ventilation
Durable design meticulously engineered in Germany and hand-assembled in Romania
UPC: 615104387676
Sennheiser 700286 Specs
Key Specs
Wearing Style
Dual Ear with Headband Foldable: No Earpiece Swivel: Yes
Open/Closed-Back
Open-Back
Impedance
130 Ohms
Active Noise Cancellation
No
Frequency Response
5 Hz to 36 kHz
Built-In Mic
No
Audio Connector
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS
Included Adapter
1/4" TRS
Headphone
Wearing Style
Dual Ear with Headband Foldable: No Earpiece Swivel: Yes
Earpiece Design
Over-Ear (Circumaural)
Open/Closed-Back
Open-Back
Sound Field
Stereo
Driver Type
Dynamic
Driver Size
1.5" / 38 mm
Impedance
130 Ohms
Active Noise Cancellation
No
Frequency Response
5 Hz to 36 kHz
Sensitivity
105 dB SPL at 1 kHz / 1 Vrms 96 dB SPL at 1 kHz / 1 mW
Maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL)
128 dB at 1 kHz
Maximum Power Handling
300 mW
Volume Limiting / Child-Safe
No
Built-In Controls
No
Microphone
Built-In Mic
No
Connectivity
Audio Connector
1x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS
Included Adapter
1/4" TRS
Connector Plating
Gold
Cable Design
Detachable / Straight with Relief Coil
Cable Length
5.9' / 1.8 m
Physical
Color
Black
Environmental Resistance
No
Weight
9.2 oz / 260 g (without Cable)
Packaging Info
Package Weight
1.515 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
10.4 x 10.1 x 2.9"
Sennheiser 700286 Reviews
surprisingly comfortable
By Kevin
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2025-06-08
Great sound. I wear these 50 to 60 hours a week for work. Hardly notice them.
The best Sennheisers under $1000
By Nick
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2024-05-16
I have owned the HD 58x, HD 560s, and PC 38x from Sennheiser and of those, the only ones that were decently comfortable for my incredibly large head were the PC 38x. I loved the sound of all of them, but they were just not made for people like me. I was hesitant to buy these, but they have a completely different headband design, so I figured it was worth a shot. Plus I could always return them if it didn't work out.
I'm glad I gave it a try. While I do wish the headband had another click or two of adjustment, it seems to just barely get large enough for me. And they are by far the most comfortable Sennheiser headphones I have ever used. I almost forget that I am even wearing them after a while. The only slight complaint with comfort is that the very tips of my ears seem to touch the sides of the earcups even though these are supposedly deeper than others they make.
For the sound, it's really excellent. I prefer the producer pads for the extra bass; this gets me a bit more warmth than the other Sennheisers I mentioned, a more pleasing midrange than the 560s, and a nice, bright top end that is still smooth and not grating. Not much more I could ask for here. They also have excellent sound stage and imaging.
The only other slight complaint is the cable. The cable is fine, but the little coiled bit bounces around a bit and you can hear that in the left ear. It's a little annoying, but it's also a replaceable cable, so you could just get an aftermarket one instead.
While I am very happy with my purchase, I do also think these would be better priced. Still, I highly recommend them.
(I also posted this on Sweetwater, so no, this isn't a bot, I just like them enough to rate them multiple places)
See any errors on this page?
Good day B&H. Can these headphones be used for ...
Good day B&H. Can these headphones be used for HIFI music enjoyment listening like my HD650? Is the soundstage wider as well?
Asked by: Gary and Eleanora
Yes, the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO Professional Reference Open-Back Studio Headphones can be used for music listening. "Soundstage" is not a technical or measurable concept. The HD 490 PRO have an open-backed design, similar to the HD 650, which provides a more natural listening experience than closed-back headphones, due to the lack of a proximity effect.