Sennheiser HD 490 PRO Open-Back Reference Studio Headphones

The HD 490 PRO is Sennheiser's open-back reference headphone for mixing and mastering, built for a wide, dimensional sound stage rather than the tight in-head image of a closed-back monitor. Two sets of switchable ear pads let one headphone cover two jobs: a mixing pad tuned for a flatter, more analytical response and a producing pad voiced with extra low end for tracking and casual listening, so an engineer can swap in seconds instead of owning two headphones.

A dynamic driver with neodymium magnets covers 5 to 36,000 Hz and handles up to 128 dB SPL without breaking up, while the open-back design keeps long sessions comfortable and lets an engineer stay aware of the room. The standard HD 490 PRO ships with both ear pad sets and a 1.8 m cable; the HD 490 PRO Plus adds a second 3 m cable for a fixed workstation, a spare headband pad, and a hardcover case for studios that move the headphone between rooms.