Sennheiser develops the new HD 490 PRO Reference headphones, designed for producing, mixing and mastering

Combining clarity, comfort and reliability, Sennheiser launches its new HD 490 PRO Reference open studio headphones that offer high-precision sound reproduction and a very wide and realistic soundstage.

This superior precision and range gives producers, mixing and mastering engineers, and musicians the transparency they need to make critical mixing decisions and confidently resolve any pan placement issues.

Jimmy Landry, market leader for MI Category at Sennheiser, notes that "if you compare music production today with that of ten or twenty years ago, you will notice how the enormous increase in computing power and complex parameter automation have changed the way music is made. In all genres, music engineers and creators are continually pushing the limits, creating extremely complex mixes that can be prone to so-called 'audio blind spots'. Mixes can be cluttered and confusing, with too many instruments in the same position and their frequencies competing. For the engineer or musician, it is difficult to hear each individual instrument or voice clearly. This shows the importance of a good pair of studio headphones.”

Audio precision

To address this complexity, Sennheiser engineers have given the HD 490 PRO a extremely wide dimensional soundstage to precisely locate the components of a mixture. Ultra-lightweight voice coils ensure fast and authentic sound reproduction.

The frequency response is colorless and honest across the entire audio spectrum, with full, precise and clearly defined bass thanks to a special low-frequency cylinder. The earcups' open mesh covers reveal Sennheiser's open frame architecture, which minimizes resonances and distortion. For an optimal listening experience, the drivers are positioned at a slight angle, emulating a typical monitor speaker setup.

“All of these features combine to allow music professionals to identify and resolve any panning and problematic low frequency placement issues, ensuring clear mixes and superbly refined mastering,” he explains. Gunnar Dirks, product manager at Sennheiser. “The HD 490 PRO studio headphones put you in total control of every detail.”

Comfort

Sennheiser engineers have put decades of experience designing professional headphones into the HD 490 PRO. His lightweight and ergonomic design Eliminates any pressure points as the headband does not put pressure on the sensitive parts of your head. Furthermore, the circumaural pads They have a soft and comfortable area patented by Sennheiser for the temples of the glasses, maintaining a good seal.

A patent has also been applied for on the special geometry of the HD 490 PRO axles. This design ensures that the headphones fit optimally to the head when put on and maintain equal contact pressure regardless of the shape of the user's head.

"When you're creating music, the last thing you want to do is focus on the fit of your headphones. The HD 490 PRO allows you to feel the music and forget about the headphones," says Landry.

“The development of the HD 490 PRO was preceded by the largest survey of professional headphones we have ever conducted, in which users voted that neutral and flat Reference audio was the most important feature,” explains Dirks. "However, when we took a look at the market numbers, we found that a slightly warmer sound was preferred to a 100% neutral response. Therefore, we decided to offer our customers two headphones in one, providing them with two different sets of carefully designed ear pads to shape the sound differently."

The HD 490 PRO's production (velvet) ear pads have a slightly warmer response to create perspective and help users make a holistic judgment of the sound. Mixing pads (cloth), on the other hand, allow for a very flat and neutral sound that helps drill down into details when a sound reference is needed to finalize a mix. Both pads are washable, a hygienic and sustainable solution.

A license for dearVR MIX-SE

The HD 490 PRO includes a free license for the innovative d plug-inearVR MIX-SE de Dear Reality. The plugin turns a DAW into an ultimate virtual mixing environment, simulating the carefully designed acoustics of ideal mixing studios. Not only is the engineer or musician in the sweet spot, the beloved VR MIX-SE also helps them ensure a balanced and consistent translation of their mixes across different systems.

Finally, note that the design of these headphones has been carefully considered down to the last detail. For example, the cable of the Headphones can be connected to the right or left earphone of the HD 490 PRO to suit different studio setups and preferences. A cable coil structure Patented technology ensures that the headphone cable does not transmit any noise when it hits the desk or rubs against clothing. The left/right designation is clearly visible on the inner dust covers of the transducers, while for the visually impaired, the headband fork carries information in Braille.