Sennheiser HD 490 Pro vs Verum 2: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Verum 2 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Verum 2 - Great overall at around $499.

Over-Ear

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Verum 2 leads on 3 of 4 measures.

Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
Verum 2

HearWiki score

Sound

8.6

8.9

Value

7.4

9.0

Price (USD)

$430

$500

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Same generation

Verum 2 (2025) against Sennheiser HD 490 Pro (2024). These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.

HD 490 Pro2024
220251 yr newer

Specifications

HD 490 Pro2

Type: Over-Ear; Over-Ear
Price (USD): $430; $500
HearWiki score: 79; 84
Released: 2024; 2025
Availability: Discontinued; Sold new
Driver: 38 mm dynamic; 105 mm planar magnetic
Driver type: dynamic; planar
Driver size: 38 mm; 105 mm
Drivers per side: 1; 1
Frequency response: 5 Hz - 36.1 kHz; -
Impedance: 130 Ω; 8 Ω
Sensitivity: 96 dB/mW; 96 dB/mW
Sensitivity (dB/Vrms): 105; -
Active noise cancelling: No; No
ANC type: -; none
Transparency mode: -; No
Companion app: -; No
Custom EQ: -; No
Wear detection: -; No
Controls: none; -
Voice assistant: -; No
Weight: 260 g; 450 g
Foldable: No; -
Detachable cable: Yes; Yes
USB-C: No; No
Pad material: -; fabric
Connector: 3.5 mm; 3.5 mm
Balanced connection: Yes; Yes
Call noise reduction: -; No

Specification comparison of Sennheiser HD 490 Pro vs Verum 2
Spec	Sennheiser HD 490 Pro	Verum 2
Type	Over-Ear	Over-Ear
Price (USD)	$430	$500
HearWiki score	79 / 100 Great	84 / 100 Great
Released	2024	2025
Audio
Driver	38 mm dynamic	105 mm planar magnetic
Driver type	dynamic	planar
Driver size	38 mm	105 mm
Drivers per side	1	1
Frequency response	5 Hz - 36.1 kHz	-
Impedance	130 Ω	8 Ω
Sensitivity	96 dB/mW	96 dB/mW
Sensitivity (dB/Vrms)	105	-
Features
Active noise cancelling	No	No
ANC type	-	none
Transparency mode	-	No
Companion app	-	No
Custom EQ	-	No
Wear detection	-	No
Controls	none	-
Voice assistant	-	No
Design
Weight	260 g	450 g
Foldable	No	-
Detachable cable	Yes	Yes
USB-C	No	No
Pad material	-	fabric
Connector	3.5 mm	3.5 mm
Balanced connection	Yes	Yes
Calls
Call noise reduction	-	No

What reviewers said

Sennheiser HD 490 Pro

The Sennheiser HD 490 Pro is a wired, open-back over-ear headphone aimed at studio work, offering a neutral and accurate sound signature with strong comfort. It includes two pad options and is easy to drive from most devices, though its price is considered steep for what it delivers compared to some rivals. While praised for its balanced tuning and lightweight build, it doesn't universally outperform cheaper classics in sheer audio quality.

Pro:Very accurate and neutral sound reproduction
Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for long sessions
Pro:Detachable cable with balanced option

Con:Expensive for its performance tier
Con:No built-in controls or wireless features
Con:May still benefit from an external amp in some setups

Verum 2

No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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