Is the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO worth the upgrade from the JBL Tour One?
Verdict
Clear upgrade
Going from the JBL Tour One to the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO buys you 38.5 points of HearWiki score - a clear step up that reviewers agree on rather than a marketing refresh. The gains are concentrated in sound (6.8 to 8.9). Worth checking: active noise cancelling goes Yes to No and driver size goes 40 mm to 38 mm. That costs $99 more, or about $3 per point of score - reasonable value for the jump. If your current pair is worn out or the gains line up with how you listen, this one is worth the money.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound6.88.9
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | Tour One | HD 480 PRO | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | No | |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 38 mm | |
| Driver | 40 mm dynamic | 38 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 40 kHz | 3 Hz - 28.7 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "Tour One to HD 480 PRO". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.