Is the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO worth the upgrade from the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Sennheiser HD 480 PRO scores 5.4 points above the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. The gains are concentrated in value (7.4 to 8.1). Worth checking: weight goes 260 g to 272 g. It's also $30 cheaper, which makes this an easy call. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.68.9
- Value7.48.1
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | HD 490 Pro | HD 480 PRO | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 260 g | 272 g | |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz - 36.1 kHz | 3 Hz - 28.7 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "HD 490 Pro 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.