Changing headphones: DT880 Pro for HD490 Pro

[forumuser776306]

I need advice and i really hope u can help me.

Currently i own a pair of Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro headphones. I use these for mixing my electronic instrumental hiphop beats. I want to upgrade to a better pair of headphones and i am considering the Sennheiser HD490 Pro.

Is the upgrade worth it? How much of a difference is the sound quality between the both of them? I am striving for the most neutral sound possible. Really hope somebody can help me. Thanks u in advance!

[Hugh Robjohns]

ASR's headphone reviews are fairly accurate and consistent. Take the absolute measurements with a pinch of salt (just because measuring headphones is quite difficult, and those deep HF notches are usually measurement artefacts rather than real or perceivable), but the comparative differences should be reasonably reliable.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/foru ... one.24694/

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/foru ... iew.53935/

[tea for two]

Currently i own a pair of Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro headphones. I use these for mixing my electronic instrumental hiphop beats. I want to upgrade to a better pair of headphones and i am considering the Sennheiser HD490 Pro.

For Beats HipHop worth looking at AKG K245 semi open. I use K245 for my Beats stuff. I prefer it to Senny Hd25 HD560s HD599 I've had.
I haven't had Hd490 pro I can't comment on them. I picked up my K245 £20 used (new £60).
If you like the sound of Dt880 pro mids highs then hanging on to it, using it with a headphone that has better Beats representation.

[sc1460]

Hi there, assume its for mixing not tracking, I would suggest you keep the 880s and also get the Senn's - listening to mixes on different headphones I find helps me get the balance and translation better

The 880s have a brighter than average EQ profile and so always useful for checking the treble range for issues, and whether it's over-cooked. I also use the HD 650s (now superseded by the 660s I believe).

Check out Sonarworks for their views on the various Senns available

https://www.sonarworks.com/blog?s=sennhe&submit=Search

Always worth having different EQ profile headphones in your collection!

cheers
H

[tea for two]

hiphop beats
i am considering the Sennheiser HD490 Pro.

One thing worth considering HD560s and HD490 pro have the same driver. From those that have both they say it's a hard pick between the two and that HD490 pro doesn't warrant 3x-4x price compared to HD560s.

I had HD560s because it won SoS 2022 readers choice bottom of page 1.
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/20 ... -commended

[forumuser776306]

I want to thank everybody for their reply!

I won't sell the DT880 but still am very curious if there is a night/day difference between the both of them, and if it's worth to "upgrade".

Initially, i was aiming for Neumann's NDH30 but (luckily) i saw that the cable is connected to the right ear, and that's just not gonna work in my environment.

[Dan LB]

I want to thank everybody for their reply!

I won't sell the DT880 but still am very curious if there is a night/day difference between the both of them, and if it's worth to "upgrade".

Initially, i was aiming for Neumann's NDH30 but (luckily) i saw that the cable is connected to the right ear, and that's just not gonna work in my environment.

I wouldn’t let that put you off. I have two pairs of headphones like that (Sennheiser HD25 and Neumann NDH30) and I don’t find it to be a big deal. The Neumanns sound fantastic.

[forumuser776306]

When i use headphones, they go straight into my audio interface that is seated on my left side. The NDH30 has the cable on the right ear. That would mean that the cable always runs past me, which is gonna be very annoying and could potientally damage the cable. I cannot change the position of my audio interface. I would buy the NDH30 in a heartbeat if the cable would be connected on the left ear.

[Drew Stephenson]

When i use headphones, they go straight into my audio interface that is seated on my left side. The NDH30 has the cable on the right ear. That would mean that the cable always runs past me, which is gonna be very annoying and could potientally damage the cable. I cannot change the position of my audio interface. I would buy the NDH30 in a heartbeat if the cable would be connected on the left ear.

Any option to go up-and-over rather than across? I have one pair of headphones that live hanging off my acoustic treatment and cabling goes up: https://imgur.com/gallery/headphone-cab ... ng-M9bwJ5f

[Bob Bickerton]

Wonderful as the NDH30s are, I can understand it’s frustrating if the headphones are wired on the wrong side, quite by accident right hand suits me, but I often use extension cables anyway, especially on headphones with a coiled cable, to give me more purchase and flexibility.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all quality headphones offered left and right options, preferably on the same unit.

Bob

[Stuart79]

When i use headphones, they go straight into my audio interface that is seated on my left side. The NDH30 has the cable on the right ear. That would mean that the cable always runs past me, which is gonna be very annoying and could potientally damage the cable. I cannot change the position of my audio interface. I would buy the NDH30 in a heartbeat if the cable would be connected on the left ear.

Run the cable behind you?

[Hugh Robjohns]

The NDH30 has the cable on the right ear. That would mean that the cable always runs past me, which is gonna be very annoying and could potientally damage the cable. ... I would buy the NDH30 in a heartbeat if the cable would be connected on the left ear.

I'm sure, given a little thought, you could figure out a simple and practical workaround...

[Sam Inglis]

Both the Sennheiser and Neumann models are excellent phones. To my ears the Neumanns have marginally better low bass, which may be significant for mixing hip-hop. You could also consider the Shure SRH1840. These have an extremely flat frequency response, and although their distortion performance is said to be poor, that has never been an issue for me (perhaps because I don't listen loud while mixing).