Sennheiser - HD 490 PRO

I guess here is my take on a comparison for headphones, I'm nothing special just someone who is picky with audio likes my home theatre systems and draw most of my desire for good audio from using soundbars or more robust proper 5.1 systems i've had. Never traditionally used much for headphones aside from gaming stuff, and in ear beats and air pods. Moved to a desk setup more lately so sold some HT stuff and I'm putting it into headphones, so far i cant seem to get close to what I like. Generally WIDE, detailed deep, boomy sound but I don't need crazy rumbling bass and appreciate vocals and mids as ofc. knowing nothing about IEMs i couldn't decide from reading so I ordered a handful of sets. So i compared all of these across a range of music using the same 30 songs or so. Watched some Anime/movies, played R6 siege and did 1-3 matches with each for footsteps(most I've played in years), immersive solo games( I Used the dead space remake and Subnautica some helldivers and some forza), and then judged their comfort levels for fit after extended periods of time and then how much pain I had from Highs which is normal for me as I like to crank things a lot, and 97% of the time the sharp highs are what stop me from going further.) I listed the prices I got them for in CAD, pre much all from amazon so i could return if it wasn't a keep. And a brief summary without getting too detailed into sound description as idk what means what sometimes. Some i payed less attention to than others once i realized quickly I didn't like them compared to others I had already tried. Everything was also tested on the single ended output of my Fiio K11, except AFUL Performer 5+2 and 1 other i think. 580$ Linsoul THIEAUDIO Hype 4 (return) * music 7/10, anime/movie 8/10, FPS 7.7, immersive (DS- 8.3), uncomfortable 7/10, pain from sound 7/10 * These were solid for sure, and had some nice bass top 3 for bass for me on this list, but also the easiest no for me.... as for the price I quickly tried others that got too close to these for way less... Fanciest packaging and presentation though it wins that (but that's just a bonus) also loved their look. So naturally wanted to like these badly. These were actually pretty big though one of the bigger ones and did stretch my little ear holes a bit much maybe the most... Hurt my ears an average amount for sharp sounds. 300$ ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete (return) * music 5.5/10, anime/movie 6.3/10, FPS(possibly the best here), immersive(DS-8.0), uncomfortable 5/10, pain from sound 6/10 * Comfier fs, If all i played was competitive gaming and wanted to go all out there, id probably keep these, they handled music and shows well, but I didn't LOVE how they sounded for that... idk not the signature I wanted for those uses, but FPS def super nice however for me I don't play a ton of FPS and others were close to as good as these in that area for WAY less. Also Love the look of these. Somewhat pricey didn't make sense to keep these for my uses. **Xenns Mangird Tea Pro** 510$ seen them for 475 on AliExpress (return) * Music 7.9, anime/movie 8.0, FPS 8.0, immersive 8.4, uncomfortable 6.4, pain from sound 5, * So I wanted to like these more than any other on this list after seeing the raves about it. Loved the packaging my 2nd fav here or fav idk. My favorite look also probably god so pretty. Definitely top 2 for overall quality IMO here was neck and neck with AFUL performer 5+2, in most areas, these MIGHT have been better by an edge.... But once I found the AFULs for 275 on Alieexpress vs 600 on amazon.... I realized these don't sound 300$ better... sadly... they sound slightly different fs than the AFULs but nothing crazy as the difference with others here, and better idk my noob ears weren't skilled enough to see the difference. Also I thought these were quiet balanced compared to others that may have excelled in some areas and poorer in others. * after extended periods prob top 5 comfiest for my baby holes :( * Also Slightly thicker at the tip than id like and one of the harder ones to get tips on, which idk less convenient to me, and di tire my ears out fit wise sooner than others, not that bad but also when i took them out after an hour or so my ears thanked me a little.... * Maybe best but hard to tell between performer 7 and these AFUL Performer 5+2 / Performer 7 4.4mm on balanced OP 600$ amazon... current number 1 overall (KEEP) 275 alieexpress * Music 7.9, anime/movie 8.1, FPS(R6 7.3 maybe?) immersive 8.45 haha, uncomfortable 4, pain from sound 4.9, * pretty balanced, not crazy poor or crazy standoutish in any one area imo... not uncomfy at all, maybe not the smallest or uncomfiest, but extended listening periods were no issue, seems people don't like these smooth nozzles but i loved it so far... easy to change tips and never had them budge once they are on. idk how i feel ab the open holes tho... I kinda love these fell in love quicker than the tea pros, feels a little gentler on me, I know i didn't track soundstage * don't love the look of these as much as many but they are too good for the price on alieexpress * said it above, Linsoul 7Hz Timeless II 230$ (return) * music 6.0, anime/movie solid 7.6 maybe, fps solid average didn't use for this much, immersive(DS-7.7), uncomfortable 4.3, pain from sound 5.5 * Balanced all around... solid for the price I think nothing crazy in anything so far but solid... came with some extra pieces others didn't, look slick and unique, very good all around and quite comfy, feel pretty worth it for the price and a good option id recommend them fs, no real complaints, returned bc i liked the afuls better for 50$ more basically and i think they sounded 50$ better or more so yeah Truthear x Crinacle Zero: BLUE2 65$ (return) * music 5.7, anime/movie 7, fps 7.0, immersive(DS-7.5), movie, uncomfortable sooo big 6.6, pain from sound 6.3 * So solid for the price most competitive w timeless perhaps less balanced, but performs great where it does and isnt terrible anywhere, these were my first I'm going to keep these pic, but after spending lotsss of time with these i determined it was not worth the discomfort, as they did unholy things to my ear holes, if i met someone with big ear holes id recommend 100%, also felt decently bassy imo, worth it as a jump from he 7hz crinnacle zero imo as well if your ear holes could fit this, pained me not to keep these AFUL Explorer 255$ (return) * Music 6.0 MAYBE? idk ab this, anime/movie 6.9, FPS 6.7, immersive 6.8, uncomfortable 1.5, pain from sound 3.5, * Very well rounded and most comfortable maybe over alll others, almost feels NICE to wear these haha, loved them, they sounded super well rounded but also not the signature I was looking for, but sounded kinda unique compared to others imo, pleasant though... as much as i liked them they didn't draw me in like many others, they seem worth the price i guess... but idk, idk what id use them for, if they were 100$ less id consider way more i think? * Could probably wear these indefinitely Linsoul Kiwi Ears KE4 270$ (return) * Music 7.6, anime/movie 7.8, FPS 7.4, immersive solid 7.5, uncomfortable 2.4, pain from sound 3.9 * bassy.. I do like this.. best for bass so far, id say out of all these if I was a bass head these would be my pic, which i do think I am somewhat but prioritize other things as much or more so maybe not, also comfy esp for the size for sureee, * I hated this brands packaging * These kinda felt like just better supermixes... Linsoul SIMGOT SuperMix 4 213$ (return) * Music 6.3, anime/movie 7.5, FPS 8.4), immersive (DS 7.8), uncomfortable 2.0, pain from sound 4.0, * these feel pretty well rounded not that uncomfy... kinda like timeless but more quality sound a step up sorta, loved these for FPS arete barely edged them out i think, really liked this pair was shocked but i think id pick it over the timeless? very comfy and balanced i think, for the price it makes it easier choice id choose these over timeless... i liked this tempted to keep as they were great for FPS and performed well in most other areas, if you wanted to spend more on a pair that was good for FPS, but also wanted one pair that could handle other content maybe better than the arete(except FPS) than this would be my pick and i almost kept them, * Supermix might be bested by kiwi ears seems so in anime/movie, music is 50/50... * i do think that - Explorer vs supermix 4 - supermix wins in all explorer wins in comfort but supermix above average still for comfort 7hz crinnacle zero:2 30$ (KEEP) * Music 5.5, anime 6.5, FPS 8.1, immersive 6.8, movie, uncomfortable 5.0, pain from sound 4.0, * for 30$ these are one of the most worth it purchases i've ever made, sure they feel cheap and look cheap, but for 30$ i will recommend this to most people i know, also i swear they were great for fps... Linsoul Tripowin x 0DiBi: Vivace 40$ (KEEP) \- Music 5.0, anime/movie 5.7, FPS 8.3, immersive 6.5, uncomfortable 5.9, pain from sound 5.5, \- got these purely off the top 5 gaming iem rec, and yeah prob top 5 here for it or close, for the price that's why i kept them felt fair to spend that much for how good they were for fps for the amount i play, cheaper than buying arctis novas or something just for footsteps, a few others were better sure, but i don't play enough. I disliked these for pre much everything else they were meh, will keep tho Truthear hexa 101$ (return) * Music 6.0, anime, FPS 7.7, immersive, movie, uncomfortable 5.0, pain from sound 4.7, * Feel like some of the most purposeless here... idk what to say about them.. not bad mid in every way... wouldn't pay 100$ maybe 70 TOPS, feels like while maybe they are better than the zero blues (way comfier) they lack anything impressive... but def more balanced than the blues and don't hurt my ear holes ig I have to give it that.... Linsoul Kiwi Ears Cadenza 43$ (return) * Music 5.7, anime/movie 6.5, FPS 6.0, immersive 5.5, uncomfortable 4.5, pain from sound 5.3, * For some reason these troubled me so much, i tried to really give these a lot of chances, bc ppl praise them so much for the price. but from the moment i put them in my ears i hated how they sounded lol, towards the end i started to appreciate them ONLY for music but in a different way than most others here... idk If i was to collect multiple IEMs maybe id keep this one next bc i felt like it was useful for a specific genre maybe? idk overall tho not the sound signature i appreciate a lot... even if maybe i did start to see it a little bit... A lot of uncomfortableness felt with IEMs is noticed after I take them out, they immediately feel achy and I notice my ears feel better with them out, in is still an issue though for some. In the end I found a few that didn't bother my ears at length, My scales here aren't perfect from IEM to IEM, some are pretty accurate on MY scale others not 100 from IEM to IEM if yknow what i mean. Did all the IEMs first and didn't realize how much more i liked them over the coming Open backs which were new to me entirely. For fun Beats fit pro 200$ (KEEP) * Music 5.0, anime/movie 4.0, FPS, immersive, uncomfortable, pain from sound, * Just for fun I connected these VIA Bluetooth to my pc, they are my main out of the house headphones love them super comfy and been through the wash and dryer 5x lol, and sweat on them a ton in the gym over 4 years i think, still work as good as day one battery never dies on me, and never fall out of my ears god I love them. * Ofc right away I confirmed the IEM chase was worth it as these sucked lol but I don't notice that in the gym and cant stand wires on the move. 590$ 490 pros (debating) * don't sound as boomy, but listening pain is severely reduced from intenseness, only pain is slight sharp highs, biggest downsides perhaps needing to turn it up higher bc sounds less boomy in ears meaning more risk for sharp highs, less boomy up front but beats lots of the IEMs for the pro/cons in some areas, gain on high at 40, I love these but the more I used the more i realized they cost double he performers and I was picking the performers for like everything over this, these definitely allowed me to listen to music in a way i haven't before, but also.... left me wanting moreeeee, detailed and analytic to me... but too simpleeee didn't draw me in enough i feel too far from the music idk considering the price I am pre sure I will keep, but prob top 3 comfiest over ears I've worn in my life, and maybe best sounding I guess hard to say? I feel like Over ears should be able to sound this good for less... * music 7.9/10, anime/movie 8.5/10, fps 7.5, immersive(DS-8.0), uncomfortable (slight pressure on top of head and ears 3.5, pain from sound 6.5/10(only bc I have to crank them to feel what i want in music... ) DT880 290$ (return) * tight fit not my favorite, 600 ohm barely enough on k11, but enough to listen and judge, honestly sounds way worse than 490 pro, also firm pads and tight fit on my big picky ears, not the comfiest, worst open backs I've tried (out of 5), expected to love these for the price came in excited and loved the look, almost failed in every way.... looks nice tho... nice lil bag it came with? * anime 6.7, music 5.0, fps 4.0, rest doesn't matter maybe I'm picky but I hate these to me they suck ATH-R70x 340$ (return) * sounds way better than DT880, still needs GAIN on high at around 75 to be loud enough, sound is almost competitive with 490 pros , not as good but for price comparison I'd take these except... these get very hot very quick, and hurt my ears, 490 pros are top 3 comfy I've ever worn these made me appreciate the 490 pros comfort, if comfort didn't suck I'd keep especially if I could get them like 50$ cheaper 300$ CAD flat * Lightest headphones I've ever felt * Not the comfiest though no adjustment... * More competitive with hd490 pro * Anime/movie 8.3, music 7.8, fps 6.7, for most of it these are a touch under the 490 pros in most if not all areas, * but for the price I was going to keep these, then as i wore them more I realized absolutely not 490s are way comfier, I HAVE always been super picky with over ear headphones my whole life though for comfort and these were no different sweaty hot and hurt my ears So I did not expect this but so far I think im not keeping any over ears, opposite of what i expected before i started, wondering If i just dont like open backs... so im trying the DT 770s and the FIIO FT1s this week, aside from that I have AKG K702 coming as well, but my hopes aren't high anymore. Can i not afford the taste I have in headphones or something? I said id spend up to 900CAD on a pair of over ears if they nailed it all right now, but I'm thinking that wont even do it, and I feel like Im happy enough with my AFULS, however I would like the option of over ears at least one pair for solo gaming/movies/music that I don't have to put in my ears when I wanna give my holes a break. How hard can it be to find some that don't disgust me for under 1000? haha I have also tried on Audeze MM100s, HD600s, and Arctis pro Nova 1 or whatever the top ones all quite a bit but didn't test on my own stuff or time. I liked the MM100s a lot out of these, the HD 600 sounded great but too simple 3 separate soundstages kinda and boring to me. MM100s were nice but like idk i dont rmemeber being blown away that much. I also briefly tried on LCD-2s and yeah they were pre sweet worth the price idk ab that, also didnt test enough to really say. So based off all this and maybe my weird tastes idk where should I go from here? or do I need to chill and just stop entirely :( I just want headphones that make it sound like im in front of my 1300$ 5.1 HT system kinda yknow lemme feel that width and immersion w out losing detail and the important stuff Def biggest post ever for me lol

Tried these, but the L and R that's stitched inside the cups destroyed all comfort for me, so I returned them. Also I couldn't wear them comfortably with glasses. Otherwise I agree that they are pretty comfortable. Got Arya Stealth now and can wear them all day without any discomfort even with glasses.

I'd probably recommend Drop/ Sennheiser PC38x for multiplayer/ directional audio and HiFiMan Edition XS (or perhaps Sundara if you have small ears; not comfortable for me) for cinematic single player games for fairly affordable headsets within a few hundred bucks. I've read good things about the Audeze Maxwell. Going much higher will probably require an amp and get MUCH pricier. For PC and listening to music, I use an HE1000SE, which will challenge your statement about budget not mattering. It's by far the best set of headphones I've ever used for gaming (including the also excellent Sennheiser HD 490 Pro, which I also own) or music but definitely not low budget.

Sennheiser hd490 pros, very comfy and great soundstage for directional footsteps etc

Split the needs. Get yourself a cheap wireless headset for when you are just talking on your bed, they will take the abuse and you won't have to worry when they break. Wireless headset will fail with a battery after a few years anyway, while a good wired headphones can last decades with minor maintenance. I can't make a recommendation for specific model in this price range right now, as there are too many recent ones which I haven't tried yet, but as far as Sennheiser goes, since you don't want to spend on HD800S, then perhaps take a look at HD490 Pro (recognized for the comfort) and the newest HD505 (this one is so new, there is little of information on it though),

Give the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro some research. This video sold me on them. They sound great! https://youtu.be/M2kuTZykNtM?si=4VqZpdtNtVXGw5bK

Man can you please stop sharing wrong informations at least. Mmx 300 pro is not open but closed back headphone! And another wrong info u shared is that mmx 330 pro replaced mmx 300! No.. mmx 330 pro are open back and mmx 300 pro are closed back.

Yeah totally agree with that, but the turtle beach was insanely bad. I have Sennheiser open backs and while the bass isn't anything to write home about, it's not a noticeable thing.

Exactly. My HD490 Pro's are my go to for long listening session and even while working. But my Ananda Nanos are untouchable for just sitting down and having a blast with an album or two. It's two very different and enjoyable experiences.

Came here to say. Max comfort + competitive fps = hd490pro or beyer dt900pro x (or other 9 series beyers). But I'd put the 490 as the best non-iem option.

HD 490 and Maxwell. I love em.

I used to have a pair until I got the 490s. I counted from full retraction rather than full extension, so it was something like 13-14 clicks per side I think. They were okay in terms of comfort, but the ear cups never quite swiveled vertically the way I wanted, which is to say that the top couldn't swivel out past a certain point and so it would both put pressure on the upper part and leave a bit of a gap at the bottom. The 490s have room to swivel in both directions, are far more solidly built, and somehow feel lighter, less clampy, and just all around more comfortable. I was initially concerned because the HD58x also have a metal headband and were very uncomfortable for me (pinched at the top sides of my head), but this is not at all like that.

The 490s are not at all like the 6xx series (which I think shares a design with the 58x), which is good because those are not at all comfortable for me. I don't think these are really like any other Sennheisers, though maybe (by look, at least, never tried a pair) they are closer to the 800s? Obviously not the ear cups, but the headband maybe.

For 500 you can get pretty good mileage As mentioned, the 560 and 490 pro are both good options from senheiser. Their quite similar in regards to their tuning with the 560 to my memory being just a bit more exciting over the neutral 490 to my ear. Treble can be a bit hot on the 560 but if you're willing to eq it's a great value. 490 is good value both for the tuning and the headphones build quality and comfort as well as the 2 pads giving you an additional option for a little fine tuning without needing to eq. If you look second hand you can find stuff like the arya stealth from hifiman, the 660s2, maybe something like the aeons from dca if you want a closed back(I've not spotted the open x recently) or even some of the higher end focals for near that price or below, think elex? Celeste, elegia, stellia maybe, and clear. All great performing headphones and bar specifically the dcas and hifiman, they should still last provided the person took care of them. Edition xs is another mention from hifiman but hifiman qc gambling. Up to you. Second hand for around 180-200 is quite good tho if the prior owner cared for it and put in some hrs. I honestly trust they're headphones more when buying second hand then buying direct.

Depends on the rest of the setup. On my setups I'd reach for HD600 or 490 pro because they will be the most faithful. On an average setup probably ananda nano to compensate for the lower resolution and closed in nature of average front end gear.

Really I think price is the only reason they didn't take off. I LOVE mine, they sound great and are the most comfortable pair I own even on my gigantor head (I have to wear them on the max setting). That's a rarity from Sennheiser, usually there's a comfort compromise I have to deal with.

For that much money have a look at the Sennheiser hd490pro.

Both the Audeze Maxwell and the Fractal Scape are really excellent wireless headphones that also happen to be gaming headsets with decent mics built in, and low latency modes. Personally I prefer to game with wired open backs, and weirdly my recommendation at this point is the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro. It's got good staging, good frequency response, and most importantly, some of the best comfort I've had in a headphone under the $800 price point. It really disappears on my head, and it's powered via a single cable which is more convenient when you're using a mouse and keyboard.

Subjective. It is better value but 490 still has its benefits over the 560 dependant on use case and personal preference. Neither one in this case is a bad option as their very similar, just depends on if op can handle a bit more treble on the 560 and if they want to eq or not.

They aren't a demanding headphones, all you want for them is something capable of around 1.2Vrms of output voltage to be sure all the needed loudness is there, which is achievable by some of the better onboards (based on Realtek ALC1220, possibly on ALC4080 as well), although a DAC (Digital to Analog converter, it is what turns digital files into analog signal your headphones play, it is a part of soundcards and interfaces) can provide that and make sure there are no issues, the output clarity is good and so on. Depending on how much you want to spend and what kind of device you want the good ones are $12 JCAlly JM6 Pro - USB C cable type dongle (USB C to A adapter doesn't affect the sound), its performance wasn't measured, but it is estimated to be 1.4-1.6Vrms with output clarity in 90-100dB (you are fine once you are in the 90's, budget ALC897 onboards are 75dB, better onboards in 95dB) $50 Moondrop Dawn Pro - "pendrive" type dongle with detachable cable, a bit more power (1.5-2Vrms as it might depend on connected headphones), output clarity of 112dB (that is $100 worth performance), and a capability to run those headphones in a balanced connection (doubles the power up to 4Vrms, and increases clarity up to 117dB, but requires buying additional balanced cable for about $20). $100 Topping DX1 - a desktop DAC+Amp combo, has 3.89Vrms on tap which is way more than needed for HD490 Pro, physical volume knob, yet it is still powered from USB, output clarity of about 113dB. There is no point in spending more unless you require some kind of additional connectivity or functionality. If you would ever need more power in the future, they all can be used as DAC only to connect an additional amplifier to. In such case the dongles should be run at 100% volume, while DX1 has Line Out specifically for that job. You want 2Vrms signal send to amplifier so the amp can output to its full capability, meaning JM6 Pro isn't ideal, however it should still be usable. The issue is when supplying more than 2Vrms as that can distort the amplifier. You won't need that for any of the headphones mentioned, just mentioning so you know there is such a capability. Audio interface is generally not advisable unless you want to run a mic with mic monitoring/sidetone function (to hear yourself in the headphones without a lot of delay/latency). The reason the DAC build into audio interface usually isn't of the comparable performance to a dedicated device. That said, if you would happen to need that mic monitoring or simply need interface for the mic and don't want to spend more money for more devices, there are decent interfaces like Audient iD4 MkII which has output clarity of 102dB, and 4.3Vrms on tap for 150Ohm headphones (HD490 Pro) with up to 5.6Vrms for a higher impedance ones. It actually looks like a decent deal for the money, as those specs are better than considerably less powerful (but still sufficient), yet more expensive Motu M2. Unfortunately we do not have any measurements or even manufacturer's specs for GoXLR's headphone output, so I can't tell if it is any good. When buying audio interface, be sure to check if it has all the features you will need, for example if the mic you are going to use requires Phantom Power (shouldn't be needed for dynamic mics, but it might for some condenser mics), you want audio interface to provide such, else you will need to buy an additional power supply device for it.

I have these paired with RME ADI-2 DAC FS and EQ'd using /r/oratory1990 preset they're fucking phenomenal.

Sure. No problem. So you are after open one. Then as I said try hd 490 pro. I have them and I love them. They are my Open back which I keep.

Just bought a set of 490 pros. They look, feel and sound amazing. I am hoping they last at least 10 years. My old Wrath 3D set still works but is tatty as old dogs.

1990 MK2 is great, 990 Pro X treble is HORRIBLE for games. join the HD 490 gang.

I just dove in to the Audiophile world a few weeks ago bought the HD490 pro's with the FIIO k7 BT so I can use Bluetooth from other devices to stream to the headphones too. No regrets. Amazing pairing for games/movies it's phenomenal

Great review. I got a pair of these and am very happy! Most comfortable pair of headphones I've owned for my large head.

Sennheiser HD490 Pro. I could listen to them all day and not even know they're there.

Mmx 300 pro are closed ones. I would recommend you Sennhesier Hd 490 pro. Extremely comfortable and nice balanced sound little bit V shaped. Decent bases. Not harsh trebles like u would get with mmx 300 pro

Out of your shortlist, I'd shorten the list even more: Hd490pro (same driver as the 560s, better build, slightly more customizable) HD660S2 DT900ProX (updated tuning from the 990 variants, slightly less bright). These tent to get a bit warmer than the sennheisers above because their "open" design is smaller. I personally don't like Hifiman options, but planars in general are usually all open. Consider Fiio ft series, Moondrop options, or, depending on your budget, Audeze Depending on how big an issue heat buildup is, The Sennheisers would be the best option. Oh and also check out Audio-Technica R series (R30x, 50x, 70x, 70xa)

$179 in the past week. I wouldn't buy them with the HD490 Pro being a thing now though. I have had both and just compared them side by side, the 490 Pro is just a better, easier to drive 600 series with actual bass potential.

Without going insane with the cost, Fiio K11 or the cheaper K3 + Beyerdynamic 9 series ( 900 pro x, 990pro, 1990pro, etc) or Sennheiser 600 series (hd600, 650, 660s2, 490pro). But any quality dynamic open back will be great for Siege.

I have and absolutely love them! Review is spot on.

by far the best ones for gaming would be Sennheiser HD 490 Pro, that said all around I prefer Audio-Technica ATH-R70x or R70x Refine if you are in US as it's $50 less from closed backs $699 msrp Denon AH-D5200 you can get for \~380 shipped from Japan on eBay brand new, it's a step above DT 700 Pro X, DT 770 X and AKG K553 MKII which are all better than regular old 770s

And here I am after 20+ years of Head-Fi down to a single pair, effectively (HD490).

Planars are great. But if gaming is your main criteria, stick with dynamic drivers. Beyerdynamic 9 series (900 pro X, 990 pro, 1990 pro) Sennheiser 600 series ( hd600, 650, 660, 660s, 660s2, and including the 490pro) and 500 series ( hd560s is one of the most recommended options for gaming around here), Some of the audio technica ath-ad models. Specifically for competitive fps games, these are pretty much the best options out there at reasonable prices. Adding an amp like the Fiio k5 you mentioned is also a good idea with most of these. I personally like Sennheiser more because I listen to more music than I play video games, but I occasionally get called a cheater in r6 with my old hd600 + Fiio k11. If you don't care about music or other media, the beyers should technically be even better.

Looks like Sennheiser 600 series (or the 490 pro) or ath-r something are your best options then. Good luck. Hifiman are good. I just don't like them. Tuning preference.

I love them, somewhat pricey but If I have to choose a headphone that will use for the rest of my life this is it

Depends on head shape, I suppose. I have to stretch headphones out fairly wide, which is why I did not find the 560s particularly comfortable. The 490s accommodate that much better. If your head is more tall than wide, than I think you'd have less issues with a lot of headphones. This is why I take issue with reviews that just chalk comfort up to "subjective." There are a lot of objective measures they could take, they just don't.

Came here to say the exact same thing. I've tried so many headphones, the HD490 Pro is MILES ahead.

The Sennheiser hd 490 pro plus, maybe you can buy them at that price on eBay, but they are a fucking marvel for playing and listening to music, I have dozens of HI FI headphones and also gamer headphones and I have stuck with the HD 490 as my endgame, recommended

hey, I bought the Hifiman Edition XS and the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro to try them simultaneously and then return the least prefered for mixing. While both had their pros, the XS had very clear cons too while the HD 490 pretty much didn´t have any cons: it was incredibly good across the board for mixing and mastering but also enjoying music recreationally. A few months later I couldn´t be happier, they literally have everything I could ask for in a headphone: flat response with very solid bass for a open back, incredible comfortable and light while still very well designed, surprisingly good impedance which means that even without an amp you can enjoy them for recreational purposes, and the list goes on and on. At their price point, I believe they are almost unbeatable and only if you are wasting a whole lot of money you could find good competitors. The only thing to keep in mind is that you should also consider what type of music or sound are you going to mix. For orchestral music and cinema soundtracks, there well may be alternatives to the HD-490 with wider soundstage, but for pop/hiphop/rock/EDM I believe they are the best at the 200-500€ range. I will say too that if you are on a tight budget, I would recommend you to buy the headphone without the official case, because its almost 100$ cheaper and the official case is not even that great.

Sennhsier HD 490 Pro are really light and soft. Most comfortable headphones I've tried.

Audeze Maxwell's 100%. You have to physically try them every day for at least a week to adjust to fit (they were comfy and not fatiguing for me personally), but if you want sound that is on another league of its own in that price range (handles EQ's like a champ), then its a no brainer IMHO. I've tried them all, went down the spending rabbit hole to find "the one" pair that gives me that "wow" factor and fits my use case the best and I always end up going right back to the Maxwells after all the comparisons! Products tested: A50X, Arctis Nova Pro / Elite, HD 490 Pro, DT 880 Pro, several IEMs (recently tried the Kiwi Ears Astral and found them too bright for me), HyperX Cloud III, etc. etc. Get the PS5 version ($30 cheaper; USD) or wait for a sale. Audeze main website had a B stock sale for amazing discounts but they're selling out fast. Just grabbed a pair of Maxwell's for $199, so be on the lookout! Worst case scenario, the sound quality doesn't outweigh its flaws for your taste and you go back to square one after returning them.