Sennheiser HD 490 Pro vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII
Sennheiser HD 490 Pro (#2, best value) vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII (#3): in our Over-ear Headphones for Studio scoring the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro totals 9/10 and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII 8.9/10. At $356 versus $658, the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro costs $302 less.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Sennheiser HD 490 Pro | Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $356 | $658 |
| Driver Size | 38mm neodymium | 45mm TESLA.45 |
| Impedance | 130Ω | 250Ω |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz-36.1kHz | 5Hz-40kHz |
| Weight | 260g | 376g |
| Design | Open-back | Open-back |
| Included Software | dearVR MIX-SE spatial mixing plugin | — |
| Connector | — | Mini-XLR (single-sided) |
How they differ in real use
Built from our over ear studio scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII made our Top 5 Over-ear Headphones for Studio, at #2 (best value) and #3. MusicRadar's 'best overall studio headphone available right now.' Purpose-built for modern production with included dearVR MIX-SE spatial mixing plugin—invaluable for bedroom producers mixing on headphones instead of monitors. At $356, it's the best value for serious mixing. Open-back only: NOT for tracking/recording. Exceptional detail resolution with the MKII's refined TESLA.45 drivers. At 250Ω, it requires a dedicated headphone amp or quality audio interface—but rewards with micro-detail that reveals mix issues. Open-back only: NOT for tracking/recording.
We score over-ear headphones for studio on Accuracy (40%), Detail Resolution (25%), Comfort (15%), Build Quality (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro totals 9 out of 10 and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII 8.9. The widest gap is Detail Resolution, where the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII scores 9.5 against 8.5 for the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro — micro-detail and transient response. Comfort also separates them: 9.5 for the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro versus 8 for the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII claws back ground on Build Quality.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Driver Size — 38mm neodymium on the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro versus 45mm TESLA.45 on the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII; Impedance — 130Ω on the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro versus 250Ω on the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII; Frequency Response — 5Hz-36.1kHz on the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro versus 5Hz-40kHz on the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII; Weight — 260g on the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro versus 376g on the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII. They match on Design.
Pricing as of February 8, 2026: $356 for the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and $658 for the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII, a $302 difference in the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro's favor. Owners praise the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro for best overall studio headphone (MusicRadar) and includes dearVR MIX-SE plugin for headphone mixing (worth ~$100); the most common complaint is 130Ω requires a headphone amp or quality audio interface. Owners praise the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII for exceptional detail resolution and tESLA.45 drivers with tight matching tolerances; the most common complaint is 250Ω impedance—needs a decent headphone amp or audio interface.
Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
- Best overall studio headphone (MusicRadar)
- Includes dearVR MIX-SE plugin for headphone mixing (worth ~$100)
- Innovative low-frequency cylinder for accurate bass
- Two ear pad sets (Mixing and Producing profiles)
- 130Ω requires a headphone amp or quality audio interface
- Open-back—NOT for tracking/recording (sound leaks into microphones)
- Relatively new (less proven than decades-old standards)
Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII
- Exceptional detail resolution
- TESLA.45 drivers with tight matching tolerances
- Dual ear pad sets (analytical and balanced profiles)
- German manufacturing quality
- 250Ω impedance—needs a decent headphone amp or audio interface
- Still slightly bright for treble-sensitive users
- Heavy at 376g for long sessions
Which should you buy?
The Sennheiser HD 490 Pro is the better fit for home studio mixing (especially with included dearVR plugin) and budget-conscious professionals — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Comfort and Value. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII is the better fit for mixing engineers with quality headphone amps and detail-oriented critical listening, and the stronger choice if Detail Resolution and Build Quality matter more to you than the overall score. Since the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro is both the higher scorer and $302 cheaper, the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII only makes sense for mixing engineers with quality headphone amps. The Sennheiser HD 490 Pro is a poor fit for tracking/recording sessions (open-back); the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII is a poor fit for treble-sensitive listeners.
Choose the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro if
- Home studio mixing (especially with included dearVR plugin)
- Budget-conscious professionals
- Bedroom producers mixing on headphones instead of monitors
Skip it if
- Tracking/recording sessions (open-back)
- Those without a headphone amp or quality interface
Choose the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII if
- Mixing engineers with quality headphone amps
- Detail-oriented critical listening
- Studios already owning a headphone amp
Skip it if
- Treble-sensitive listeners
- Tracking/recording sessions (open-back)
Common questions
Is the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro better than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII?
In our Over-ear Headphones for Studio ranking the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro scores higher overall, 9 to 8.9, with the biggest advantage in Detail Resolution. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII is stronger on Detail Resolution and Build Quality, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII cost than the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro?
$302 more as of February 8, 2026: $658 for the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII against $356 for the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure.
What is the main difference between the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII?
The headline spec difference is Driver Size: 38mm neodymium on the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro versus 45mm TESLA.45 on the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII. In use, the gap that matters most is Detail Resolution (8.5 vs 9.5 in our scoring): micro-detail and transient response.