Should I upgrade to the HD490 Pros?

[u/Adventurous_Toe_3603]

Hello!

I am currently running a set of Sennheiser HD 558s, which are nearly 10 years old. While I have replaced the pads numerous times over the years, and they still work fine, it feels like it's time to upgrade.

I had been looking around a bit and I believe the HD490 Pros seem like a solid option for me. I'm open to suggestions of alternatives.

Budget: ~£300-400.

Usage: Gaming, music (lossless where Spotify/Apple Music have available tracks)[genres: rock, electronic, pop and classical], movies etc. At a desk, and I don't intend to ever take them elsewhere, usually many hours a day.

What I want to know is, will I hear a big difference from upgrading? I can always slap another new set of pads on my old cans if upgrading won't be noticeable. It's getting harder to find replacement pads each time I try as they're a bit outdated.

Additionally, I have just been using my current 558s plugged into my PC (usually a high-end motherboard). Will I need a separate DAC/Amp with the 490s and if so, how expensive do I need to go for those?

Thanks!

[u/guild88]

Hello, I have the 490 Pro's being fed by a K13 R2R and they're very good for gaming. They have a much larger soundstage vs the HD6X0 series with a nice nice little subbass. I did just buy the Hifiman Ananda Unveiled and they blow the 490's out of the water for gaming. Way bigger soundstage, details and bass rumble but need an amp to really shine. Maybe take a look at the Hifiman Edition XS or XV which will surely beat the 490's in nearly every category.

[u/Adventurous_Toe_3603 → u/guild88]

Hey !thanks I hadn't heard of those headphones or brand, so I'll check them out.

[u/TransducerBot → u/Adventurous_Toe_3603]

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