How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want closed-back isolation and a collapsible, rugged build for tracking, mixing and monitoring on the move, choose Audio-Technica ATH-M50x; if you need an open-back reference design with a natural soundstage and a dedicated mixing plug-in for producing and content creation, choose Sennheiser HD-490.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — biggest strength: closed-back 45mm dynamic drivers with a tight, isolating seal, three swappable cables and a collapsible frame, so you can track, mix and monitor without the room leaking in.
• Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — biggest trade-off: the closed cup and on-ear/over-ear fit can get warm over long sessions, and it is a wired-only 6.35mm design with no open-back airiness.
• Sennheiser HD-490 — biggest strength: open-back reference voicing with a natural soundstage, dual mixing and producing earpads, two detachable cables and the dearVR MIX-SE plug-in for spatial mixing work.
• Sennheiser HD-490 — biggest trade-off: open-back means almost no isolation, so it is a studio-first tool rather than something you wear on a commute or in a noisy room.
• Who each is for: pick the M50x if you need one do-it-all closed headphone for tracking, monitoring and travel; pick the HD-490 if you are producing or mixing and want an open, speaker-like reference.
The ATH-M50x is the closed-back workhorse of this pair. Its 45mm large-aperture dynamic drivers run 20Hz–20,000Hz, and the closed enclosure plus contoured earcups create a tight seal that cuts ambient noise and keeps bleed to a minimum. That combination is exactly what you want when you are tracking a vocalist, monitoring a drum take or just trying to hear detail in a room that is not perfectly quiet. The spec sheet also calls out deep, accurate bass and clarity for critical listening, which is the character most people associate with this model.
In my opinion, the M50x is the right buy if you want one wired headphone that does tracking, casual monitoring and travel without fuss. It is also the friendlier pick if your setup is a 6.35mm output, since that is the native jack here. Skip it if your priority is an open, wide soundstage for critical mixing decisions, or if you need wireless — this is a wired-only 6.35mm headphone, and the closed cup will feel warmer over very long sessions.
Sennheiser HD-490: Who It's For
The HD-490 PRO Plus is built for a different job. It is an open-back, over-ear reference headphone with 130-ohm dynamic drivers covering the same 20Hz–20,000Hz range, and the open design is the whole point: it gives you a natural soundstage that behaves more like listening to speakers in a treated room. Sennheiser positions it for mixing, producing and content creation, with "accurate and precise sound reproduction" as the stated goal. The 130-ohm impedance also tells you it wants a decent headphone output — an audio interface or a proper amp rather than a phone dongle.
The bundle is unusually complete for a studio tool. You get both mixing earpads and producing earpads, so you can tune the fit and voicing to the task, plus an extra headband pad for long listening sessions. Two detachable cables (5.9' and 9.8') cover close and farther seating positions, and there is a travel case plus a headphones stand and microfiber cloth in the kit. The headline extra, though, is the included dearVR MIX-SE plug-in, which is aimed squarely at spatial and immersive mixing work. The native jack is 3.5mm, and the enclosure mixes metal and plastic.
Where it falls down is isolation. Open-back means the room comes in and your mix goes out. There is no noise control of any kind. So it is a poor choice for tracking loud sources, for noisy rooms, for commuting, or for anyone who needs to record without bleed. Buy it if you are mixing or producing and want an open, honest reference with a plug-in that extends what the headphone can do. Skip it if you need one headphone for everything.
• Best for tracking and monitoring → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Closed-back isolation keeps the click track in and the room out.
• Best for mixing and producing → Sennheiser HD-490. Open-back voicing, a natural soundstage and the dearVR MIX-SE plug-in.
• Best for noisy rooms or travel → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Collapsible, rugged, closed, and it comes with a pouch.
• Best for long, critical listening → Sennheiser HD-490. Open cups plus an extra headband pad and two earpad sets reduce fatigue.
• Best all-rounder for a first studio headphone → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Three cables, adapter, spare pads and a 6.35mm jack cover the most setups.
• Best for a dedicated mix position → Sennheiser HD-490. Two cable lengths and 130-ohm drivers suit an interface or amp at a desk.
• Best for versatility of cables → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. Coiled and straight cables plus a 6.3mm adapter in one box.
• Best for anyone who needs one headphone only → Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. The closed design works in more places than an open-back can.
If I had to pick one, I would buy the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. In my opinion it is the more useful single headphone: closed-back isolation, a collapsible rugged frame, three cables and a 6.35mm jack mean it works for tracking, monitoring and listening almost anywhere. The Sennheiser HD-490 is the better pure mixing and producing tool — open, natural, with a plug-in and two earpad sets — but its lack of isolation limits where you can use it. If you already own a closed headphone and want a dedicated open reference, the HD-490 is the one I would add.
FAQ
how to connect studio headphones
how to test studio headphones
Start with material you know well and listen for balance, bass accuracy and how wide the image feels. The HD-490's open-back design will sound more spacious, while the ATH-M50x's closed cups will sound more isolated and bass-forward. Check fit and comfort too, since the HD-490 includes both mixing and producing earpads to swap.
how to bluetooth studio headphones
Neither the ATH-M50x nor the HD-490 has Bluetooth — both are wired-only. To go wireless you would need a separate Bluetooth transmitter or adapter connected to your source, since neither headphone has built-in wireless connectivity.
can you mix with just headphones
Yes, and both of these are made for it. The HD-490 is explicitly built for mixing and producing with an open, natural soundstage and a mixing plug-in included, while the ATH-M50x is aimed at critical listening, mixing and monitoring with a closed, isolating design. Many engineers still check a mix on speakers, but a reference headphone like either of these can carry most of the work.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: eleror Invisible Mini vs SOAR Collegiate True: True Wireless, BESNOOW Earbuds vs Acer Gaming Headset: Wireless Headphones, EKSA H3 vs Spracht Blues Combo BT/USB, Superlux HD661 vs ART MyMONITORII Personal Headphone