What’s your opinion on the SMSL D6s?Not sure if you’ve gotten a chance to try it but it’s a newer dac and I paired it with a Monoprice THX 887 and Zeus Elites and personally have never heard so crisp and clear before and sound staging I found to be phenomenal for the price the dac comes in at.
I had paired my 490 with my smsl c200, they worked really well together. However, upgraded to smsl do300ex to have even wider sound stage and better tonality for music.
Uncle Senn, this most be the best gaming/audio channel on YT I bought my 2 sennheisers cans because of him a couple of years ago and now aiming the hd 490. Just saying wink wink.
Hello Fresh! Got DT 900 PRO X after your review and pair it with iFi Zen Dac v2. Then got DT 1990 PRO and added ZEN CAN to the stack with Zen Dac v2. Now I got HD 490 Pro and put my DT 1990 PRO aside. HD 490 Pro wow, just wow. Thanks for your handy reviews Man!
@@Sammy0halso have dt900, can’t decide if it’s worth the upgrade. I don’t care about the money just want to know if they are better and worth even bothering about it
Thanks for this review man. I bought a set of HD560S a couple weeks ago based on your recommendation to replace my older sennheiser gaming headset I've been using for 10 years. They sound great, especially after Oratory1990's eq, but didn't feel they were all that much better than what I had. I just purchased the HD490 Pro as my end game. I'm excited and hoping I like them as much as you do
@@Justin-bm7zn @princekittipon6510 It's hard guys. I'm still A/B testing them. HD560s with Oratory's EQ (with a little added bass) sound amazing. The HD490s sound a little "better" in the bass thump department but also sound a little muddy/ less detail than the 560s eq'd. I'm REALLY wanting to love the HD490 but I honestly can't say it's worth almost 3x the cost of the HD560 when it's soooo close. The 490s are better but should be priced at $200-$250 max. Asking $400 for these things make them not worth it to me but I have a few more weeks left in the return window so maybe I'll change my mind
tremendo canal, justo lo que necesitamos todos los que nos interesa el audio en gaming competitivo; es buenisimo tener la opinion de alguien que comparte la experiencia y lo explica tambien muchas gracias por el contenido amigo
Great review, like always. Incase if you didn't try one- epos h6 pro are discontinued and they offer close and open back, amazing quality of build and sound and mic as well, comfort is phenomenal. Those are very cheap now because soon will be not existing. Every audiophile guy should have them just because. Thanks for review
I didn't know you got a EF600, nice. I've got the older EF400 and it is absolutely excellent, the Hifiman dacs are really something special. With IEMs though for sure the amps in these units are way overpowered, I think using something like an IEMatch is recommended because these units are primary built to be capable of powering the high-end low sensitivity hifiman planars properly, even the 6kUSD Susvara.
Great video. Have you tried EQing the HD 800S to Harman using Oratory1990’s preset? I think that might fix a lot of the Cons you’re experiencing with the HD 800S. In my opinion the HD 800S EQ’d to Harman is the best headphone for gaming
Actually. I meant to add that into the video. The EQ capability in the 800 is probably fantastic. I haven’t tried yet. You’ll have to tell me more about it
@@FreshReviewsYT I'm really happy to hear that. Thank you so much for all your work. It was your reviews that made me buy a budget IEM for gaming and to be honest, I'm really impressed. Next up is an IEM that you put at the top of the tier list for COD. The audio quality of the game is shit, but I'm still tired of being confused by the headphones not being able to locate the enemys properly.
I completely agree that the 490 is the best competitive headphone I have used and betterthan the 800s and 560s. I kind of hate the fact that a lot of reviewers said the 800s is hands down the best fps headphone that exists even though those reviewers barely touch competitive gaming. I still love my 800s with eq for watching shows and listening to music, but the 560s and 490s have been the best gaming headphones that I have used ever. 490 with cloth pads just has a little more separation than the 560s and better imaging, but both are excellent.
I disagree after listening to the 490 Pros and HD800 S on the EF600 today. Well, I partially disagree. I think for the average user they're gonna get most of the HD800 experience on the 490s, but the 800 S has a unique ability to recreate an almost 3D sound. For example in SWBF2 2018 go swing your lightsaber with Dooku, you can close your eyes and determine the direction of the swing pattern with the 800 S which you just can't do (or can't do as well) on the 490s.
@@FreshReviewsYT also R6 Siege on "Lair" if you spawn Northside and walk up the stairs the EF600 really shines with the sounds of all the birds, the echo of the environment. HD 800 S makes you sound like you're there
I didnt expect that video. Thank you. You need to try hd490 with balanced cable. From many people i hear that it scales really well with source. Not picky as hd800s but opinions a little bit diiferent about how good is sound of hd490 on more expensive gear
@@FreshReviewsYT By the way thanks for your advice to pick more powerful amo for Arya. I was torn apart between Dx9 and fiio k19. Decided to pick Dx9 with OG AKM. It's really musical after K9 pro ess and bass layering is superb. Thank you for your advice
Would love to see you review the Audio Technica ATH-R70X. They are highly regarded as having some of the best imaging for gaming, so i'm a little surprised you haven't got your hands on a pair yet. Keen to see how they stack up against the 490 pros. Cheers!
@@FreshReviewsYT Interesting as a lot of comments online have said the opposite. I'll have to give the 490's a go at some point, i have the tea pros on the way 🙂
@@mryong4021 ifi zen dac v2, i also tried the k11 from fiio which also did a good job but i didn't like the harsh treble on it. zen dac is the perfect balance, if you don't wanna completely ruin your bank account, for competitive gaming and music imo :)!
Buy the HD 490 PRO for COD at your own risk! After using them in the COD warzone for a couple days, I got shadowbanned because of rage reports from the crybabies I killed... All of those crybabies accused me of hacking but I just simply heard exactly where they were in the smoke, exactly how close they were running around the corner to me, exactly where they were squatting in a room and plating up, etc..... Joke aside, the HD 490 Pros is definitely top tier for competitive FPS gaming, I compared it to my Orchestra lite and EM6L, but they are not even close. Shadowban is no joke, but it really says how good these headphones are :-)
@@ACE112ACE112shadow bans are actually a thing, but it’s not based on reports. There is some sort of AI involved and just bans you. Happened to me 4-5 times now but I got unbanned within 1-2 weeks.
@@Corporalis I am pretty sure COD shadowbans are heavily based on user reports. This has been the case since Warzone 2 from COD 19, it was so bad that someone even demoed it on the stream to get another player kicked by spamming report. At the beginning of S2 ranked, people just spam reporting in the pre-match lobby to get the top team kicked and Raven had to remove the "report player" button in the pre-match lobby to mitigate the unfairness.
I got both the 490, 800s and the DX9 in the end. Agree that the 490 are better for fps gaming, feel like the 800 are almost too wide. Like I can hear someone is there but harder to know where they are exactly. Need to try 800s with eq
Good update review/comparison. If you continue to do budget dac/amp reviews, do try getting your hands on the new Schiit Magni Unity and JDS Labs Atom 2 stack. Would love to see how they compete with the current offerings. Also, now that youve gotten a good amount of dacs under your belt, any opinion on which chip you prefer, AKM or ESS? Do they sound any different to you? Thanks for the quality of content Fresh!! Top Tier as always!
I tried 490hd. So... Maybe that's not a bad headphones. I played for a couple of hours at Apex. And I was constantly trying to clear the haze in the sound. I was constantly trying to get the high frequencies out from under the pillow. Tried switch back to Denon 7200... So Denon 7200 sounds clean, open after 490 hd and also has closed cups. I immediately heard the crystal frequency and the overall sound picture became more understandable and readable. I'd just return 490. I don't want to experiment, wait for them to warm up or for the sound to change. Tried with Fiio k7, fiio k9 pro ess, PC headphones port with dolby atmos. Unfortunately.
I bought the HD560S per your previous video recommendations and I’m really excited for it to come in. Although I’ve read that some people don’t like them as much for COD due to less bass on the footsteps. But apparently that can be fixed with EQ. Thoughts on that, good sir?
Would you say the 490s are a worthy upgrade from the harmonicdyne Zeus? Currently using zan dac v2 and looking toward your zen dac v3 review to see if I should pair that with the 490s
Thank you for your great review ! Love the way! But my way is at the moment foggy .. i have a Beyerdynamic T1. Is it a upgrade with a 490 Pro ? Or worth it ?
I moved now from the t1 to the hd 490 pro , and the 490 pro is amazing ! I love the soundstage and the dynamic. For this price is this the big deal for me ! Thank you !
After your last HD490pro video, I purchased the HD490pro to work with my DX5, and I feel very good about using it, but it's still very loud when shooting within COD without turning on the loudness EQ. Can you share the audio setting of COD, or have you used the loudness eq?
Thank you for this great comparative update! I know you can't cater to ALL FPS games but out of curiosity, have you ever played Overwatch? I would love to hear your imput about the sound cues of this game and if you think the 490 Pro would still dominate here.
Hey Fresh! I have been seeing a lot of your reviews on headphones, and I have been loving them. However, since I already have the Qudelix 5k, I have always wondered if they were enough to use with something like the HD490 pro. What do you think?
Currently own dt990 pros, and i ordered the jds labs atom + and dac +. I used to use the on board audio but my alc 4080 pooped itself. Anyway, is it worth upgrading from the dt990s to the hd490 pro? Also. Im selling an older graphics card which would bring my hd490s cost down to $200. Also, i play comp fps games. The best need for good sound would be for Hunt Showdown.
Update, I just added the jds labs atom + and dac+ to the dt990 pro. And holy cow. I listened to about 10 songs (flac) and the difference is absolutely noticeable. In michael Jackson's Billie jean, I can hear him freaking breath before and after his sentences. I am hearing more instruments and more depth/layers to the sound stage. If this improved my dt990s by that much, I can't wait for the hd490 pros that get delivered tomorrow!!!!
I used to use dt 990 pros i did not like it however the focal elegia's i got like almost 3 years ago one of the best closed back headphones i've ever had i hate open back headphones with a passion
Hey Fresh I got the HD490 Pro today and do like it but the fabric earpads are super uncomfortable causing the driver cover to scratch my ear pretty badly. The Velour pads are much more comfortable but does using them effect their grade on your tier list? Mainly using for CoD.
If you have the money, you can upgrade to the hdv820 (games only) or Violectric DHA V226(best choose), Violectric V590 (music and games). Using 4.4mm (balanced) for hd800s will expand the sound field, and using 6.35mm (unbalanced) will make the sound field smaller.
Hey thanks for the video!! Do you recommend the DX9 with an HD800S for gaming and listening to music? I only have this headphone at the moment and I love it.
Awesome reviews!! INTUAURA SplendorII or HD 490 Pro for PS5? also which Mic I can use? I need to communicate with teammates. It's really hard in COD to find where the enemies are.. the sound is kind of muffled.. thanks
@@FreshReviewsYT I recently ordered the Fiio FA19 and the ifi Zen Dac V3 (because of the balanced 4.4 mm output) but whatching this video I'm a little bit worried about what you said on 3:02
Currently comparing/testing the 900 pro X and the HD560S for CoD specifically. Leaning towards the proX. Now you threw another wrench in the game... unsure the 490s are worth DOUBLE the price I paid for the first two tho....
@@Dew4lk I'm testing both using a Topping Dx3pro+. My impression are that the 560s feels light and open. The 900 pro x's feel heavier and more closed. The quality of the 900 make me lean towards them but theres something about the 560s that just feel easy... currently testing them both with oratory EQs
@@Dew4lk they are insane for music! when i first tried them i was blown away by how much i can hear. i have pretty good onboard audio already and ordered a zen dac v2 for comparison and the zen dac does a lot to the sound, it further reduces the muddiness and improves the clarity in sound. on board audio is a bottle neck with headphones like this imo. the fiio k11 also does the cheap but overall feels cheaper and has a more sharp treble which i personally didn't like.
Dear Fresh, the new headphone that has been getting so many attention during past few month is Fiio FT1 closed back. I really wanted it but I cannot confirm the competitive gaming use of it by looking at the graph and hearing lots of review. Can you give them a try and make a video on them? I play game like Escape From Takov, Level Zero: Extraction.
@@FreshReviewsYT Cheers, looking forward to see it. There is a FT1 pro variant as well. I have found that my Sens* PC38x and ATH 70X from Audio Technica, the sound escape too much making it sound that is far unherdable even with DacAmp. So now I am using IEM Crin Zero Blue but I really love the form factor of closed back much more.
Been watching your reviews for a while now and i'm trying to decide whether to give iems a try (Yanyin canon 2) or go with the 490's. Which one would provide the better "wallhack" experience?
@@FreshReviewsYT I'm currently using a ifi zen dac v2 and dt 900 pro x. Looking for a all around upgrade. Would you consider the topping dx3 pro better than the zen dac?
@@FreshReviewsYT thanks. you think i should stay away from the FIio K9? i know in your original HD490 review, you mentioned that there was a noticable difference in sound from the dx9 (but thats out of my budget).
how much of difference between IEM & headphones right now? thanks for videos, ordered orchestra lite, yanyin cannon 2 and truthear chronicle to compare.
Great channel fresh! Having a channel that focuses on high level audio for gaming is awesome. Have you used the Focal Clear before (OG). Considering an upgrade/change to either the 490 or Xenns Top. Do you feel there is a clear better option for either? Always used headphones but iems do intrigue me, wondering if they offer any benefit besides isolation. Edit: Mainly Warzone Thank you!
I personally prefer IEMs. I haven’t tried the clears in a very long time. I’d recommend the 490 for a headphone for sure if you want to stay that route. For IEMs I’d recommend going for the Arete or canon 2 and saving a little money. If you want to go high end though the fiio fa19 is great
@@FreshReviewsYTthanks for the reply. Will probably look at changing dac/amp as I am using a v1 zen dac/can. Do you feel the Hifiman EF600 would be a suitable upgrade? I would prefer something with balanced ins and outs.
quick question, do you rank the hd 800 s based on value vs the 490 pro and if so how do you feel about the performance increase between the 2 in regards to soundstage. I have the 490 pro and i'm not sure if I want to move up to the hd 800 s, for the money would you say the soundstage increase if there is any would be an underwelming upgrade over the 490 s
Hello Fresh, have you tried Arya Stealth in competitive games? I wonder how it performs there compared to hd 490 pro. Trying to choose between 490 pro and Arya Stealth, both have almost the same price in my region, he1000se and hd800s is quite expensive for me
Hi, would you also place the HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite in the top picks category alongside the 490 Pro and 800S? Mainly for someone who already owns the HD 560S and is looking for something better? Can the Zeus also be expected to perform perfectly in competitive games like the 490 Pro, or is it better to go with Sennheisers? Additionally, besides COD and Apex, I also play Valorant and CS2. I also noticed that in your description, the 490 Pro has an (A+) rating, while the Harmonic has a (B+) rating, the same as the HD560S. I'm wondering how significant this difference is and which would be the better choice considering I already have the HD560S. From what you've mentioned, it seems that the Harmonics have a more enjoyable sound for listening to music, which also attracts me to them, but I'm not sure which model offers more benefits overall.
How is the sound of the zen dac/ ef compared to the k9 (the normal one apart from the pro/akm) ? Like is it an upgrade in sound over something like a zen dac for you?
On the topic of COD, I am crazy, or do the HYPERX CLOUDs perform better than PC38x. I felt sounds were getting lost in PC38x and although can hear them I could not tell from which way enemies were coming. Was wondering if you tried the HYPERXs and your thoughts?
I am currently still on the DT 900 Pro X, I have the C200 still that you sold to me, the question is, if I want to go up from here, what is your best recommendation? Always appreciate your help man!
Hey mate been a long time sub and about to pull the trigger on the 490 Pros! My main use will be gaming and FPS games like call of duty. If you had to pick from there DAC/AMPS which would you choose? where I am there all about the same price. I have fallen on either Topping DX3 Pro+, FiiO K11 or the Zen dac v3 appreciate any advice :)
@@FreshReviewsYT I am ready the k11 has a balanced output where the others don’t? I don’t even know what that means tbh does that matter to me if all I use these headphones for is pc gaming and a modmic wireless?
@@FreshReviewsYT Gotcha thanks for the reply now that I have you I wanted to ask about the quality of the soundstage and imaging of the DT 900 Pro X compared to the TYGR 300 r?
I have HD-800-S, iFi Zen Dac v2 and Schiit Jotunheim. Should I move the the 490 Pro if I primarily game? I just want something with more impact and to not lose the imaging of the HD800S or as little of it as possible.
Which headphones would you recommend for FPS shooters, especially COD, the Sennheiser 490 or the Arete IEMs? I'm currently using the Kiwi orchestra Lite and I'm not happy with them, they're not comfortable enough for me.
@@FreshReviewsYT That's the problem, I don't know. Actually, I only switched to IEMs because I was getting headaches with over-ear headphones (from too much pressure). But I didn't like the comfort of the Orchestra Lite at all; the sound was outstandingly good.
I'm about to buy HD490 or 400pro/560s, but for the price of the 490 the swiveling hinges/yokes seems like a failure point to me. How you feel them in terms of real world durability ? Thank you
Just found out ur channel and i have a question, what do you think about these headphones for gaming and music: - shure srh440/840 - akg k361/371 - hifiman he400se - sennheiser hd 569 - audio technica m40x Thanks in advance!
If you like the HD800 then you might like the ATH-ADX5000. They sound similar but it has some bass unlike the HD800, so it's more balanced while being just as technical, no downsides compared to the HD800.
Not an upgrade. V3 Zen Dac isn’t too different from V2 (similar power output, and the burr-brown dac chip). If you are looking for an upgrade, you’d have to go for separate DAC/AMP (as it’s a better value for money than a combo unit) but tbh since you already have C200 there might not be too much point in doing so it’s just for getting those last few percent (which might even be inaudible to be honest, I’m mostly talking about objective testing data). Currently the top DACs for the price are SMSL d-6s (200$), and Topping D50 III (this one has EQ software - 230$). Personally D50 III is worth it for the EQ if you feel like you need it. For AMPs good choices are Topping L50/L30 II/A30 Pro, JDS Labs Atom Amp 2. All of them have enough juice to power almost anything out of single-ended and they don’t break the bank (130-170$ except for the A30 Pro which is over 200$ but it’s the most powerful out of the ones I listed here).
I really liked my 490s, but the foam inside the earcup touches my ear. That was after only a few weeks. I'd imagine they pads would compress even more, the foam would touch even more, as time goes by.
Hey Fresh, I've been looking for some info and ended up finding your channel. Congrats on the great content, I appreciate how you break things down so people like me can understand (old folks 😂). After days in the rabbit hole, I ended returning my new gaming headset ( astro a50x), now I'm looking into diving in the IEM's world and headphones for gaming. Thought about going the old route, buying one piece of equipment for all my gaming, but after all the homework, I think I'm going to buy 2. One for story based game where I can get lost in that world and one first person shooters. I'm usually playing more first person shooters, Apex and COD, so maybe that would be the priority. I keep looking at wallhack list and not sure what to do. If you had $300 dollars to spend buying one IEM and one Headphone , knowing what mentioned here and your awesome knowledge, how would you spend? What would you buy. Thank you in advance and to anyone in the community that answers. Many blessings.
@FreshReviewsYT thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I will definitely let you know which one I go with. Out of curiosity, which one of those two would go with? Have a blessed day. Thank you for what you do.
There are great amp dac solutions in a Lower price range. Purchase responsibly.
Zen dac v3 works great with most of my IEMs and the 490s. The dx9 is more enthusiast grade
@@FreshReviewsYT hd490 works very well on fiio k11 in my usage!
@@FreshReviewsYTwoah new if zen dac
What’s your opinion on the SMSL D6s?Not sure if you’ve gotten a chance to try it but it’s a newer dac and I paired it with a Monoprice THX 887 and Zeus Elites and personally have never heard so crisp and clear before and sound staging I found to be phenomenal for the price the dac comes in at.
I had paired my 490 with my smsl c200, they worked really well together. However, upgraded to smsl do300ex to have even wider sound stage and better tonality for music.
Not us creeping around your UA-cam channel finding this gem... 👀🙏
Haha a goodie!
Uncle Senn, this most be the best gaming/audio channel on YT I bought my 2 sennheisers cans because of him a couple of years ago and now aiming the hd 490.
Just saying wink wink.
Hi fresh. Got these headphones and using Qudelix 5k as I have PS5. Stay with this DAC or get one of these?
@@TheFatalintentionhow are the 490s??
Love my 490 pro's!! Whats a DAC recommendation for them? The Zen V3 keeps dropping audio so I'm looking for a new one.
thank you for your continued dedication to audio testing
Thanks
ZenDac 3 review incoming?
You’d be the first one up on UA-cam. Been waiting for one for a week now
cant wait too!
Hello Fresh! Got DT 900 PRO X after your review and pair it with iFi Zen Dac v2. Then got DT 1990 PRO and added ZEN CAN to the stack with Zen Dac v2. Now I got HD 490 Pro and put my DT 1990 PRO aside.
HD 490 Pro wow, just wow.
Thanks for your handy reviews Man!
Great to hear!
Hey bro I have the dt 900s, 490 Pro worth the upgrade?
@@Sammy0halso have dt900, can’t decide if it’s worth the upgrade. I don’t care about the money just want to know if they are better and worth even bothering about it
Have you tried out the DT 1990 Pro MKII?
0:27 looks like she is wearing goggles haha
Lol
I drive my HD800S with a Schiit Lokius EQ, Eversolo DAC-Z8 and the Sennheiser HDVD800 HP-Amp and it‘s absolutly amazing ❤❤❤
Thanks for this review man. I bought a set of HD560S a couple weeks ago based on your recommendation to replace my older sennheiser gaming headset I've been using for 10 years. They sound great, especially after Oratory1990's eq, but didn't feel they were all that much better than what I had. I just purchased the HD490 Pro as my end game. I'm excited and hoping I like them as much as you do
Let’s gooooo!
HOW WAS IT
Yeah...how are they in comparison to 560s? We'd like to hear your thoughts too.
@@Justin-bm7zn @princekittipon6510
It's hard guys. I'm still A/B testing them. HD560s with Oratory's EQ (with a little added bass) sound amazing. The HD490s sound a little "better" in the bass thump department but also sound a little muddy/ less detail than the 560s eq'd. I'm REALLY wanting to love the HD490 but I honestly can't say it's worth almost 3x the cost of the HD560 when it's soooo close. The 490s are better but should be priced at $200-$250 max. Asking $400 for these things make them not worth it to me but I have a few more weeks left in the return window so maybe I'll change my mind
so how are they?
tremendo canal, justo lo que necesitamos todos los que nos interesa el audio en gaming competitivo; es buenisimo tener la opinion de alguien que comparte la experiencia y lo explica tambien muchas gracias por el contenido amigo
Great review, like always.
Incase if you didn't try one- epos h6 pro are discontinued and they offer close and open back, amazing quality of build and sound and mic as well, comfort is phenomenal.
Those are very cheap now because soon will be not existing.
Every audiophile guy should have them just because.
Thanks for review
Great take Fresh!
You keep pumping out Videos! Love it
Thank you for this!!!!!!! I needed to hear this. 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I saw that the new DT770 PRO X was released. You going to test those?
Literally was looking at COD videos and thought, “I wonder what fresh has uploaded lately?” So I scoot on over here to see this beauty of a video.
Hah
I didn't know you got a EF600, nice. I've got the older EF400 and it is absolutely excellent, the Hifiman dacs are really something special.
With IEMs though for sure the amps in these units are way overpowered, I think using something like an IEMatch is recommended because these units are primary built to be capable of powering the high-end low sensitivity hifiman planars properly, even the 6kUSD Susvara.
Great video. Have you tried EQing the HD 800S to Harman using Oratory1990’s preset? I think that might fix a lot of the Cons you’re experiencing with the HD 800S. In my opinion the HD 800S EQ’d to Harman is the best headphone for gaming
Actually. I meant to add that into the video. The EQ capability in the 800 is probably fantastic. I haven’t tried yet. You’ll have to tell me more about it
Your content is hidden gem man!
@@dardo23 tysm
I love your reviews. Will you also update the IEMs from your tier list with info on how they perform in COD?
I’ll have a video soon to update on my favorite / top IEM for cod
Please post this as soon as you can! Would be wonderful! Thank you so much for all of your help, knowledge and insight!
@@FreshReviewsYT I'm really happy to hear that. Thank you so much for all your work. It was your reviews that made me buy a budget IEM for gaming and to be honest, I'm really impressed. Next up is an IEM that you put at the top of the tier list for COD.
The audio quality of the game is shit, but I'm still tired of being confused by the headphones not being able to locate the enemys properly.
Love these comparison videos! I only play valorant but it’s still interesting to hear
Love to see tested audio gear specific for certain games. Can you do one for valorant?
love your content man! but i NEEEED a budget iem video for call of duty!
I completely agree that the 490 is the best competitive headphone I have used and betterthan the 800s and 560s. I kind of hate the fact that a lot of reviewers said the 800s is hands down the best fps headphone that exists even though those reviewers barely touch competitive gaming. I still love my 800s with eq for watching shows and listening to music, but the 560s and 490s have been the best gaming headphones that I have used ever. 490 with cloth pads just has a little more separation than the 560s and better imaging, but both are excellent.
Agreed
I disagree after listening to the 490 Pros and HD800 S on the EF600 today.
Well, I partially disagree. I think for the average user they're gonna get most of the HD800 experience on the 490s, but the 800 S has a unique ability to recreate an almost 3D sound.
For example in SWBF2 2018 go swing your lightsaber with Dooku, you can close your eyes and determine the direction of the swing pattern with the 800 S which you just can't do (or can't do as well) on the 490s.
@@Find_the_Door my reviews aren’t for single player games. I appreciate the love though.
@@FreshReviewsYT well SWBF2 is primarily multi-player, that's what I'm referring to.
@@FreshReviewsYT also R6 Siege on "Lair" if you spawn Northside and walk up the stairs the EF600 really shines with the sounds of all the birds, the echo of the environment. HD 800 S makes you sound like you're there
I didnt expect that video. Thank you. You need to try hd490 with balanced cable. From many people i hear that it scales really well with source. Not picky as hd800s but opinions a little bit diiferent about how good is sound of hd490 on more expensive gear
Thanks. I grabbed a hart cable and a grave digger. Sound great!!!
@@FreshReviewsYT By the way thanks for your advice to pick more powerful amo for Arya. I was torn apart between Dx9 and fiio k19. Decided to pick Dx9 with OG AKM.
It's really musical after K9 pro ess and bass layering is superb.
Thank you for your advice
Great review - Would love to hear our thoughts on the little brother the hd400 pro
Would love to see you review the Audio Technica ATH-R70X. They are highly regarded as having some of the best imaging for gaming, so i'm a little surprised you haven't got your hands on a pair yet. Keen to see how they stack up against the 490 pros. Cheers!
Have tested them. Not a lover. Not bad. Not as good as the 560, 490, 900, 1990 etc.
@@FreshReviewsYT Interesting as a lot of comments online have said the opposite. I'll have to give the 490's a go at some point, i have the tea pros on the way 🙂
purchasing the 490s was the greatest purchase that i have done so far!:)
Let’s go! Love to hear it
What amp/dac do you have?
@@mryong4021 ifi zen dac v2, i also tried the k11 from fiio which also did a good job but i didn't like the harsh treble on it. zen dac is the perfect balance, if you don't wanna completely ruin your bank account, for competitive gaming and music imo :)!
Topping e50 L50
What was your previous headphone, I have dt990 pro now. Can get hd490 for $200 after selling an old gpu.
Buy the HD 490 PRO for COD at your own risk! After using them in the COD warzone for a couple days, I got shadowbanned because of rage reports from the crybabies I killed... All of those crybabies accused me of hacking but I just simply heard exactly where they were in the smoke, exactly how close they were running around the corner to me, exactly where they were squatting in a room and plating up, etc.....
Joke aside, the HD 490 Pros is definitely top tier for competitive FPS gaming, I compared it to my Orchestra lite and EM6L, but they are not even close.
Shadowban is no joke, but it really says how good these headphones are :-)
🤣
is shadowban actually a thing or just ur mmr is so high that you get very long queues
@@ACE112ACE112 it is actually a thing that you can check in there appeal system. Just google “cod appeal a ban”, you will find more infoz
@@ACE112ACE112shadow bans are actually a thing, but it’s not based on reports.
There is some sort of AI involved and just bans you.
Happened to me 4-5 times now but I got unbanned within 1-2 weeks.
@@Corporalis I am pretty sure COD shadowbans are heavily based on user reports. This has been the case since Warzone 2 from COD 19, it was so bad that someone even demoed it on the stream to get another player kicked by spamming report. At the beginning of S2 ranked, people just spam reporting in the pre-match lobby to get the top team kicked and Raven had to remove the "report player" button in the pre-match lobby to mitigate the unfairness.
I got both the 490, 800s and the DX9 in the end. Agree that the 490 are better for fps gaming, feel like the 800 are almost too wide. Like I can hear someone is there but harder to know where they are exactly. Need to try 800s with eq
Yea exactly!
Have you tried 800s with eq yet. I don’t care about money or having to eq. Just want the best experience
Very interested to see how the ifi zen dac v3 compares to the v2's and if they are worth the upgrade
There isn't any major advantage with v2 vs v3. 😊
Amazing video, yesterday I’ve ordered the 560s. You think the 490 pro are better in pinpointing footsteps in Warzone?
Yes I do
@ Thank you! You use the DX9 and I will be using the Soundblaster GC7 so there will probably be some differences there as well.
@ yea
Good update review/comparison. If you continue to do budget dac/amp reviews, do try getting your hands on the new Schiit Magni Unity and JDS Labs Atom 2 stack. Would love to see how they compete with the current offerings. Also, now that youve gotten a good amount of dacs under your belt, any opinion on which chip you prefer, AKM or ESS? Do they sound any different to you?
Thanks for the quality of content Fresh!! Top Tier as always!
I’m preferring akm tbh
The 490s are so solid bro. Literally the perfect mid/high tier headphones without having to spend 1000+ dollars.
Right!!!!
I tried 490hd. So... Maybe that's not a bad headphones. I played for a couple of hours at Apex.
And I was constantly trying to clear the haze in the sound. I was constantly trying to get the high frequencies out from under the pillow.
Tried switch back to Denon 7200...
So Denon 7200 sounds clean, open after 490 hd and also has closed cups.
I immediately heard the crystal frequency and the overall sound picture became more understandable and readable.
I'd just return 490. I don't want to experiment, wait for them to warm up or for the sound to change.
Tried with Fiio k7, fiio k9 pro ess, PC headphones port with dolby atmos.
Unfortunately.
How about paring it with the Topping DX3 pro+? Would it work similar to the Zen Dac V3?
Just what I was wondering. From what I know the topping is more neutral vs the zendac which has more deeper sound.
I bought the HD560S per your previous video recommendations and I’m really excited for it to come in. Although I’ve read that some people don’t like them as much for COD due to less bass on the footsteps. But apparently that can be fixed with EQ. Thoughts on that, good sir?
Would you say the 490s are a worthy upgrade from the harmonicdyne Zeus? Currently using zan dac v2 and looking toward your zen dac v3 review to see if I should pair that with the 490s
I would yea
Both great though
So is there a top iem pick for Call of Duty video also coming?
Yes
Thank you for your great review ! Love the way!
But my way is at the moment foggy .. i have a Beyerdynamic T1. Is it a upgrade with a 490 Pro ? Or worth it ?
I haven’t tried the t1 before
I moved now from the t1 to the hd 490 pro , and the 490 pro is amazing ! I love the soundstage and the dynamic. For this price is this the big deal for me !
Thank you !
After your last HD490pro video, I purchased the HD490pro to work with my DX5, and I feel very good about using it, but it's still very loud when shooting within COD without turning on the loudness EQ. Can you share the audio setting of COD, or have you used the loudness eq?
I would like to know too
Same here
I am running the 490 pro with the cloth pads, a balanced 4.4mm cable and zen dac 3. Great combo!
Boom!
What’s a balanced cable where do I hook it up and where can I buy one ?
which balanced 4.4mm cable ?
Since you gave hd490s pro so high rating, i order one 😂hope it works great with my topping dx7 pro+😅
Should be great!
Thank you for this great comparative update! I know you can't cater to ALL FPS games but out of curiosity, have you ever played Overwatch? I would love to hear your imput about the sound cues of this game and if you think the 490 Pro would still dominate here.
asked you about this the other day, thank you bro
Hey Fresh! I have been seeing a lot of your reviews on headphones, and I have been loving them. However, since I already have the Qudelix 5k, I have always wondered if they were enough to use with something like the HD490 pro. What do you think?
I will try this soon. How did it work for you?
Currently own dt990 pros, and i ordered the jds labs atom + and dac +. I used to use the on board audio but my alc 4080 pooped itself. Anyway, is it worth upgrading from the dt990s to the hd490 pro? Also. Im selling an older graphics card which would bring my hd490s cost down to $200.
Also, i play comp fps games. The best need for good sound would be for Hunt Showdown.
Yea it’s better than the 990
@FreshReviewsYT already bought them. Thankyou for your review. If I see you in apex I will say hi, and I will go easy on yah ;)
Update, I just added the jds labs atom + and dac+ to the dt990 pro. And holy cow. I listened to about 10 songs (flac) and the difference is absolutely noticeable. In michael Jackson's Billie jean, I can hear him freaking breath before and after his sentences. I am hearing more instruments and more depth/layers to the sound stage.
If this improved my dt990s by that much, I can't wait for the hd490 pros that get delivered tomorrow!!!!
@ haha let’s go
Whats the difference between the zen dac v2 and v3?
Have you tested the balanced cable vs the normale one that Sennheiser offers for the HD 490 Pro? I'd be very interested in audio quality differences!
Yes and it all depends on your source
@@FreshReviewsYTSure, but given that the source is the same. Did you make out any difference between balanced and normal cable with the 490 PRO?
Did you try eletrostatic headphones? Very expansiv and limited info for gaming sadly. Didnt know it was different from planar
I haven’t yet
I used to use dt 990 pros i did not like it however the focal elegia's i got like almost 3 years ago one of the best closed back headphones i've ever had i hate open back headphones with a passion
Can you make a new review on the IFI Dac V3 for gaming please
Do a review on the Hifiman Arya Organic
I know you said the Yanyin Canon 2 has been the best IEM you’ve tried for CoD. How does it stack up against the HD490’s?
Great video!
I hope at some point you can try out the Sennheiser HD620S from a gaming perspective.
😁
Pre ordered it!
Can you PLS compare the 490 to the beyerdynamic 330 pro !
Hey Fresh I got the HD490 Pro today and do like it but the fabric earpads are super uncomfortable causing the driver cover to scratch my ear pretty badly. The Velour pads are much more comfortable but does using them effect their grade on your tier list? Mainly using for CoD.
@@Gidrah for cod the velour is just as good imo
If you have the money, you can upgrade to the hdv820 (games only) or Violectric DHA V226(best choose), Violectric V590 (music and games). Using 4.4mm (balanced) for hd800s will expand the sound field, and using 6.35mm (unbalanced) will make the sound field smaller.
Great video! do you think the zen dac would work better than the schitt stack or something similar for the 490s for gaming?
Haven’t used a schiit stack I hear the zen dac is fine
Great review man! Do you recommend the HD 490 Pro over the PC38X? I want to upgrade. Thanks!
Yes, definitely
Hey thanks for the video!! Do you recommend the DX9 with an HD800S for gaming and listening to music? I only have this headphone at the moment and I love it.
Yea the dx9 is great
How did you EQ for COD with the 490s any video recommendations?
No eq necessary but I do use an amp dac and not on board audio
@@FreshReviewsYT thanks for the speedy response...keep up the good work your chanel is awesome
Awesome reviews!! INTUAURA SplendorII or HD 490 Pro for PS5? also which Mic I can use? I need to communicate with teammates. It's really hard in COD to find where the enemies are.. the sound is kind of muffled.. thanks
I think the 490s would be too hard to drive well. The splendor 2 should be ok
Would the HD 490 Pro's with Zen dac v3 be good for competetiv FPS games aswell would you say, or are there better options for this?
Yes that’s mainly what I focus my audio on. Competitive gaming
@@FreshReviewsYT I recently ordered the Fiio FA19 and the ifi Zen Dac V3 (because of the balanced 4.4 mm output) but whatching this video I'm a little bit worried about what you said on 3:02
Currently comparing/testing the 900 pro X and the HD560S for CoD specifically. Leaning towards the proX. Now you threw another wrench in the game... unsure the 490s are worth DOUBLE the price I paid for the first two tho....
Had the 900prox and hd560s, now using the hd490s for 2 months+ (got them for 340€). Would switch any time again.
Are they good for music as well? And is dac amp a requirement? Currently running 900 pro x plugged in to mobo.
@@Dew4lk I'm testing both using a Topping Dx3pro+. My impression are that the 560s feels light and open. The 900 pro x's feel heavier and more closed. The quality of the 900 make me lean towards them but theres something about the 560s that just feel easy... currently testing them both with oratory EQs
@@iNxL exactly the same here! + the comfort is unmatched on the 490s.
@@Dew4lk they are insane for music! when i first tried them i was blown away by how much i can hear. i have pretty good onboard audio already and ordered a zen dac v2 for comparison and the zen dac does a lot to the sound, it further reduces the muddiness and improves the clarity in sound. on board audio is a bottle neck with headphones like this imo. the fiio k11 also does the cheap but overall feels cheaper and has a more sharp treble which i personally didn't like.
Dear Fresh, the new headphone that has been getting so many attention during past few month is Fiio FT1 closed back. I really wanted it but I cannot confirm the competitive gaming use of it by looking at the graph and hearing lots of review. Can you give them a try and make a video on them? I play game like Escape From Takov, Level Zero: Extraction.
Pretty good from my initial testing. Will have it reviewed before end of year
@@FreshReviewsYT Cheers, looking forward to see it. There is a FT1 pro variant as well. I have found that my Sens* PC38x and ATH 70X from Audio Technica, the sound escape too much making it sound that is far unherdable even with DacAmp. So now I am using IEM Crin Zero Blue but I really love the form factor of closed back much more.
👍🏻👍🏻 as always
Do you recommend saving up a bit for the 490 ro buy the 900 pro x? Is there a huge difference?
Just watched your review of the 490s and you go into detail about this. Thanks fresh! Legend
If you was going into a tournament for cod SnD and had a budget of 500 what would be your absolute go to
Probably a Yanyin canon 2 paired on a topping dx3 pro +
And that’s if you need an amp dac also
In your opinion what puts the cannon 2 over the HD 490
@@FreshReviewsYT also would that amp work w Xbox
What you recommend for ps5?
Need the steps and pants sounds to be amplified to the point I can pre fire as they come!!!!
Need a Eq or amp
Been watching your reviews for a while now and i'm trying to decide whether to give iems a try (Yanyin canon 2) or go with the 490's. Which one would provide the better "wallhack" experience?
The 490s if you can drive them well. Both are fantastic though. Really depends if you want IEMs or cans
@@FreshReviewsYT I'm currently using a ifi zen dac v2 and dt 900 pro x. Looking for a all around upgrade. Would you consider the topping dx3 pro better than the zen dac?
Yep yep, definitely appreciate you for saving us money with the honest opinion. Geez I need to hit the damn lottery...woof! 😊
Haha
what mid-range (300-700) AMP/DAC would be best for the HD490s? Im down to JDS Atom 2 Stack, Topping DX7 pro+, Fiio K9 AKM, Fiio K9 Pro ESS
Haven’t tried anything from JDS. I’ve heard the dx7 is nice but I haven’t used it personally.
@@FreshReviewsYT thanks. you think i should stay away from the FIio K9? i know in your original HD490 review, you mentioned that there was a noticable difference in sound from the dx9 (but thats out of my budget).
Jds labs atom + and dac + will be my pairing with the hd490 pro. Any others out there use the same ?
how much of difference between IEM & headphones right now?
thanks for videos, ordered orchestra lite, yanyin cannon 2 and truthear chronicle to compare.
Great channel fresh! Having a channel that focuses on high level audio for gaming is awesome.
Have you used the Focal Clear before (OG). Considering an upgrade/change to either the 490 or Xenns Top. Do you feel there is a clear better option for either? Always used headphones but iems do intrigue me, wondering if they offer any benefit besides isolation.
Edit: Mainly Warzone
Thank you!
I personally prefer IEMs. I haven’t tried the clears in a very long time. I’d recommend the 490 for a headphone for sure if you want to stay that route. For IEMs I’d recommend going for the Arete or canon 2 and saving a little money. If you want to go high end though the fiio fa19 is great
@@FreshReviewsYTthanks for the reply. Will probably look at changing dac/amp as I am using a v1 zen dac/can. Do you feel the Hifiman EF600 would be a suitable upgrade? I would prefer something with balanced ins and outs.
quick question, do you rank the hd 800 s based on value vs the 490 pro and if so how do you feel about the performance increase between the 2 in regards to soundstage. I have the 490 pro and i'm not sure if I want to move up to the hd 800 s, for the money would you say the soundstage increase if there is any would be an underwelming upgrade over the 490 s
Merely increasing stage doesn’t make a headphone better for gaming. If someone tells you the 800 is better than the 490 they’re probably bronze rated.
@FreshReviewsYT interesting take, out of curiosity what do you look for in a fps competitive headphones.
Hello Fresh, have you tried Arya Stealth in competitive games? I wonder how it performs there compared to hd 490 pro. Trying to choose between 490 pro and Arya Stealth, both have almost the same price in my region, he1000se and hd800s is quite expensive for me
I haven’t sorry
Hi, would you also place the HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite in the top picks category alongside the 490 Pro and 800S? Mainly for someone who already owns the HD 560S and is looking for something better? Can the Zeus also be expected to perform perfectly in competitive games like the 490 Pro, or is it better to go with Sennheisers? Additionally, besides COD and Apex, I also play Valorant and CS2.
I also noticed that in your description, the 490 Pro has an (A+) rating, while the Harmonic has a (B+) rating, the same as the HD560S. I'm wondering how significant this difference is and which would be the better choice considering I already have the HD560S. From what you've mentioned, it seems that the Harmonics have a more enjoyable sound for listening to music, which also attracts me to them, but I'm not sure which model offers more benefits overall.
Yes the Zeus is in my top pick list
How is the sound of the zen dac/ ef
compared to the k9 (the normal one apart from the pro/akm) ? Like is it an upgrade in sound over something like a zen dac for you?
cause I don‘t wanna spent 1300 or 700 on an amp/dac but maybe like 400 xD
also extremely high quality content as always. u are basically the only channel testing these audiophile headphones for gaming on yt so +++++
On the topic of COD, I am crazy, or do the HYPERX CLOUDs perform better than PC38x. I felt sounds were getting lost in PC38x and although can hear them I could not tell from which way enemies were coming. Was wondering if you tried the HYPERXs and your thoughts?
I didnt like the pc38x. You’re not crazy hehe
hey man do you recommend apple earpods over crin zero blue iems
No
@@FreshReviewsYT for apex ?
I am currently still on the DT 900 Pro X, I have the C200 still that you sold to me, the question is, if I want to go up from here, what is your best recommendation? Always appreciate your help man!
Worth trying the 490 on the SMSL
Are the 490 pro really that good for gaming? I’m really considering them
I’ve tried a LOT. It the top of my list atm under $1,000
Worth the money people saying just get the 560s they’re the “same” but cheaper nah these are dope I love them
hey do you think one of those DAC’s is a must have? i just ordered the 490 pros
Just depends what you are using but yes I use an amp dac and it’s preferable over on board audio
Hey mate been a long time sub and about to pull the trigger on the 490 Pros! My main use will be gaming and FPS games like call of duty. If you had to pick from there DAC/AMPS which would you choose? where I am there all about the same price. I have fallen on either Topping DX3 Pro+, FiiO K11 or the Zen dac v3 appreciate any advice :)
Topping should be fine from what I hear from other comments
@@FreshReviewsYT you don’t sound to convincing lol
@@cryptok9185I’m only going off comments from others who have tried it with the dx3. I haven’t combined the two
@@FreshReviewsYT I am ready the k11 has a balanced output where the others don’t? I don’t even know what that means tbh does that matter to me if all I use these headphones for is pc gaming and a modmic wireless?
@@cryptok9185 zen dac v3 also has a balanced output
Are the TYGR 300 R no longer on your wall hack tier list?
They are. If something makes it, it stays on forever
@@FreshReviewsYT Gotcha thanks for the reply now that I have you I wanted to ask about the quality of the soundstage and imaging of the DT 900 Pro X compared to the TYGR 300 r?
I have HD-800-S, iFi Zen Dac v2 and Schiit Jotunheim. Should I move the the 490 Pro if I primarily game? I just want something with more impact and to not lose the imaging of the HD800S or as little of it as possible.
Which headphones would you recommend for FPS shooters, especially COD, the Sennheiser 490 or the Arete IEMs? I'm currently using the Kiwi orchestra Lite and I'm not happy with them, they're not comfortable enough for me.
I would go one or the other depending on what you want headphones or an IEM
@@FreshReviewsYT That's the problem, I don't know. Actually, I only switched to IEMs because I was getting headaches with over-ear headphones (from too much pressure). But I didn't like the comfort of the Orchestra Lite at all; the sound was outstandingly good.
I'm gonna get those HD 490 pro. those are my endgame. Also you got a favorite glass pad to combo with the Beast X?
Love the Akari but it’s limited. Other options are great including the sp004 and superglide or padsmith empress
I'm about to buy HD490 or 400pro/560s, but for the price of the 490 the swiveling hinges/yokes seems like a failure point to me. How you feel them in terms of real world durability ? Thank you
I could probably see issues if you’re taking them around and traveling unless you get the carrying case
out of all the dac/amps you own/use, in what order would you rank them in terms of sound quality when used with the 490 pros?
Oh man that’s a tough one. In terms of all in ones I like my dx9 the most
Just found out ur channel and i have a question, what do you think about these headphones for gaming and music:
- shure srh440/840
- akg k361/371
- hifiman he400se
- sennheiser hd 569
- audio technica m40x
Thanks in advance!
Is there any IEM close to the HD490pro for a similarish price for COD?
I like the splendor 2 and yanyin canon 2 so far for cod
If you like the HD800 then you might like the ATH-ADX5000. They sound similar but it has some bass unlike the HD800, so it's more balanced while being just as technical, no downsides compared to the HD800.
How’s the new dac? Would you say it’s an upgrade over the smsl c200? I’m still in the return window and would get the ifi if it’s better
Both are great tbh
Not an upgrade. V3 Zen Dac isn’t too different from V2 (similar power output, and the burr-brown dac chip). If you are looking for an upgrade, you’d have to go for separate DAC/AMP (as it’s a better value for money than a combo unit) but tbh since you already have C200 there might not be too much point in doing so it’s just for getting those last few percent (which might even be inaudible to be honest, I’m mostly talking about objective testing data).
Currently the top DACs for the price are SMSL d-6s (200$), and Topping D50 III (this one has EQ software - 230$). Personally D50 III is worth it for the EQ if you feel like you need it.
For AMPs good choices are Topping L50/L30 II/A30 Pro, JDS Labs Atom Amp 2. All of them have enough juice to power almost anything out of single-ended and they don’t break the bank (130-170$ except for the A30 Pro which is over 200$ but it’s the most powerful out of the ones I listed here).
Thoughts on the EA500LM or EA1000 for gaming? Or some of the Myer audio stuff? (Pula PA02/CKLVX D41/Sliivo SL41)
Trying my best to catch up and get a video out on all three
@@FreshReviewsYT Awesome, cant wait!
I really liked my 490s, but the foam inside the earcup touches my ear. That was after only a few weeks. I'd imagine they pads would compress even more, the foam would touch even more, as time goes by.
That’s unfortunate. Hopefully there are third party pads soon that are thicker for you
Fresh have you had the chance to review ASTROA40 tr w the amp are the better/worse than your wall hack T-list
Worse
Lol Astro's fell off the map a long time ago.
Hey Fresh, I've been looking for some info and ended up finding your channel. Congrats on the great content, I appreciate how you break things down so people like me can understand (old folks 😂). After days in the rabbit hole, I ended returning my new gaming headset ( astro a50x), now I'm looking into diving in the IEM's world and headphones for gaming. Thought about going the old route, buying one piece of equipment for all my gaming, but after all the homework, I think I'm going to buy 2. One for story based game where I can get lost in that world and one first person shooters. I'm usually playing more first person shooters, Apex and COD, so maybe that would be the priority. I keep looking at wallhack list and not sure what to do. If you had $300 dollars to spend buying one IEM and one Headphone , knowing what mentioned here and your awesome knowledge, how would you spend? What would you buy. Thank you in advance and to anyone in the community that answers. Many blessings.
The harmonicdyne Zeus elite would slap for a headphone for both fps and story games. The yanyin canon 2 or splendor would be great for an IEM.
@FreshReviewsYT thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I will definitely let you know which one I go with. Out of curiosity, which one of those two would go with? Have a blessed day. Thank you for what you do.
Hey, have you seen anything about Aune AR5000? About $300 and apparently pretty good for music just unsure about how it would perform in game.
Haven’t yet
Did you get the EA 500 Lm?Please compare it to Xuan NV,Hexa and the crin zeros for gaming in your video
Ok