Sennheiser HD 495 Ear-cup Headphones

Pros: Good sound, comfort and looks
Cons: not efficient

The Sennheiser HD495 is a very good mid priced headphone. At $99 it really can't be beat. Don't let the 32 ohms fool you - these are not the most efficient headphones. Out of a portable player they sound a bit thin and laid back. The overall presentation...

Pros: OVERALL Presentation, value, versatility
Cons: Presentation a little flaky with extreme highs and lows; all-plastic

The albums used in the test are:

- Blue Train (John Coltrane)
- Ascension (John Coltrane)
- Audio (Blue Man Group)
- Best Of Smooth Jazz Vol. 1 (WB records, various artists)
- So Much For The Afterglow (Everclear)...

Pros: Great sound for the price. Low impedance. Lightweight. Single sided, removable cable.
Cons: Sound leaks out too much.

Review by Irvin Pribadi
Common Everyday User

I consider these cans a good buy for me. I bought them for $65 back in January '02, but you can get them for about $50 nowadays! What great value!!

After breaking in for about 24...

Pros: Comfort, looks, sound quality
Cons: Sensitivity lower than package states

I ordered the HD 495 headphones for $99 plus shipping from Headroom (www.headphone.com) after reading reviews on that site and on www.audioreview.com. I was looking for headphones that look cool, are comfortable to wear, and sound great (not just good)....

Pros: Very good sound, so light you forget they are on.
Cons: Require a lot of power

The Senn 495's were my first introduction to quality headphones, and they have ruined me for cheap audio equipment. After listening to the clarity and presentation afforded by the 495's, I can't stand to listen to the standard headphones that are so...

Pros: Well engineered, good sound, comfortable, and tough.
Cons: A half decent headphone amp is needed for these to sound good.

I've been using these for about 3 years now and consider them to be an excellent set of headphones that aren't without problems. They sound good and clear to me, although I'm sure I've lost quite a bit of hearing. They are VERY comfortable to wear ...

Pros: Excellent open sound quality. Crispest cello ever heard.
Cons: Doesn't stick tight to your head. Would be nice as wireless.

Knowing I would go for a Sennheiser product I quickly dipped into my price range and focused on the 490 via the internet. Looked good.

I checked epinion and I quickly found comparisons of HD495 and HD490 and others. They were really helpful....

Pros: great sound, great price
Cons: fit, lets out a lot of noise, kinda flimsy

When I first bought these a few months ago and put them on, I was amazed! I didn’t expect them to sound so good. I have paid around $100 for other headphones and have not gotten such good results. These are very clear and precise. They are also...

Pros: Great sound! Super comfortable Looks great Super long detachable cord
Cons: Might be pricey for non-audiophiles (I think they are great for the price)

I don't profess to be an expert and I can't tell a note from a tune but for the average audiophile wannabe like myself these cans are great. I spent almost 2 hours in an electronics stores with a friend of mine comparing different headphones from low end...

Pros: Fluid sound, flashy design, very comfortable.
Cons: Fit isn't great but it doesn't distract much

I bought these at Sennheiser's Web Site for $60. Though it is a refurbished model I can't find any differences. The sound is great with above average bass. The design is sharp and they look well on and off the head. This model is also very comfortable...

Pros: Very sharp definition, balanced throughout dynamic range, very comfortable.
Cons: Can't think of a thing.

I normally don't like headphones, especially the cheapoid things you get with a portable CD or tape player. Something about them leaves me headachy and with ringing ears. The Sennheiser 495s, though, are more like listening to very fine speakers --...