- RATING
The Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus headphones are the go-to choice for audio professionals but also pack a punch for audiophiles who just want to enjoy the superior audio quality.
The Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus are professional monitoring headphones which means they must produce great sound so they can be used to judge the audio quality for professional recording.
And they do.
The Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus are closed back earphones which means they have sealed outer earcups so no outside noise can interfere with what you’re listening to.
And they keep the sound in as well.
For Tech Guide’s review we mainly used the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus to record and edit our podcasts and used them to listen to music through our smartphone.
DESIGN
The Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus has thick plush velour ear pads and a matching headband padding.
It has a metal adjustable headband and plastic earcups and weigh 282g without the cable attached.
So we can confirm they are light and they are comfortable.
Comfort is an important feature because you are potentially wearing them for hours at a time.
That’s what we did recording and editing our podcasts and interviews and we never ever felt they were too heavy or bulky.
The cups are large and deep and easily cover our ears while the clamp force that keep the headphones on your hear is exactly right so you can move your head around easily without them slipping off.
Same deal if you are using them to listen music to music and bopping along to the songs.
And we were also wearing our reading glasses while we were wearing the headphones and it did not reduce our level of comfort.
Now these are wired headphones only – no Bluetooth here – hearing audio through a cable offers higher quality lossless uncompressed sound with zero latency.
Considering what the headphones were made for, the quality required is non-negotiable.
The headphones come with a 3m mini XLR to 3.5mm/6.3mm audio plug coiled cable.
And you also get the choice of which each ear cup to connect the cable at the mini XLR end so you can direct the cable so it won’t get in your way.
The Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus headphones come with a hard case for easy and transport.
SOUND
The Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus not surprisingly sound remarkable – we expected nothing less from this respected audio brand.
Now because they are closed back headphones there is no active noise cancellation but through the enveloping ear cups and solid clamp force this kept most of the ambient sounds and noises out.
But don’t expect them to block out louder noises like ANC headphones would.
Considering where these headphones are designed to be used, this is not an issue.
We never took the headphones outside and where we use them in our office was relatively quiet anyway so they still offered an impressive sound.
Under the hood, 38 mm dynamic drivers that have a different frequency response that make them ideal for recording and listening.
For listening to and recording vocal audio, like podcasts, the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus made every syllable crisp and clear but this wasn’t much of a stretch for the headphones.
It’s when you’re listening to music that they really come into their own.
It’s really easy to hear the separation between the instruments and the vocals in tracks that have a lot going on.
And when it comes to bass, the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus provided sumptuous levels without going over the top.
Listeners will enjoy a textured and detailed sound quality within an expansive soundstage which is an achievement for closed-back headphones.
The midranges are clear and full-bodied with enough room left to hear vocals clearly.
Treble was the real hero here with a solid middle ground without a trace of sibilance so it could sound smooth and even no matter what type of music you’re listening to.
And while the headphones are designed for professional monitoring, they are also popular with audiophiles who want to enjoy high-quality sound without spending hundreds of dollars more on headphones with ANC and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus headphones are available now and are priced at $739 but we have seen them as cheap as $641.
VERDICT
The Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Plus headphones are the go-to choice for audio professionals but also pack a punch for audiophiles who just want to enjoy the superior audio quality.
HD 480 PRO technical data
Acoustic principle: closed
Ear coupling: circumaural
Transducer principle: dynamic
Transducer diameter: 38 mm
Frequency response: 3 to 28,700 Hz (-10 dB)
Sensitivity: 107 dB SPL (at 1 kHz/1Vrms); 98 dB (at 1 kHz, 1 mW)
Max. SPL: 130 dB (1 kHz, 5% THD)
THD: <0.5% (at 1 kHz, 100 dB SPL)
Impedance: 130 ohms (1 kHz)
Power rating: 300 mW (100 h, noise as per IEC 60268)
Temperature range: 0°C to +50°C for operation; -25°C to +70°C for storage
Relative humidity: 10 to 80%, non-condensing for operation; 10 to 90% for storage
Weight: 272 g (w/o cable)
