Sennheiser HD 480 PRO review
Most studio headphones today, even those built by Sennheiser, are based on designs created in the 80s and 90s. However, just because these designs still hold up today doesn’t mean they can’t be improved. Enter the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO: a pair of closed-back studio headphones designed to address the pain points of modern music producers. But do these over-ears deserve a place in your studio? Or should you just stick with one of the classics?
How has this article been updated?
This article was published on April 21, 2026, and this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What’s it like to use the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO?
The Sennheiser HD 480 PRO is a set of closed-back headphones that takes several cues from its open-back brother, the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO. The build is solid, complete with a durable metal headband and matte plastic ear cups. Weighing 272g, the headphones feel very light, but the clamping force is tight enough to keep the headphones on my head without applying excess pressure.
The thin metal headband is mercifully good at distributing the headphones’ weight.
The headphones come pre-installed with velour ear pads with a good amount of cushion, making it comfortable to wear the headphones for long studio sessions. However, I did notice that heat build-up can be an issue if you’re using the headphones for long periods in warmer climes. If you don’t like velour ear pads, then you’re unfortunately out of luck since that’s all you get in the box. It would’ve been nice if Sennheiser had developed fabric ear pads for the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro, just like they did for its open-back counterpart.
Sennheiser includes a 3m coiled cable, a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter, and a headphone bag. That’s it. No extra pads, no extra ear cushions, just the bare necessities. For added protection, you can order the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO Plus, which comes with a proper travel case, though that will run you an extra $40. A little annoying, considering that the headphones without the case cost $479.
The Plus version’s case is a good addition, but not an absolute necessity.
Accessories aside, Sennheiser nailed the design basics. However, several little design elements also help the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro stand out from other studio headphones. For example, braille markers located in the rear of the headphone yoke allow you to easily identify which ear cup is right or left — all without having to look inside the ear cup for guidance. The included cable includes a small coil towards the top of the cable to minimize the chances of the cable rubbing against your chest, thus reducing cable noise. Finally, the swiveling cups that don’t add too much resistance to movement mean the ear cups should avoid putting pressure in odd places.
These are great for glasses-wearers.
The pads are also made to handle potential pressure points like the arms of your glasses. As someone who wears glasses daily, this design feature is an absolute godsend! Most studio headphones I’ve used aren’t designed with glasses-wearers in mind, so finding headphones that I can wear for long periods has been a struggle.
How does the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO connect?
The Sennheiser HD 480 PRO has a mini XLR port on both ear cups. You can connect the included cable to either the left or right ear cup — whichever is more convenient for your audio setup. Sennheiser includes a soft plastic cap to protect the unused port.
Use either the left or right side to hang the cable — but use the port cover to keep dust out of the other.
The cable terminates in a rather boring 3.5mm TRS plug, threaded for use with an adapter for 6.3mm jacks. This should allow you the flexibility to use interfaces like the Scarlett 2i2, and quickly adjust to using something with a smaller jack if you need it.
The headphones have an impedance of 130 ohms, — a higher impedance rating than other consumer-level closed-back cans. However, you shouldn’t need a dedicated DAC or amp if you’re connecting to a modern laptop, as its rated sensitivity is 98dB SPL/1mW. You should be able to achieve a usable level quite easily. In my case, I had no issues plugging the headphones straight into my MacBook Pro.
How well does the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO block out noise?
The Sennheiser HD 480 PRO does a good job of blocking high-frequency noises above 2kHz. Based on our lab results, the headphones are able to block an average of 67% of perceived outside noise by loudness. Expect house noises, neighborhood palaver, and keyboard clatter to be quieted by 35-45dB. The headphone’s large ear pads, coupled with the moderate clamping force, allow you to get a good seal for effective noise isolation. People who wear glasses won’t have to worry about the arms of the glasses compromising the seal, thanks to the grooves built into the ear pads.
Since these are closed-backs designed for studio use, these headphones don’t feature active noise cancellation. Don’t expect the headphones to quiet loud air conditioners, or your next-door neighbor blasting drum and bass.
Closed backs mean better isolation from your surroundings than open backs.
In my experience, I found that the headphones did a good job of dulling the high-pitched whine of our office’s dying air conditioner. However, I could still hear the thud of our front door as people came and went, as well as the growing rumble of our lab’s subwoofer during headphone testing.
How does the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO sound?
Sennheiser is no slouch when it comes to making great-sounding headphones, and the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO Plus are no exception. These headphones use the same 38mm dynamic drivers found in the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO, but are tuned to a frequency response better suited for recording and playback, rather than mixing.
Reviewer’s notes
Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.
Should you buy the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO?
The HD 490 PRO is an excellent set of headphones, but not everyone likes open backs.
If you like the idea of the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO but aren’t on board with the open-back design, the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO is a fair option. The sound is a bit different, but still quite good on its own for closed-back headphones. However, the Sennheiser HD 480 PRO does very well for its niche. Really, the only thing holding it back is the cost of $479 for the PRO option, or $519 for the PRO Plus option with the case. It’s a bit of a tough pill to swallow, but the headphones have enough to offer for the price for the right buyer.
For someone looking for a closed-back set of cans for the computer, this isn’t a bad bet — just an expensive one. As always, see if there’s a way you can try these out before plunking down for them. Though these headphones run counter to the observation that you don’t necessarily get better sound the more you spend when you compare these to options like the Sennheiser HD 620S, you may find that you like the sound of other headphones better if you’re willing to expand your horizons a little bit.
Sennheiser HD 480 PRO price history
