Short answer: the Sony MDR-MV1. It ranks #92 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $328; the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro ranks #109, rated 3.7/5, and costs $387.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Sony MDR-MV1: The open back has lively, extended treble and a full low end, with sub-bass on target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.7 dB above, so it delivers real punch for an open design. The tradeoff: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 4.4 dB above target, with a 6.9 dB peak near 6.2 kHz, so cymbals, sibilance and hi hats can sound sharp or fatiguing.
Why pick the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro: Across 12 hobbyist measurements on squig.link it earns a preference score of 75.1 with a smooth 2.0 dB spread around the target, so nothing in the response jumps out as harsh or hollow. The catch: Low mids run about 2.3 dB hot while the upper mids sit 1.7 dB low, which thickens vocals and guitars and pushes them slightly behind the bass.
Buy the Sony MDR-MV1. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony MDR-MV1 | Sennheiser HD 490 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $328.00 | $387.95 |
| Ranked | #92 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #109 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 75 (median of 12 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.34 dB standard deviation | 2.00 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.84 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 24 ohms | 130 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 105 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (223 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 36kHz (-10 dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony MDR-MV1:
- Austrian Audio Hi-X65 vs Sony MDR-MV1
- Audeze Maxwell vs Sony MDR-MV1
- Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X vs Sony MDR-MV1
- Sony MDR-MV1 vs Sivga Audio Phoenix
- Audeze Maxwell vs Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sony MDR-MV1: $328.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open back has lively, extended treble and a full low end, with sub-bass on target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.7 dB above, so it delivers real punch for an open design. At 24 ohms and 100 dB/mW it is easy to drive from a phone, and at 223 g it is the lightest headphone in this group. The preference score is 78, and it ties the Austrian Audio Hi-X65 on rating.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 4.4 dB above target, with a 6.9 dB peak near 6.2 kHz, so cymbals, sibilance and hi hats can sound sharp or fatiguing. A 4.1 dB dip near 4.6 kHz can leave vocals less natural. The bass and low mids add warmth that moves it away from neutral, and the open back leaks sound with no isolation.
Full Sony MDR-MV1 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.34 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (223 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +9.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 46 Hz | -9.2 dB | 0.37 |
| Peak | 1,722 Hz | +2.8 dB | 0.95 |
| Peak | 4,643 Hz | +9.2 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 5,779 Hz | -9.2 dB | 1.50 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 705 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.45 |
| Peak | 242 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.04 |
| Peak | 128 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.09 |
| Peak | 2,955 Hz | -0.9 dB | 4.58 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sennheiser HD 490 Pro: $387.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: Across 12 hobbyist measurements on squig.link it earns a preference score of 75.1 with a smooth 2.0 dB spread around the target, so nothing in the response jumps out as harsh or hollow. Bass sits about 2.6 dB above target between 60 and 200 Hz and stays within 6 dB of target all the way to 20 Hz, giving a full, warm low end that suits listeners who like weight under their music. The open back and 260 g weight make it a light option for long sessions at a desk.
Cons: Low mids run about 2.3 dB hot while the upper mids sit 1.7 dB low, which thickens vocals and guitars and pushes them slightly behind the bass. A 4.5 dB dip near 9.2 kHz dulls cymbal shimmer, and the open back leaks sound and blocks no outside noise. The Austrian Audio Hi-X65 rates higher for less money, and the Audio-Technica ATH-M60x and Sennheiser HD 620S match its rating at a lower price.
Full Sennheiser HD 490 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.00 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 36kHz (-10 dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (median of 12 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 130 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.84 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons