Packaging and Accessories
Sennheiser sent the HD 490 PRO for review, so be aware that the HD 490 PRO Plus will ship in a larger box. This cardboard product box goes for an efficient design, it is nearly as small as some IEM boxes these days. On the front is the brand logo and product name, a render of the headphones, and salient features. We see more features listed in multiple languages on the back, with the sides also containing relevant information, including product specifications, should you come across this in a brick-and-mortar store.
The box opens from the bottom to reveal a separate compartment on the underside to house paperwork. Sennheiser provides a quick start guide (which can be downloaded from
the product page) going over the setup, use, and maintenance of these headphones. We also get a card containing the activation code for
Deer Reality's dearVR MIX-SE DAW plug-in—a $99/£99 value in itself. I also appreciated the cardboard section over the actual contents that helps identify the two types of ear pads with their associated frequency response. The sneak peek into the pads is cool too, and lifting this section reveals the headphones, the cable, and the second set of ear pads in a recyclable container. If you spring for the Plus variant of the HD 490 PRO, then you will get a second, longer cable, a spare headband pad, and a nice storage/carry case for everything as seen in the stock photo above. You can purchase these accessories individually or as a set later on too, in case your budget currently only allows for the non-Plus version.