Studio Gear

Sennheiser on Tuesday introduced the HD 480 PRO, rounding out its professional 400 series with a closed-back option aimed squarely at recording, tracking, monitoring, and mixing duties that call for strong isolation. According to the company, the new headphones address two well-known closed-back issues: inconsistent bass response and listener fatigue over extended use. Timing’s key here: closed-back studio headphones—those sealed earcup designs that help muffle external noise and prevent bleed into mics—remain standard gear in live rooms, vocal booths, and on-the-go recording setups. Sennheiser’s latest push is to nudge that closed-back segment closer to the sound signature and precision of its open-back HD 490 PRO, but without giving up that all-important isolation when quiet working spaces aren’t an option.