Hi all. I tend to be rather picky when it comes to headphone comfort. Over the years, I have owned perhaps twenty headphone models, from inexpensive pairs like the FiiO FT1 to several HiFiMan models and the ZMF Bokeh. Yet most of them were either too heavy, too clampy, or, especially in the case of closed-back and Bluetooth headphones, simply way too warm around the ears. So I was looking for some headphones that were lightweight, low in clamp force and had good breathability, and found these three: the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro, the Sennheiser HD 550, and the Sony MDR-MV1. I didn't find enough comparisons online and didn't know which would suit me best, so after months of on and off research I bought all three and planned to return the ones that did not make the cut.

For some background: I have mainly been using IEMs for the past few years, ranging anywhere from about $100 to $2000. My favourites include the U12T, the Night Oblivion Butastur, the SoundRhyme SR5s, and the MEST Mk III. Still, I wanted a pair of full-sized headphones for those moments when I prefer to give my ears a rest as I've had issues recently which made me cool down a bit on IEMs, even though I generally prefer their sound.

With that out of the way, here's the headphones ranked in terms of comfort, sound quality (no EQ) and sound quality (with EQ):

Comfort and Build Quality

# 3. Sony MDR-MV1

This one surprised me, as I had actually exprected to like the Sony's the most. The MDR-MV1 is widely praised as one of the most comfortable headphones available, but unfortunately it's not the best out of the three for me. While it is indeed the lightest of the three and the build feels solid and premium, the pads were just a bit too stuffy and warm for me. This is only noticeable in comparison to the other two, which simply feel more breathable. The pads are also somewhat narrow and may touch the ears, which I found slightly bothersome. That said, if you're coming from any average headphone, this will probably feel exceptionally comfortable.

# 2. Sennheiser HD 490 Pro

Another small surprise. I expected the HD 490 Pro to be the more comfortable of the two Sennheisers, yet for me it ranks just behind the HD 550. It has a clever headband gap that prevents hotspots, and the pads (especially the fabric mixing pads, the producing ones are again a little stuffy for me) are pleasant. Still, something about them feels a touch less effortless than my top pick. Even so, this is easily among the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn. Stability is great despite the low clamp-force.

# 1. Sennheiser HD 550

These are the most comfortable headphones I have tried. The pads feel airy and spacious, and I can wear them the longest without discomfort. They do not have the headband gap of the HD 490 Pro, so there might be a faint hotspot at the top of the head after several hours, and they are not as stable when moving around, they can slip more easily. But for pure seated listening comfort, they're my pick.

Sound Without EQ

I normally EQ all my headphones and IEMs, so I did not spend an enormous amount of time listening to these stock. Still, I listened long enough to rank them (for my taste, of course).

# 3. Sony MDR-MV1

A bit too V-shaped for me. The bass is genuinely impressive, and if you enjoy a strong low end or a warm tilt, these could work extremely well. However, the combination of powerful sub-bass and a bright region around 8 kHz made them my least preferred for general listening. The most dynamic and punchy out of the three.

# 2. Sennheiser HD 490 Pro

The base tuning is actually quite good, and the option to choose between mixing and producing pads adds a nice degree of flexibility. I preferred the producing pads, which are fairly balanced, but there is a scoop around 2 kHz that introduces a slight V-shape. It is subtle, and I think many people will really like this balanced but slightly energetic sound. Probably the most detailed sound out of the three.

# 1. Sennheiser HD 550

My favourite stock tuning of the three. I will still EQ it because my preferences are rather particular, but the overall balance feels natural and suited to almost any genre. For some it may not have enough bass for very fast, bass-heavy electronic music, but even for those types of genres I prefer a quick bass with a slightly rolled-off subbass which gives that spacious sound. In a word, it's the most natural out of the three for me.

Sound With EQ

As mentioned, I always EQ my headphones, and I expected all three to have a similar result when equalised to the same target, which, admittedly, they for the most part did, but small differences remained.

# 2 (Tie). Sennheiser HD 490 Pro

With EQ (and using the mixing pads) it also sounds very good, and I managed to get very close to my preferred signature. It performs really well. It sounds really similar to the HD 550, which is to be expected, as I think they share a similar if not identical driver.

# 2 (Tie). Sony MDR-MV1

It has the best raw bass quality of the group, and even with the bass turned down, that character remains. Still, I found the overall clarity a slightly behind the Sennheisers. That said, because there is so much bass available, it is extremely flexible: you can add as much bass as you want and it won't distort, so bass degens rejoice.

# 1. Sennheiser HD 550

For reasons I cannot entirely pin down (resonance unique to my ears? or just the fact that you can never EQ headphones to exactly the same target due to different ear anatomy?) the HD 550 edges out the others. It sounds slightly clearer, somewhat more spacious, and has a faintly ethereal quality reminiscent of the HD 650. It is not a dramatic difference, but enough to place it first for me.

Conclusion

I will be keeping the HD 550 and returning the other two, even though the MDR-MV1 and HD 490 Pro are excellent headphones in their own right and will certainly suit many listeners. All three impressed me (and are more comfortable by FAR than any headphones I've tried in the past, except perhaps the AKG K361 which is the most comfy closed-back I've had), but the HD 550 (also the least expensive) came out ahead in almost every category that matters to me, except perhaps stability (HD 490 pro a bit better) and bass quality (MDR-MV1 leads here). I really did not expect this, as for some reason I was biased against Sennheiser (loathed the comfort of the HD 650) and first ordered only the HD 490 Pro and the MDR-MV1, the latter which I expected to like more than the Sennheiser due to reviews and the looks of them. But then I ordered the HD 550 as an afterthought as it was on a really good offer from a return. So, if anything, I least expected the HD 550 to be my favourite.

I am still curious about the Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa, though it seems rather demanding in terms of power, and the HD 800s, but that one is quite a bit heavier, and looks a bit silly IMO... In any case, I hope this comparison helps others; after months of searching for detailed reviews of these specific models, I eventually realised I would just have to write the one I wished existed.