I love the form factor of on-ear, or "supra-aural" headphones — the kind where the ear pads press against your ears’ pinnae instead of surrounding them — because they usually fit easily into my laptop computer case. But I’ve had a problem finding a model comfortable enough to wear for more than an hour. What’s more, I’ve found no on-ears whose performance compares to that of a good over-ear (or circumaural) headphone — until now.
I was excited to see at the most recent CES show that a company known for audiophile-grade headphones was putting serious effort into some on-ear models. And I could tell right away when I heard AKG’s new $249 K 490 NC and $349 K 495 NC that these were the result of a serious design effort in which performance was a priority.
The K 490 NC and K 495 NC conform to the general aesthetic of headphones worn by the average road warrior, a standard maintained by such ultra-popular headphones as the Bose QC3. The AKGs have active noise-canceling circuitry to minimize airplane noise. They have detachable cables for times when you want just noise cancellation and not music. Their understated, black-and-silver design goes well with anything from an Armani suit to a Three Wolf Moon T-shirt.
Both headphones have internal batteries that recharge through a supplied USB-to-2.5mm stereo cable. The K 490 NC doesn’t include a charger, but you can plug its charging cable into your computer and you’re probably got plenty of USB chargers sitting around by now. Unlike many headphones with active noise cancellation, the K 490 NC and K 495 NC work with the noise cancellation switched off, so if the battery runs down you’re not stuck with silence.
The smaller K 490 NC has 40mm drivers, mounted in earpieces that swivel 90° in one direction so the headphone folds flat. (They also swivel about 30° in the other direction for better fit on your ears.) Hinges on the headband let the earpieces fold in so the headphone forms a crescent-moon shape and can slip into the supplied neoprene carrying case. A sliding switch on the side of the left earpiece activates the NC circuit, and a green LED tells you it’s on.
The larger K 495 NC also has 40mm drivers, mounted in larger earpieces that swivel a little more than 90° in either direction. The earpieces are attached by hinges that allow folding so the K 495 NC fits into its semi-hard pleatherette case. Turning the silver ring surrounding the left earpiece activates the NC circuit and the green power LED.
My first longer-than-a-minute-or-two experience with the K 490 NC and K 495 NC was promising. I brought both with me on a bus/subway/bus trip into town for one of my frequent guest spots on Sound+Vision Radio, a Saturday morning national program available on an AM station near you or through iTunes as a podcast.
Co-host Ted Cohen and entertainment correspondent Deborah Sass were blown away by the sound of both AKGs. Deborah remarked that she couldn’t believe the spaciousness and 3-D imaging when I played jazz vocalist Sue Matthews’ take on “I Fall In Love Too Easily” through the K 490 NC. Ted’s eyes opened wide when he put on the K 490 NC and he immediately asked for a contact at the PR firm so he could score a loaner. Ted and Deborah enjoyed both headphones in their brief listen, but preferred the K 495 NC for its fuller sound.
I wore the K 490 NC for the roughly 100-minute trip to the studio, and the K 495 NC for the trip back. The K 490 NC stayed pretty comfortable all the way to the studio, although it was starting to irritate my ears ever so slightly by the time I arrived. The K 495 NC stayed extremely comfortable for the whole trip back; I’m confident I could wear it through an entire L.A.-to-Houston nonstop.
The noise cancellation proved pretty effective for both models, although the K 495 NC has an edge partly because of the better seal afforded by its larger earpieces and plusher ear pads, and partly because its NC function seems to work a little better. When I played a recording I made of noise inside an airplane through my home theater system, the K 490 NC did a good job of blocking out the low-frequency rumble, but the K 495 NC did an even better job. However, the K 495 NC’s noise cancellation did produce a slight amount of audible hiss, which I could hear during very quiet music passages.
Most noise-canceling headphones I’ve tried that offer a passive mode sound awful with the noise-canceling switched off. Not these. The K 490 sounds almost identical in passive and NC modes, just a little louder in the latter. The K 495 loses some bass extension in passive mode, but I think it actually sounds a bit better that way than it does in the fat-sounding, bass-boosted NC mode.
So need these for travel!
Well explained review. They look awesome, would like to buy one.
I really would like a pair of the k 490 NC but I can't find them available anywhere! I know that they are advertised on crutchfield.com however they have yet to receive even the first shipment of this model so it could take weeks. Does anyone know where else I can purchase them?
I picked up a pair of 495's at a European Duty Free a few weeks ago (May 2012). The form factor looks great, build quality is top notch. In terms of sound, I have been less than fully impressed.after a few weeks of use. The bass distorts (more in the left can) with when connected directly to my zune 120GB or my Ipod Touch, and even more wildly when used with my FiiO E11 portable amp with either of these devices. They sound clearer and have less distortion when the NC is off. On longer flights (2.5 hour+) the on ear design is tiresome on my ears.
I never thought I'd say this, but my Bose QC 15 are way more comfortable, sound better overall and deaden surrounding noise better, although they do not look as nice as the 495's (I am not a big Bose fan) nor is the build as nice as the 495's.
I also recently also got to use the Klipsh Mode NC phones on a 6 hour flight before they were stolen from my hotel room in Quito...they exert more pressure on your head, but are more comfortable on the ears than the AKG's. And I found they sounded better than the 495s too (bass was better defined), although I did not care for the Mode's design and color (AKG definitely look better and seem more solid).
Overall I'm disappointed with these AKG's. For most flights I'll be taking my QC 15's, and at home I'll be using my trusty Sennheiser 580s for clear portable sound, my Dre Beats Pros for pop music and AKG K1000's with tube amp for serious listening sessions.
Nice report, thanks.
But I still don't know if I should order the K 490 nc or the K 495 nc. My concern is the size of the ear cups.
Would it be possible that someone comunicates the outer diameter of the ear cups? Best of both headphones.
O.k., now since I have my k 490 nc in the meantime, I can give the answer myself: its 59 mm in diameter. This means it must be like 69 mm for the k 495 nc.