MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone

I purchased these Sony MDR-7506 headphones a couple of months ago. More recently, I've also purchased Sony's very similar (but not identical - see below) Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones . My reason for purchasing a second pair (and getting both models) was because the V6's were very inexpensive at the time I ordered ($30 cheaper than the 7506's), and because I was curious to see if I could tell a difference between the two. In reading many of the reviews here on Amazon and elsewhere, I knew that the two are constructed very similarly but there were different opinions regarding both the differences (if any) and which has the superior sound. These are both headphones in the $100 and below price category, which seems like a reasonable price to pay for high quality sound. I do not like to listen to music using earbuds, I prefer this style of "over-the-ear" headphone. although it does take some getting used to. I also have very inexpensive Koss KSC75 Portable Stereophone Headphones for occasions when I don't want to use my more expensive Sony's. I am very satisfied with the sound quality from these headphones (both models), and with the comfort. They are the first "quality" headphones that I have owned, and the level of detail in the sound, lack of distortion, and overall quality is simply superb. I am completely satisfied. Now, regarding both similarities and differences between the Sony MDR-7506 and Sony MDR-V6, here is what I have found: - externally, they are almost identical in construction and appearance. The V6 has red stickers on each headphone "for Digital", and the 7506 has blue stickers "Professional". The phono jack for the V6 is silver metal (all metal), for the 7506 is gold (rubber and gold). Those are the only visible differences I am able to detect. - when I listen to the two headphones back to back, at the same volume level and with the same music, I can detect a slightly clearer treble and midrange from the 7506, and very slightly clearer sound. This is consistent with several of the other reviewers on Amazon for the 7506, who say they can detect a slightly better sound separation and more open sound for the 7506, with the V6's sounding a bit warmer. One reviewer also says that the internal grounding for the two headphones is different - the 7506 uses a separate internal ground for the left and right channels, where the V6 uses a single ground for both channels. (It seems to me that both grounds are going to the same place anyway, but if this is true - and I am not able to confirm whether or not it is - then maybe this contributes to a slightly different sound). - some reviewers state that the internal speaker drivers are different for the two headphones. However when I went to Sony's website to check the specifications for the two models, that is not what I found. And here is what the Wikipedia page states for these headphones: "both models share the same part number for their driver, but the magnet therein is known to vary. The MDR-7506 was introduced with a samarium-cobalt magnet, as is currently used in the MDR-V6. However, at some point, the MDR-7506 switched to the slightly more powerful neodymium magnet. These changes were made without changing the driver part number." - The box for the 7506 states "neodimium magnet". The operating instructions included with the V6 state "samarium cobalt magnet". Possibly either or both of these are out of date (as Wiki states, they may make spec changes over time) - the 7506 box is copyright 1994, and the V6 copyright is 1996. - The 7506 box includes an exploded view and parts list, which is very nice to have. The V6 box does not. - Both headphones include a soft case for storing/carrying the headphones, and both include an adaptor plug so that the headphone can be used with either a stereo mini-plug or a normal size plug. UPDATE 7/22/13 and 7/30/13: The Sony MDR-V6 and MDR-7506 headphones have just recently been reviewed by CNET, with similar comments to my own regarding the small differences in sound quality. Both headphones receive a very high recommendation from CNET. See the MDR-7506 review at [...] and the MDR-V6 review at [...] According to the specifications on Sony's website (which should be up-to-date), the only difference between the two headphones is frequency response: - MDR-7506: - Neodymium magnet, 40.0 mm driver, 10-20kHz frequency response, 63 Ohm impedance, 106 dB/W/m sensitivity - MDR-V6: - Neodymium magnet, 40.0 mm driver, 5-30kHz frequency response, 63 Ohm impedance, 106 dB/W/m sensitivity I am not able to explain how Sony is claiming different frequency response for the two headphones if all of the other specs are identical, but this is what they are saying. And I do believe that the two headphones have slightly different sound. Although there is a slight difference between the 7506 and V6, the sound from both headphones is very neutral. The "professional" choice between the two seems to be the 7506, and it is the more expensive model. If you read other reviews you will find that the 7506's are commonly used by studio engineers, because they are designed to reproduce the sound just as it is, without adding emphasis to the bass as some other headphones are designed to do. At this point, for me they are both excellent, and for thirty bucks less I'd go with the V6 if I could have only one of the two. I've been using these headphones with the Audioengine D1 24-bit digital-to-audio converter , and I am extremely pleased with the quality of the sound. As a final comment, some owners of these headphones comment that the ear pads wear out over time, and some owners also prefer different ear pads for better comfort. I also purchased a pair of Beyerdynamic EDT 250 Velour Padded Earcushions for this reason, and although I have not yet given them a try to compare them with the ear pads that come with the Sony headphones, I do like the fact that it is possible to fit different ear pads if desired in order to provide more comfort, as well as replace them when they have become worn (some owners use these headphones for many years). I notice that there are a very large number of reviewers for these headphones, many of them long-time owners who feel very strongly that these Sony headphones are the best. I'm just beginning to use them, but I have high hopes that they will be durable over time and that I will continue to be as satisfied with them as I am today.

I had to replace my aging Grado headphones that finally gave up, but I really just needed something basic to plug into my headphone amplifier. I did a bunch of searches, saw this one was pretty well reviewed and sounded good. I'd say it's nicely balanced if you just want to play games and listen to videos. The ear cups are super comfortable, and it blocks out a lot of nosie without noise canceling built in. Quality is very good for the price point and I appreciate the super long cord. They're pretty heavy but I don't get tired wearing them for long periods of time. If you want to avoid the hassle of bluetooth charging and tech and want a good solid middle of the road headphones that will handle 90% of daily tasks this is an excellent value proposition.

I've had these headphones about a week (as of 2/17/2013). I've done about 40 hours of "burn in". The GOOD: They are very comfortable to wear and have very low leakage. I'm very impressed that packed with the headphones (the back card) is the entire list of EACH and * EVERY * part in the headphone in an exploded diagram. This implies that you can - if you wanted - repair these instead of treating them as a throwaway item in this throwaway society. I applaud this. SONIC INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: HIGHS: I like that the highs are very clear yet unexaggerated - without cutting your ears to pieces. This is something I find most headphones fail at. Sony has figured how to EQ the treble without going over the cliff , or faltering so to speak. MIDRANGE: Initially a bit forward, it is rapidly getting mellower with burn-in. BASS: It's there but on it's own terms. I.e. you are not going to EQ this into a bass monster. It has it's own mind. You can almost go backwards by trying to EQ this for more bass...because...deep deep is there accurately and maddeningly distant but you'll cloud it by punching up 60 - 250hz stuff. You'll also affect the overall "slam" to some degree by punching up the bass. SOUNDSTAGE: Clinical, "Scientific" and Delineated to an almost maddening degree...... THE BAD: Lack of Audio "Comfort Food" I had seen reviews of various "Studio" type headphones alluding to this and went "Well...what IS your problem OK? So it's delineated and clear..how can you go wrong???" Well.... First of all, the clarity of these headphones makes listening to MP3s - especially any Lower bitrate MP3s immediately tedious. I've never experienced that difference so quickly and it's not necessarily a good thing. You will hear the that the MP3 audio masking / compression has "dried up" a lot of the studio ambience, reverb, etc. I've never been forced to notice this until now. But, lets say for purpose of discussion you are listening to high quality recordings in a good format (CD - Red book audio "WAV" format 16bit 44.1 Khz uncompressed or better like SACD , DVD Audio, HDCD, etc).... OK groovy. The sound is all clear, the sound is ALL here, every detail present and accounted for ...but but... ---> you'll feel like a "Scientist" listening to your favorite music with these headphones. <----- Again you go "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM PAL ? !!!!" I'll tell ya: There's a part of me that screams out "For God's sake give me some , * some * SLOP or even the tiniest bit of SLOP or humanity! Some integration on the audio canvas, PLEASE!" Example: Let's say there are 16 instruments or overlaid tracks on a song - well...by God you hear each and every one of them happening bass to treble as a DELINEATED instance and ...it can be uncomforting and disconcerting in the way the sound hits your soul. They all hit your ears in the same time but are not "experienced" by me as integrated and fun / musical. I feel like a clinician with the microscope listening to music with these. Imagine the grammar Nazi's designing headphones! Emily Post with an IQ of 180 designing headphones. NOTE: These comments are about audio design- not the "high frequencies" per se. The high frequency EQ on these headphones are just fine - commendable in fact. IN SHORT: These headphones are high quality and many things - probably a godsend to an engineer who wants to know every nuance of what's going on but they are NOT Audio "Comfort food". There are no mashed potatoes with gramma's best gravy here. Your audio is delivered by the best scientific audio accounting design team that ever walked the Earth! You'll laugh and think I'm crazy - but buy these and you'll see! I hope burn-in will change my opinion on the fun factor on these. They have made me realize that I don't want to scrutinize my music like an ant farm under a microscope - I want to ENJOY and FEEL my music on an INTEGRATED audio canvas/ soundstage. There is a difference. I want the music to hit my heart viscerally - not clinically. Your mileage may vary - this is just one man's opinion. I feel they gave a fair product for what they are charging. Certainly they are not crap or "bad" low quality headphones. By the way I have a couple of decent separate headphone DAC boxes - no difference. I do think / speculate that a tube amp could "save" these. Something that gives a slight blur or wash of even ordered harmonics....integration ....anything.... SAVING GRACE: These phones are good candidates for affordable travel headphones (long plane flight) where you don't want leakage to bug your immediate seat neighbors but also don't want to drop $300.00 for special noise cancelling headphones. I will keep these but I will renew my search for "Audio comfort food". Other Bright Spots / exceptions to my complaints: One song that is a revelation on these headphones is "Move Over" by Janis Joplin - these bring the dueling piano and guitar parts into perfect relief. Traffic "You Can All Join In" very enjoyable in it's clarity. Also if you ever wondered what someone said or mumbled in the background - you'll hear it with these. P.S. Some perspective: I tend to listen to old school rock (Beatles, Stones, Clapton, Zep, Floyd, Traffic, Nik Kershaw, Karla Bonoff, Neil Finn, Bowie, Robert Palmer, James Taylor, Mama's and Papa's, etc) and on the flip side Bach, Chopin preludes, Beethoven (symphonic and piano concertos, sonatas) and some jazz(Weather Report, Brubeck, Airto, Guaraldi). So far my favorite older headphones are the discontinued Koss A-250 closed back headphones. Those were Koss's one attempt at making audiophile headphones. They were leaky as hell and had durability issues but were fun and musical to listen to. Have also owned various mid-level Sennheisers over the years.

I have had a few of these over the years (Sony has made this model for over a quarter of a century!) and they have never failed to impress me. They have been a standard among professionals for decades and I still see people in radio, television and all forms of broadcasting, sound engineers on location, musicians in the studio, etc. using these headphones all the time to this day! You can easily find better headphones for LOTS more money but you won't find a better wired headphone than these made anywhere by anyone for under $100! They are surprisingly rugged in construction, and the sound they reproduce is extremely detailed and extremely revealing (they let you hear EVERYTHING, a major reason professionals recording sound for a living use them so often), and are quite affordable. And they also collapse down to a compact size for storage or transport in the supplied heavy duty carry-bag, one more reason why professionals capturing sound for a living so often swear by them. Because Sony got so much about them right (and they are STILL so popular among professionals) they have remained available unchanged or modified in any way for a quarter of a century and remain so today. I heard my first pair in a recording studio over two decades ago and was as so impressed by them I immediately purchased a pair for myself. I had to get them from a supplier of professional recording gear back then because retailers in those days only carried the lower end consumer version, the MDR-V6 (now discontinued), which had a SLIGHTLY warmer sound but with SLIGHTLY less clarity and detail. Back then the 7506s came in a clear plastic box with a satin covered (which looked like expensive silk) molded form for the headphones to sit in (the most beautiful packaging I have EVER seen a pair of headphones come in, even though I've purchased other headphones that sell for over $1000). None of my expensive headphones have ever arrived in such beautiful packaging (the box was practically a work of art). The included carry-bag used to be made of a very soft leather-like material, too. Now they arrive in a somewhat bland cardboard box and the carry-bag is of a thick woven nylon (or some similar material) which I'll admit is actually just as durable and functional in every way as the old carry-bag, and the headphones are still the same excellent classic from all those years back--the best wired headphones for under $100 you'll ever find. They have a mini-jack on the end of the partially coiled cable with a full-sized screw-on adaptor that is of very high quality included in the box. Screw the adapter on and it looks like a permanent fixture--like they came from the factory equipped with a full-sized headphone jack. These very compact over-the-ear headphones seal so well that even though they have no electronic sound cancellation (such things effect the sound quality, something to be avoided for PROFESSIONAL sound capture or recording use) they are never-the-less surprisingly good for passive headphones at isolating your ears from outside sounds. If you are looking for wired headphones under $100, look no further. These are the finest you will ever find!

Honestly a great pair of head phones with almost no downsides. They sound great, are super light, reliable almost no matter what the situation is, they’re great. Only problems I personally had was that they’re collapsible. Any time I try to put them on, it’s like trying to fight with them to get over my head. Once they’re on though, they’re not coming off. They’re nice and snug, and they don’t kill my ears after being on for an hour or two. The only other problem too was that not much bass comes through the headphones. I make music and the bass can be the most important part, so I’ll be over mixing the bass sometimes, and they’ll come out extra loud on my speakers. This can honestly be worked around once you know how to read audio levels visually rather than audibly. Even after all these years, these headphones hold up rather well.

These used to be some of the best headphones you could get for studio monitoring. They still sound fantastic, but had to be returned due to the incredibly cheap and flimsy build. I've had $20 headphones that felt sturdier. The first time I folded them in on themselves for storing, they felt like they were going to snap. I expected more from these based on previous ownership. The quality has fallen way down.

I’ve been using these headphones in my home studio for [recording/mixing/practice], and I’m genuinely impressed. The sound quality is clear and well-balanced, which makes it easy to hear details without anything feeling too harsh or muddy. I especially appreciate how they handle [lows/mids/highs—pick what stood out to you], which really helps when working on piano and vocals. They’re also very comfortable to wear for longer sessions. The ear cushions are soft, and the fit doesn’t feel too tight, which is important when you’re spending a lot of time listening and editing. Another thing I like is the build quality—they feel sturdy and well-made, not flimsy like some other headphones I’ve tried. For the price, these are an excellent value and work great for a home studio setup. I’d definitely recommend them to anyone looking for reliable headphones for music work.

Background: I got tired of all the mixed reviews of best “closed, around-ear” headphones fewer than $200, so I got 7 of the top recommended brands/models and decided for myself (luckily, they had a 15 – 30 day trial period). I needed a “closed” headphone so NO sound (for listening enjoyment only) could be heard by people around me. I’m somewhat of an audiophile and an ex-band director…so perfect sound is important to me (note: I listen to concert band, jazz, orchestral movie soundtracks, choral, classical, and even some pop/rock/country). My “control” for testing was music from my iTunes Library (apple Lossless files) on my laptop with advanced soundcard. I wanted to spend fewer than $200. Here are the following results: 1st place: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. (score: 90/100 points) Pros –It does a variety of tasks really good with no real weakness at anything. It’s best for listening enjoyment…not professional studio monitoring as advertised. It has very warm sounding vocals, a balanced sound (with very slight favor to lower mid range & upper bass), and comfortable (loose) fit on my ears/head. It handles thick, polyphonic music passages with ease without distortion…while keeping the main melody/vocals volume and tone quality still cutting through with warmth. The sound feels like you’re in a very large professional concert hall! People with large heads will appreciate the fit of these comfortable headphones. Cons- Although you have the feel of being in a large concert hall, the distance to the stage seems a bit too far away…perhaps the 30th row. These headphones are the highest price of those tested (around $170…ouch… but, it comes with 3 different chords to the headphones/ and bag). 2nd Place: Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. (score: 88/100 points) Pros – Very balanced sound throughout the registers…no favors to any register!!! It can be used for both studio monitoring or listening enjoyment. The extra-deep bass extension can be “felt” during musical passages…nice. This Headphone has as a very “live” performance sound…like you’re on the 5th row during a concert. Best headphones for listening enjoyment under $100 (only $99!). Cons – The tone of melody/vocals sound a bit thin or “electric” at times during thick/polyphonic textures in musical passages…especially male tenors and trumpet/alto sax solos. Although you feel like you’re on the 5th row during a concert, it sounds like you’re in a small auditorium rather than a concert hall. Fit may a bit tiring after a long period (good clamping pressure). 3rd Place: Sony MDR-7506. (85/100points) Pros - These headphones must be the best at studio monitoring…or when you need to be critical and “dissect” music…every detail can be heard throughout every register (you can even hear faults in the recording you never wanted to hear before). The sound feels like you’re in a closed room with a live band)...not a performance concert hall/auditorium (there is a lack of reverb) good for recording professionals (and only $86!). Very clean and articulate at the “attacks” of instrument/vocal notes (not much sustain with these headphones) throughout all of the registers. Cons – Very bright sound…taxing to the ears after a while (Treble is very pronounced). Must use an equalizer to add bass/warmth to the sound for listening enjoyment...Yes it’s a pain, but then they do sound good after those adjustments. 4th Place: Bose SoundTrue, Around Ear. (80/100 points) Pros – These headphones have a good, balanced sound throughout the registers (Note: you will have to turn up the volume on these headphones). They are very comfortable and “light” on the head….you almost forget you have the headphones on. Cons – Sound is very “speaker” sounding...like you’re at a concert to hear your favorite band in the 50th row, but the stage is full of speakers playing CD recordings of your favorite band; therefore, there is just too much distance from you to the stage. Price is too much for this headphone ($150). 5th Place: Koss SP540. (75/100 points) Pros – These headphones are very cool looking, and somewhat comfortable (I have normal/smaller ears). The sound is not balanced…favors the bass/mids…good for rock/rap lovers. Mids and treble sounds have been somewhat muffled…so the bass and lower mids “boom” throughout your music. Cons – Feels like you’re sitting behind the band at a concert. Not worth the $150 price tag. Note: I have a Koss 35 Pro A and love the sound of these headphones (but they are half-open designed, not fully closed) and I hoped these sp540 models could compete…disappointed. 6th Place: JBL J88a. (68/100 points) Pros – These headphones are the most comfortable…no competition in this department! Bass is very heavy….rap/rock lovers will appreciate these headphones. Cons – The mids and trebles have been purposely muffled…almost non-existent...feels like you’re sitting behind the band during a concert (with cotton in your ears). Price is good ($99), but come on…try to have some balance throughout the registers. 7th place: Grado SR125. (65/100 points) Note: This is the headphone I’ve had for a couple years...and why I started a search for a better headphone. They are not what I needed because they are “open designed”…thus, people around you can hear them. Pros – Very crisp and clear mids and trebles…you can hear every detail. Comfortable fit. Cons – no bass what-so-ever…thus, bright and airy sound only. It feels like you’re sitting on the 75th row at a concert! These headphones are rather expensive (around $120 bucks when I bought them 2 years ago…$150 today).

J'ai récemment acheté le casque studio Sony MDR-7506 sur Amazon. Ce casque est devenu un incontournable dans l'industrie du son, et il est facile de comprendre pourquoi. Je suis extrêmement satisfait de mon achat La première chose qui a attiré mon attention est la construction solide du MDR-7506. Il est clair que Sony a conçu ce casque pour résister à une utilisation intensive. Les matériaux de qualité, les écouteurs pivotants et pliables ainsi que les coussinets d'oreille rembourrés garantissent un confort et une durabilité exceptionnels. En ce qui concerne la performance audio, le MDR-7506 ne déçoit pas. La clarté et la précision de la reproduction sonore sont tout simplement incroyables. Les basses sont profondes et bien définies, les médiums sont riches en détails et les aigus sont nets sans être agressifs. Cela fait du MDR-7506 un outil précieux pour les professionnels du son qui recherchent une reproduction sonore précise et équilibrée. De plus, le casque offre une excellente isolation phonique, ce qui est essentiel pour se concentrer sur les détails sonores pendant les sessions d'enregistrement, de mixage ou de mastering. Les bruits ambiants sont réduits au minimum, ce qui permet une immersion totale dans la musique ou le son que l'on écoute. Un autre aspect que j'apprécie du MDR-7506 est sa polyvalence. Il est compatible avec une large gamme d'appareils audio grâce à son câble détachable et à l'adaptateur jack 6,35 mm inclus. Que ce soit pour une utilisation avec une interface audio, une console de mixage ou un lecteur audio, ce casque s'adapte facilement à différentes configurations. Enfin, je dois souligner le confort exceptionnel du MDR-7506, même lors de longues sessions d'écoute. Les coussinets d'oreille doux et rembourrés répartissent bien la pression, ce qui permet de porter le casque pendant des heures sans inconfort. En conclusion, le Sony MDR-7506 est un casque studio exceptionnel qui mérite pleinement sa réputation dans l'industrie du son. Sa construction solide, sa reproduction sonore précise, son isolation phonique et son confort en font un choix incontournable pour les professionnels du son et les passionnés exigeants. Je recommande vivement le MDR-7506 à tous ceux qui recherchent une expérience d'écoute immersive et professionnelle.

Really good quality headphones. The sound is great and they are very comfortable.

This is my goat best headphones I used to mix my sounds , good dynamics , low end dynamics are so good

Been using daily for 3 years for gaming, listening, mixing, and recording. Excellent sound clarity, a little less low-end than more commercial over-ears (like beats), but mids and highs come through with exceptional clarity for a very balanced sound that's great for mixing/recording and gives really clear audio for general uses like discord calls and streaming. Fantastic headphones overall - especially considering the price point. I have a pair of audiotechnicas and beats that are 1.5-2x the price and these are far and away my preferred headphones. I have a big head that causes some strain on most over-ear headphones over long-term use; if there's a load-bearing plastic component it will usually snap on me after a year or so. This model was no different - the plastic crescent just below the hinge joint that holds the ear casing gave out about 1.5 years in. Fortunately none of the wiring runs through the plastic weak points, so I was able to slap some epoxy on it to repair with no loss in audio quality. An easy fix, and realistically not an issue for someone with a normal-sized head.

Excelente produto para gravação e edição profissional de músicas. Uso esse fone para refinar, finalizar a mixagem após o trabalho principal com os monitores, pois ele capta bem ruídos de fundo.