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.

These headphones are amazing, especially for the price. These headphones were introduced in 1991, so surely something in this price range has come along that is better, right? What I found, nope. These are still the king. I researched several headphones before making this purchase. I narrowed it down to these (Sony MDR-7506) and the Audio Technica ATH-M50, which at the time of this review, were $50 more than the 7506. I had seen both headphones recommended numerous times. Luckily for me, 2 co-workers had the 7506 and the M5's, so I was able to AB test both. I listened to a variety of music on each pair. Here's what I found: Sound: • Treble - The 7506 is a fairly bright headphone. It does tend to push the highs a tad, but I didn't mind it. I didn't find it painful to listen to, even after an extended period, and I liked the detail that it brought out in some songs. The M50 did not seem to push the highs as much, but to me, it felt a little bit more restrained and almost muffled sounding compared to the 7506. Not bad, just not as "airy". Overall, I preferred the 7506 • Mid-range - Both headphones did well in the mid-range, but I thought the 7506 was overall more clear. • Bass - This is where I thought the M50 would win hands down. After many reviews that I read, I expected the 7506 to really get trounced here. This was definitely not the case. It could be just my tastes in sound, but the 7506 had very tight, detailed bass. The M50 had slightly stronger bass, but not quite as detailed as the 7506. I would guess, like many things audio, this will be largely subjective on which you prefer. I did not find that the 7506 was lacking at all in bass, though. • Comfort - This was probably the biggest plus for the 7506 vs the M50. The M50 felt much heavier to me and squeezed my head a lot more than the 7506. The 7506 were light and much more comfortable. Complete win for the 7506. The pair I tried had the Velour ear pads, which may have helped with this. I highly recommend those as well. You can find them here: http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-Velour-Earcushions-MDR7506-Headphones/dp/B0016MF7W2 • Price - Even with the upgraded ear pads, the 7506 came in over $30 cheaper. Win for the 7506 here. • Build quality and durability - Both sets of headphones seemed very well built and durable. I don't see any immediate issues with either pair. I've heard many people with 7506 that have owned them for 10-20 years with no issues except for needing to replace the ear pads. I also read numerous people with M50s since they launched (5 years ago) with no issues either. Conclusion: Not surprisingly, I ended up purchasing the 7506. They were cheaper and I liked them better all-around. I'm sure there are other people that would do the same AB test and prefer the M50, so your mileage may vary. I actually ended up purchasing 2 sets so I could have a set at work and a set at home. Highly recommend these headphones and get the Velour pads as well as they are a very worthwhile upgrade.

There are some things in life that should be enjoyed as best you can. I believe one of those things is music. Having good headphones is key to private listening. What better headphones to listen to music in as close to the original form as possible but the Sony MDR-7605's? The industry has been singing praises for these headphones and, frankly, I can't help but join the chorus. These headphones give more clarity than any other headphone I have used, and I've used a lot of headphones in the past. So, why are they so good? I couldn't go into the scientific part as well as I would like so this is purely my anecdotal story. I like sound more than most around me. One could say I'm addicted to music. I'd been searching for a good pair of headphones for a long time. I'd settled with some Sony MDR-XB400s that Sony had graciously sent me for some really minor stuff I did for them but it just wasn't enough. I had tried the Bose, the Sennheisers, and the AudioTechnicas but none seemed quite right. Some had too much Bass, some didn't have any Bass, some couldn't play the highs very well, and some could only do the highs well. Overall, I had basically given up and was going to stick with the cheaper MDR-XB400s as they were more comfortable on the ear and did the best as all around good headphones. Now, not too long ago, a friend and I started geeking out on audio systems, receivers, speakers, and building your own home theater system with actual good stuff (no HTIBs). I really started to find out stuff I should've learned back when I was searching for a good set of headphones. One, Amplifiers are extremely useful, two, DACs are extremely useful for headphones. With some new knowledge, I went out to find a good set again. Now, since my last search, this search was much more precise. Before, I was only dabbling, now I was serious. I read all the blogs, I read all the forums (okay, I only read 4 enthusiast forums) and all pointed to either above 300 a pair if you could or the Sony-7605's. The warnings and caveats on the 7605 were that they played sound very close to how it was recorded which allows professionals t find the flaws and fix the flaws easier. The Bass isn't hard like most people want. I wanted something close to the original so I decided to grab the 7605's. I was blown away. I grabbed the 7605's with a DAC/AMP from FiiO, the E10K, and just wow. No Bass? I say it has the perfect level of Bass for my really heavy songs. Clarity? Wonderful at high ranges (some people do find the high highs a little headache inducing, I did not). Comfortable? I wore these for almost 9 hours straight during a blitz on a project, didn't even know they were still on my head when I finished. Sound blocking? Yeah, with sound playing, it's hard to hear the outside world even at low volume. They are large and not something I would walk around with on my head. I leave my old MDR-XB400s for that. Whether it be for recording with my Yeti Mic, or listening while I work, these headphones have another fan. I will add a note. Using these headphones on your computer without a good sound card is like putting the best chocolate in the world over old, almost rotting strawberries. It doesn't work. You do need a good soundcard or a DAC to use these headphones, or any higher quality headphones for that matter, to its real potential. I tested my desktop's sound card and it was horrible. If you do not have a good soundcard or DAC, you will not enjoy these headphones as much, or even dislike them. This doesn't apply to soundboards, studio microphones, or any other professional equipment. Also note, listening to 128Kbit MP3's is similar. Follow the Garbage in Garbage out principle and all will be well. Most people can't tell the difference between sound quality when you hit 256Kbits on an MP3. Going to FLAC/SA-CD may or may not make your listening experience better. Again, the science part is a little beyond my knowledge. The hidden effects of having the entire range playing and how it affects the brain is oft argued. Just know, at least try to use 256Kbit MP3s. I use FLAC or 320Kbit MP3s. My hearing, scientifically measured, is better than most so I can tell a difference. A side benefit, not indicative of the quality of the headphones, is that I can connect them to my A/V receiver when I don't want to use my standing speakers while playing a game or watching a movie. The screw-on, 1/4 inch plug adapter is a wonderful thing. A wonderful thing indeed.

I've tried a ton of headphones lately and these sound by far the best to me. I like generally flat sound. I'm more concerned with clear mids and highs and want present but not overpowering bass and low bass. Headphones I've tried include the following with my totally subjective sound rating on 10 point scale. YMMV. Audio Technica ATH-M50X - highs a little subdued for my liking - 7 Beats Studio 2 Wireless - Subdued highs, some mid bass emphasis but not overpowering. 6 Bose QC25 - A little weak on bass and weak on highs, best ANC. 7 Bose QC35 - Can be a little bassy, especially at low volume. Bright highs. Best ANC. 9 JBL - EVEREST 700 - Way too bassy. 5. JBL - Everest Elite 700 - Much better than non-Elite, 7 OPPO PM-3 - Excellent, expensive. 10 Sennheiser 202 - yuck. Too bassy, no highs, but cheap. 4 Sennheiser 280 - well balanced. 8 Sennheiser Momentum M2 - Close to perfection. 9.5 Sennheiser PXC-550 - wireless noise cancelling. These are excellent. 9 Sony - MDRXB950BT/B - Extra bass says it all. 4 Sony 7506 - Perfection 10 Out of all that I've tried the Sony 7506 are closest to perfection, to live performance. They are not bass heavy at all but can produce comfortable solid bass down to quite low frequencies. Tonal balance leans towards the upper mids and highs. Bright but not harsh. You end up hearing subtle sounds in the music that is missing with other headphones. Those who want more bass or don't want bright highs won't like these. But for my listening taste this matches perfectly. They are also very comfortable. Many of the headphones listed above are not as comfortable. Either tight band or thin band or ear cups that aren't big or deep enough. These headphones are great. Biggest disadvantage vs. many that I've tried recently is that these are wired... with a long heavy cord easy to get caught on things. I was looking for a wireless headphone. But ultimately I couldn't find one at a reasonable price that sounded anywhere near as good as these. Next closest was the Sennheiser PXC-550, but at $400, wireless wasn't worth an extra $320. I also found that there were times I didn't want noise cancellation. Too bad Sony doesn't make a wireless headphone with anywhere near this sound. Best of all, these are by far the cheapest of the decent sounding headphones I've listened to. The headphones in this list range in prices from $20 to $450. Highly recommend the Sony 7506... if you like this sort of sound signature.

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 sound amazing plugged into my Yamaha keyboards! Amazing clarity! I’ve always loved Sony headphones. They look great and the build quality is solid. Very comfortable to wear as they fit well.

Gives a much more flat response for my mixes and projects; I'm a relative beginner for EDM production for context. I found the frequency band to pretty broad, and hear a harshness/unsaturation of what I'm working on - all exactly what I want. The sub frequencies are for sure present but well leveled, as in when I listen on other systems, the bass frequencies sit very well. For build quality stuff: I found the chord length to be generous, good quality on the headset parts, and good comfort. There is decent noise cancellation, but nothing crazy for it's price. For my current stage of music production, I found these to really support my skill growth in training my ears. Would definitely recommend for anyone beginning music production.

A DJ taught me recently how to mix music. I went online to check the best headsets out there and this delivers optimal sound with a good price point. Love how it covers my entire ears, the size is just right as Goldilocks would say. Doesn't pinch, you can feel cushiness of the headphone. Love how it brings the music alive. One of the best headphones I've owned. I can wear these headphones for hours due to its ear support, durability and overall functionality.