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.

Just what everyone says, very light and flat responding headphones for mixing and subtle mastering. Bass is clear and present with a bit of high end but hardly any mud in the mids. A lot clearer than my ath-m50's I had for 9 years. I would describe it as dull and neutral sounding which is great for capturing those unexpected frequencies that clashes. Big Plus on that but however the headphones headband you gotta be careful and the ear pads are a bit on the cheaper feel. 90s like style student headphones, a bit uncomfortable but they work just well. Nothing like an upgraded ear pads can't fix. Overall, solid headphones that Sony did an excellent job!

The Sony MDR-7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphones have been a fantastic addition to my setup. Right out of the box, the sound quality is clear, balanced, and detailed, making them perfect for everything from music listening to podcasting, editing, and general studio use. The large diaphragm drivers deliver crisp highs, solid mids, and a clean, controlled bass that doesn’t overpower. I especially appreciate how accurate and transparent the sound feels—it’s easy to hear subtle details in recordings that I hadn’t noticed before. Comfort is another big plus. The ear cups fit well and provide good noise isolation, and the lightweight design makes them comfortable to wear for extended sessions without fatigue. The build quality feels durable and professional, and the foldable design makes them easy to store or travel with. Overall, these headphones live up to their reputation as an industry standard. If you’re looking for reliable, high-quality headphones with excellent clarity and long-term comfort, the Sony MDR-7506 is an excellent choice.

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 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.

Let me preface this review by saying I'm traditionally more of a speakers guy myself, however a new job in a new city forced me to have to get headphones. I do have a lot of listening time in on some of the industry's most respected phones (Etymotic ER4, Sennheiser HD600, AKG K701, and Beyerdynamic DT-770, for example), however I've just always preferred the open sound and impact that only a great speaker system can give you. Anyway, let's move on. I needed a set of headphones quick and didn't have a whole lot to spend what with the move and all, so I settled on the 7506 after generally positive reviews from about everybody I asked. I received them in and broke them in for about 48 hours before sitting down with them and starting to run music through them. It's about three months on listening to them every single night and I think I'm ready to write a review. The first thing you notice is, despite how they look, these aren't flimsy headphones - they use more metal than plastic, yet despite this, they don't feel very heavy, nor do they become uncomfortable quickly. I've got pretty big ears, and I can wear these for hours on end without a problem (which isn't the case with Sony's V600/700). Moving on to the important part - the sound. The easiest way to explain these headphones is to say they don't have much character of their own. While that may seem like a stab at them, what I'm actually saying is they're very even tonally and don't venture too far away from flat response in their usable range - and speaking of range, the low frequency response is almost mind blowing. I have never heard headphones anywhere near this price that go this low this easily. Even the V700 (which I used to own) couldn't go anywhere near this low at usable volume levels (the V700's are way too bloated in the low regions, which seems to hurt the extension). Also, these headphones are extremely easy to drive, able to crank out high volume levels from portable devices, so for you iPod folks, this is definitely worth checking out. Now, to nitpick a bit. The pleather earpads, while fairly comfortable, make your ears sweaty after a while in warm environments, and I'm told they wear out fairly quickly, however Beyerdynamic makes a velour pad for their DT250 that's pretty much a direct replacement (and I'm told a bit more comfortable). On the sound, while the frequency response is quite flat, the character of the sound is a bit plump in the lower midbass region, and a bit thin in the midrange - slightly so, but you'll hear the difference as you get into more expensive ($200+) headphones. Also, the headband on mine keep going back to their original positions and I have to keep sliding them back to the 4th click on both sides. Finally, I'm not sure I'm hugely fond of how the cables to the elements themselves extrude out of the frame a bit. Once in a while when I take the headphones off, I hook my finger on there - it doesn't really bother me, but I'm worried about breaking the connection one of these days. That said, these are a fantastic set of headphones, and I'm convinced they're about the best you can buy for under $100 overall, depending on your tastes (Grado SR60's are a bit darker and groovier with more sting in the highs and Sennheiser HD280's are a bit smoother on top and less analytical overall, at this price point), and the nitpicks aren't enough to stop me from giving these a five-star review. One last thing: a lot of folks say that these are physically identical to the MDR-V6 (NOT the V600!) except for the stickers on the sides of the enclosures, and there's evidence that supports their theory, however as I've not personally heard the V6, I can't say either way. Would be worth checking out - you might save yourself twenty bucks. Overall, a great sounding headphone with awesome low frequency extension and high sensitivity for a great price. Highly recommended.

Love em! These replace nearly identical Sony professional model I bought 20 years ago. That’s darn good I’d say. Definitely recommend for circumstances that require more than ear buds. Comfortable, soft, clear sound and blocks most ambient noise.