SonyMDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone

First off, these were an impulse buy to use with the Orange Crush Mini guitar amp since the built in speaker kind of sucks. I wasn't really planning to use them for anything else, but curiosity got the better of me.I've had to edit this review a bit since my thoughts have changed with extensive testing and even some experimenting with two different DACs.The short version? Buy them. If you're on a tight budget and don't want to do any thorough research, these headphones WILL be revealing in ways that may not alway be appealing, which is precisely the point. They've been on the market since 1991 and easily beat a pair of modern hybrid IEMs that were twice the cost.First impressions:The Sony MDR-7506 seem well built for the price and are actually quite comfortable. They are lightweight with soft padding, and they don't seem to apply too much pressure at all. Your mileage may vary of course since I've got a smaller head, and some reviews have complained about their fit.I'm glad they include a 1/4" adapter but was surprised to find that it actually screws on. I've never seen that before, but it seems like a good idea since it won't come unplugged like a normal adapter, especially if the cable is stretched out.The adjustable band is marked with numbered shallow notches, but it seems there is not enough friction to keep the cans from sliding out of position with regular handling, so be sure to check the adjustment prior to each use. Bit of a letdown, but certainly not a deal breaker by any means.I love that the coiled cord is not too stiff or springy, but is quite flexible and will stretch out with great ease while still retracting to its original length when allowed. This is critical since the tiny guitar amp could otherwise tip over and get dragged right off the desk with a stiff cable.Every other coiled cable I've seen was so stiff it would pull the cans right off your head and would even retain a bit of stretch if pulled too hard for too long, but this one seems to be of high quality and should not put too much strain on the ends, which are weak points on any cable.Sound:Now for my entirely subjective and probably unreliable analysis of their sound. Apparently these do have some emphasis of the higher frequencies above 2kc according to frequency response graphs, which is good news for me.I should mention that I have severe auditory neuropathy which makes me deaf to everything from 10kc up, with severe loss starting at just 1kc. With the right set of phones and proper EQ, I can hear pure tones up to 8kc, but hearing loss is more complex than just boosting certain frequencies and there's not much more I can do without using some rather sophisticated DSP software on a laptop.With all that said, I've been using the Ikko Gems OH1S IEMs for the last four years, paired with the EarStudio ES100 MkII DAC which does have a built-in 10 band EQ but is sadly discontinued. Fearing the inevitable I've since upgraded to the Qudelix 5K DAC which is even more sophisticated with its 10 band true parametric EQ and was purchased just a day after these headphones. Settings on the Qudelix 5k are as follows with frequency, dB and Q values in that order.31.5: 0, 1.41463: -7.5, 1.0125: -12, 0.7250: -15, 0.7500: -12, 0.72k: 2, 1.4141k & 4k to 16k: 0, 1.414I can hear quite a surprising portion of the highs, and it's remarkably smooth compared to the IEMs. This is unusual for dynamic drivers, but of course some detail is missing since balanced armatures are more suited to my hearing loss. Generally I'm leaning more towards the smoother sound of the Sony.There is no apparent emphasis in the lows or mids, which may be why I thought music was boring in these headphones. Over time as they're breaking in I'm finding this to be more than welcome. Nothing seems to stand out in a way that it shouldn't, unless the mix was made that way.The bass is simply phenomenal. Clean, clear and well articulated, it can be quite mild mannered or it can hit you like a hammer. The low end reaches quite deep but never sounds bloated or muddy. I've never heard so much variation in the bass between songs, and it really does make music more exciting.Overall clarity seems to be on another level compared to the IEMs. Instruments and vocals are all clearly distinct and well separated, and the sound stage can be kind of wild on some tracks, though I'm feeling this may be influenced in part by the DAC as well since there seems to be some difference between the ES100 and Qudelix 5k. Trying to do A/B testing is hard without two separate pairs of these headphones, but for the most part they appear to be even more capable of extracting musical details which otherwise might be lost in the mix. They can handle dense mixes with grace, keeping things well defined even when it gets pretty hairy.I thought using studio monitors for casual listening was supposed to suck, but if anything it's the exact opposite with these. Oh sure, they won't do any favors for bad mixes, I've heard it myself. But a good mix is actually more enjoyable on these phones with the right EQ settings.I just wish they had a balanced cable since the crosstalk on the Qudelix 5k is not the best for the 3.5mm port. Aside from that, I'm seriously considering buying a second pair just to have as a backup. They really are that good, even by my flawed hearing and limited abilities to correct it.I would highly recommend them for studios on any budget, and casual audiophiles who don't want to (or can't) spend a fortune on headphones.

If I had known about these before, I would have gotten them right away. Kept putting off buying a replacement for my Brainwavz hm5 (not malfunctioning, but was tired of fixing the headphone brackets that kept breaking). Was going to go for a Beyerdynamic dt 770 which I had owned in the past but kept passing because of the higher price.Discovered these, noticed the price was more my budget and was happy I got them. They cost the same as my current Brainwavz by the way. They are indeed worth the price and are very comfortable (I'd still put the Brainwavz above these though). The coiled cord is a very good length and the sound quality is excellent. I'm not a pro audio guy and the quality works well for my general use (music, tv, gaming etc). The build quality feels good (definitely better than the Brainwavz) and the folding feature is a nice touch for portability. Make sure you get 3rd party earpads though, as the originals are easily the worst thing about this headphone (not comfy at all even for my smaller ears).

I've had some Sony MDR-V6's for a lot of years now, and after reading tons of opinions on how they compare to their sibling, these MDR-7506's, I figured I would pick a pair up and do my own comparison. I know this horse has been beaten to death, but it only took a short amount of listening to realize the differences. But, before I get into it too far I just want to say that both models are excellent headphones; and it's amazing that either set can be had for less than $100.And a WARNING to all buyers. Because these phones have been around forever, and because they are so popular (I think Sony sells more than 35,000 pairs of these a month) there are lots of fakes out there. You can research this on the web, but the safest way to insure you are getting the real deal is to make sure that when you purchase here on Amazon you only buy when it says "Ships from and sold by Amazon.com". It is the easiest way to be sure you're getting the genuine article.Everybody hears differently, and everyone "listens" differently. We don't all enjoy the same types of music, and similarly, every set of headphones is not necessarily suited for every genre of music. We all own different source components, and most of us have a limit as to what we are willing to spend on our gear. I believe every headphone review should include a brief summary of the reviewer's musical tastes, sources, and gear and should always including references to other sets of cans they own, have auditioned, liked, or disliked. With so many variables affecting peoples like or dislike of any pair of phones it is my goal to help those with similar musical tastes and similar gear to determine whether or not these headphones will be a good investment for them personally.To that end; I listen to music in practically every genre. I tend to go through different phases, but I enjoy Mozart as much as Metallica, 80's one hit wonders and New Orleans Jazz, Lady Antebellum or Lady Gaga, Eminem to Zedd. Music has so much to offer in all genres that one could spend a lifetime discovering new things they like. I use my computer to play all the usual manner of digital files, and an Onkyo C-7030 CD player to handle disk duty. Both feed into my Nuforce Icon DAC/Headphone Amp. The digital files via USB and the CDs via analog RCA (the Onkyo has excellent onboard D/A conversion). I have also been playing around with a Little Dot MK2 ii Vacuum Tube Amp (which I am really starting to love). It should also be noted that I use no equalizer to modify the sound of my music (because I don't have one available in my setup). My headphones include Sony MDR-V6s and these MDR-7506s, V-Moda Crossfade LPs and M-100s, Audio Technica ATH-M50s, Beyerdynamic DT-880 250ohm Premiums, Sennheiser HD 598s and HD 600s (my personal favorite) as well as my 4th pair of Koss Porta-Pros (easy to exchange when you live in Milwaukee) . I've tried Grado SR 80s and SR 225s (just too darn uncomfortable), some Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250ohms (I prefered the DT 880s), and my son even owns a pair of first generation Beats Solo phones (Yuk). The other day I threw away some Denon's (no clue what model, but circa 1990) and a set of Sony MDR-V600s that were both totally worn out. I also own lots of buds as well (my Klipsh X10s being my favorite).Like I said at the beginning, these headphones sound great. They are by far my favorite set of closed phones. The crossfades are fun (they'll make your teeth chatter), but the sound is very unnatural. The ATH-M50s sound excellent as well, but I prefer the Sony's more natural midrange. I like them with most genre's of music, but I prefer them with classical, jazz, adult contemporary, jazz rock, and other similar genres of music. The 7506's (and V6's) also give the widest soundstage of all my closed cans. When comparing the sound to the V6's I would say this. Both models have some of the most natural sounding mids I have heard in a headphone. The V6s have more bass and noticeably higher highs, where the 7506's are flatter through the audible spectrum. That's pretty much it in a nutshell. It isn't hard to hear the difference, and you can see it as well by going to Headphone dot com's "build a graph" page and comparing the two. The build a graph is an excellent page and when I look at the graphs for the various phones I own it shows exactly what I'm hearing myself. I have heard many reasons for the differences between the two sets of Sonys from wiring to cup shape, and I've read all the references to the parts list that says they have all the same pieces, but all I'll say again is that there is a difference. If you like a flatter sound with less of a "smile curve" then these 7506's are what you're looking for. If you like a bit more bass and treble I'd recommend the V6's (though the highs can cause fatigue after a while). If you are looking for cans to monitor or edit video then the 7506's are the ticket. It's amazing how accurately they can playback the sound I record with my video camera, and it's no surprise that you see these on the heads of people in the movie business when you watch behind the scenes extras on DVD's and Blu-Rays. I have taken the V6's to work and I use them with my little Nuforce uDAC-2 as the two pair together very well, and the 7506's are my go-to phones at home when open cans won't do. The phones are very efficient as well. They play plenty loud without a lot of power, though they sound even better with a nice amp. They are also very revealing. While you will hear lots of details in your music, you will also hear all of the flaws. Music with accentuated highs may also sound shrill and sibilant when using these phones. If you want lots of booming bass you'd be best to look elsewhere. The 7506's have nice low, accurate, detailed bass, but they aren't thumpers by any means (nor are the V6's). If you want some serious thump on a budget watch for the V-Moda Crossfade LP's to go on sale (you will sacrifice detail and clarity, however).The build quality is excellent and I'm alright with the earpads wearing out and needing replacement from time to time (I'm on at least my 5th set in 2 decades with the V6's). All earcups need to be replaced sooner or later, and if you shop around you can find the Sony replacements for a cheap price. If you opt for some of the velour replacements that are out there you will (or you should) notice a change in the sound (I've tried them with the v6's). It's also important to watch the foam part of the cups that covers the driver. If it starts to break down it will get pushed into the holes in the front of the driver itself and it will ruin it (this is what happened to my V600's). The phones are very light, the comfort is excellent, the clamping pressure is pretty light, and the sound isolation is really good too. I also like the coiled cord and the quick change screw plug. I have never had an issue with my cord on my V6's in almost 20 years and I don't foresee a problem with the 7506's. The carry bag is handy and surprisingly durable as well. I do wish they locked in a little tighter when you opened them as they often seem to want to close back up while trying to put them on. You also have to be careful for the right side wire as it can get pinched in the whole works and possibly become crimped.You just can't go wrong with The 7506's or the V6's at the price they sell for. You just have to decide which response curve you prefer.