I Recommend Them! 
by Chasiti Chambers from Austin, TX USA, June 2008
Music Background:  Composer, Sound Engineer, Vocalist, Experienced Live Performer

Excellent for the money. I use them to monitor and mix different types of music and voice styles and they work great. I give them 4.5 stars cause they do what you need. If you're needing anything better than these be prepared to shell out the cash.

  great headphones 
by buzz from brooklyn ny, June 2008
Music Background:  producer

these headphones r beter than the ultrasones i paid twice the price for and super comfortable im totally satisfied and im gonna buy a second pair rite now

  Great Live and Tracking Headphones 
by Nick from Cleveland, OH, March 2008
Music Background:  Recording Engineer, Working Musician

Ok, If you professional engineers give these a bad review because of a hyped up high-end, you're just stupid. You of all people should know not to use headphones (especially $100 ones) to mix. Great. Now that we have mixing 101 completed, these headphones were made for tracking and live sound. For that purpose, they're amazing. They truly are rugged, reliable, and very consistent when I take them from system to system. I play drums live with these about 2-3 times a week, and they've never failed me. They're quite road worthy, as well. Took them to Australia for a few months on tour and came back without a problem. Bought a pair of the Senn HD280s and in about a month and a half the left ear went out. Took them back and got another pair, three weeks later the right ear went out. In this price range, nothing touches these cans.

  MDR 7506 ear pads 
by Jonathan Wilke from Stevens Point, WI USA, February 2008
Music Background:  Live Sound/ Lighting

I just purchased a set of 7506's, like them a lot. I read about the ear pads in the reviews so I searched for replacement pads. There are Beyerdynamic DT 250 replacement pads that are supposed to fit really well.

  Brittle and Hyped High End 
by Bruno Brody from Los Angeles, December 2007
Music Background:  Re-recording Mixer

These are NOT accurate monitoring headphones. I only use them to hear extreme detail when editing, but when comparing them to just about any monitors in any decent room they sound super-hyped in the high end. I've tried EQ-ing dialogue with these and end up with muddy, low-heavy results...

  The Real Deal 
by Pershing Wells from Houma, LA, October 2007
Music Background:  Producer

I've owned two pair of these headphones for over five years. They are in constant use. There have been times when I left the headphone monitor waaay up (where I could even hear the headphones from the control room- in the mic booth late at night) and have never damaged these things. The only downside is they're a bit 'bright' compared to the monitors. However, it gives one an accurate appraisal of the mix- if you compare to the monitors.

  Great Headphones 
by Jordan Wolf from Huntington, IN, October 2007
Music Background:  Audio Technician/Student

These headphones are great for live sound. Of course, in FOH or Monitor World, you're not usually mixing with cans, so it's not expected that these will do for studio mixing - that's why there are such things as studio monitors. I have had my 7506's for about 4 years now and they have performed flawlessly. As others have mentioned, my earpads ar starting to peel - big deal, I'll just buy some new pads. I primarily use them for line checks or level-setting at mix position. I have driven them as hot as I could get and they never clipped! I can't comment on the exxagerations others talk about (high-end versus low-end). Leave the studio monitoring to the gear that's MEANT for that task and let these cans handle the rest.

  Buying the second pair 
by Suranjan from New Jersey, USA, August 2007
Music Background:  Singer, Musician, Recording Engineer

I have one for the last 7 years and now the pads are wearing out. I am buying a second pair of these and, I guess, that expresses my opinion.

A truly professional equipment.

  Very good set of headphones 
by Steve from Ct., March 2007
Music Background:  Home Studio

I've had these headphones for approximately six months and so far, I've yet to have any deterioration that other reviewers have complained about. The singers who have used them have said there's very little fatigue and more importantly, unlike so many headphones (even other closed back designed I've used), singers no longer remove one side from their ears in order to hear themselves. I do think however that these 'phones are a little hyped in the low end but for basic monitoring, that's not much of an objection. Overall, excellent for the price.

  industry standard... 
by dk from dc, February 2007
Music Background:  video producer

i have 4 sets of these cans. i have had more over the years.

i just ordered two more today.

they are flat as hell--or seem to be (no exciting highs or boosted low range)

they are probably the most indespensible piece of equipment you need for your studio, live shoot, FOH gig, mixing, VOs, etc.

they are readily available everywhere

they are a must to learn on because they are industry standard--right next to the yamaha monitors that are black and white (cant remember their name)

*****however--
they arent very comfy (if you have ears like me, the pads rub)
they break easily, the drivers will blow out,
the 1/4 adapter is easy to lose and then hard to find an exact replacement, they dont fit will into the bag they come with,
the satin is unnecessary,
the cord is long and gets tangled,
the pads tear within days,
they fatigue my ears,
they havent been improved upon in the last 17 or so years!

with that being said, you still must buy them--just tell your people to take care of them when putting them on/taking them off their head.

  The Sony cans sound better. 
by Nathanael Davenport from Rexburg, ID, February 2007
Music Background:  Hammond Organist, Recording Engineer - Rock House Recording

I recently bought the HD 280 Pro's, and was disappointed with what I heard. I own some of the most expensive cans on the market, and comparing $100 heaphones to those is an apple to oranges proposition, but comparing cans that are competitors with the ideal as a reference has helped me out a lot.

Simply put, the Sony MDR-7506's sound better. They don't hold a candle to headphones four-eight times the price. But compared to the Sennheiser's, they sound better. Noticeably better. The Sennheiser's had a muddy mid-range, though the sparkles still come through. The Sony's are a little on the bright side, but the mids come through with A LOT more detail. I'm sending back the 280's for the Sony. It really is that obvious.

  Great 
by , February 2007

You can't really beat these for the money. The HD 280's are about the only other thing. I am a professional audio engineer and I use these for almost everything.

  HI-end the doesn't end 
by BB Post from Los Angeles, Ca, December 2006
Music Background:  Union Sound Editor

I'm different than most here. I'm a sound editor. I cut alot of dialogue, Fx's, etc, tracks for a lot of different movies. And owned alot of different hdphones (30 or so) and I'm about to go for a different brand again. Sony's have always had a hi-end problem. A lip smack in a dialogue track can sound like gunshot. Cloth movement sounds like sandpaper on a mike. It drives me crazy and I waste time trying to fix stuff that is easily rolled off by the mixers and mellowed by studio monitors. When I'm doing mini mixes in my Pro-tools what sounds clean in my Sony's, sounds muddy on my JBL Studio Monitors. You always have to adjust for the overbearing hi-head. Sony's saving grace was they were usually comfortble and always withstood the abuse (dropping, kicking, etc.) Big disappointment with my MDR-7506's. The leatherette on the ear pads started peeling off right off the bat. They still work, but my last 2 dialogue jobs, especially the "indie" film with bad production audio, was the last straw. My Sony's will be regulated to back-ups.

  Solid Headphones 
by Ace from Evanston, IL, August 2006
Music Background:  Live Sound Engineer

These are my favorite headphones without question. I've used AKG's and other nicer headphones, but I prefer the flatness of these a lot. I also liked using these because, in live settings, they actually allowed you to focus on what you were trying to clean up and giving you the nice balance between your PA and your solo. I also liked using these on my own time. These were my FOH headphones and I always relied on them because they were always accurate. As well, I'm not what one would call delicate with things, so the fact that these headphones could take a beating is a great plus in my book. The fake leather starts to wear off, but they are still very comfortable and they give you a guide on how to replace the materials when that time comes.

  Excellent Headphones 
by Eric from Hazleton, PA, July 2006
Music Background:  Hobbyist, Student

I purchased these headphones based on many positive reviews, and I’m proud to offer a highly positive review myself. I was immediately impressed with the construction quality and features right out of the package, including the numbered size adjustments and collapsible design. The cable is very durable, and the screw-on adapter plug is awesome. Most importantly, not only are these headphones the most comfortable I’ve ever tried, they are by far the best sounding headphones I have found. The bass response is excellent, however not at all overwhelming, and the high end is crystal clear. While listening to my favorite recordings I have noticed slight nuances I never knew existed in the song... totally amazing. I highly recommend these headphone, and I definitely plan on purchasing more of them in the future.

Where are they? 
by Tom from Holliston, MA, March 2006

For some reason you just don't see these cans in many outlets. I can't even find them on Sony's site. This is my second pair. My first was actually the MDR V6 which is the same hardware. I wore those out and was finally able to find another pair here after finding out that the 7506's are the same thing. I have a $300 pair of Sennheisers also, and while those have a slight edge on these in terms of accuracy, the connectors on those are finnicky. Additionally those are much more fragile and don't have a sealed construction as do the 7506's. Ultimately, I still just keep coming back to these. The fact that these are so hard to find often makes me nervous. As with all quality products, I'm worried that they'll stop making them. I feel like I should order another 5 pairs, so as I wear them out, I'll have enough to last until I'm dead.

Not accurate reference monitors. 
by Anonymous , November 2005

I don't know why everyone is talking about these cans having a hyped up response to bass frequencies. For me it was exactly the opposite. These headphones sound great, completely beautiful as a matter of fact. But that's not always good when mixing. My mixes come out very muffled and dull sounding if I use only these phones. Anything and everything will sound bright in the high end, and quiet in the low. So I'd usually boost too much bass, and not enough highs. Also, the connector is being screwy after about a year of use, and it now occasionally only plays back one channel.

MDR-7506 
by Mike Ellison from Ottawa, Canada, July 2005

Nice comfortable headphones. A bit too forward in the bass for rock/pop music (except Reggae of course). I'd never try mixing on them but they are good for hearing what's going on in the deep bass. If the bottom end sounds lumpy in these cans, you need to go fix the mix. Good for voice/classical music where the bass boost is less obtrusive. Probably good for tracking female/tenor singers but I've not tried them for that yet.

7506 sounds different 
by DJ JMK from New Orleans, La. USA, May 2005

In response to the last review, if you earpads have lost the outer cushion material, they will have a different sound, i.e. less bass. I have 2 pairs of the 7506, but I tested the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, and the sound is great! The 7506 phones seem brighter compared to the DT770 Pro, and the latter has replacable ear cushions in velour or pcv material.

Too hyped in the bass 
by Mike Ellison from Ottawa, Canada, March 2005

I find my pair hyped by at least 3 to 6 dB at the bottom end. This is good and bad. It's good because you really can hear what's going on way down low. If you can get the bass end of a mix to sound clear in these cans you'll have no problem with hyped subwoofers. However, the hype is bad because it really does make a lot of CDs unpleasant to listen to (and don't get me wrong: I LOVE BASS). They're fine for spoken-word, acoustic, and classical (especially organ music) but just about any genre of electric/electronic music is just too OTT. I can feel the air pumping through my Eustachean tubes into my throat with only moderate volume settings.

In contrast the top end is wonderfully smooth and reveals harshness in source material very nicely. In summary: a useful tool while mixing but not a pair of headphones I'll use for relaxation except for my favourite organ music. If they weren't a gift, I'd probably have looked elsewhere.

These Babies Bump 
by Anonymous from Los Angeles, September 2004

My father has been doing quality control for dozens of post-production houses here in Hollywood (Complete Post, Dubs Inc. Etc...) and for my 18th b-day, he gave me his pair of this specific model of headphones...anyways, They have been the single most awesome pair of headphones I've ever used! Sound reproduction is top notch...the unimatch plug is indispensable...and the cord is good and long...Put it this way: when plugged into my minidisc player I find I'm able to HEAR when the lens is dirty...nuff said

SONY MDR 7506 
by Marc from Charlotte, NC, July 2004

I have used this model headphone for radio broadcast work for 5 years.....Yes the ear pads are wearing out. Another radio friend of mine bought a pair new a year ago. They don't sound the same as mine, but are the same model number. Did SONY put a different speaker design in the newer models?

Seen Everywhere You Go In Hollywood 
by Jim Wells from Anaheim Hills, Ca, May 2004

Over the years, this would be the one headphone you'd be sure to see day in and day out throughout the LA production community. I keep waiting to see a sale price on these, but I guess I never will, because they're always in demand. The slightly-cheaper Sony 7502s are often seen for news production,etc., but they simply don't have the low end of the 7506s. If you're using voice or on-camera talent you're paying for, these are the ones you want to have them hear themselves played back through.

Good Cans 
by Joshua Piper from Kansas, March 2004

In my search for a quality pair of headphones, I was looking at these and the AKG 240's. I decided to get these headphones. These are a little hyped in the upper and lower registers, but it is not a problem if you acquiant yourself with these headphones. The sound reproduction quality is very good, and these heaphones are well worth the price. Very comfortable design allows for hours of use (I sound like a product brochure!) If you're looking for something a bit more accurate, check out the 7509's, I've heard good things about them as well and a local studio owner here (Ron Tojier) uses them and recommends them.

Overall I would strongly recommend the 7506's, they are good quality, well-made headphones.

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