Headphones are necessary for the modern-day audiophile. They let you listen to music as you jog walk your favorite park. Headphones are also crucial in some professions—they’re essential components of the work process. There are special headphones specifically designed for these tasks, like music production, podcasting, or any other kind of studio use. This Sony MDR7506 review takes a look at one of the best headphones for production and provides a review of similar headphones.
This Sony MDR7506 review delves into the design and workings of the headphones. Some of the key highlights of these high-quality, closed-back headphones include their specifications, ease of use, durability, and design quality. This Sony MDR7506 review also compares this gadget with other similar headphones in the market, which include Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT, and Sony WH-1000XM3.
What Are Sony MDR-7506 Headphones?
For a long time, Sony has been known to set the bar for the industry standard. The Sony MDR7506 is a perfect example of a professional pair of headphones suitable for music production, radio, podcasting, and similar tasks. These headphones are engineered for comfort, practicality, and strength. They are widely used in recording studios and for broadcast all over the world.
The Sony MDR7506 headphones were inspired by the very successful MDR-V6. The MDR-V6 headphones were fabricated in 1985. The Sony MDR7506 has connectors and threading, which you can use for connecting to other gadgets. The headphones work well with smartphones and computers. One of the main advantages of this headphone set is that it excels at producing each frequency in the frequency range–10Hz-20kHZ–at the same level of sound-pressure.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare, when it comes to both quality and price point.
But First… More on Our Sony MDR7506 Review
These headphones have earpieces that combine circum-aural and supra-aural design elements. At just 230g, this headphone is light, making it easy to carry around. It also has a well-padded headband.
The Sony MDR7506 is mainly made of plastic, making it lightweight. They have a long cable, a coiled cable that can stretch to up to 10 feet. The cable is not detachable. The 10 foot coiled cord terminates in a 3.5mm connector. It also includes an adapter.
This Sony MDR7506 review also revealed that these headphones have slide adjustments on the side, that clicks into place. This modification means the headphones can fit any size and shape of the head. Pleather material covers the headband.
This is supplemented with a small amount of cushion on the underside. Key additional features of this headphone include flexible construction, a closed ear design, a supplied soft case, and stereo unimatch plug (1/4″ adapter). The range and sound quality of these headphones are unmatched, equipped with 40mm drivers and a range of 10HZ on the low end, to 20KHZ on the high end. These over the ear headphones are also very comfortable for users who need them for long periods of time.
Price: $
Ease of Use: 4 Stars
Although the headphone doesn’t have a control scheme, it is an easy gadget to use. This is an over-the-ear designed headphone, and you just have to fit it, and you’re good to go. The ear cups are large enough to cover your ears.
Durability: 4 Stars
The headphone is made of plastic and, therefore, fairly durable. If you feel the pads are not comfortable after a few years’ use, you can replace them. It also helps that the outer ear cups are metal.
The main undoing to the durability is the headphone’s hinges, which are considered weak. We recommend that you do not fold the headphones frequently to improve its durability.
Design Quality: 5 Stars
Most components of the headphone are made of plastic. The designers ensured that the headphone is foldable and adjustable. Overall, the Sony MDR7506 has a simple studio design and comfortable fit.
Warranty: 3 Stars
This product has a one-year warranty.
Pros
- Foldable
- Decent isolation
- Good sound
- Affordable
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Fits different sizes
- Suitable for most genres of music
Cons
- Cable not detachable
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT
This Sony MDR7506 review starts with a comparison to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT. The main difference between the two is that Audio-Technica is wireless and comes with Bluetooth integration. In fact, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT is the Bluetooth version of M50x wired headphones. In addition, Audio-Technica has an in-line mic. The headphone’s 3.5mm cable is detachable.
This headphone is built around 45mm drivers and a frequency response of 15Hz to 20kHz. The gadget is compatible with Bluetooth 5. In addition, the battery can play for around 40 hours.
The controls of this headphone are housed in the left cup, and you can control the volume from this location. The controls are within easy reach from the ears. In addition to the volume control, you also have a slider to turn the headphone on and off. The same location also hosts controls for your voice assistant of choice.
When it comes to sound, this Sony MDR7506 review discovered that the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT produces equally nice sound. The sound has slightly boosted bass notes with some adjustments to note emphasis in the mids and highs. The bass response is impressive. The headphone’s frequency response is closer to a single target level.
Like the Sony MDR7506, the Audio Technica ATH-M50xBt is foldable. The padding, however, is thin but still comfortable. In order to make maximum use of this headphone, you should install the CONNECT app, which is free.
Price: $$
Ease of Use: 4 Stars
These headphones have easy-to-use controls at the left ear cup. You can easily switch the headphone on and off and increase or lower the volume. You also have controls for turning Bluetooth on and off, playing or pausing, ending phone calls, and skipping tracks. A touch panel on the left earcup gives you access to a speech-recognition assistant.
Durability: 4 Stars
There is more plastic on the headphone than any other material, limiting its durability. It is solid—this pair of headphones will last you.
Design Quality: 5 Stars
This headphone looks identical to its wired predecessor. The headphone is designed for portability, which is especially enhanced by Bluetooth and wireless capabilities. The headphone is also foldable.
Warranty: 4 Stars
This unit comes with a two year limited end-user warranty
Pros
- Great sound quality—with and without wires
- Well-integrated Bluetooth controls
- Has aptX HD support
- Separate cable with mic
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- No noise canceling
- Heat buildup can be an issue
Sony WH-1000XM3
The Sony WH-1000XM3 is probably the closest competition to the Sony MDR7506 at various levels. As their names suggest, these two headphones are made by the same company. The Sony WH-1000XM3 is an upgrade of the Sony WH-1000XM2. One major strength of the Sony WH-1000XM3 is its impressive ability to keep external noise at bay. Also, it is wireless.
The great noise canceling feature is enabled by the addition of a new noise canceling chip—the QNI. According to Sony, this chip is four times better than that in Sony WH-1000XM2. QNI is a standalone chip.
These headphones have a quick charge system. 10 minutes of charging can give you up to five hours of battery life. Full charge of the battery takes three hours, and you get up to 30 hours of battery life. Efficiency in battery usage is enhanced by the automatic power-off feature. When the headphone does not detect any audio signal, the headphone adjusts to save battery power.
This Sony MDR7506 review also looks into the Sony WH-1000XM3 sound quality—and this unit does not disappoint. By default, the headphone targets consumer-friendly sound. The bass is deep and powerful. The mid range and high end responses are both good.
These headphones have a built-in microphone dedicated for voice and hands-free calling.
Price: $$$
Ease of Use: 3 Stars
These headphones have several controls that require some getting used to before they can be used with ease.
Durability: 5 Stars
This is a strong headphone that can handle most abuse thrown at it. It is durable.
Design Quality: 5 Stars
The design of this headphone is compared to its predecessor, the Sony WH-1000XM2. The XM3 is lighter and has padding along the bridge. In addition, the headphones have a USB Type C port for charging. Overall, Sony designed this headphone to appeal to the business-class customer.
This headphone comes in two colors: grey-silver or all black. There are two buttons on the left earcup for your controls. One button is for power/Bluetooth. The other is for cycling the noise cancellation between its three strings. However, Sony has hidden the headphone’s playback controls on the right earcup. You’ll have to swipe right or left to skip forward or backward, respectively.
Warranty: 3 Star
These headphones come with a one-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Great sound quality
- Impressive noise cancellation
- Google Assistant integration
- Plush comfort
- Fast charge
- Aptx HD and Aptx support
- Quick attention mode
- 30-hour battery life
Cons
- Mediocre call quality
- Pricier than other options
The Bottom Line for Studio Headphones
The headphones listed in this Sony MDR7506 review show different capabilities that make them stand out from the rest. The wireless headphones, for example, are more versatile than wired headphones. However, each of the headphones has its own limitations. Some Bluetooth connections, for example, may not guarantee the best sound quality compared to a headphone connected to a device with a cable.
Sony MDR7506 Headphones – The Best Bang for Your Buck
The old-school design of the Sony MDR7506 headphones still stands out. The cable connection to devices guarantees a secure connection and therefore enhanced quality of sound. In addition, this headphone is affordable, lightweight, foldable, comfortable, has good sound, and suits most genres of music.
These are some of the key features buyers look out for in a professional headphone, and the Sony MDR7506 headphones fit the bill. We give this headphone a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Looking for Kid’s Headphones?
JBL JR300BT
The JBL JR300Bt is a kid’s headphone. This wireless headphone produces quality sound, giving kids an enjoyable experience when using these headphones. Also, it’s a comfortable fit for kids. The headphone supports Bluetooth 4, and you can roam up to 15 meters away from the connected device. Children can easily connect the headphone to a TV, tablet, or smartphone with no cable.
These headphones have 32mm drivers and a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The volume is always kept below 85dB, and at just 113g, the headphone is very light. The battery can go for up to 12 hours.
The manufacturers of this headphone made consideration for the fact that kids’ ears are still growing. As such, the sound system is designed not to harm the kids’ ears. Although this is not at the same level as other high-end headphones, the sound is still of good quality and will protect the ears of young listeners who might not know how to protect their own hearing.
Price: $
Where to Buy
Ease of Use: 5 Stars
This children’s JBL JR300BT headphones have controls that are located on the right earcup. This kid’s headphone beats out the Sony MDR7506 in this respect.
Tapping the power button and holding it in place enables users to control playback and manage calls. However, this headphone does not have track navigation controls. In addition, there is no volume control in this gadget. The volume can be controlled from the connected phone or any other audio device connected to the headphone. Pairing the headphone to Bluetooth is very easy. However, an adult may have to do the pairing for the kids.
Durability: 4 Stars
This headphone is designed to be durable. However, durability can be limited by how the user handles the headphone.
Design Quality: 5 Stars
This headphone is available in various colors, which include pink, blue/orange, and aqua/orange/purple. In addition, each pair is tri-colored. Because it is designed for children, this unit has a playful and cool design to appeal to children. It comes with some stickers. Your child can personalize the headset with stickers until they are completely covered. Also, the headphones have large enough earcups to ensure it can fit kids of all ages.
This headphone is made of plastic with some metal screws, synthetic leather, and foam. According to the manufacturer, the plastic is well-tested and made to withstand kids’ usage.
Warranty: 3 Stars
These headphones have a one-year warranty.
Pros
- Balanced mix
- Comfortable fit
- Affordable
Cons
- Controls are clustered on one button
