SonyMDR7506 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 sensitivityI 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.

I recently acquired a Korg Triton Extreme keyboard, which I just simply adore, and which I play often and for extended periods of time. I also recently invested in Logic Pro X, which, together with my Apogee Duet, has allowed me to build up songs, track by track. So I decided that I needed a neutral, closed back headphone set for not only playing, but also for tracking and mixing (when I need to not disturb others). I adore my Grado SR-225 headphones, but I have never considered them to be "neutral", and they are about as open as you can get. So, I started my research into what are known as "Studio Monitor" headphones.My search revealed three main contenders in my price range: these headphones (the Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone, which are sonically identical to their predecessor, the Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones with CCAW Voice Coil), the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones with Coiled Cable, and the Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones.I learned pretty quickly that the 7506's are considered to be an industry standard, but also that some consider them to be somewhat unmusical, or "too analytical" or something along those lines. Fine for cold hard calculating sound engineering stuff, but not great for LISTENING to (and enjoying) music. So, this put me off the 7506's.As for the HD-280 Pro's, there were a number of reviews where the plastic of the headband cracked after just a few months and eventually broke, which concerned me, and many reviewers found them to be uncomfortable. Of course, there are a LOT of reviews and these were still strong contenders. However, I got a chance to listen to these locally, and didn't really like my first impression of them--although I would definitely require some extended listening (and break-in) before making any judgement of them.Moreover, it seemed that the Audio Technica ATH-M50's were by far the best reviewed headphones of the three, and were considered to be very musical. In fact, according to HeadRoom, they are one of the top 10 headphones under $500. Very impressive! So, I decided on the M50's and ordered them from Amazon.Unfortunately, I was definitely NOT impressed! You can read my review for more details, but the short version of it is this: the M50's are not linear, have a hump in the bass at 100 Hz and another below that; have recessed mids; and sound muddy and dark to my ears. I didn't like them at all, not for music appreciation, and certainly not for use as a "studio monitor", which they clearly are not.So, I returned the M50's and decided to try the industry standard, hoping that I wouldn't find them to be too harsh. I was worrying they might be a little like the Yamaha NS10 studio monitors, which are infamous for not sounding great, BUT are really useful because, if you mix using them, and get the mix to sound decent on the NS10's, then the result will sound great on ANYTHING ELSE! Or so the legend goes. I've never heard NS10's. But I was hoping that the 7506's wouldn't be like that. And I was reassured by one review which specifically said that they weren't. So I decided to give them a try.Boy am I happy that I did! I wish I had gone for these first, and I would STRONGLY urge you to be skeptical of all the claims that these headphones are too analytical or that they are unmusical or any of that. Nothing could be further from the truth. These are wonderfully, brilliantly, clearly, and precisely musical, faithful, and enjoyable. I stayed up late more than once because I kept wanting to hear how something else in my music library would sound through these headphones. I LOVE that they are "analytical"--i.e. that they are NEUTRAL and even-handed. It's SO NICE to listen to equipment that has an extended, and yet not boomy or exaggerated bass. These headphones are really, really great for the price. And they are very comfortable and have a good amount of isolation. The isolation of the 7506's is not as good as the M50's, in my experience, and about the same as the 280's, although, to be fair, I only have a very limited amount of exposure to the 280's.In any case, there's a reason that these are an industry standard. And they are not just popular with sound engineers; they are also renowned among musicians. One of my friends even told me that there are albums where the V6 / 7506's are specifically mentioned as what the artist recommends that the record be listened to on. Or something like that. You can't go wrong with these headphones. You really can't. For any purpose. And that reminds me, I should add that while I did do a lot of listening to these using my Duet as both DAC and amp, I found that the 7506's sounded really great straight out of my iPhone 4 (and out of my Korg Triton, too, of course). The fact that these can be driven well by the iPhone definitely sets them apart and it's another huge plus for these headphones. In my experience plenty of other "easy to drive" headphones still suffer when used straight out of something like an iPhone or iPod, but not the 7506's.Now, personally, I prefer open cans to closed (and sometimes I NEED to be able to hear my surroundings), so I do most of my listening to music on my Grado SR-225's or my Sennheiser PX-100's (the original version, not the PX-100 II 's, which are not nearly as good). But I would be pretty happy listening to the 7506's as well. And when I play my Korg, and/or compose/record, I use the 7506's exclusively and they are awesome. Highly recommended.

Outstanding at a great a great a great price. The cans fit well but !lightly on my heads. Even wearing them for many hours, try feel comfortable on my ears and cause no pain unlike all but the most expensive headphones. I can put them and crank the sound without complaint from neighbors in my apartment building. They also protect me from the truly terrible music that the building plays or my neighbor plays from his keyboard. They are very well designed and faithfully play my music as a long time dead bead (since 1975) I know that the music reproduction is stunning. When not in use the headphones hang from a chair without suffering any damage or signal degradation and its durability. . since these cans are wired there is no issue of battery life or microphone functionality. They do an outstanding job that headphones need to do. Using a pig hog solution 10 foot extension cord (please see my review) it provides a safe and secure transmission of my .music. With the adapter it also press fixes outstanding transmission of streaming shows and music