Since the early 1990s, the Sony MDR-7506 has been a trusted tool for many recording professionals. Although it’s not the fanciest pair of headphones there is on the market, it does the job and still sounds good.

The Sony MDR-7506 is a true standard that deserves to be heard again after some time has passed. The MDR-7506 is one of the few pairs of headphones that is still being made and hasn’t changed much in 30 years. Does it still sound professional? We looked into the Sony MDR-7506 for a week to learn all you need to know. 

And with that in mind, let’s look at what this pro audio classic does that makes it useful after 30 years.

Overview

The SONY MDR-7506 is a pair of large diaphragm monitor headphones that can be folded up and used in professional studios or on live or television shows.

Coming straight from 1991, the MDR-7506 has all the useful plastic and vinyl with extraneous text that you’d expect from older pro audio gear. Its display of “professional” and “dynamic stereo headphones” information on the case is also quite charming. 

Sound Quality

The Sony MDR-7506 effectively dampens mids and higher frequency noises, as do virtually all over-ear headphones that do not have active noise canceling (ANC) technology. Wearing the MDR-7506 will significantly dampen sounds below 500Hz. Isolation methods that rely on physical barriers, such as foam and a sealed ear, often have this effect. The headphones have a high-frequency pass-through of 20–40 dB at frequencies greater than 2500 Hz. That level of performance is comparable to other models in the same line of Audio-Technica ATH-M headphones. 

At manageable levels, it muffles clangs and a plethora of treble-y noises, such as cymbals.

Moreover, the sound quality is what makes these headphones stand out. Not like a lot of other headphones made for studio use, the MDR-7506 pair doesn’t boost the high or low sounds too much. Some headphones boost high frequencies like those in hi-hats or vocal consonants, which can make sounds harsh or tiresome to listen to. Some people put too much emphasis on the bass, which buries the singing and makes the hip-hop beat sound mushy, reverberant, or like it doesn’t have any attack or decay. As long as the MDR-7506 headphones sound neutral, they’re accurate enough for musicians and sound engineers. However, music fans can also enjoy recordings that sound more like the way the artist meant.

Build Quality

Pretty good work went into making these headphones. For strength, the body is made of thin metal. To keep them from breaking when they’re dropped, the ear cups and yokes are made of thick plastic. You can hear these headphones creak when you put them on. They feel cheap all around. Some weak hinges and wires can get broken that are out in the open. Some bits can be easily swapped out on these headphones, which is good because it means you don’t have to buy a whole new pair the moment one breaks.

Where To Buy?

Buy here

Along with the metal around the drivers on the outside of the case, the cut metal headband on the inside, and the screws that show it can be fixed, some things from 1991 are still there. We think the heavy-coiled wire could damage more fragile 21st-century electronics because it looks strong. Make sure it doesn’t pull on or press on any connection points when you put it down.

Design

A closed-back and over-the-ear design make up the Sony 7506 headphones. An all-black color scheme is broken up by a few brand logos. The wide headband is wrapped in a material that looks like leather and has some padding on it. These headphones have big, oval ear cups. To quickly tell right from left, the headband has red and blue accents on each side.

Connectivity

Connecting it to your audio system is as easy as plugging it into the 3.5mm connector. The Sony MDR-7506 is more compact than many over-ear wired headphones (aside from that heavy coiled cable, of course) thanks to its foldable design and slim appearance, but Bluetooth has made wired headphones less appealing to bring along on the move. In case you’re planning on using the MDR-7506 at a fixed location, it comes with an ¼ inch adapter that you may plug into your (also stationary) headphone amplifier, mixer, audio interface, professional camera, synthesizer, or any of your other connected audio devices.

Comfort

It’s pretty comfortable to wear these headphones. The ear cups are big enough to match most people’s ears. The headphones don’t press too hard on your head either, so you won’t feel uncomfortable while listening for long periods. Covering the ear holes is a fake leather that feels soft but was made very cheaply. In contrast, the Sony MDR-MV1’s soft padding makes them more comfortable.

Conclusion

Overall, the Sony MDR-7506 is still a great pair of over-ear headphones with a frequency curve that looks like it was made in a studio. It feels strong where it matters, and the sound is a good reflection of what you feed it. Because of how it fits, it might not be the best for people who wear glasses. But for people who don’t wear glasses, it’s surprisingly easy to use for long periods. The MDR-7506 is slim, which makes it easy to wear. The folding form also makes it simple to store when not in use.

Why You Should Read Reviews Before Buying

While finding a perfect set of studio monitors (or any other devices for that matter) can be a bit of a headache, you need to explore more on your options rather than settling down on the first thing that you see. As smart buyers, we know how important it is to do research on a product and think about its pros and cons before we buy it. With that, it’s great that the internet gives us access to so much information that we can learn everything we need to know about a piece of equipment before we decide to buy it. So, there should be no excuses on your part as a smart buyer.