MDR 7506 Professional Headphones
Sony’s range of professional headphones are engineered for a combination of strength, comfort and practicality, and are used daily in broadcast & recording studios worldwide. The dual-structure design of the headphones combines supra-aural and circum-aural design approaches, giving a more natural, clearer sound. The headphone cord (3 meters/ 9.8 feet) is an oxygen-free copper litz wire which provides maximum conductivity. Cord is an oxygen-free copper litz wire which provides maximum conductivity. Simple fold and stow design. The MDR-7506 professional headphones come complete with protective carry pouch and gold-plated 3.5mm/6.3mm adaptor.
Why r/BuyItForLife recommends it
22 mentions from real owners
- #1Dec 19, 2025
A gaming headset with low latency after 4+ years of regular use — what actually held up
I have some Sony MDR7506’s that are about 14 years old now, same idea. Only replaced the ear cups, band is all flaked but doesn’t impact anything.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #2Nov 4, 2025
What are the best headphones with a great price-to-performance ratio?
I’ve had a pair of Sony MDR 7506’s for 10 years, they great sound for the price range and extremely comfortable on my head. I also have ATH M50x cans and they’re really solid too. I use the Sony’s more for listening to music and when I’m mixing recordings, and the ATH’s when I’m recording guitar parts. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MDR7506--sony-mdr-7506-closed-back-professional-headphones https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ATHM50x--audio-technica-ath-m50x-closed-back-studio-monitoring-headphones
View on Redditopen_in_new - #3Nov 4, 2025
What are the best headphones with a great price-to-performance ratio?
Sony MDR 7506
View on Redditopen_in_new - #4Nov 4, 2025
What are the best headphones with a great price-to-performance ratio?
You'll get better answrs on r/headphones... but on value long term, try a used Sennheiser HD 560S or Drop HD 58X. Open back, comfy, detachable cables, and easy to fix, so they outlast most ANC models If you prefer closed? Sony MDR-7506 is a tank. No amp needed
View on Redditopen_in_new - #5Nov 4, 2025
Headphones for sensitive friend
1. 99% of integrated mics are trash - go for dedicated one, like nlue snowball. 2. He may want to checkout open back headphones like panqsonic shp9500/9600, or sennhaiser hd560s - they let sorrounding sound in. 3. If he wants closeback - sony mdr 7506, sennhaiser hd280pro, or beyerdynamic dt770 are great options. If you want more reccomendations checkout r/headphoneadvice 4. I cant name one bt headphone thats built decenlty, sony xm4s are lifestyle product.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #6Aug 12, 2025
What's the best BIFL item you own?
For me, it’s my old ThinkPad X220 - over a decade later, still rock-solid, keyboard feels amazing, and parts are easy to swap. Also my Sony MDR-7506 headphones... built like tanks, great sound, zero fuss. Both have survived drops, spills, and constant use without missing a beat. True bifl champions in my setup.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #7Jul 7, 2025
Looking for wired earphones without noise cancelling
Look into the Sony MDR-7506 or MDR-V6 solid sound, super durable, replaceable pads, and no noise canceling. You can even find used ones pretty cheap and they last forever.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #8Jun 4, 2025
Looking into closed back headphones with detachable cables, which of these options I've considered are more durable
The Sony MDR 7506’s get my vote. Even though it doesn’t have a removable cable, it is **replaceable** if you’re even remotely handy. There are reasons why these are used in every recording studio the world over. 1) Sound reproduction 2) Durability 3) Repairability
View on Redditopen_in_new - #9May 1, 2025
What's one item you've owned for years that's still going strong-and was totally worth the money?
My Sony MDR-7506 headphones. I bought it on a Reddit recommendation back in 2013. Still going strong.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #10Mar 6, 2025
BIFL Protip: A bluetooth adapter can extend the life and usefulness of your favorite wired headphones
I use the same with my re-wired Sony MDR-7506 cans. Pure bliss.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #11Feb 7, 2025
What brands do you trust to always deliver a high quality product?
When I got into music production, I learned that there's a set of Sony headphones that they've produced, basically unchanged, for the last 30+ years, and that you'll find them in almost every music studio. MDR-7506, costs about a hundred bucks. They've effectively become an industry standard product by being so consistently good for so long.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #12Jan 2, 2025
Sony MDR-7506 over-ear headphones
I love these headphones so much. I ended up with a bunch of others based on Internet fomo... And they're good, too. But I find myself going back to the 7506 because there's something special about them. Interestingly, mix engineer Andrew Scheps recommended them for decades (not sponsored) until Audeze recently made him a $ponsored arti$t. :-) The non-detachable cable could arguably be an issue for this subreddit except... If you take care of a well-made cable it won't fail. And the 7506 comes with a repair schematic, so it's expected that you can work on them if needed. You're right about the pads. They flake within two years... But my Brainwavz pads did too! So I'm on my 3rd set of pads which I bought on a whim for $7 but they're actually great and sound like the original pads to best I can remember. Anyhow, I love these headphones. I have more expensive headphones as well but I find myself going back to these.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #13Dec 4, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
They are on sale right now [at Guitar Center for $150] (http://www.guitarcenter.com/Beyerdynamic/DT-770-PRO-Closed-Studio-Headphones-250-Ohms.gc). And they are great. The Sony MDR7506 does have a reputation for being tougher but DT 770s sound better and are pretty well made.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #14Dec 4, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
Sony MDR-7506
View on Redditopen_in_new - #15Dec 4, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
Sony MDR-7506
View on Redditopen_in_new - #16Dec 4, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
The ones I have are the Sony mdr 7506 studio monitors. http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR7506-Professional-Diaphragm-Headphone/dp/B000AJIF4E They are studio monitors so the output is very flat. That means to get the most out of them you have to use an equalizer. I recommend rocket player or poweramp, both of which have excellent equalizers. There are a few other downsides. They are not bass heavy even with equalizer and bass boost programs. If you want bass, don't get these headphones. Also, they do not cancel noise at all. You will hear all external noise. These are not your airplane headphones. If you can get past those downsides, these are amazing headphones. This is the type of hardware that benefits from flac audio files and external DACs. For vocals and jazz and other complex audio types will accurately play those cluster chords and suspensions. All of this for about $80. Edit: I just read the op about public transportation. Don't get these for her for use on public transportation. The open design will not be good for that loud environment. I will leave my post incase anyone else is looking for Christmas gifts.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #17Dec 4, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
Grados are a good suggestion. Headphones will eventually break-down in some way, so a good guarantee is a start. Grado will repair most broken parts for cheap or free. Note that Grado's are also an open design though. Don't be the idiot that gives them a bad review, because you thought they were closed. (For the curious, the design is set to open because it usually makes the headphone sound more natural letting air pass through). Also, for the curious, some amazing things are happening to modifying Grado's right now. It's an easy headphone to modify, but there's people building Senngrados for cheap (Vibro Labs). And you have Symphones started to release the Magnum V6 drivers, and making an open 3d printed earcup, made for the sound quality through Shapeways (in Beta). Grado's, and especially modified Grado are some of the easiest ways to get kickass sound quality on the dirt cheap, considering the hobby is getting stupid expensive. Koss is also a good suggestion and has a lifetime guarantee. If it breaks, and it will after a few years, send it in and get a new one, for life. Very cheap, open air design. Go with the Porta Pro or KSC75 (Latter has better highs, less bass, more neutral). Audio Technica is often recommended. Their M40x/M50x design is phenomenal, but they're a V shape, sucking out the midrange. Many realize their mediocrity after trying more neutral headphones (m50), the issue with the m40x is that it sounds too enclosed and slightly boomy. It is more neutral, the highs feels artificial. Supposedly there is a mod out there to fix some of these issues. My quintessential BIFL headphone is the Sennheiser HD-25. It's a 25 year old headphone, and only had a few updates. It's made to be used, the cable ports are well thought out, the parts can be bought if you break them, and are user replaceable. It sounds neutral, and this mod i've done has made them sound a lot better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZIt_3xfHwc Yes, it's usually more than $150. Also, a lot of people ignore on-ears. I think they're one of the cheapest ways to get a good seal though, whereas many over-ears have a harder time of making a seal and having the driver at the ideal spot to the ears. I was so ambivalent to the clamp of the HD-25's in the beginning, but they loosened up with use. One might place it around something to emulate a head. I agree with Unkle_Erik, a lot of the detachable cables - ESPECIALLY ON CHEAPER MODELS - are very weak. So many sell detachable cables at a selling point, even products like mechanical keyboards, and the input is the first thing to fail. Bose is decent. They make the best noise cancelling headphones, bar none. They are overpriced and not BIFL durable. Beats is overpriced too, although the Solo 2 is considered good. Still not BIFL. Beyerdynamic has too many quality control issues. Frequent drivers dying and imbalances. Not BIFL, although a step above the last few mentions. German Maestro 8.35 gets a mention, because they're bombproof. A videos on YouTube chucking them around. An over-ear, and could use a different set of earpads you can easily switch out yourself. 3 year warranty? Cable will eventually need replacing, but it's heavier than the headphone itself (I recommend the mobile version), since the normal length can put too much weight on the side of the headphone. I also do NOT recommend V-Moda. They are not military grade design. They have a good warranty, where they will give you 50% off your next purchase, when your current one breaks. Val Kolton is trying to balance style and function, and style trumps in the end. The headband frays, the plastic can chip easily (especially where they connect to the headband, the ports are a problem. They're not the worst, but priced around the warranty, i'd say. The sound is also as v-shaped as you can get. Mega bass, no midrange at all. The headband pads are bad, and the XL are not much better. Most would do better with the M50x if they want that V. I'm also not a huge fan of the Sony's 7506/v6. It's a great design, but the quality has dropped. There's a million imitators. They're neutralish though, and meant for monitors. This means, details revealed, bass lighter, and treble can be harsh, particularly on bad recordings. I'd recommend Senal SMH-1000 as an alternative. Headphone pads on both are meh. With the M40x/M50x, Sony 7506, German Maestro's, (and Fostex below) there's like a bajillion different headphone pads that are relatively interchangeable. The Mp4nation pads are generally recommended. They're a weak "memory foam". Also note that pads can change the sound signature in a significant way. I haven't tried the Monoprice more than at a meet. They're cheap, they're durable for their price. They're uncomfortable and put a lot of pressure on the top of the head. They're a headphone that could use some serious modding to make work, which for the price, i'd rather take a koss and flop on the hammock. Good sound signature, more neutral. Also, the T50RP and subsequent mods are a good recommendation. It's a different driver type, orthodynamic. It needs an amp, so can become more expensive and certainly cumbersome. I recommend the Fulla Schiit USB amp. The T50RP is semi-open design, so sound leaks, whereas the T40RP is closed. They've been modded to no end, but the mk3's sound pretty darn good. And ortho driver, to me, sounds more precise, while having a smaller sound stage. Some prefer one to another. While, to me, a dynamic sounds like its coming from a cone, within its soundstage, the Fostex and ortho drivers sound like they're coming from a wider area (not easy to explain). I still find dynamic drivers more fun, even though they're blending more. There's a major shift in the audio industry in the past 10 years. Many of the headphones i'm recommending have been "updated", but have been around the block a few times, and are 10+ years old. Recently, you have a ton of newer companies, typically made in China. Their drivers are fantastic. I can go on many ends of my web of how good the NAD Viso HP50 sounds. It's also horribly uncomfortable and fragile though. Many of these imports have really good drivers encapsulated in poor, weak designs. Take your pick, but it doesn't belong in BIFL. Also, for funsies, I will always recommend the Sennheiser HD600 and HD650. They're not duper durable. Sennheiser offers replaceable parts. Many will disagree with me, and I don't give damns for your downvotes, but with a decent amp, they're the best open, over ear headphones for the price. More people would like the HD650 ideally, but it's a pain to find the right amplifier (Bottlehead Crack). If you're not willing to build that, or invest in something like a Schiit Valhalla, the HD600 is way more amp forgiving. It's a headphone that always sounds, "just right". If you have any specific questions, ask me. This is too much shit for me to write a faq here.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #18Dec 3, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
Meh, I had a pair of Sony MDR-V6s for over twenty years, they rocked until the day I lost them in a car fire. Bought some MDR-7506s to replace them and I imagine I'll have them for another twenty.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #19Dec 3, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
I have had the Sony mdr 7506 for about 9 years now. They are super comfortable and still sound great.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #20Dec 3, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
I've loved my Sony MDR-7506 headphones so much that I bought two pairs - one for work and one for home. They are bulky, but with the price they're going for on most sites you could buy the optional hard case or a pair of beaters for travel (when space is a concern). Otherwise I have no complaints with them. Sound quality is great, and they're comfortable for long hours of use.
View on Redditopen_in_new - #21Dec 3, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
Agreed, I just got a pair based on the review below. They came in 2nd place after the ancient Sony MDR-7506, but I bought them for the more modern design and detachable cord while still having excellent sound quality. http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-150-over-ear-headphones/
View on Redditopen_in_new - #22Dec 3, 2015
Best over the ear headphones for less than $150?
[Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone](http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000AJIF4E) ~$80. Don't buy Beats.   [The Wirecutter](http://thewirecutter.com/) is your friend.
View on Redditopen_in_new