Sony MDR-7506 - Best headphones you can get for price?

Been considering getting these; Sony MDR 7506 Reviews

For around 100 USD... Does anyone have any other suggestions?


These seems to be great for the price, and they also look really nice. I dont mind big cup headphones as I have a large head and large ears.

Some of the Grado and Denon and Audio Technica, looks and sounds really good, but they have a crazy price.

I'm not an audiophil, and dont got the budget, but since I am constantly listening to headphones, I think I should have something proper.


Something at least so good, that anything other than 320kb mp3s as a minimum will sound unbearable!

Also im not a bass freak!


Right now I got some Steelseries Siberia and Sennheiser 215, and they are okay... Dont have anything else to say about them. They are headphones but nothing special.

 

Actually I was also thinking about the Denon AH-2000... Denon AH-D2000 Headphone reviews - CNET Reviews

They really look amazing, and I've heard so much good about them. But holy crap.. that much money?


If I plug such a pair of headphones into a laptop, will the buildin sound card in the laptop, even be able to output a good quality to the speakers, or will their be performance loss?

 

Would highly suggest the Shure SRH 440 ($70 shipped)

I own the 7506's, these are a whole different level. The 7506's are fine but these play like a $300+ set of cans

Amazon.com: Shure SRH 440 Professional Studio Headphones (Black):…

 

I own a pair of the MDR-7506. These are the first pair of high quality headphones that I've owned, so I won't be able to give you any comparisons within the headphone monitor realm. However, I've had some history with using Shure in-ear monitor earphones (various models over $300-$400+), and though the MDR-7506 is old technology, it still sounds great. I noticed that the bass side isn't exaggerated like you'd find on some other "professional" head/earphones, and it offers quite a broad accurate spectrum (of course, provided that the output hardware is adequate enough ). Also, the sound isn't flat by default (I heard Sennheiser monitors are purposely set flat for software adjustment ease- for the audiophiles), so it's a good for those who don't care too much for needing to make adjustments.

If anything, the 7506 (and it's V6 incarnation) is still being used a lot by the recording industry for recording monitor usage, so that should say something about its time-tested sound quality. I wish I could've owned more various headphones, but my budget isn't flexible enough to accommodate for everything I want...

 

Kind of raspy. Entry-level 'ear openers' if all you've had is crud, but not that great. Personally also not that comfy. Very robust though. If you have an HD 215 already, you're not going to see any improvement - in fact, it might even be a retrograde step.

In fact, what's the problem with the 215's?

(assuming they are these)

 

Yes, thats those I have!
I mean, they are nice enough. I just wanted noticeble better sound!


would the denon AD-2000 be a significant improvement over the 215?

 

Honestly, you'd be looking at the 5000 before a significant improvement in actual sound quality, although the Denons do in general have a more entertaining sound than the HD215 - which I think is an excellent phone for the money, and very hard to beat if you want a technically good phone.

And that's the 'problem' with the HD215 - they're not that entertaining, i.e. upper-bass-heavy. I very much doubt you'll get a noticeably better closed phone in terms of technical capability for under $150. The HD280 is a slight improvement as are some others, and some may have a tone that's more to your liking - but ultimately I don't think you'll feel it was worth it. You will need to spend more for a real step up - starting at the ~$200 range - or go for open headphones.

One closed monitor phone I do like is the Shure SRH840. It's sonically excellent, one of the best closed studio monitor phones I've had to date - because it balanced a good degree of agreeableness with technical capability, excellent isolation, decent comfort and a good price (~$200). It also folds, which gives you more portable options than the HD215 - although I would debate that you look any less of a collosal dork with either. I'd suggest that if you're looking for 'more of the same, but better'.

 

Ok, thanks.
Damn.

The cheapest I have seen the AH-2000 here in Denmark is 370 USD!

the 5000 are over 1000 USD here



Well I need it for video editing, to be able to hear the synch, and best audio takes. But I also listen to music seriously a lot, and play games. I cant afford/have a cinema surround system, so I hoped getting some really good headphones, to use for everything. Champions of everything.

 

In Europe especially, the HD215's are very well priced in terms of their performance, and basically unless you're willing to step up to the level of the Shure SRH840 (200 Euros approx) then I'd say don't bother - any improvements really won't be worth it.

Personally my champions of everything in terms of computer-based listening where I don't need isolation is the Sennheiser HD 650. They have a very good price/performance ratio and for me are cheap enough to be disposable, as I'm fairly hard on my home-office headphones. You can get them for around 300 euros if you shop around.

In case I wasn't clear, I don't rate the Denons at all, unless they're on super-huge discounts. Any of the 'wooded' models especially are basically a high-end headphone for consumers who don't know what high-end headphones ought to sound like. I managed to sell them on without making too huge a loss, but I thought they were a waste of money. A pleasant waste of money, but the HD650 delivers more for less.

 

Ok thanks

Is there any from Audio-Technica that you can recommend?

these look awesome; Amazon.com: Audio Technica ATH-A700 Headphones: Electronics and Amazon.com: Audio-Technica ATH-ES7 Portable Headphones, Black:…

ATH-A700 and ATH-ES7!




EDIT; I found the 650 to yeah around 300-ish USD, just like you said! I think the design looks okay! I don't know... I just sorta wanted to try a different brand;D I guess there is a reason for why Sennheiser is so famous!

I'm not really sure, what I am getting myself into!


Also, vogel, what If I don't have an amplifier(because I dont)... I've never seen anyone walk around with an amplifier! I know, it's a little box that makes the sound better.. I cant imagine running around with one of those, on the bus, with the laptop..

Are they needed to enjoy the good sound?

 

I think portable amps are irrelevant for portable headphones, unless you're running a set of Stax SR-001's. Mind you, I don't walk around with HD650's - But you have to take a lot of the amp BS with a pinch of salt.

The ES7's look good, but once again are rougher than the 215's, albeit with more bass in the mix. They also offer near-zero isolation against outside noise, so once again are a retrograde step compared to the 215. The stainless mirror finish is also a fingerprint and scratch magnet, just like the iPod backs.

ATH-A700's: Slightly more comfortable due to less around-ear pressure but even bigger on the head than the 215's, less isolating and much more fragile, while offering comparable - and not necessarily superior - sound.

Which phones are most appropriate really comes down to how you're going to use them. For the uses you initially mentioned, it seemed like you could go either closed or open since it appeared to be home use. But now you're talking about walking around. There's a reason why there are a ton of different headphones out there and for me to be useful you're probably going to have to actually nail down in writing how you're going to use these and where.


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In my case, apart from my in-ear monitors, the most important categories of headphone to me are the 'actually sitting down with music phone' (currently the Sennheiser Orpheus with no replacements under consideration), the headset (currently the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 in the main, along with the Logitech G35), the computer-based music listening phone (currently the HD650 only), and the travelling phone (currently the Bose Triport AE, with the Audio-Technica ES7 and ESW10 in storage as I consider them inferior).

See, I have fairly specific needs for each class of phone:
- The 'actually sitting down with music' phone has only to be one thing: The best that I can actually get hold of. The Orpheus is probably it.
- The headset in my case must be somewhat isolated, very comfortable for extended wearing, sound decent and have a good mic onboard.
- The computer-based music phone must offer the best sound quality while remaining practical to use in the home office. So it must also withstand the occasional mishandling, be comfy, allow me to hear phones ringing.
- The travelling phone must be lightweight, not make me look even dorkier than I am, offer excellent isolation, be comfortable for 2 - 5 hour wearing and sound decent.

In the case of the travelling phone for example, the best sound quality in the world would be useless to me if it didn't offer enough isolation. So a phone that offers a balance of everything is far more effective to me than a phone that only does one thing well.

I do try new phones from time to time. The latest are the Beyerdynamic Tesla T1 to compare against the HD650 as my main computer-use headphones, and the Bowers and Wilkins P5 plus the Dr.Dre Beats Solo HD to compare against the Triport/ES7/ESW10 for travelling phones.

 

Ok, sorry for not making much sense.

If I had to schedule how I would use them... Just a rough estimate;


30% movie watching on Desktop/Laptop
10% gaming, connected to xbox 360
20% ipod on the go(at work, in bus)
20% video editing. working in avid
20% music in ipod/imac/laptop at home


So I am looking for some attractive all around headphones. I know big cups, make me look like a dork, but I would still like some that looks cool, and treat my ears nice

I use small earbuds for biking and stuff like that, so it's not for sport or crazy physical activities.

As far as portability, I have not really thought that much about it. It would be a plus, but I would just like some good all around headphones. The 215's lack of portability didn't bother me.


The reason why I also suggested the Sony 8506, Denon AD2000, and the two Audio-Technica, is because I think they look great. I dislike the look of my Sennheiser. They are okay, but still... a bit meh. I can't really tell a difference between a 128 Kbit mp3 or a 320 kbit mp3.

I would like some phones where it's absolutely crucial to have 320 kbit as a minimum. I guess thats technical phones?

I want to really be able to sense the technical level in music, instead of just having it fade out. If that makes sense? want all the detail in the sound. every little folie effect in the film. Every little ambient noise in a video game

 

High quality earphones are not cheap. But you do get the extra performance out of them if you have the necessary high quality sound source.

There is nothing worse than seeing people buying an ipod nano and using a 1000 dollars Sennie headphone, and then telling other people that the earphone they got is just a waste of money.

 

Not a bass freak?

The Sony MDR-7506's are great. Still in the process of burning them so I don't know their full potential. Out of the box though they are quite good for their price range. Great Bass, excellent highs, and great mids.

Money well spent.

The Denon AH-D2000's are the handsdown the best headphone I have ever used. The sound quality of even low gquality songs were extolled to their maximum potential. It felt like being in a recording studio. However they were soooo tight and leaked sound like crazy! I would have stuck with them but I can't take the constant headaches. Maybe I just have a fat head

 

To be honest I simply don't know much about sound, even though I want to know more.

A person I know who has been doing post-sound editing on films for over a decade told me to get Closed Phones, no matter what. Never "Open"!

I don't know why he said it.

 

This site may be a good read; Headphone Reviews & Recommendations

 

Open sounds leak too much sound in and out which really decreases the bass. The highs might sound a tad bit better but the bass can go from center stage at a Netsky concert to a baby singing.
Many people argue that open sounds clearer and open aired, but if you wanted that type of sound, why not get regular speakers?

 

For your uses, the Sony mdr-v6 or 7506 (exactly the same thing, don't buy the 7506 at a premium if you can avoid it) are probably the best bet (considering European prices). If you are using them for long sessions, replace the leather pads by Beyerdynamic velvet pads (for the DT250). They're not that comfy stock, at least imo.

And the sony can take a beating, something I wouldn't say of sennheiser in general and of the hd280 in particular.

 

OK - that seems to make more sense.

Well, the 7506 looks OK on the head but as I said, I don't think there's any kind of step-up in the sound quality... in fact, you will probably lose extension at the low end (the 7506 do low bass worse than the 215 if memory serves me correctly), as well as being as I said raspier. The same goes for practically any headphone around the $100 range in comparison to the 215.

I think I'd stick with the Shure SRH840 recommendation in that case. It's an unarguable step up in sound quality and general performance. How visually acceptable you find them will depend on how big your head is. If you're a tiny pinhead then the 840's might be OK. The earcups are certainly more low-profile in look than the, shall we say, 'individual' look of the 215's. But the headband is broad-shouldered and basically, the bigger your head, the more you'll look like you have a spoiler on your head.

 

Ok, thanks guys. I think the best option now is to go hunting in some electornic stores and see if I can listen to some of these.


Just a s general question... do you know any good headphones, that also has an optional microphone?

I have been told that gamer headsets/headphones usually are crappy and have mediocre sound. but they are usually the only ones that have a microphone.


it would be great with a microphone that could be unscrewed so you wouldnt have to walk around with it all the time.

 

Fact is, if you want a do-everythinger you end up buying something that's equally mediocre in anything it does. If you want one headphone that does it all then a compact studio monitor with a clip-on mic like the relatively (compared to even an entry-level headset) crappy Zalman ZM-MIC1 is likely to be your best half-assed solution.

The suckiness of gaming headsets as a whole are overstated by the Bose/Monster-bashing Hi-fi'er-than-thou types who can only afford to buy one headphone - and they end up buying one from a brand approved by their also Hi-Fi'er-than-thou peers. None of them have actually tried one beyond some $20 throwaway article. There are some pretty good sets out there, but you do have to spend as much as, if not more than, a decent headphone - makes sense, decent headphone +decent mic > decent headphone.

 

Well, at least we can get out and try different headsets at some of the brick and mortar stores.

My beef is trying ear buds for travel..another whole bud of wax. BB locks the doors when they spot me trying to sneak in..I have returned at least 10 in the last 6 months.

 

Gah. Things feel complicated now, but I get what you're saying.


I'm in the process of moving right now, and looking through all my electronics, parts, cables, Driver CDs, cases, boxes and all that from computers and accessories over the years(I think I have over 20 pairs of earbuds... I still have) I sorta wish that I had sticked to less. Less is more, you know?

That was why I was initially like "holy s**t!" when I read a user review on Amazon where a guy said that he had used the 7506's predecessor for like... 15 years or something stupid.


I wish... Wish, that I would get some stuff that I would keep that long. If anything I am sick of constantly upgrading and buying new stuff. It would be nice to have something satisfying.

My Sennheiser 215 where an impulse buy without knowing anything or research. I just needed something for six months as speakers was a no-go at the place I was living. It kind of has shocked me, that they have turned out to be considered good or great value for money. I was sure the store clerk was pulling my chain when he suggested them to me!