The Sony MDR-7506 are comfortable, closed-back headphones well-suited for audiophiles and audio professionals. Since their initial release in 1991, they've remained a permanent fixture in the Sony headphones lineup, thanks to their detailed sound and decently comfortable fit.
Our Verdict
The Sony MDR-7506 are very good for neutral sound. They have a well-balanced sound with a punchy bass that doesn't drown out the excellent mid-range. Instruments and vocals sound clear, and the detailed mid-range and bright treble lend themselves well to analytical listening. However, their poor soundstage performance can make audio sound closed off.
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Balanced sound.
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Lightweight and decently comfortable design.
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Poor soundstage performance.
The Sony MDR-7506 are poor for commuting and travel. They don't feature any active noise cancellation (ANC) technology so they rely on their closed-back design to passively isolate you against ambient noise. While they provide some attenuation against higher-frequency sounds, like the hum of an AC fan, lower-frequency sounds, like the rumble of trains, will still make their way into your audio. They're also bulky and don't come with a case to stow them in while on the move.
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Lightweight and decently comfortable design.
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Decent leakage performance.
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Poor noise isolation.
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Unstable fit.
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Plasticky and weak build quality.
The Sony MDR-7506 are disappointing for sports and fitness use as they're not designed for this purpose. They're bulky and will slip off your head during even light exercise. They also feature a heavy, non-detachable coiled cable that can easily get snagged on objects while you're moving around.
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Lightweight and decently comfortable design.
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Unstable fit.
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Plasticky and weak build quality.
The Sony MDR-7506 are poor for office use. While they're decently comfortable and don't leak as much audio as open-back headphones, you'll still want to be careful when cranking your tunes in a quiet office environment. Their bad noise isolation performance also means you'll be easily distracted by conversations around you.
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Lightweight and decently comfortable design.
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Decent leakage performance.
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Poor noise isolation.
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Unstable fit.
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Plasticky and weak build quality.
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Poor soundstage performance.
The Sony MDR-7506 are wired-only and can't be used for wireless gaming.
The Sony MDR-7506 are acceptable for wired gaming. Thanks to their analog connection, these headphones have negligible latency, so you don't notice a delay between the audio you hear and the video you see. However, they lack customization options compared to dedicated gaming headsets, and you'll need to purchase a standalone microphone if you want to communicate with your teammates.
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Balanced sound.
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Poor noise isolation.
The Sony MDR-7506 lack an integrated microphone, so they aren't suitable for calls. You'll need to purchase a separate microphone to use them for this purpose.
- 7.9 Neutral Sound
- 4.6 Commute/Travel
- 5.1 Sports/Fitness
- 5.2 Office
- 4.3 Wireless Gaming
- 6.1 Wired Gaming
- 2.0 Phone Calls
- Updated Feb 28, 2024: This review's Sound Profile has an added comparison to the Sennheiser HD 25.
- Updated Dec 07, 2023: We've updated the text in this review to ensure it's accurate and up-to-date and added relevant comparisons.
- Updated Nov 02, 2023: The following test groups have been updated following TB 1.6: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages.
- Updated Nov 02, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- Updated Jul 24, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sony MDR-MV1 in Passive Soundstage.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Feb 19, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Aug 10, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Mar 01, 2017: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Nov 21, 2016: Review published.
- Updated Nov 19, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Sep 12, 2016: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
These headphones have seen no changes or modifications since their release in 1991. They're only available in one colorway: 'Black'. If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Headphones
The Sony MDR-7506 are closed-back over-ear headphones, well-known for their detailed sound. While modern-day closed-back headphones are now packed with features like noise cancellation (ANC) and spatial audio, these headphones have hardly changed in over 30 years. Like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, they've become common in living rooms and recording studios. While the Sony still hold their own, the Audio-Technica and Beyerdynamic are more comfortable and better built, and the former has a nifty detachable cable design. Sony released the MDR-MV1 in 2023: a pair of open-backs with obvious nods to the MDR-7506's classic silhouette. They're more comfortable and have a better soundstage performance than their closed-back variant, but they produce less bass.
See our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones and the best over-ear headphones under $100.
The Sony MDR-7506 are slightly better headphones than the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro 2016. Both headphones have a plastic-heavy construction and feature coiled, non-detachable cables. While the Sennheiser have a more balanced sound profile and provide more passive isolation, they also deliver audio more inconsistently. The Sony have a more V-shaped sound profile, which is more consistent with different users. They're also more comfortable and more portable.
The Audio-Technica will be more comfortable to wear during long listening sessions and they feel better-built than the Sony MDR-7506. Both are tuned for monitoring and recording audio. The headphones are fairly similar, but you might be able to find the Sony at a cheaper price point, so they might offer better value, even though the Audio-Technica include swappable cables for longevity.
The Sony MDR-7506 are better headphones for neutral sound listening than the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x. The Sony are more consistent among various users, have a much better-balanced and more accurate sound profile, have less distortion, and leak less audio. On the other hand, the Audio-Technica have a more comfortable and stable design, have a slightly wider soundstage, and come with two different detachable audio cables.
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO are better headphones for neutral sound than the Sony MDR-7506. The Beyerdynamic have a better build quality and a more comfortable, stable fit. Their bass response is more neutral, and they have a much better passive soundstage performance. However, the Sony leak much less audio.
The AKG K371 are slightly better over-ear studio headphones than the Sony MDR-7506. The AKG have a much more accurate and well-balanced sound profile, leak less audio, and have a detachable cable. On the other hand, the Sony's frequency response is much more consistent among users, feel slightly more stable on the head, and are more portable.
The Sony MDR-7506 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are similarly designed for neutral listening. Both are somewhat stiff-wearing with relatively shallow ear cups. While the Sony edges ahead with regards to repairability (thanks to the prominent screws designed to be disassembled and parts replaced), both have hardwired cables, although the Sony's cable is shorter. The Sony headphones output better bass and treble accuracy than the Audio-Technica.
Both the Sennheiser HD 25 and Sony MDR-7506 have utilitarian designs prioritizing repairability. You can replace almost every part of these headphones. However, besides the metal hinge that flips the Sennheiser's left ear cup forward or backward, they're plasticky headphones but lightweight. Their long cable is straight and detachable, and these headphones fit on your ears. The Sony are plastic, but they have metal integrated throughout the housing. While they're over-ears, they have shallow ear cups. Their long coil cable is surprisingly hefty but not detachable, even though you can unscrew and replace the drivers. They're designed for monitoring sound production, while the Sennheiser are meant for DJing and casual listening.
Depending on your usage, you may prefer either the Sony MDR-7506 or Sony MDR-MV1. The MDR-7506 are closed-back headphones that you can use to monitor live recordings, thanks to their decently low leakage performance. While they don't block out much background noise, they can still cut down more ambient chatter than the MDR-MV1, which can be handy in a noisy venue. They also have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. If you're mixing and mastering audio, you'll want to try the MDR-MV1 instead. These cans have an open-back design, making their soundstage more spacious and immersive. They're also a lot more comfortable and well-built.
The Sony MDR-7506 are better headphones for neutral sound than the RØDE NTH-100M. The Sony headphones have better frequency response consistency and a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and they leak less audio at high volumes. However, the RØDE are more comfortable and better built. You can also purchase them with a compatible boom mic if you want to use them for gaming.
The Sony MDR-7506 are slightly better critical listening headphones than the Sony MDR-7520. The MDR-7506 offer a better value thanks to their mid-to-budget price range. They also have a more comfortable fit than the MDR-7520 and they sound better overall with more bass. On the other hand, the MDR-7520 are a much better build headphone. They have more premium look and design and feel a lot more durable than the MDR-7506. They also come with a detachable cable which further increases their durability compared to the MDR-7506.
The Beats Solo Pro Wireless are more versatile headphones than the Sony MDR-7506. The Beats have a much better build quality and an ANC feature that blocks out an impressive amount of ambient noise. They also have a much more stable fit, so they're less likely to slide off your head during light physical activity like walking. On the other hand, the Sony are wired headphones with a more neutral sound profile, which some listeners may prefer.
The Sony MDR-7506 and V-MODA Crossfade 3 Wireless are pretty different over-ear headphones from each other. The Sony headphones are an industry standard for analytical listening in professional sound settings. Their features are sparse, with adequate padding and a hardwired analog connection. The V-MODA are designed for wireless and wired listening. They sound bassy by default compared to the more neutral tuning of the Sony, but you can EQ their bass-heavy sound profile using the companion app when used wirelessly. Otherwise, they're more portable with a case and controls for calls and playback.
Test Results
The Sony 7506 have a closed-back, over-ear design. A few branding logos highlight the understated, all-black color scheme. The ear cups are large and oval, while the wide headband is lightly padded and covered in a faux leather-like material. There are red and blue accents on opposite sides of the headband, so you can instantly differentiate between right and left.
These headphones are decently comfortable. The ear cups are large enough to fit well around most ears. They also don't grip your head too tightly, so they won't get uncomfortable during long listening sessions. The ear cups are covered with a faux leather material that feels soft but cheaply made. However, they aren't as comfortable as the plush padding seen on the Sony MDR-MV1.
These headphones are reasonably breathable but will still make your ears make your ears fairly warm during long listening sessions. They have a closed-back over-ear design that prevents airflow, so listening in hot, humid environments may cause sweat to build up around your ears.
The Sony 7506 are reasonably portable headphones. Their frame is quite bulky, but the foldable design tightly tucks the ear cups within the frame to save space. They won't be the easiest headphones to carry around, but they will comfortably fit into most bags. Unfortunately, they don't come with a pouch or case.
These headphones have a decent build quality. They have a thin metal frame that somewhat reinforces the build, and despite being lightweight, the dense plastic used on the ear cups and yokes is solid enough to withstand being dropped. Overall, these headphones feel cheap, and there's an audible creak when you put them on. The hinges are also relatively weak, and the exposed wire is susceptible to damage. On the upside, these headphones are designed for their parts to be easily replaceable, so you can switch out any damaged parts without buying a new pair.
These headphones have disappointing stability. They won't slide off your ears during casual listening sessions, but you'll have to re-adjust their fit if you find yourself headbanging too hard.
The Sony MDR-7506 have a well-balanced sound profile that's well-suited to everything from sound mixing to casual listening. The bass range as a whole is overemphasized, adding warmth with plenty of punch and boom, but not as much as some bassy DJ headphones like the Sennheiser HD 25. Other than a small dip in the low-mid, which thins out rhythm instruments somewhat, the mid-range is very neutral and results in a detailed reproduction of vocals and lead instruments. The treble range is also quite neutral but a little uneven in part of the range: two small peaks in the low-treble help bring out the upper harmonics of vocals, while a larger peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants sound bright and accurate.
They have good frequency response consistency. The bass delivery won't vary too much between different sittings, but you might need to re-adjust the fit a little to achieve a consistent treble delivery.
The bass accuracy is impressive. The whole range is slightly overemphasized, resulting in a warm bass response with plenty of boom, rumble, and thump on tap.
These headphones have outstanding mid accuracy. The response is virtually flat across almost the entire range and follows our target curve very well. There's only one small dip at the lower end of the low-mid range that slightly thins out instruments like snare drums. On songs like Carole King's You've Got a Friend, the vocals sound both present and intimate, and you can clearly distinguish them against the crisp piano accompaniment.
The treble accuracy is very good. The low treble is slightly overemphasized, which brings out the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments but also makes them a little harsh. The mid-treble response is tilted so that lower-toned sibilants, like hi-hats, sound dull, but the overemphasis at the top of the range brightens S and T sounds in higher-pitched vocals. Overall, the overemphasis in the treble can be useful for professional audio applications as pops, clicks, and other unwanted audio artifacts are more easily identifiable.
The peaks and dips performance is good, and these headphones generally follow their own sound profile. The entire bass range is slightly boosted, resulting in a warm and boomy bass response. A slight dip in the low-mid makes snares and toms sound a little hollow. Peaks in the low-treble make upper harmonics sound harsh. A sharp peak in the mid-treble makes sibilants, like S and T sounds, seem piercing.
These headphones have excellent imaging performance. A good imaging performance often represents a manufacturer's quality control and ergonomics. Sony has built an excellent reputation in this regard, and the imaging performance of these headphones indicates this. That said, imaging varies between units. Our unit's group delay is below the audibility threshold, and the left and right drivers are well-matched in phase, amplitude, and frequency. Although there appears to be a large spike in the phase mismatch in the high-treble, this may be due to these headphones struggling to reproduce very high frequencies.
The Sony MDR-7506 have a poor soundstage performance, which is normal for closed-back headphones. Sound seems to be coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in a room around you. The resulting soundstage sounds closed-off and lacks the immersive quality found in open-back headphones.
These headphones have a decent weighted harmonic distortion performance. There's some distortion present between the mid-bass and low-mid at higher listening volumes. However, this distortion still falls within good levels, and it's hard to hear unless you're an astute audiophile.
These are the settings used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
The isolation performance is poor. They isolate passively through their closed-back design. While this provides a degree of attenuation in the treble range, which helps block out noises like fridge hum, it provides minimal isolation against mid-range noise and virtually no isolation against low-frequency sounds, like engine rumble.
They have a decent leakage performance. Escaping audio is concentrated in mid and treble ranges, so it sounds thin and lacks body. That said, the leakage isn't particularly loud and will only bother people around you if you're cranking your tunes in a quiet space like a library.
These headphones don't come with a microphone. Check out the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II, the Bose QuietComfort 25/QC25, and the Apple EarPods for wired headphones with a good in-line microphone.
These headphones have a single non-detachable audio cable. They can only receive audio as there's no microphone. Fortunately, latency is negligible, so you won't notice any sync issues between your audio and video.
You can connect these headphones to PCs with a wired connection for audio compatibility. However, you'll need a standalone mic to input audio.
You can connect these headphones to PlayStation consoles with a wired connection for audio compatibility. However, you'll need a standalone mic to communicate with your teammates.
You can use these headphones wired on Xbox if you plug their 1/8" TRS cable into a controller. However, you'll need a standalone microphone to input audio.
These headphones don't come with a dock. If you need a headset with a dock that also has a wired connection for gaming or watching movies, consider the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless and its variants.