Sony Pro MDR-7506 Headphones

Rating:
Summary: One * less for comfort...
Review: 1) The SONY 7506 achieves very serious sound isolation - it cuts ambient noise of high orders of magnitude quite effectively (like inside a small aircraft), and doesn't transmit ANY sound to the outside. Full marks on this point, since that was an important factor for me - ideal for workplace and commuting.

2) Low 24 Ohms impedance, ideal for portable audio. Typically, portable audio comes without a pre-amp stage, so high input impedances on headphones lead to very low playing volumes. Full marks on performance with portable audio.

3) Foldable, makes it so much easier to carry than a comparable full-size non-folding piece.

4) Audio reproduction is decent, but not exceptional. Bass suffers - its a little boomy and has the least volume compared to treble and midrange. I think that is a direct side-effect of being acoustically sealed and isolated. Treble and midrange are just fine, with treble dominating more than I would like. My other Hi-Fi headset, the Sennheiser HD-570 may have spoilt me on this point. The Senn sounds far better, but fails on points 1 through 3.

5) For me - not too comfortable. My ears get pinched a little and hurt, but i'm getting used to it. My head and ears are larger than average. If you're average tending tending to the small, you'll be fine. This headset is full-size circum-aural, making it more comfortable than any generic headset that touches the ears, or presses on them in any way.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I got these headphones as a gift, and they're great! Sound is great, collapsability is very nice, comes with a nice pouch. I use them on the computer, on my discman, on my TV, great sound.

Rating:
Summary: Best headphones Ive ever had.
Review: I used to have a pair of MDR 600s but after several months the padding wore away.I decided to get the professional model which are these.I personally prefer the way these sound over the newer 600 model.For one thing with the bass and treble both set in the middle you get a very accurate sound without distorting it in any way.Now I must say my favorite Sony product that I ever had was a pair of 200Hs which are bookshelf speakers but early in the morning when Im the only one up I play my music with the V6s so I dont disturb anybody.Clean crisp sound at an affordable price.These are great headphones and possibly the most popular set of headphones used in American recording studios.

Rating:
Summary: Good all around deal
Review: These headphones are a good deal for the price. Everyone hears things a little differently and uses headphones for different types of music.

To me, at the $100 pricepoint these can't be beat. Some people will prefer the sound of Sennheiser's or other brands, but I prefer the very neutral and tight sound these headphones produce. I use these headphones at my computer instead of speakers so I do not disturb roommates or neighbors. I play all types of music on them (mostly trance these days) and have no complaints with the sound. They are certainly not quite audiophile level, but far better than the cheap 20-50 dollar units. I also find these headphones ideal for gaming. I get excellent positional hearing from them. That of course is also dependant on the game and sound card you are using as well.

These are also excellent headphones for DJ's and musicians as they are very neutral and you can hear all the details some of the more bass heavy headphones miss.

These headphones are built solid and are collapsible making them easy to transport. I have no doubt these headphones will be in good shape 10 years from now despite me having dropped them now and then and my heavy use of them.

My only gripe would be that the stock foam/pleather earphones can get a bit hot making your ears a little sweaty if you use them for a long period of time. There are replacement solutions for that issue however - check out one of the big headphone forums like headwize.com or head-fi.com for info on that.

Rating:
Summary: my favorites
Review: These headphones are my favorites of any I've tried, and definitely the best in this price range. I've had a pair for about a decade, and am just about to buy another pair. They sound very clear and fit great.

Rating:
Summary: best in class
Review: Those complaining about weak bass and high end with these should realize Sony designed these for voice work. They are used by field engineers and studio engineers when working on film and videos. Being tuned to voice range, portable design, and excellent isolation make them a favorite for field audio pickup.

I've been using them for three years and they are a workhorse set.

Highly recommended.