sony mdr 7506 = crap?

[heatmiser]

Didn't know where else to put this...

After years of procrastinating I finally splurged for what I thought were decent headphones - sony mdr 7506's to use primarily for tracking. I'd been using $20 sony department store headphones, which, while serviceable, were a bit rumbly and lacking some definition.

I did some research online and the mdr 7506's seemed to be highly recommended given the price (I paid $85 new).

Well, I slapped them on and was amazed that they sounded like absolute crap. I suppose they could be defective...but it just seems unlikely as I've purchased many sony products over the years and never had any problems (never purchased any defective item by any manufacturer come to think of it).

At first I thought it was just my own recordings...you know...these phones must be accurate - maybe they are just revealing how shitty my recordings were all along. So I put on some commercial music and it still sounds like ass. Note - I realize this doesn't necessarily mean my recordings don't sound like crap .

The sound is sizzling and harsh...tons of unpleasant upper-mid high end and the bass is distant and echoey...just plain awful.

Anyone recommend some good quality, reasonably priced phones? I know it can be very subjective, but just curious...thanks.

 

[gehauser]

Hmm... the 7506s are supposed to be quite good for $100.

In that price range, I like these:

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 - great sound, comfortable, straight cord option (yea!)
Sennheiser HD280 - flat response, comfortable

I have the Ultrasone 450 too and they sound about like the HD280 but not as comfortable to wear.

If I had to mix on any of these I would go with the HD280. For listening or tracking, I like the ATH-M50.

 

[mshilarious]

7506s are purposely scooped, great for tracking, not so much for mixing. But you shouldn't be mixing on cans anyway.

Their other issue is they are sort of mid-impedance at 63 ohms, so you need a can amp that can do both lots of voltage and lots of current.

 

[heatmiser]

Hmm... the 7506s are supposed to be quite good for $100.

In that price range, I like these:

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 - great sound, comfortable, straight cord option (yea!)
Sennheiser HD280 - flat response, comfortable

I have the Ultrasone 450 too and they sound about like the HD280 but not as comfortable to wear.

If I had to mix on any of these I would go with the HD280. For listening or tracking, I like the ATH-M50.

It's funny, after I posted this I had a smoke and listened some more at super low volumes and they sound pretty balanced. Turn them up even moderately and it goes to hell.

This would be for listening and tracking. Maybe I'll give the ATs a try. Thanks for the ideas.

7506s are purposely scooped, great for tracking, not so much for mixing. But you shouldn't be mixing on cans anyway.

Their other issue is they are sort of mid-impedance at 63 ohms, so you need a can amp that can do both lots of voltage and lots of current.

I definitely don't mix with phones. I've found it to be very deceptive. Sometimes good for checking panning and amounts of reverb, but for overall levels and stuff they don't really work for me.

So far, these have a sound I don't want to get used to, but I'll see...

I don't really understand impedance. I am powering them with a denon 80 watt amplifier. While not a headphone amp per se, it was a reasonably high quality amp in its day.

 

[Seafroggys]

Yeah I've had these phones for almost 3 years now. They sound great, but therein lies the problems for mixing.

And yeah, scooped sound, which is a bit meh. But great tracking phones for sure.

 

[gehauser]

This would be for listening and tracking. Maybe I'll give the ATs a try.
QUOTE]

If you get the AT, get the ATH-M50S (straight cord version). Unless you like the coiled cord.

 

[Farview]

The 7506's are used because they tend to give a vocalist what they need to hear. They are great for tracking vocals because of that.

I wouldn't use them for pleasure listening.


Unfortunatly, you fell for the same kind of reasoning that leads people to buy NS-10's for thier home stereo. Figuring that they must be the most awesome speaker in the world, since every studio has them...

 

[heatmiser]

Yeah I've had these phones for almost 3 years now. They sound great, but therein lies the problems for mixing.

And yeah, scooped sound, which is a bit meh. But great tracking phones for sure.

No intention here of using them for mixing...primarily tracking which in fairness I haven't tried yet. I will try before I pass final judgement. Thanks for your thoughts.

This would be for listening and tracking. Maybe I'll give the ATs a try.
QUOTE]

If you get the AT, get the ATH-M50S (straight cord version). Unless you like the coiled cord.

Thanks man.

The 7506's are used because they tend to give a vocalist what they need to hear. They are great for tracking vocals because of that.

I wouldn't use them for pleasure listening.


Unfortunatly, you fell for the same kind of reasoning that leads people to buy NS-10's for thier home stereo. Figuring that they must be the most awesome speaker in the world, since every studio has them...

Well, I may be in luck then, as I bought them primarily for tracking...vocals especially. My error was in assuming that if they were great for tracking that they would also by default sound good for general listening...in my opinion they don't.

Not knowing they might be a highly specialized tool I probably expected too much, but if they help with tracking vocals and nothing else, I will consider them worthwhile. I can always go back to my cheapo cans for general listening as they have a much more pleasing tone.

These 7506's do present vocals in particular very clearly during playback (despite my other criticisms), so maybe they will be great for that specific task. Thanks for your thoughts everyone.