Original from Sony The MDR-7506 model can also be mounted on the Mount Rushmore of wired studio headphones. The plain black cans with the blue sticker are relatively neutral-sounding, built to take a beating, and they’re surprisingly affordable at just under $100 retail. These things together have made them a staple of studios around the world for decades. I’ve been rocking the same pair for about eight years and, aside from replacing the earpads a few years ago, they’re still going strong.
What the 7506s are not, however, are premium studio monitors. They are a bang proposition for your deer. Good enough for most situations but often outclassed by more expensive hardware. With the new, $250 MDR-M1, Sony wants to play at the higher end of the market.
These are pro-grade studio headphones through and through, but they borrow heavily from what made the 7506 so durable. If you’re a musician, audio professional, or just someone who wants to get the most out of your music, the new model takes everything we love about affordable models up a notch.
Suitable studio headphones
Looking at the frequency response chart of the MDR-M1s with the MDR-7506s doesn’t immediately reveal much. Both of these have slightly boosted low end with a dip around 4K in the midrange. If you’re familiar with the warm yet bright sound signature of the original model, this one does that but with much more clarity.
Photo: Terence O’Brien
The biggest difference is that the M1s have a lot more. Overall From the range 7506s. The M1s will share a lot of audio on both the high and low ends. Where the 7506s have a frequency response of 10 Hz to 20 kHz, the M1s claim a range of 5 Hz to 80 kHz, well beyond the range of human hearing in both directions.
This extended range translates into better sound at both ends of the spectrum. A port helps control bass and keep things from getting too muddy on the bottom. I find instruments in the lower register temporarily a touch sharper with the M1s, and in the highs things are crisper without ever being too bright—a complaint I’ve heard leveled against the 7506s.
Photo: Terence O’Brien
