Despite being sub $100, the MDR 7506 can compete against headphones up to twice the price. These are great if you are just starting to get serious about your audio and you want a relatively inexpensive yet quality purchase.
These leak very little sound compared to other over-ear headphones. The rear side of the ear cups is fully closed, which effectively minimizes sound leakage. With these, you can fully enjoy your music without disturbing people beside you.
The MDR 7506 is built outstandingly well, with high quality materials and with little to no creaks and unnecessary flex. These headphones have been around since 1991, which has given Sony a lot of time to refine the manufacturing process of these cans.
The bass is just right. It may not have the deep sub-bass extension that bass heads crave for, but what is there is fast, tight and punchy. The mids are clear with a hint of warmth, which make vocals and guitars sound very clear and you can easily hear their sonic nuances .
The reproduction of highs is the part that these headphones really shine. They are crystal clear and highly detailed without adding hiss or harshness to the overall sound. Cymbal crashes and pings, for example, are very close to what you would hear if they were played right in front of you.
Due to how accurate sounding these are, you will be able to hear minute details from the sound, including hiss, distortion, and the like. To get the most out of these headphones for music enjoyment, you will want to have a great audio source.
The headphone cable is coiled and is about 10 feet long. This is great for studios, however walking around in public with these headphones on can be awkward. The cable cannot be removed and has no remote or mic.
The DT770s are very comfortable to wear with its deep and spacious ear pads. The velour material used on these are smooth and breathable, and the thick foam provides ample cushioning. These headphones can be worn for long periods of time with no issues.
These headphones are very comfortable to wear for long periods of listening to music. The ear pads feature velour material on the surface and soft foam inside. The headband has a leather outer layer with soft padding underneath. You can wear these headphones for hours without pain.
Depending on which model is purchased (16/80/250-ohm), your system may have trouble powering them to get a full sound and comfortable volume. 16/80-ohm should work fine in most systems. If not, you may need an external amplifier.
While the Sennheiser's have headbands which can be adjusted to easily fit a 'hatsize 62/63' head, the DT770 Pro and DT990 Pro headbands may need tweaking to make them work for larger heads.
The bass is not overpowering. Instead, it is clean and controlled. The overall sound signature is focused on the bass but the mids and highs are in no way lacking either.
The ATH-M50x are great sounding headphones with a sound that may fall in the neutral category, but with very slight boosts to the bass and highs; a slightly V-shaped sound. The bass is full and has a lot of power. The sub bass has a hint of elevation though, which can make the bass sound a bit loose on hip-hop or EDM tracks. The mids are fairly neutral with no elevation. The highs are also slightly elevated, which does not add harshness but instead gives the sound a shimmery and detailed feel.
This sound signature of the M50x makes it versatile. It is neutral enough for monitoring use, yet also has just the right qualities to make it a great choice for enjoying music.
The ATH M50x is made from high quality matte plastics which are quite resistant to damage without being too heavy. The hinges move smoothly and do not have unnecessary creaks.
The ear cups and pads are able to keep the sound in and block outside noise. These are suitable for a noisy office as even low volume music is enough to drown out those noisy office mates.
Audio-Technica finally updated the M50's built in cable to a detachable cable. The M50x even comes with three cables, a 1.2 m - 3.0 m coiled cable, a 3.0 m straight cable, and a 1.2 m straight cable. None of the cables have in-line controls though.
The ear cups on the M50x are smaller than those on something like the 380HD or the DT 770 Pro. Your ears could end up touching the the inside of the headphones which can be uncomfortable for some.