When comparing Sennheiser HD 380 PRO vs Sony MDR 7506, the Slant community recommends Sony MDR 7506 for most people. In the question“What are the best $150 over-ear headphones?” Sony MDR 7506 is ranked 1st while Sennheiser HD 380 PRO is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Sony MDR 7506 is:
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.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Fairly natural sound with slightly boosted bass
The bass is slightly boosted, adding good punch and thump to low-end sounds without overpowering the other frequencies. The mids are natural and forward, while the highs have good clarity.
These headphones can work well with a wide range of music genres, though rock and pop music are the ones that these will shine the best in.
Pro Very comfortable
The 380s sit well over your ears and do not typically touch them when positioned correctly. This helps make them comfortable as the clamping force is distributed over a wide area, not directly on your ears.
Pro Can be driven to very high volumes by low-power amps
You don't need powerful amps to get good volume out of these headphones. These can get pretty loud even just off of your smartphone, music player or computer.
Pro Excellent noise isolation
The large, closed-back ear cups and strong clamp force allows for impressive passive noise isolation. Sound leakage is also significantly minimized, so these headphones can be used in office or library settings.
Pro Clean and balanced sound with smooth bass and detailed highs
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.
Pro Easy to repair
Many of the parts on these headphones are easy to repair or be replaced. The included manual goes in depth on how to replace each part.
Pro Reliable headphones due to solid build quality
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.
Pro Comes with multiple adapters
These headphones come with the standard 3.5mm plug and a screw on 1/4" adapter for professional use.
Cons
Con Very strong clamping force
The 380HDs have a very strong clamp. This helps the headphones achieve better sound isolation and minimal sound leak. Although some will find the clamp very uncomfortable. Fortunately there are also many who will never notice this at all and find the 380HDs very comfortable.
Con Coiled cable
The coiled cable is fine for casual listening or for the studio, but it can being inconvenient for walking and listening.
Con Cable is quite long and non-removable
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.
Con Can be very picky with audio sources
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.