Home Headphone Comparisons Sony MDR V55 vs. 7506 | INTENDED USE?

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Aloha friend and Welcome!!

Before we get started with the Sony MDR V55 vs. 7506, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..

You’ve come to the right place!!

What I will bring you in this review

Today I will outline the MDR V55 and then compare it with the 7506 towards the end. 🙂

  1. Ratings/Price
  2. Specifications
  3. Summary
  4. Pros
  5. Cons
  6. Video Review
  7. Amp/DAC requirements
  8. Who these headphones benefit?
  9. Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
  10. Consensus/Conclusion
  11. Similarities & Differences
  12. Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!

Sony MDR V55

Ratings/Price

Specifications

  • Type: Closed back. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.
  • Fit: Supra-aural (On-ear)
  • Drivers: 1.57″ (40 mm) diameter, dome type
    Magnet: Neodymium. What is a headphone driver?
  • Frequency Range: 5.0Hz – 25kHZ
  • Impedance: 40 Ohm.
  • Sensitivity: 105dB/mW
  • Maximum Input Power: 1,000mW (IEC)
  • Connectors: 0.13″ (3.5 mm) gold-plated L-shaped stereo plug
  • Cable Length: 3.9′ (1.2m) flat
  • Weight: 7.76 oz (220g) (without cable)

Summary

The great thing about the V55’s is that both the bass, mid-range, and treble all work together wonderfully well. Usually one overpowers the other and leaves you frustrated.

The bass here doesn’t leak into the mids causing it to become recessed or pushed back. The treble likewise has sparkle but doesn’t interfere with either frequency either.

Pros

  • Lightweight, durable, and foldable.
  • Good bass response.
  • Good mid-range, especially for a sub $100 headphone. Picks up a lot of small details.
  • Vocals sound good. Great highs. Very clear and separated from the mid-range.

Cons

  • Not very comfortable. It May hurt your ears after a while. The headband also has no real padding.
  • The left side may stop working.
  • Build quality suspect. Plastic hinge prone to breaking.
  • No included 1/4″ adapter.
  • No mic.

Video Review

Amp/DAC requirements

I wouldn’t worry too much about an amp for these, but they’ve been known to open up with:

  • FiiO E07K.
  • FiiO E11.

How to choose a headphone amp!

Again, don’t stress about an amp though. It’s not really that necessary.

Who these headphones benefit?

Endorsed for:

  • Jazz
  • Dubstep/Hardstyle
  • EDM
  • Classical
  • Rock
  • DJ’s
  • Country
  • Guitar
  • Blues
  • Alternative Rock

Not as good for:

DJ’s. They actually don’t work that well for serious DJ’ing because of the short cable, bad comfort level, and poorly designed folding mechanism. If you’re a hobbyist type of DJ than I would say go for it.

Thoughts from Stu’s notepad

  • They don’t come with a case or box of any kind.
  • The cable is not detachable and comes in a bit short. Also prone to tangling.
  • The headphones are collapsible.
  • The Soundstage is pretty narrow, which is typical of a headphone like this. What is Soundstage?
  • Decent noise isolation. People went back and forth on this.
  • The ear cups swivel 180 degrees but the design is poor.
  • They creak a lot when you put them on, move them, or adjust them.

Consensus/Conclusion

Great sound, awful comfort. I lost count of how many people loved their overall sound signature, but could not wear them for more than 30 minutes to an hour. The cable is much too short as well.

Similarities & Differences

Similarities

  • Both are closed back.
  • Both are pretty compact.
  • Both have neodymium magnets and 1.57″ diaphragm diameters.
  • Both use the same materials: Plastic, metal, and pleather.

Differences

  • Comfort: The 7506 is a lot more comfortable over a longer period. The V55’s being on-ear will cause discomfort after just an hour. I’m not saying that you will never have to re-adjust the 7506’s, but they are meant for long-term studio use.
  • Fit. 7506’s are Circumaural (Around the ear), while the V55’s are Supra-aural (On-ear).
  • Longevity and Durability. The 7506’s will last you a long time given proper care. A couple of things to keep in mind though: The ear-cups do have a tendency to peel after a couple of years, and one ear-cup may fall off. These were my only two gripes with the 7506. The 7506’s are heavier and feel more durable in your hand.
  • Signature. The 7506’s are more neutral across the board. They have less bass, but it’s still there. It’s older brother, the V6, is even more neutral. Sony MDR V6 vs. MDR 7506.
  • Treble. I would say the 7506’s treble can be more harsh/sibilant at times with certain songs. What does Sibilant mean?
  • Setting. The V55 is marketed towards DJs while the 7506 towards Studio use.
  • Cable. You can purchase the 7506 with a straight or coiled cable. The V55 is a straight cable, and is 1.2m. The 7506’s is 2.98m. The 7506 also comes with a 1/4″ adapter while the V55 does not.
  • Color. The V55 comes in Red, Black, White, or Blue. The 7506 comes in Black.
  • Impedance: 63 Ohm for the 7506 vs. 40 Ohm for the V55. The 7506 requires more power to produce higher volumes. It’s not a huge consideration though. Both of these will sound fine without an amp. This article goes into more depth about the specifics: What is Headphone Impedance?
  • Frequency Response. Both are a little different. As mentioned earlier, the V55 will dig deeper at 5Hz-25kHz, while the 7506 sits 10Hz-20kHz. For clarity’s sake, the human ear can hear from 20Hz-20kHz.
  • Weight. The 7506 is a bit heavier. 229.6g vs. 220g.
  • Design, Shape, & Cup. They have different build, shapes, and cup sizes. The 7506’s are more oval while the V55’s are round.

Final Word

I would definitely recommend the 7506 over the V55. There are some great qualities about the V55, but the 7506 does all those and more:

  • Better comfort and fit
  • Longevity factor
  • Heavier and more durable
  • More even sound
  • Great for mixing and mastering
  • Choice of cable
  • 1/4″ adapter included

and the list goes on.

I owned a pair for a while and they really opened my eyes to what music should sound like. Keep in mind they were my first pair of higher-end cans, but regardless they are an industry standard for a reason.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM IN MY SONY MDR 7506 REVIEW!!

In need of an even flatter sound with less emphasis on bass? Enter the V6. It’s the older brother to the 7506, and similar in every way except even more suited for studio use. The reason the 7506 came out was because of consumer demand for more bass. While the 7506 does deliver that, fortunately, they didn’t go overboard with it. The V6 is the perfect solution to your mixing/mastering needs. Just know that the sound is considerably less exciting than the 7506.

COMPARE THE TWO IN MY SONY MDR V6 vs. MDR 7506 ARTICLE!!


Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the Sony MDR V55 vs.7506.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

Which of these are you more likely to go with? Looking for a flat sound (V6) or a slightly more colored one (7506)? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

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