Anyone who did location recording, DJ or studio work in the 80s and 90s (or even more recently) will be familiar with the Sony MDR-7506 headphones or their predecessor, the MDR-V6. Known for their solid bass response, overall accuracy and excellent acoustic isolation, the V6 and 7506 have remained the choice of DJs and recording professionals for years. The MDR-7506 ‘phones have been so popular that they’re still being made and sold today, more than 30 years after their introduction. I myself owned a pair of the V6es, which I used for recording live performances in the East Village and for monitoring when I did sound for a few off-Broadway plays (OK, more like OFF off-Broadway, but I digress).
Fans of the 7506 and V6 will be happy to hear that Sony just announced a new upgraded reference version of the classic studio cans. The MDR-M1 Professional Reference Studio headphones ($249.99) were unveiled today (September 5th) and are available for pre-order.
The M1 headphones feature an all-new improved 40mm driver with neodymium magnet, sensitivty of 102 dB/mW and a rated frequency response of 5 Hz to 80,000 Hz. That’s both subsonic and ultrasonic, baby!
Sony’s MDR (Micro Dynamic Range) headphone line is intended not just for studio professionals, but for content creators, podcasters, YouTubers, singers, musicians – really anyone who needs a great-sounding pair of headphones which are comfortable enough to wear for hours on end. Musicians and studio professional love the MDR headphones because they’re accurate, durable and repairable. The main wear item is the earpads which can be easily replaced. This applies to the new MDR M1 as well.
Replacing the cable on the 7506 isn’t that complicated either, though it does require some basic soldering skills. The new MDR-M1 does one better by offering a removable cable design. The M1 actually comes with two different detachable cables: one that’s 1.2 meters long (about 4 feet) for connecting to a phone or player, the other 2.3 meters long (about 7.5 feet) for studio work. The cable actually screws into the headphones for a secure connection.
According to Sony, the M1 features “Ultra-wideband playback and closed acoustic structure with high sound isolation to reproduce detailed sound for use in a wide range of music production workflows.” The well cushioned earpads and light weight (7.6 ounces, not including cable) assure all day comfort for those marathon recording and editing sessions. As a reference quality wired set of headphones, the M1 supports high resolution audio in all formats.
Specifications
| Type | Closed-back dynamic |
| Driver size | 40 mm |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Magnet | Neodymium |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz – 80,000 Hz（JEITA） |
| Impedance | 50 Ω at 1kHz |
| Maximum input | 1,500 mW (IEC) |
| Weight | Approximately 216 g (7.6 ounces) without cable |
| Accessories | Headphone cables x 2: 1.2m, 2.5m (stereo mini plug), Plug adaptor (Stereo standard plug to Stereo mini plug) |
The Bottom Line
After 32 years, the MDR-7506 was probably in need of an update, and one that can keep up with the improvements in recording and mixing technology that have transpired in the last three decades. The MDR-7506 will continue to be available as the affordable alternative, but the MDR-M1 gives discerning engineers, producers, artists and content creators an even better option for their most critical listening and monitoring needs. Will the MDR-M1 have the kind of cult following, reliability and longevity of the the 7506? Time will tell.
We’re expecting a pair in for review shortly so stay tuned.
Price & Availability
- Sony MDR-M1 – $249 at Amazon (pre-order, available October 7, 2024)
- Sony MDR-7506 – $96 at Amazon (available now)
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Asa
September 5, 2024 at 5:56 pm
Thanks for highlighting. I’ve used the V6s for video editing/production for many years and still have them sitting here on top of the CA DACMAGIC200M.
I had to replace the ear surrounds a few years back with some felt fabric versions as the vinyl ones disintegrated over time. Much more comfortable also. Looks like they stayed with a leather/vinyl version for the M1s, but wish they had gone with a type like BD uses on theirs.
Looking forward to the review to maybe add the updated cans to the fold.