17/03/2026 2:12 am
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Which Sony headphones should I actually get for professional mixing and production? I have been looking at the MDR-7506 since literally every studio seems to have them but I am worried they are gonna be way too bright for long sessions and might hurt my ears after a few hours. Then I saw the newer MDR-MV1 open back ones which people say are amazing for spatial stuff but I dont know if they are worth the extra $300 or if they bleed too much sound when I am tracking vocals. I have got about 400 bucks to spend and I am trying to get these ordered to my place in Seattle before a big session next Friday. Should I just stick to the classics or is the new tech actually better for a flat response...
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17/03/2026 2:37 am
Like someone mentioned, the 7506 is a bit of a trap. I used them for years and honestly, my mixes from that era are kinda embarrassing because of how they hyped the high-end. It was really disappointing to realize I was making bad EQ choices just because the headphones were lying to me... If you're in Seattle and need something reliable by Friday, the Sony MDR-M1 Professional Reference Headphones are a much better shout. They're closed-back, so they wont bleed into the mic like those open-back MV1s. Few issues I had with the older tech:
- High-mid spikes that cause crazy ear fatigue
- Non-detachable cables that eventually short out
- Lack of true sub-bass representation Quick question tho, are you gonna be using these mostly for tracking the vocals or for the actual mixing stage? Knowing that would help narrow it down.
11
17/03/2026 2:58 am
In my experience, the Sony MDR-M1 Professional Closed-Back Studio Headphones are the smart play here. Trying many pairs over the years taught me that reliability is everything.
- Closed-back design stops mic bleed during vocal tracking.
- Much flatter response than the 7506 avoids ear fatigue.
- Fits your 400 dollar budget with cash left over. They basically fixed the high-end harshness without the open-back issues.
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17/03/2026 2:12 am
Honestly, skip the 7506 for long mixing sessions, they're total ear-scorchers after an hour! if you want that flat response and insane comfort, the Sony MDR-MV1 Open-Back Reference Studio Headphones are absolutely worth the extra cash. They are incredible for spatial audio and way more accurate than the old school ones. Just dont use them for tracking vocals since they bleed like crazy, but for production? They're amazing!
