Engineers will continue to deliberate over which headphones are best for a given task. Given a few objective characteristics, however, the list gets a lot shorter.

What Makes A Good Headphone?

What constitutes a great pair of cans depends largely on the application, as a great tracking headphone might not necessarily be the best sounding for mixing purposes. Conversely, no-one is going to kit the whole band out with open-backed uber-phones.

For mixing purposes, it goes without saying that in a choice between sound and build, the sonic capabilities have to come first. In some studios, having a complete understanding of the mix’s low end might not be complete without a headphone check on a pair of trusted cans. Headphones are also a valuable tool when nailing down stereo positioning (despite the listening experience not being entirely representative of loudspeaker stereo). Comfort also goes a long, long way.

For tracking, headphones must do a couple of things, with isolation being at the top of a short list. Reducing headphone spill into the mics is the often-cited reason for this, but less often mentioned is their allowing of lower playback levels into the artists’ ears. Secondly, the headphones must be durable - it’s a question of when the bass player is going to try and wear them to lunch rather than if…

Sony MDR-7506

Some headphones for some people cover all the bases, even if that means some compromises. One candidate is the Sony MDR-7506. With virtually all headphones possessing their own recognisable signature, the MDR-7506’s display a response that sees the familiar lift in the bass topped with a brilliance lift in the 8-9kHz region. That said, they have found a home in many professional settings for those needing very reliable workhorse cans providing a representation of the mix that translates well in my experience. For this reason, I were choosing a pair of all-rounders, I would probably buy the MDR-7506’s again.

Specs in full:

• Headphone Type: Dynamic, closed

• Magnet Type: Neodymium

• Driver Size: 40.0 mm

• Frequency Response: 10-20kHz

• Impedance: 63 Ohms

• Sensitivity: 106 dB/W/m

• Power Handling: 1,000mW

• Plug Type: Gold, Stereo Unimatch plug 1/4" and 1/8"

• Cord Length: 3 metres (uncoiled)

• Weight: 298 g/8.1 oz

In terms of the build, these headphones are tougher than first impressions would have you believe: speaking as an owner, my current pair have been on my head for a good nine years (yes, maybe I should take a break…). In that time I have replaced the pads which eventually wore out with felty Beyerdynamic DT250 ones. The curly lead isn’t to everyone’s taste, but that can also be replaced along with over 31 other components.

The Engineer’s Best Friend?

The headphones that make the most friends in professional settings are those that can do the input some sonic justice, while being durable, or better still made of field-replaceable parts. With every industry under pressure to reduce waste, this needs to be a requirement. While studio standards such as the DT100 have become known for bomb-proof construction, Sony’s MDR-7506’s continue to tick boxes not only for their tough construction and durability, but also for their respectable sound that compares very well with other closed back designs.