Sony MDR-7506 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M30x

Buy the Sony MDR-7506 for critical listening, broadcast and video work where you want a bright, detailed, forward sound and a coiled cable that stays out of the way. Buy the ATH-M30x if you want a flatter, more neutral tuning for mixing, a lighter body and a detachable cable. Both are wired, closed-back 40 mm studio headphones built to take abuse; the Sony is the long-standing industry reference with a folding design and a 3 m coiled cable, while the Audio-Technica is lighter, folds smaller and has a single-side detachable cable. Owners of both report years of service; the M30x's 4.5 from over 1,000 ratings and the Sony's decades of studio use point to similar durability.

• Choose the Sony MDR-7506 if you want a bright, detailed monitor for editing, broadcast or tracking and prefer a coiled cable that keeps slack off your desk.
• Choose the ATH-M30x if you want a flatter, more neutral tuning for mixing, a lighter headphone and a detachable cable for portability.