Short answer: the Sony MDR-7506. It ranks #79 of 429 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $114.99; the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro ranks #200, rated 3.6/5, and costs $399, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro: The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 72 with a 2.08 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: Presence sits about 3.8 dB low with a 7 dB dip near 4.1 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
The Sony MDR-7506 is the better-sounding option. A preference score of 83 with a deviation of only 1.7 dB from the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement is excellent for a closed studio headphone. The tradeoff: Presence and treble run about 3.5 dB hot, with a peak of 6 dB near 4.5 kHz, which makes vocals forward and cymbals or sibilance sharp at higher volumes.
Buy the Sony MDR-7506. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sennheiser HD 480 Pro and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 480 Pro | Sony MDR-7506 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $114.99 |
| Ranked | #200 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones | #79 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 130 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB/Vrms | 106 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 3Hz - 28.7kHz | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (272 g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 72 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 83 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.08 dB standard deviation | 1.70 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.64 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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- Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Sennheiser HD 480 Pro
Prices on this page were last checked October 13, 2026 at 3:17 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 480 Pro: $399.00 Amazon $399.00 eBay
Pros: The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 72 with a 2.08 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Bass sits close to target and holds down to 20 Hz, so low end sounds full without bloat. It uses 1 x 38mm dynamic.
Cons: Presence sits about 3.8 dB low with a 7 dB dip near 4.1 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Full Sennheiser HD 480 Pro review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2026 (6 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.08 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 38mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 3Hz - 28.7kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 72 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 130 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (272 g) |
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Sony MDR-7506: $114.99 Amazon $129.99 Sony $114.99 Lowest eBay
Pros: A preference score of 83 with a deviation of only 1.7 dB from the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement is excellent for a closed studio headphone. Bass and low mids sit within about 1 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural and uncolored. At 260 g with a 106 dB/mW sensitivity, it plays loud straight from a phone or laptop without an amp.
Cons: Presence and treble run about 3.5 dB hot, with a peak of 6 dB near 4.5 kHz, which makes vocals forward and cymbals or sibilance sharp at higher volumes. Air above 10 kHz is about 2.6 dB low, and the wired-only design has no microphone.
Full Sony MDR-7506 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.70 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.64 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +10.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,435 Hz | -3.8 dB | 0.90 |
| Peak | 847 Hz | +1.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 230 Hz | +3.7 dB | 2.08 |
| Peak | 48 Hz | -9.5 dB | 0.52 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,530 Hz | -1.4 dB | 3.26 |
| Peak | 2,916 Hz | -1.9 dB | 5.57 |
| Peak | 3,748 Hz | +2.6 dB | 5.91 |
| Peak | 4,456 Hz | -1.6 dB | 6.00 |
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