Short answer: the Sony Pulse Elite. It ranks #52 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $149. The Sony MDR-7506 ranks #83, rated 4.1/5, at $114.99, $34.01 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Sony Pulse Elite: Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 86 with a 1.61 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The tradeoff: A 4.8 dB peak near 11.4 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Why pick the Sony MDR-7506: 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 catch: 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 Pulse Elite. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $34.01 with the Sony MDR-7506 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Measured response gives it an excellent Harman preference score of 86 with a 1.61 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $149.00 eBay
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.
Amazon $129.99 Sony $114.99 Lowest eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony Pulse Elite | Sony MDR-7506 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.00 | $114.99 |
| Ranked | #52 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #83 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Bluetooth | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (347g) | 0.6 lbs (260 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 86 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 83 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.61 dB standard deviation | 1.70 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.64 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Sensitivity | - | 106 dB/mW |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Sony Pulse Elite compares with other leading options: