There are far too many headphones.
You can spend an afternoon looking for a pair and end up comparing frequency responses, impedance, driver sizes and a dozen other numbers, only to realise that you’ve forgotten the original question.
You just wanted something that sounds good.
That’s probably where most headphone guides go wrong. They start with the product instead of the person who is going to wear it.
So for this Our Picks selection, we’re doing things a little differently. We looked at three very different wired headphones, each of which makes sense for a different kind of listener.
None of them is trying to be your phone, your gaming console, your travel companion and your personal assistant at the same time.
They’re headphones.
And sometimes that’s enough.
Sony MDR-7506 — For the listener who wants to hear what’s actually there
The Sony MDR-7506 has been around since 1991.
That’s a remarkably long life for a piece of audio equipment. The model has remained essentially unchanged for decades and has become a familiar sight in recording studios, broadcast environments and the desks of people who work with sound.
There’s something rather appealing about that.
The MDR-7506 doesn’t look particularly interested in becoming a lifestyle product. It looks like equipment. And that’s more or less what it is: a closed-back, wired monitoring headphone designed to let you hear what’s happening in a recording.
Its sound is detailed and on the brighter side, particularly in the treble. That’s useful when you’re trying to pick apart a mix or hear details that might disappear on a more forgiving pair of headphones. It can also make certain recordings sound a little more aggressive than you’d expect, especially during longer listening sessions.
And this is where the Sony becomes interesting.
There’s a difference between hearing more and enjoying more.
Sometimes you want to hear the texture of a guitar, the edge of a vocal or the small imperfections in a recording.
Sometimes you just want to disappear into the song.
The MDR-7506 is more interested in the first kind of listening.
It isn’t particularly impressive when it comes to modern conveniences either. There’s no Bluetooth, no active noise cancellation and no detachable cable. Its passive isolation is limited compared with headphones specifically designed for blocking out the outside world.
But that’s not really why people keep buying it.
The appeal is much simpler: it has been doing one particular job for a very long time, and it still does that job well.
Best for: detailed, studio-style listening and anyone who wants to hear more of what’s inside a recording.
Keep in mind: the brighter sound won’t suit everyone, and it’s not the best choice if you need serious isolation.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — The one that’s easiest to live with
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is probably the easiest recommendation of the three.
Not because it’s the most exciting.
Because it makes sense.
It’s a closed-back, over-ear headphone with detachable cables, and it has become a familiar choice for both professional and home listening. Independent testing finds it more comfortable for long sessions and better built than the Sony MDR-7506, while retaining the monitoring-oriented character that made the two models popular in the first place.
That versatility matters.
You don’t have to be someone who knows exactly what a good mix sounds like to enjoy the M50x.
You can put it on to listen to an album. You can use it at your desk. You can edit audio. You can spend an evening going through records you’ve rediscovered.
It doesn’t demand a particular kind of listener.
And that’s one of the reasons it remains such an easy recommendation.
The detachable cables are another small but worthwhile advantage. If you’re going to keep a pair of headphones for years, being able to replace the cable without replacing the headphones is the sort of thing you appreciate later rather than when you’re standing in the shop.
There are limitations, of course.
It’s still wired. It’s not especially portable compared with modern wireless headphones, and its passive isolation isn’t enough to make it a serious alternative to ANC headphones in a noisy environment.
But for listening at home, working at a desk or spending an evening with an album, that’s hardly a deal-breaker.
Sometimes the best piece of equipment is simply the one you stop thinking about.
Best for: someone who wants one versatile pair of wired headphones for different kinds of listening.
Keep in mind: no wireless convenience, and not the ideal choice for noisy commuting.
Sennheiser HD 560S — For the person who actually sits down and listens
The Sennheiser HD 560S is the odd one out here.
It’s open-back.
That one detail changes the whole proposition.
Open-back headphones aren’t designed to shut you away from the world. Sound gets out. Outside noise gets in. They’re not what you want on your head while you’re sitting on a crowded train.
But put them on in a quiet room and the idea starts to make a lot more sense.
The HD 560S is designed around a more neutral presentation and is aimed at critical listening. Independent testing finds it particularly well suited to music listening in quiet environments, with an immersive presentation and good comfort.
This is the headphone for a different kind of evening.
You’ve chosen the album.
Your phone is somewhere else.
You’re not answering emails. You’re not cooking dinner. You’re not watching something at the same time.
You’re just listening.
That’s when the HD 560S becomes interesting.
It isn’t trying to impress you with a huge list of features. It doesn’t need an app. It doesn’t need a battery indicator. Its whole reason for existing is rather old-fashioned:
put on the music and pay attention.
And I like that.
The downside is impossible to ignore. Because it’s open-back, it offers very little isolation and leaks sound into the room. That’s simply part of the design, not a defect that can be fixed with a software update.
So if you live somewhere noisy or need headphones for commuting, this probably isn’t the one.
If you have a quiet room and occasionally want to give an album your full attention, though, it’s the most interesting headphone of the three.
Best for: serious album listening and quiet-room critical listening.
Keep in mind: it’s open-back, so it’s not designed for noisy environments or shared spaces.
So, which one?
I wouldn’t start with the question “Which one is the best?”
I’d start somewhere much simpler.
Where do you actually listen to music?
If you’re mostly at home and want a straightforward, studio-oriented closed-back headphone, the Sony MDR-7506 is still a very interesting proposition.
If you want something versatile that can move between music, work and everyday listening without demanding much from you, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is probably the safest choice.
And if listening to an album is something you occasionally treat almost like an activity in itself, the Sennheiser HD 560S is the one I’d look at first.
None of these headphones has Bluetooth.
None has an app.
None will send you a notification because you’ve forgotten to charge it.
And honestly, that’s part of their appeal.
There are moments when you don’t need your headphones to do more.
You just need them to get out of the way and let the music happen.