Bless Your Ears And Feed Your Brain. Sony Headphones.

Are you eager to experience the sonic brilliance that your favorite musician's recording engineer intended?

If you're sitting, strolling, painting, even mowing the lawn, and you require an accurate, untinged reproduction of music as it was recorded, engineered, and intended, a set of Sony MDR-7506 headphones is a must. These headphones likely recorded and mixed the music you're listening to.

The MDR-7506 boasts a frequency range from 10 Hz to 20 kHz. In other words, very low frequencies—i.e., thumping bass drums, bass guitar, synth sub-sounds, etc.—to whispy cymbals, tse-tse high hats, Kate Bush's trills, even the phlegm in someone's throat upon taking another breath can be recognized. Maybe even a problem!

I've owned these headphones for 7 years. Need I say more? Let me say it again. I have owned these headphones for 7 years, despite having used many other makes and models. If these ever burn out, are crushed under a truck, are thrown off a bridge, or are stolen, I wouldn't think twice about replacing them with the same.

When our daughter was born almost 5 years ago, we would rock her to sleep, and then I would become a rock star in my own mind, or rather, in my headphones.

I would use electric guitars, sampling/rhythm sequencers, mic'd acoustic drums, synthesizers, recorders/mixers, and various sweetened sonic noise toys. I would also rock myself to sleep without disturbing anyone throughout the night. The next day I could "unveil" the previous night's workout via the room monitors. "AAAhhhh..excellent! Just as I intended!"

These phones have treated me well with clear, clean reproduction of what I've put into them. I have also punished myself, rattled my brain as it were. I managed to recuperate without the need for medical assistance.

The foam-padded 'closed ear cups' effectively direct your listening experience to the desired location. Right between your eyes. Close your eyes...Yes, there it is. I can see it! No! Now it's over there. Fans of Pink Floyd, Flaming Lips, Beck, and Bjork—just to name a few! Put down your beer, dim the lights, close your eyes, and your mind will ride the stereo wave. Undistorted, Un-Colored.

The closed cups also help prevent ambient (room, yard, gym) sounds from entering your soundscape. These are not, by the way, considered "noise canceling headphones." But with the closed cups and dynamic range, you won't really be paying much attention to anything else.
Another point about volume vs. sound quality and aural health:

With quality sound transducers that are capable of accurately reproducing the complete frequency range of the recording, you will find that you don't have to 'blast' your phones in order to click your brain into the groove that you know or think ought to be there. Listening through headphones is not like being at a show where you can stand in front of the subs and feel every beat of a kick drum bounce the shirt on your chest.

Headphones offer a superior sound quality experience. It's an "Ah! I've never heard that before...or that way before" kind of experience. Ahhhh! The clarity.

The MDR-7506 phones fold up into about a palm-sized package and go neatly into a supplied pouch with drawstring. When I first received them, I was curious about their folding capabilities. "Is this gadgety or what? Why do I need to fold these up? How soon before something starts falling apart?" I repeat. I've had these for 6 years, and I've used them extensively. Now, I have two kids who occasionally find and play with these items. I haven't had to confront any of my previous doubts or skepticism about the integrity of the design.

The cord is an 8'-10' recoil cord with aUniMatch' plug. You can connect the cord to your home stereo, mixing board, synthesizer, stereo delay, or chorus effects pedal for your guitar. Mucho enjoyable!

Not really intended for physical activities. I have lost these off the top of my head from time to time during a few power-chord rock-a-billy rants. Wearing a tight knit hat on top of everything helps prevent this. Whether you're riding a train to work downtown, shoveling your driveway, or programming the next hit sensation video game, Built to boom, bop, and bash!

MDR-7506 headphones with a pouch
-unbeatable@under $100.

psAvoid using small phones with foam earpieces that cover your ears, unless you truly want to hear something.

Ear buds are beneficial when jogging or playing tennis. They should not fall out or fall off your head during a workout.