Head to head · for music listening
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x vs Sony MDR-7506
More people recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x overall (74 vs 23). None of the 15 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 15
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the ATH-M40x
- 0
- Choose the MDR-7506
- 0
Counted across 11 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $109cheaper | $115 |
| Overall rank | #9higher | #23 |
| People who recommend it | 74more | 23 |
| Say they own it | 92more | 46 |
| Mentions | 646more | 287 |
| Type | closed-back wired | closed-back wired |
| Known for | Closed-backBudgetFlat | Studio classicClosed-backBargain |
| Best for | The cheapest closed-back that owners keep recommending for a first proper pair. | The under-$100 closed-back with thirty years of studio owners behind it. |
| Buy | Amazon · $109Direct | Amazon · $115Direct |
#9 overall
Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
3 of the 15 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Flatter and less bassy than the M50x; several owners prefer it for the price
- Detachable cable, folds, easy to drive from anything
- A common first serious headphone that people keep for years
The complaints
- Stock pads crack and crumble; most owners swap them for velour or sheepskin
- Older units cracked at the hinge (Audio-Technica redesigned it)
- Can sound a little sharp and boring for music; better with pad swaps
In their words
“ATH m40x: love them, daily driver for almost a decade”
A commenter under Don't buy a gaming headset. Get these instead! - Audio Technica ATH M50xSTS (ShortCircuit) · Apr 2023
“Audio tech m40x is still my go to headphones”
A commenter under FIDELIO X2HR Review | For you B A S S heads out there 🤯 (Joshua Valour) · Oct 2019
“There amazing I Love The Audio Technica M40X headphones”
A commenter under 🟥Audio-Technica ATH-M40x (aka FU©K M50's even harder) (Z Reviews) · Aug 2016
#23 overall
Sony MDR-7506
1 of the 15 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- The studio standard since 1991; owners keep pairs for 9-30 years
- Cheap, loud from anything, and repairable with third-party pads
- Clear, forward mids that owners use as a reference for vocals
The complaints
- Bass is thin; the most repeated complaint
- Bright, sometimes harsh upper mids
- Stock pads flake; the coiled cable is not detachable
- Plastic feel
In their words
“I love my MDR7506 but the low end is a bit lacking”
A commenter under Tested In-Depth: High-End Headphones and Amps (Adam Savage’s Tested) · Dec 2015
“I love my MDR7506 but they hurt my ears so bad”
A commenter under Audio-Technica ATH-M50x vs Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro | Why I Decided To Switch... (Audio University) · Dec 2021
“love my sony mdr7506 headphones”
A commenter under Don't Buy Studio Headphones Until You See This Tier List! (Under $500) (Andrew Chapman Creative) · Dec 2025