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Reviews For: Sony MDR-V6

Category: Headphones & Boom-microphone Headsets

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Review Summary For : Sony MDR-V6
Reviews: 6MSRP: 110.00
Description:
The Sony MDR-V6 are a pair of circumaural, closed back stereo headphones, featuring a wide, extended frequency reproduction, neutral playback, and a convenient cable cable with a 10' extension. The earcups and headband are padded and adjustable for comfortable extended wear and a secure fit.

The MDR-V6 headphones are recommended for recording, monitoring and mixing, and are particularly effective when connected to electronic keyboards and synthesizers because of their high output and unusually extended 30 kHz high end reproduction.

Product is not in production
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# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1464.5
WB5AGF Rating: 2023-03-22
Good But No Longer Made - Get MDR-7506s Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I agree with what K6RSG said in his review years ago - the Sony MDR-V6 Headphones are virtually identical to the MDR-7506s.

(There's been an on-going discussion in the audio community about why Sony sold the two, almost identical, models. The general opinion seems to be that Sony's intent was to try and cater to the 'audiophile' and 'professional' market. Some people report that they can hear slight differences in the sound from the two headphones.)

Some time in the past few years Sony chose to discontinue the MDR-V6 Headphones. As I write this (June 2022) there are some places offering MDR-V6 Headphones at inflated prices - my advise is to go with the MDR-7506 Headphones ... they are available at reasonable prices from many sources.

(Updated 22 March 2023)

I am now of the opinion that the MDR-V6 Headphones have a flatter frequency response than do the MDR-7506 Headphones (they are a bit 'bright' with slightly accentuated bass and treble).

If you can find a used pair of the MDR-V6s where their only fault is that the ear pads are falling apart (common to most all Sony headphones) ... third-party replacement ear pads are available for about twenty Dollars (and they seem to last better than the original Sony ear pads).
KD4ONT Rating: 2016-05-16
Seems okay for ham radio, but for music, I don't care for them. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My v6 is getting close to 10 years old. I think one side might have a blown driver. The pads are flaking. I just placed an order for genuine sony replacement pads so I have something to use for field day. I hooked them up, for the first time, to my kenwood 480 today. They sounded decent. They heard weak cw that my external speaker couldn't reproduce. Last year at field day, I used the set of cans that was already there. They were sony and the pads had a bad case of pad dandruff. I'll probably bring my v6, with new pads, to field day. They sounded good for ham radio but anemic for music, for my ears. They also, probably because of impedance mismatch, have low volume on smartphones and could use a headphone amp.
KN3U Rating: 2014-09-16
Recommended Time Owned: more than 12 months.
As an audio engineer, I've used these phones for many years. Every sound engineer I know prefers them for their comfort and accuracy. Replacement cushions are available at B&H Photo, among other places. The cloth after-market cushions are nice, but so are the original. The MDR-7506 phones are similar, but less accurate than the MDR-V6. Sony went out of production on the V6's for a while and recommended the 7506 model as a replacement, but they were persuaded to bring the original V6 design back.
W8TG Rating: 2010-01-19
Nice Surprise Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought these headphones to listen to music after reading the outstanding reviews it received. Just for kicks I decided to try them with my HF transceiver on the CW subbands not expecting them to be satisfactory for that sort of use. I found a very weak signal way down in the noise and then switched to my regular headphones - the signal was gone, switched to the sony and it was back. Tried earbuds and it was the same thing. The Sony made the undetectable signal quite readable. Needless to say they're now my "HAM" headphones. Highly recommended and very reasonably priced on Amazon. Regards, Michael
KD6ANF Rating: 2009-06-04
Great! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchased a pair of these wonderful headphones back in '85 and they're still sounding wonderfully! These headphones along with my Sony WM-D6 portable cassette recorder is a winning combination. Over the years I've made many live recordings of birds, concerts and even commuter trains on the way to work in the very early morning hours. The surface coating on the earpad cushion rings and the center foam ear cushions on mine are completely worn out and needs replacing. Thanks Martin and Rob about mentioning the availability of replacements parts! For the money these headphones are hard to beat and produce exceptionally good sound.

Best regards

george potter KD6ANF
K6RSG Rating: 2006-07-25
Virtually Identical to MDR-7506 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These are virtually identical to the Sony MDR-7506 headphones, and available at a very reasonable price.

Over the years I have used both models extensively. The aesthetic differences (surface of insulation of cable, etc.) are insignificant.

Save a few dollars and get the V6 unless you prefer the moniker of the 7506.

Both models have proven to be extremely durable and have lasted me for years w/o any wear to the cable, strain releif, headbands, etc. The only issues are the surface coating on the earpad cushion rings and the center foam ear cushions. Over time (measured in years) each will begin to breakdown. They are easily replaceable, inexpensive and readily available from Sony and their distributors. And, Sony also offers cloth comfort earpad covers, if perspiration is a problem.

Very 73,

Rob - AA6A
(Prev. AK9G)
(Prev. K6RSG)