Key Takeaways
- Audio-Technica beats Sony in worth & number of inexpensive, high quality studio headphones.
- Audio-Technica provides extra headphone choices than Sony, assembly particular wants.
- Audio-Technica’s model identification as an audio knowledgeable shines with its concentrate on headphones.
There’s all kinds studio headphones in the marketplace to select from, however not all of them are made equally, or for everybody. Audio-Technica and Sony are each large names within the studio headphones market, and whereas each corporations make nice headphones, which it is best to commit to essentially relies on your wants, and the businesses have completely different deserves. Should you ask any particular person musician or podcaster which headphones they like, virtually all of them could have a distinct reply, making it even more durable to decide primarily based on consensus.
So, as a musician and tech journalist, I am right here to let you know why you would possibly need to select Audio-Technica over Sony once you put the cash down for a pair of studio headphones with the intention to get what fits your wants the perfect.
These Audio-Technica headphones bring flat, studio quality sound for less
Audio-Technica’s extra inexpensive studio headphones nonetheless maintain up years later.
If you’re contemplating shopping for Audio-Technica headphones over Sony studio headphones, there are a number of causes you would possibly need to go forward with that call, starting from monetary concerns to the finer particulars of the headphones. So, as a musician and tech journalist, I am right here to let you know why you would possibly need to select Audio-Technica over Sony once you put the cash down for a pair of studio headphones with the intention to get what fits your wants the perfect. There are much more corporations on the market that make studio headphones, which solely complicates the decision-making course of, however if you happen to’re between these two very talked-about choices, you possibly can slender it down now.
1 Pricing ranges for each finances
Audio-Technica is much more budget-friendly than Sony
You probably have a tight budget, Audio-Technica merely has extra choices in a wider value vary than Sony does with regards to studio headphones. Sony has a really restricted vary of studio headphones, with the MDR-7506 being probably the most well-known and probably the most inexpensive at $99. In the meantime, Audio-Technica has a variety of studio headphones starting from $69 to $479, making it simpler to seek out one thing that matches your finances, and cheaper than Sony general. The affordability additionally would not come at a price to high quality, since Audio-Technica is understood for its prime quality studio headphones as a part of its bigger fame within the audio market.
The affordability additionally would not come at a price to high quality, since Audio-Technica is understood for its prime quality studio headphones as a part of its bigger fame within the audio market.
Not solely does Audio-Technica have probably the most inexpensive possibility at common value, you possibly can regularly discover probably the most inexpensive studio headphones, the ATH-M20x, for even cheaper on sale. Being that inexpensive and performing nice as studio headphones makes the ATH-M20x extra value it for extra folks, and supreme for novice podcasters and musicians searching for entry-level gear.
Why I won’t part ways with my Audio-Technica turntable
It has been three years and I have never strayed from the finances, however succesful AT-LP120XUSB for a motive.
2 Audio-Technica has extra choices to select from
Sony simply would not have as expansive a variety
Audio-Technica merely has extra choices to select from than Sony with regards to studio headphones. So, you probably have particular wants to your supreme studio headphones, Audio-Technica is extra prone to meet your wants. For instance, you probably have a decent finances, the ATH-M20x is a good possibility. If you’d like a detachable cable, you possibly can go as much as the ATH-M40x, and if you need open-back headphones, there’s the ATH-R70x.
In the meantime, Sony has the MDR-7506 on the decrease finish of the vary at $99, and it would not have a detachable cable, and subsequent step up is the MDR-MV1, that are open-back and price a whopping $540. The shortage of choices and vary from Sony are actually limiting, so you probably have extra particular wants that the MDR-7506 cannot fulfil, you are out of luck.
How I properly clean my studio headphones
As a musician, that is how I maintain my studio headphones trying and sounding nice.
3 Model identification and authority in audio
Audio-Technica soley focuses on audio
There is a good motive why Audio-Technica would have extra choices than Sony in its studio headphone choice: Audio-Technica is an audio product firm primarily, whereas Sony covers much more bases within the tech world. On this method, Audio-Technica could be seen as extra of an knowledgeable and authority in manufacturing studio headphones, since that is such an enormous a part of their model identification and belief.
Model authority actually is not all the pieces and is not essentially an indicator of high quality, however Audio-Technica does deserve the fame it has as a good producer of headphones, significantly studio headphones. Whereas many studios do have the aforementioned Sony MDR-7506 available as a regular pair of studio headphones, Audio-Technica continues to be well-loved by many musicians, producers, podcasters, and audiophiles, and is extra targeted on this particular space of audio tech than Sony is.
This Alexa hack easily lets you play podcasts from your Echo
With a number of tweaks, Alexa can play your favourite podcasts out of your podcast platform of selection. Here is how.
4 Longer guarantee size
Audio-Technica’s restricted guarantee is twice so long as Sony’s
Whereas each Audio-Technica and Sony have restricted warranties, Audio-Technica has a two-year guarantee interval, whereas Sony solely covers one yr. So, if a producer defect turns into obvious in your Audio-Technica headphones, you are coated for twice so long as you’d’ve been had you purchased Sony headphones with a producer defect.
Audio Technica’s longer guarantee provides you extra time to find defects not instantly obvious, however does not imply you possibly can harm the headphones to get a free, new pair.
In any dialogue about warranties, it is essential to notice that each of those, like most different warranties, solely cowl producer defects. This implies you possibly can solely get a substitute or restore on a product below the guarantee if the difficulty with the headphones originated within the supplies or building throughout the manufacturing of the headphones, and will not cowl harm executed to the headphones after that time, or any common put on and tear. Audio Technica’s longer guarantee provides you extra time to find defects not instantly obvious, however does not imply you possibly can harm the headphones to get a free, new pair.
5 signs you should upgrade your studio headphones
As a music trade skilled, I do know studio headphones are a key for a profitable combine. Listed below are the symptoms it is time for a brand new pair.
5 You desire a little bit of a bass enhance
The extra inexpensive fashions of Audio-Technica’s headphones all lean bassy
The Sony MDR-7506, the one affordable pair of studio headphones Sony makes, have a really impartial frequency response, making them supreme for manufacturing, mixing, and monitoring in a studio. Nevertheless, if you happen to do desire a little bit of a bass enhance, each mannequin from the ATH-M50x and cheaper have a bit extra bass of their frequency response, however nothing too wild or unsettling. So if you wish to have a pair of studio headphones that do have that enhance (which you’ll be able to EQ if you actually need a impartial frequency), Audio-Technica headphones may be a greater possibility for you. Costlier fashions just like the ATH-M70x have a extra impartial response than even the Sony MDR-7506, so if you need that, the choice continues to be accessible.
How I use the AutoEq app to get the perfect custom sound
Select from a database with over 700 headphones’ frequency responses to get supreme sound to your favourite headphones.
FAQ
Q: Do any of those headphones have microphones?
All the above-mentioned studio headphones shouldn’t have microphones. Likelihood is, most if not all studio headphones will not have a microphone, since that is simply not what most individuals can be utilizing them for, and can use an exterior microphone for recording.
Q: Are Audio-Technica headphones water resistant?
Audio-Technica’s wired headphones should not water- or dust-resistant. Generally, small bits of water will not hurt headphones that arent water resistant, however try to be avoiding getting any of those moist to ensure your headphones final so long as potential.
Q: Does Audio-Technica or Sony promote substitute elements?
You should purchase substitute ear pads and cables from Audio-Technica’s web site. Sony’s web site would not record any substitute elements for his or her wired headphones, however they are able to ship substitute elements if you happen to e mail them.
Trending Merchandise