Opinions The Sony MDR 7506 are not quite as good as the others on this page, but nothing else in that price range can touch them. I’ve mixed a lot of stuff with the Sony’s (live and in the studio) and they’ve always shown me what I need to hear. Another bonus of the Sony is that you can drive it with anything - if you’re looking at any others, make sure your headphone amp can drive them.

Take my money companies “Oh, you have a new product? Ok, I bought it now tell me what it is and tell me why it’s going to make me happy this time.” These companies are above Top Tier and created a new class for themselves. Fractal Audio Townsend Labs (Not sure yet whether the UAD merger will take this down a notch) FabFilter Top Tier Companies If you’re thinking about one of these companies, there is only one question.

These are some of our favorite effects and processing tools. Reverbs Exposed solo vocal: UAD Capitol Chambers Ambience on everything: UAD Ocean Way Studios Lush Digital: Liquid Sonics Seventh Heaven Delays Messy tape smear: UAD Tape Echo Everything else: FabFilter Timeless Equalizers Subtle color: TDR Slick EQ Tube Vibe: UAD Pultecs Everything Else: FabFilter Compressors In your face: UAD 1176’s Smooth and vibey: UAD LA2(a)’s Smooth and clean: UAD/Softube Tube Tech Bus: UAD SSL or API Drums: UAD Distressor or DBX Meters Track: mvMeter2 Loudness: iZotope insight Everything: Decibel Cleaning Noise: iZotope RX Mastering Surgical EQ: FabFilter set to Natural Phase Shaping EQ: TDR Slick M Vibe Compressor: Shadow Hills or SPL Iron Transparent compressor: TDR Kotelnikov Limiters: TDR Limiter, Ozone, or FabFilter Magic: Gulfoss or Soothe2