Why do so many rich celebrities, music producers, DJs, etc use the Sony MDR-7506/V6 headphones over more expensive ones?

[RockStar2005]

So I keep hearing/reading that the Sony MDR-7506 and MDR-V6 headphones are like the most popular headphones for rich movie producers/directors, recording studio engineers/producers, DJs, musicians, etc to buy and use. I mean, I've seen pics and vids of several really famous celebrities using them. I know these are supposed to be really good quality and "reference/uncolored" headphones, but then I read reviews for headphones like the AKG K550 or the "improved K550 (K553)" which are only about a hundred dollars more, and some various reviewers are saying these headphones are already better than the 2 Sonys. So I can only imagine that going up in price would yield even better headphones. 
 
So what is it about these Sony headphones that have made them such an UNDISPUTED standard in the music and film industry for the last few decades?? Sony sells like "tens of thousands" of the 7506s A MONTH! That's insane to me. WHY is it that these people who can have any headphones they want choose these sub-$100 headphones by Sony? Could it be because Sony owns these or is contracted with these people?? I know Roger Waters is contracted with Sony, but the Foo Fighters aren't! I'd like to keep this focused on sound quality as much as possible, but feel free to mention other points too. I hear the design on both Sonys is pretty good, but not fantastic, and that the ear cups will probably have to be replaced within the first year. So I dunno. Let me know what you guys think!

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 

 

 
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd: 
 

 

 

 

 

 

[fjrabon]

in pro-audio having a good network of product reps and distribution is a key.  A studio manager doesn't really go out and say "let me demo 1000 different closed studio monitor headphones and pick the absolute best one."  They talk to their reps, find a good deal and trust them.  The Sonys have a long, great reputation.  They work well enough to do the job.  Everybody knows what they're getting out of them.  Sony is also a big name in the pro-audio industry, so they have established sales reps.
 
Also remember that for most producers, headphones are only used for the artist in tracking.  They don't need to be super incredible.  The artist simply needs to be able hear the beat through them.  Nobody gives a crap if the soundstage is a bit narrow and they're a tad bit slow on fast transients.  When engineers use them, it's usually to ferret out imperfections that will need to be fixed, again, tone doesn't matter.  People are rarely mastering and doing a final mix with headphones.
 
For producers, headphones are tools, not something they use to reach audio bliss.  They need them to be relatively accurate, dependable and durable.  Having a long lineage is a huge plus.  

 

[RockStar2005]

fjrabon, 
 
Thank you for the comments in your post! That is very interesting, and makes sense too. So they're not the greatest, but they don't need to be for what these people are doing. And when the record producers/engineers go to do a final mastering, the 7506 or V6s are not the ones they typically choose......... this definitely clarifies a lot for me! It sounds like even though they really are good headphones that a big part of the reason for their massive popularity with these people is more about business/sales connections and brand name recognition than actually being superior in sound quality. 
 
Thanks again! 

 

[JK1]

Do most rich celebrities buy an expensive hammer? Probably not. I guess most rich celebrities view a headphone like they view a hammer. 

 

[RockStar2005]

Yeah. lol 
 
I think it's basically what we were saying earlier. It's just that the studio they happen to work at got these headphones and so they (along with the Sony name) sort of took off from that. But for mastering and more serious things like that, it appears they use other (and I'm sure more expensive) headphones, either again from Sony or another maker. Still, if they didn't at least pretty good, I doubt they would be selling like "tens of thousands" of them a month! I can't believe ANY device gets that much business really. lol It probably explains why they only cost like $80........ Sony sells so many that it can afford to keep them under the $100-$150 range. 

 

[dudlew]

From what I gather, headphones are not really used to do things like mastering. Speakers are generally used. So even the big bucks headphones are not really used for mastering. As someone said earlier up, it might be more to check for mistakes, or to make sure the music translates well to different listening formats. I had a friend who checked his mixes on a cheap radio. He said if it didn't sound like other stuff on that, then something was wrong with the mix. 
 
So consider a cheap durable closed decent sounding headphone and it makes sense for tracking etc in a studio where they get tossed about and banged around, that they are popular. 
 
And also remember, a reputation is a great thing to have. Have a good reputation with the masses, and in some cases, your product doe not even have to be stellar. 
In the consumer market look at Beats as a prime example. They have a reputation and even if something else comes along that is better and cheaper, people buy the reputation.

 

[RockStar2005]

dudlew, 
 
Really? fjrabon above kinda said the same thing, but I guess I never thought about it, or just assumed they used headphones. But wouldn't it be more accurate to use headphones? Why do they prefer speakers over headphones for something so specific as mastering? 
 
That's interesting though. So I guess headphones have their place more EARLIER ON in the process than in the final stages of it. 
 
Yeah it does make sense, especially when you put it like that. lol 
 
Yes..... that is a very SOLID point you made their dudlew. Reputation is a GREAT thing to have for sure. I'm sure even if Apple has an "off year" with their iPhones, people will still be there IN DROVES next year to buy the next new one. lol