Beyerdynamic velour pads: new life for Sony MDR-7506 or V6 headphones
November 16, 2008
For many years I’ve been using two pairs of Sony MDR-7506 headphones (one lives in my camera kit and the second lives in my sound kit) and the original plastic ear pads had started to fall apart. These are outstanding headphones for monitoring audio, however, the pads are their achilles heel.
You can order replacement pads from Sony, but I did not like the idea of replacing the pads with the same pads that I knew would again fall apart and in addition, I was never crazy about their plastic feel. Over the years I’ve noticed that other folks have replaced the original Sony pads with velour pads made by Beyerdynamic (model number 942704) which fit the Sony MDR-7506 and V6 (it’s predecessor) headphones perfectly. So I decided to give them a try.
I ordered them from B&H for $19.95 a pair and they turned out to be good purchase. They have breathed new life into the headphones and they are much more comfortable to wear. I found it was a little tricky getting these pads onto the headphones, but with a little stretching of the pad and the use of a credit card to helped guide the plastic ring around the groove in each of the headphone’s metal shells, I completed the installation. 
The pads come with plastic adapters for other headphones, those can go straight into the recycling since you will not need then for attaching the pads onto the Sony MDR-7506 and V6 and headphones. It’s been about six months or so since I purchased the pads and I’m very happy with them, the headphones are very comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time. These velour pads transform these excellent headphones into most excellent headphones. Good headphones are an important investment. In this disposable world we live in, it’s nice to be able to refresh an old standard.
In an earlier post, I sung the praises of the Sony MDR-7506 headphones.
I’ve had my mdr 7506 since june 2004, and today I just changed to the velour pads. I don’t know why it never had occured to me to change the old pads. I can’t believe I suffered for so long with those crumbly plastic pads. These velour pads are awesome: comfortable, lush padding, and they block out sound a bit better than the originals. I have to admit though, they overemphasize the bass a bit, but nothing that can’t be tweaked with an equalizer. thanks for the tip.
How do you remove and change the pads?
Ed,
You simply pull off the old ones (they stretch a little) they are designed to be easily removed, and then you slide on the new ones. The pads have a “flap” all around. I used a credit card to help guide the flap on the pads into the slot in the headphones that hold the pads in place. It’s pretty obvious when you see it.