Head to head

Sennheiser HD 380 Pro vs Sony MDR-7510

A side-by-side look at Sennheiser HD 380 Pro and Sony MDR-7510 for podcasters: pricing, features, and where each one wins.

Sennheiser HD 380 Pro

The HD 280's quieter, more refined sibling with an even flatter frequency response

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Sony MDR-7510

Sony's professional closed-back with 50mm drivers and broadcast-grade build

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At a glance

Sennheiser HD 380 ProSony MDR-7510
Starting priceSee siteSee site
Free planNoNo
Free trialNoNo
Best forProducers who want a step up from the HD 280 Pro with a flatter, more refined monitoring character and replaceable cableBroadcast professionals and podcasters who want Sony's professional-tier closed-back with wide frequency extension

Key features

Sennheiser HD 380 Pro

  • Closed-back, circumaural folding design
  • Up to 32 dB passive noise attenuation
  • 8 Hz - 27 kHz frequency response
  • 54 ohm impedance
  • THD less than 0.1% at 1 kHz, 100 dB SPL
  • Detachable and replaceable coiled cable

Sony MDR-7510

  • Closed-back, over-ear, folding design
  • 50mm neodymium drivers with PET diaphragms
  • 5 Hz - 40 kHz frequency response
  • 24 ohm impedance - drives from any device
  • Oxygen-free copper voice coil
  • Includes 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch adapter

Pros and cons

Sennheiser HD 380 Pro

Pros

  • Excellent passive isolation at 32 dB - matches the HD 280 Pro
  • Lower distortion and flatter response than the HD 280 Pro
  • Replaceable detachable cable - longer lifespan
  • Better comfort on extended sessions than the HD 280 Pro

Cons

  • Higher price than the HD 280 Pro for incremental improvements
  • Coiled cable is long for desktop use
  • Less widely available than the HD 280 Pro

Sony MDR-7510

Pros

  • 50mm drivers deliver fuller bass than smaller-driver alternatives
  • Very low impedance - no amp required
  • Folding design for portability and storage
  • Broadcast-quality build from Sony's Pro division

Cons

  • Less widely stocked than the MDR-7506
  • Heavier than comparable closed-backs at ~261g
  • Premium pricing for the category

The verdict

Choose Sennheiser HD 380 Pro if

Producers who want a step up from the HD 280 Pro with a flatter, more refined monitoring character and replaceable cable.

The HD 380 Pro is Sennheiser's professional closed-back that most audio engineers consider the more accurate companion to the HD 280 Pro. The frequency response is smoother, the THD is lower, and the detachable coiled cable is a practical improvement…

Read the full Sennheiser HD 380 Pro review →

Choose Sony MDR-7510 if

Broadcast professionals and podcasters who want Sony's professional-tier closed-back with wide frequency extension.

The MDR-7510 is the professional sibling of the legendary 7506 and it shows - the 50mm drivers deliver noticeably more low-end body and better extension at both frequency extremes compared to the 7506. The 24-ohm impedance means it drives loud…

Read the full Sony MDR-7510 review →

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