Andre Romelle Young, or as he is better known, Dr. Dre, is undeniably one of the greatest record producers and audio engineers of all time.
In fact, many hip hop fans would put Dr. Dre as a top 3 producer of all time in that genre.
But what headphones does Dr. Dre himself use when he is in the studio?
The answer is not as straightforward as you think.
Read on the discover what headphones Dr. Dre uses.
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What Headphones Does Dr. Dre Use In the Studio?
When you mention the name Dr. Dre, many people will of course think of the name Beats by Dre.
The headphone and speaker manufacturer was founded by Dre, and was so successful that it went on to be bought by Apple for $3 billion.
For this reason it would be easy to assume that Dr. Dre would use these headphones himself.
However this is not strictly true.
Of course Dre has been seen using Beats headphones on occasion, and has even been pictured wearing them in public.
But in the studio it is a different story.
It is difficult to know what equipment Dre actually uses in the studio, as his recording sessions appear generally to be quite a secretive affair.
Several images online show Dr. Dre in the studio, but usually these are posed for promo shots, and don’t really give us much of an idea as to what equipment Dre uses in the studio, and certainly not what headphones are used.
However there are two images online which show us what headphones Dr. Dre uses, and they are as follows…
Although somewhat blurred, we can make out the distinctive shape of two popular headphones.
Dr. Dre uses the Sony MDR-V6 and Audio-Technica ATH-M50 headphones when in the studio.
Both are quality studio headphones, and industry standards in their day.
Unfortunately both of these headphones have been discontinued for some time, but their updated versions are still available to buy.
Sony MDR-7506
The modern day equivalent for the Sony MDR-V6 it the Sony MDR-7506
The MDR-7506 are one of Sony’s most successful headphones.
They are known for being reliable, and sound great across a range of genres.
They offer an accurate response, making them ideal for studio use, particularly producing and mixing.
For these reasons, it is easy to see why Dr. Dre had used these for studio sessions in the past.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X
The equivalent of the Audio-Technica ATH-M50 is the ATH-M50X.
The ATH-M50X is the big brother to the popular Audio-Technica M40x.
The M50X offers a slightly higher impedance and frequency range to the M40X, as well as slightly bigger drivers.
In terms of sound, the M50X has more going on in the low end, and a more noticeable bass.
But the bass isn’t so pronounced that it makes it unsuitable for critical listening applications.
Conclusion
As expected, Dr. Dre has great taste when it comes to studio headphones.
Beats By Dre headphones do not make good choices for the studio as they are too bass heavy.
However, the Sony MDR-7506 and the ATH-M50X headphones are both great choices for studio headphones, but can also be used for more casual applications, such as listening to music.
If you are after a completely neutral sound then try the Sony MDR-7506.
For something with a bit more low end and bass then go for the ATH-M50X.
If you liked this article then please check out our article where we looked at which headphones Timbaland uses.
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