Best Retro Headphones

In summary, below are my top picks for the best retro headphones:

• Among my three picks, Marshall Major III wins the first spot because of its Bluetooth aptX and wireless connectivity, long playback time, and classy retro leather look.
• My second favorite is the Panasonic Retro Headphones because of its powerful, clear acoustic bass control, voice assists technology, and active noise cancellation.
• Finally, Sony MDR-7506 produces superb mids and highs, minimal design, but non-portable. It's also suitable for mixing perfect newsrooms, recording studios, and production rooms.

Now, let's take a closer look at my top 3 best retro headphones and their compelling features.

Marshall Major III

• Drive size: 40 mm
• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20kHz
• Connectivity: Bluetooth aptX
• What I liked: Well-tuned drivers, stable connectivity, and classy leather design
• What I didn't: Lack of noise isolation feature, feeble bass, and only has 3 colors options

With almost 60 years in the business, Marshall Amplification is a company that consistently delivers with their top-notch audio devices, and when it comes to retro headphones? The Marshall Major III didn't come to play.

I found that these headphones are famous for their enhanced low tones, soft mids, and clear high notes, with an impedance of 32 ohms. The rechargeable battery (which only takes 3 hours to charge fully) enables an achieved playback time of over 30 hours which I really enjoyed.

Due to its Bluetooth aptX capability AND wireless functionality, I noticed that I could move up to 30 feet from the source. I use built-in control buttons to take calls without touching my smartphone and adjust the volume and random play between tracks. If you like listening to guitar instrumentals and acoustic music like me, Marshall Major III is a worthwhile option for you.

Here is the User Manual of Marshall Major III.

Panasonic Retro Headphones

• Drive size: 40mm
• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20kHz
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• What I liked: 24-hour battery life, classy color options, and adjustable and metal headband
• What I didn't: No option to plug in an AUX cord, no built-in button, and mid-range sound is not too good

Coming close to second is the crowd favorite, the Panasonic Retro Headphones! It offers most of the technical options you could wish for, delivers powerful, clear acoustic bass control, and looks good.

The defining feature of Panasonic Retro Headphones is its voice assist technology that allowed me to choose songs, switch tracks, take calls, and adjust volume easily. Unlike the Marshall model, this offers an active noise canceling switch, which is convenient if you constantly move or just want to isolate.

However, the drawback of this one is the absence of the AUX option, so when my battery emptied, I couldn't charge the headphones and was left without music. Tragic.

Check out the Operating Instructions of Panasonic’s Digital Wireless Stereo Headphones - RP-HTX90N.

Sony MDR-7506

• Drive size: 40mm
• Frequency response: 10 Hz to 20 kHz
• Connectivity: Wired
• What I liked: Good sound for mixing, awesome mids and highs, and a minimalist yet classy design
• What I didn't: Closed-ear headphone design causes ear fatigue, the spiral cable is heavy and not the most portable, and plastic structure

Coming close to Panasonic Retro Headphones is the Sony MDR-7506. It sounds fantastic, and the natural ear cushions ensure no leakage at high volumes when on.

With an impedance level of 63 ohms and sensitivity of 106dB, these headphones create present mids, crystal clear highs, and an expanded bass. Upon purchase, I also received a soft case in where I could fold my headphones and store them safely, which I appreciated.

The only drawback of the Sony MDR-7506 from Marshall Major III and Panasonic Retro Headphones is its non-portability. However, its stellar noise reduction, closed-ear design, and durability can easily make up for it.

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Conclusion

So, with their defining features, my best retro headphones are as follows:

• Among my three picks, Marshall Major III wins the first spot because of its Bluetooth aptX and wireless connectivity, long playback time, and classy retro leather look.
• My second favorite is the Panasonic Retro Headphones because of its powerful, clear acoustic bass control, voice assists technology, and active noise cancellation.
• Finally, Sony MDR-7506 produces superb mids and highs, minimal design, but non-portable. It's also suitable for mixing perfect newsrooms, recording studios, and production rooms.