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All of us love getting misplaced in our favourite music, however how do combine engineers within the studio hold the frequencies in that music from shedding focus? A technique is utilizing studio-minded headphones—which is the place one thing just like the MDR-MV1, Sony’s newest pair custom-made for sound engineers and trade professionals, are available.
The headphones you’re keen on for listening may not be the very best for monitoring, and vice versa. You select the previous for his or her coloration, for whether or not they emphasize your favourite elements of the audio spectrum, and the latter for whether or not they handle playback that doesn’t improve lows and highs for synthetic pleasure. In case you are studio-minded, there are many traditional decisions to select from, just like the Beyerdynamic DT-1990 or the Sennheiser HD800S, however for those who’ve labored round a recording console, the venerable Sony MDR-7506 has certainly crossed your radar in some unspecified time in the future in time. They’ve been the reasonably priced alternative for session musicians and engineers alike for greater than 30 years. Nevertheless, for those who cherished these headphones however wished one thing more moderen or increased high quality from Sony, you’ve got been out of luck … till now. The MDR-MV1 builds on the design of the MDR-7506 with a decidedly increased high quality construct and extra refined sound. Accuracy and element are the secret for this set, and paired with its actually distinctive consolation, the Sony MDR-MV1 is a critical contender for recording professionals and audiophiles alike—when you take into account sure issues.
The construct
There are a number of issues to understand in regards to the Sony MDR-MV1, and construct high quality is foremost amongst them—which you’d hope to be true in a $399 headphone. It has an ethereal match that first makes you query how well-built it may very well be after which admire it all of the extra. At solely 223 grams, it’s one of many lightest skilled monitoring headphones you should purchase and is available in round 40% lighter than the venerable DT-Nineties and fewer than half that of the Audeze’s newest mixing cans, the MM-500. Each are amongst our picks for the very best mixing headphones, and I think the MV1 will quickly discover its place alongside them.
What makes its gentle mass so outstanding is that Sony has integrated a plentiful quantity of aluminum into its design moderately than the pure plastic of the MDR-7506—a headphone that’s heavier than the MV1. The earcups and headband are each metallic, with intricate holes milled within the cups to allow their open-back design. The spectacular element is the form of design you’ll solely admire extra the nearer you look. Extra importantly, the headphones have a robustness you possibly can really feel with minimal dealing with. A drop when reaching throughout the blending board shouldn’t slay these headphones. It’s a workhorse headphone if I’ve ever seen one.
Although the carved-out cups have a singular aesthetic, these aren’t headphones that scream “audiophile” within the artsy manner fancy planar magnetics and higher-end dynamics generally do (I’m taking a look at you, Dan Clark Stealth and HIFIMAN Audivina). Other than the perforated cups, they’ve a really restrained, skilled look. Matte black throughout the board, slim and low-profile material cushions, crimson and blue channel stamps: the MV1 follows the identical design as different Sony engineering cans, so will probably be proper at residence in any industrial or bed room studio.
Internally, the headphones use specifically designed low-distortion 40mm dynamic drivers with custom-shaped and corrugated diaphragms to ship their sonic expertise. With an ultra-wide frequency response of 5Hz to 80,000Hz, they will precisely reproduce the complete vary of human listening to (and past) with distinctive readability and low distortion. The open-back design of the headphones naturally reduces reflections inside the housings which may in any other case affect dynamics (and requires you to make use of them in a managed, low-noise setting), however Sony has additionally added acoustic dampeners all through the construction to silence them additional. This creates a directionality to the move of soundwaves from the again of the headset, enhancing its spatial accuracy.
That is necessary as a result of these headphones have been designed with greater than stereo mixing in thoughts. Spatial audio is on the rise throughout the headphone trade (delivered by way of Dolby Atmos by Apple and as “360 Actuality Audio” on Sony merchandise), and having the ability to combine for spatial dynamics precisely is extra necessary than ever. These headphones should (and do) excel in monitoring accuracy and ship an distinctive but correct, not exaggerated, sound discipline. It’s a consideration that older generations of closed-back mixing headphones didn’t must consider however is an lively ingredient of the Sony MV1’s design, developed along side Sony’s 360 Digital Mixing Surroundings (360VME) service.
Although sound is clearly a very powerful ingredient of any pair of headphones, consolation is an in depth second once you’re carrying all of them day. Their low weight, breathable velvety cushions, and well-balanced clamp pressure make them a deal with to put on. Prime-of-head soreness is an actual problem with heavier headphones, however scorching spots aren’t a priority right here. While you want a break, the ear cups pivot to relaxation round your neck and are slim sufficient to not bump your chin. The one criticism I would levy towards them is that the pads are a bit skinny, which left my ears touching the interior material of the cushions. Even so, I may put on these for the higher a part of a whole workday with none discomfort by any means and will have continued doing so had the day gone longer.
There’s no storage case included with the headphones, which is a bit disappointing for his or her value, but it surely does include a superb cable. At simply over eight toes lengthy, it offers the liberty of motion essential to navigate the studio. It screws into the left ear cup, so that you gained’t want to fret about premature snags pulling it free. It’s additionally delightfully gentle with just about no cable reminiscence. It falls straight, wraps straight, and isn’t liable to tangling, which is nearly excellent so far as cables go. It terminates in a typical 6.35mm connection to interface with most audio gear, however Sony additionally features a 3.5mm adapter to be used with laptops and moveable DACs which will lack the larger port.
General, the Sony MDR-MV1 is a remarkably well-built, well-designed, and exceptionally comfy pair of headphones. Audiophiles could discover themselves wishing for a shorter cable, but it surely’s protected to say that Sony knocked it out of the half with its design and wearability.
The sound
As a longtime veteran of the bed room recording scene, I’ve recorded with sufficient gear to know what makes an incredible pair of monitoring cans, and the MV1 has it. The sound is balanced however not impartial to the purpose of anemic. It’s energetic however not sharp, spacious however not extravagant. It’s a headphone designed for correct monitoring and reproducible outcomes and delivers on that promise.
Accuracy, on this case, doesn’t imply a totally flat frequency response, but it surely does imply a balanced and revealing one. There’s a pleasant physique to the sound—primarily within the mid- to upper-bass, as sub-bass is proscribed by the character of open-backs—which permits devices and percussion to current absolutely with out being magnified. It’s extra punch than slam however delivers even at low listening ranges, which is spectacular. In the meantime, the mids, the place a lot of a mixture is clustered, are barely ahead and easy with out being shiny, sustaining the element wanted to sculpt area for every stem. Vocals are forward in the best way a singer could stand in entrance of a band to guide a dwell present—partaking and fast however not overwhelming. The crisp highs enable higher harmonics to sound and devices to ring out with true-to-life timbre, serving to you see imperfections.
The spatial presentation is exceptionally well-balanced. I admit, my first impression was certainly one of disappointment … till I listened additional. These headphones don’t ship the width of an incredible set of audiophile cans, however they do ship separation between the devices wanted to carve frequencies and guarantee imaging. There’s a depth to the listening expertise, a simple perceptibility of layer upon layer, coming collectively to create a observe. Every is discernible with even informal listening. If one thing is off, you’ll hear it instantly. Stereo imaging can be wonderful with wonderful directional cues and clear panning between every channel.
My private ah-ha second got here between recording a pattern observe and listening again in my automobile. This, I’ve realized over years of residence recording, is one space the place monitoring failures turn into obvious. I’ve had mixes that sounded nice in my headphones out of the blue sound alternatively bloated and muddy or shrill and grating within the automobile. The sport of cat and mouse chasing these shortcomings down, remastering, and relistening can prolong to a number of repeats and misplaced hours if not for an incredible pair of studio headphones.
The MV1 nailed the combination on the primary attempt. There’s sufficient bass to match a grasp in a sensible listening setting. There’s sufficient treble to listen to accuracy in tone and the minute particulars of a efficiency. The mids are centered, balanced, and introduced with an eye fixed to rendering a ultimate product. It’s not completely impartial however clear nonetheless.
What’s particularly magic about these headphones is that the tuning manages to be pleasant even for those who by no means plan to combine a single observe. Audiophiles will discover rather a lot to like right here. Its low-end response and relative fullness in comparison with a set just like the beyerdynamic DT-990 PROs make it a genuinely enjoyable set to get misplaced with. Zach Bryan’s “One thing within the Orange” was atmospheric in a manner I had by no means appreciated earlier than, and the steadiness between vocals and acoustic guitars was enrapturing. These are headphones to combine and admire mixes with.
The conclusion
The Sony MDR-MV1 is an evolution. It applies the teachings realized from generations of Sony MDR studio screens and addresses considerations levied at a few of its most dominant competitors. It’s light-weight and comfy and gained’t go away your head sore. Its transients soar however aren’t egregiously scorching. It affords depth and area however isn’t unrealistically broad. And simply as importantly as its response is energetic and immersive when the combination requires it, it’s flat-out enjoyable to hearken to when away from the faders. Whereas it’s tons of greater than its closed-back precursor, it’s moderately priced in comparison with direct rivals. And, as a result of it doesn’t go for the unerring analytical response impressed by a standard studio monitor, it’s higher ready for localizing objects and the (re)creation of songs in digital encompass. Put succinctly, these headphones are a well-rounded win and are properly definitely worth the funding for engineers and audiophiles alike.
