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Member Reviews: Sony MDR-MA900 Over the Head Style Headphones

Amarphael

Lightest headphones with the biggest sound

Posted
By Amarphael

Pros: Can go loud with harsh recording with little or no penalty, Grain-free; Very convinciong sense of space for out-of-head imaging

Cons: Some forwardness on lower mids lowers transperancy; Too polite treble

The MDR-MA900's the current the top model in the latest open-back line-up from Sony. While  the latest  generaraion is definitely not the greatest with a distinctly less "hi-tec" vibe then the previous SAx000 models (as perhaps can inferred from the one-digit-less suffix and the of course a much lower MSRP pricing) the MA900s, in particular as a TOTL model,  comes with an altogether different concept- that of the "Full-Open-Air" design, Originally pioneered in the '90's with the MDR-F1 (by one of the principle desingers responsible for the legendary MDR-R10 by what i read in a certain blog, RESPECT).     How this design is differentiated from a standard...
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a_recording

Sony MDR-MA900: Comfort Kings

Posted
By a_recording

Pros: Supremely comfortable, light weight, natural laid back sound, wide soundstage

Cons: Lacks a little sparkle, bass slam could be tighter, flimsy feeling build

Along with the summary below, I have posted a comparison review of the MA900, Audio Technica AD900X and AD1000X here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/654161/review-comparison-ath-ad900x-vs-ath-ad1000x-vs-mdr-ma900-its-still-over-900   I've also got a youtube review of the MA900. If you like the video check out my channel for more reviews :)     Summary:   BUILD   The build of the MA900 is interesting. The headphone feels very light weight and almost flimsy in the hand. This isn't because it is badly built - on the contrary build quality is quite decent. It is the proportion of the parts, the super light weight and the way the frame is so...
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draven5494

Great sound, questionable build-quality.

Posted
By draven5494

Pros: Open, clear sound. Detailed and refined. Nice tight bass with plenty of texture. Superb soundstaging and imaging. Very comfortable and light.

Cons: Flimsy build-quality. Extremely long and cheap cable.

First off, let's just get the negatives out of the way.  The MDRMA900s feel and look like $20 headphones.  I have no idea what Sony was thinking when they designed these.  They feel and look cheap.  The cable is also extremely long and thin.  It does not exude quality.  However, I suppose there is a bright side to the cheap materials used here - the MA900s are feather-light.  When I say light, I mean they are the lightest full-size headphones I have ever used.  They truly disappear on your head when wearing them.  They are one of the most comfortable headphones I have used and when wearing them I quickly forget how cheap they feel in my...
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fogwall

Perfect all-rounders for a perfect price

Posted
By fogwall

Pros: Detailed and musical, airy mid and treble, terrific soundstage, comfortable.

Cons: Build quality perhaps, it's a Sony though..

  SONY MPR-MA900     Value   At $200-300 they are a steal. They are competing against the much more expensive high-end variants and partly excel at it. Overall, you cannot go wrong with these headphones – 10/10.   Audio quality   I have analyzed these using my laptop, connected to Audioengine D1 DAC/amp, listening to everything from piano concertos and symphonies to hip-hop. The bass goes deep and can be strong when needed without influencing the middle. The middle range is very clear and detailed. The treble is airy, soft and gentle, maybe a bit muffled at times. Soundstage is very convincing thanks to the open design and the...
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colgatetotal

Remarkably average

Posted
By colgatetotal

Pros: Super comfortable, smooth treble

Cons: Veiled midrange, weak bass

      70mm drivers, fully open design, premium materials, and simply the best comfort of any headphone at any price. The MA900 has many things going for it. The sound signature is a little laid back, but ever polite.   One would think that a 70mm driver could provide a hearty slam. This isn't the case -- sub-bass is almost nonexistent, and midbass is inferior to that of a Grado. Decay is slow on the MA900, so the midbass isn't super-crisp.   Treble, on the other hand, is quite smooth on this headphone. It's not a bright headphone, so even the shrillest of instruments, such the piccolo, won't pierce your ears.   The big problem, however, is...
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Gu Sensei

Excellent Price/Performance Value

Posted
By Gu Sensei

Pros: superb soundstage, excellent clarity, light, comfortable

Cons: flimsy feeling build quality

I have been using the MA900s since they came out. I like them a lot and think they are an excellent value. I use them at my office where I need cans with minimal isolation in order to hear door knocks. I have cycled through a lot of different headphones for this role and until the MA900s, had settled on the F1s. I really like the F1s but feel the MA900s are a notch superior in terms of sound quality. They just sound cleaner- better focus and clarity. More present bass. The soundstage is excellent but I slightly prefer the F1s for that.   I find the F1s to be more comfortable as well (they would get my vote for most comfortable cans ever). The pads and headband material feel...
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Where to Buy It

BUYDIG.comSony MDRMA900 Stereo Headphones at BUYDIG.com$298.00See It »
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