Which is the best Sony full-size headphone ever made? - Page 2

I agree with KR. eight people have voted for the R10, and I'm guessing that only one of them has actually listened to them. I guess a higher price automatically gets a vote...

Well, lets see... I've owned the MDR-CD1700s and the MDR-CD3000s. I sent my CD3000s to Vertigo so he could audition them...he found that the R10s were better, just as you might expect ($4000 headphones vs $400 headphones). Vertigo's findings with many other cans (some of which I have purchased right from him) have been right in line with mine. R10's are very hard to find and auditioning them is practically impossible. Therefore, it is very logical to vote for R10s. Perhaps you should use your brain?

I said it before that Sony has the worst bang for your buck when it comes to headphones than anyone else.

I mean, would you rather get a CD3000 for $450 or a AKG K1000 for $500?

As far as the price of the R10, most of the cost goes into things that have nothing to do with how they sound. I sure that they sound nice and all but do they sound like they cost $4000? Are they that much better than other headphones cost wise?

Let's look at what you are paying for :

The Housing

After extensive testing of materials from all over the world, the heart-wood of mature Zelkova trees was selected as most suitable for the housing of the MDR-R1O. Evaluation was made in terms of hardness, timbre, weight, and overall sound-transferability characteristics. In order to overcome the problem of designing housing that could produce a natural, distortion-free sound, engineers used the FRESDAM (Freeform Shape Design and Manufacture) computer-aided design system. A delicate waveform was carved out of the interior wall, achieving sound expansion and acoustics equivalent to that of a concert hall.

The Headband

The housing position is set automatically when placed on the head, due to a shape-memory alloy employed in the self-adjusting head-band. Regardless of head size, the super-elasticity of the headband applies just enough inward pressure to create the proper acoustic space between the ear and the housing.

The Diaphragm

Using leading-edge biotechnology techniques, a natural fiber (bio-cellulose) produced by a bacteria called Acetobacter acti is dehydrated, then compressed to a thickness of 20 microns in a diaphragm die. The advantage of the ultra-thin bio-cellulose diaphragm is that it can produce the same sound velocity as an aluminum or titanium diaphragm, along with the warm, delicate sound that a paper diaphragm provides. Trebles are sparkling clear, and bass notes are remarkably deep and rich.

The Holder

Hangers made of magnesium that attach the housings to the head-band reduce resonance. Magnesium was chosen because of its excellent vibration attenuation and absorption qualities. To prevent mechanical vibration, such as those of the cord or headband, a housing insulator was placed between the ear pad and the baffle plate.

The Earpads

To provide the ultimate in comfort, Greek lambskin covers the entire earpads, along with the headband and suspender Renowned world-wide for its velvety softness and smoothness, the lambskin affords a luxurious feel that allows even the wearer with the most sensitive skin extended listening comfort.

The Cord and Plug

The cord wires are made of 99.9999% pure, linear-crystal oxygen-free copper to prevent signal loss during transference. A durable, soft silicon insulates the wires, and the insulation is coated in 100 % pure double-woven silk. The OFC plug is double-plated; once with rhodium to prevent signal loss, and the second time with gold to prevent sound quality deterioration from imperfect contact.


Specifications:

Type: Dynamic, circum-aural
Driver unit: 50mm diameter; dome-type bio-celluose diaphragm
Impedance: 40 ohms
Sensitivity: 100dB/mW
Rated power: 300mW
Power handling capacity: 1000mW
Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz
Cord: Pure silk covering
6N-LC-OFC (99.9999%)
3 meters (approx. loft.)
Plug:


Rhodium base, gold-metal plating
OFC
Standard stereo plug

Weight (w/o cord): 400g

Supplied accessories:

Hard case
Wiping cloth
Earphone/headphone cleaning tissue
Contact cleaning tissue
Linen-bound manual

And yet if people have never heard it to begin with, why bash it because of its price, or what it's made out of?

I am but a newbie in the world of audio, and I don't even pretend to know a fraction of what many of you know. With that said I would like to add that even though everyone here seem to hate Sony headphones in one way or another that I'm extremely happy with my CD3000s. If nothing else I can at least add another viewpoint into this thread.

Sure, they were expensive. But not that much more expensive than my Grado SR325s, and I think that the Sonys sound better in almost every way. I also think that they really do benefit from a good amp (not that my amp is very good, but at least it's better than a portable), they really don't sound as good out of a portable cdp such as the Pana 570.

Compared to other phones I've heard (Sennheiser HD580/600 most notably) I think the Sonys hold their own pretty well. At least with the music I listen to. Sure, the Sennheisers are somewhat cheaper, but they're highly regarded nonetheless. I found them to be kind of muddy and slow, again with the music I listen to.

If all this is taken into consideration I don't think that they are *that* bad value for money. I also think they compare rather favourably to others in their price range. Also I think that it's important not to judge all Sony headphones after only listening to the bad ones (CD2000, V700DJ etc), there really is quite a difference between those and the better ones.

I don't know if this post made any sense, I'm pretty tired right now. Bottom line is: don't knock 'em 'till you try 'em.

eagle driver: I thinks your comparason is unfair- Most of us agree that the V700 dj is the worst sony headphone, while the AKG is very widely respected and has been around for many years. Every company has made good headphones and bad ones, and making generalizations based on 1 headphone from each manufacturer is incorret. For example, if you compaed the koss sportapros with the grado sr-40, would you say that Koss is WAY better than grado in every repest. Or if you compared the Sony V6 with the Sennheiser Hd-490, would you say that Sony is way better than Sennheiser? The way 1 headphone performs is not an accurate indication of how all their headphones perform.

KR:

Even for purists, there are other important factors in choosing headphones. One of the most important factors is comfort- Even the best sounding headphone is useless if you can't listen to it for long periods of time.

Thomas: I edited the UBB code.
-Neruda

Ahh, say what you will about Sony headphones, all I know is that I'm listening to David Gray's White Ladder album through my Sony MDR-V6's right now, and it sounds friggin' amazing to my ears.

I like them so much, I'm thinking of running out to MARS today to buy another pair (in the form of a Sony MDR-7506) to keep at home.

EDIT: I am running out right now to MARS to buy the MDR-7506's.

QUOTE:

"I said it before that Sony has the worst bang for your buck when it comes to headphones than anyone else.

I mean, would you rather get a CD3000 for $450 or a AKG K1000 for $500?"


I consider Sony V6's to be the best bang for your buck available. What else compares in the $75 range?

The AKG 1000 has just recently been drastically reduced to $500. Prior to that I believe it was $1000 to $1200

I know that you didn't pay $4000, but I never said about about how they sound, but who wouldn't think that $4000 is overpriced? As far what they are made of, even you laughed when you were reading all the hype in the Linen-bound manual.

Atfer hearing them, would you pay $4000 for them?



But, not anymore, so it's now a fair question. Those AKG's K1000's called by headroom or the Sony CD3000's?

I have the Senns 600's, and I only paid $195 for them brand new mint unopen in the box. Now that's a great bang for your buck.

KR,
Going up the price ladder with audiophile components will not get you better bang for buck. That's not what most audiophile products are about. They're about the sound, period. I dont even think/care about bang-for-buck anymore. So stop bugging Vertigo about his R10s

-I

That's great and true and all but the whole point to what I was saying was that you can get headphones that sound just as good or better for less. It's not like I talking about, let's say a Headroom Blockhead amp, yes it cost a lot of money, but it's one of a kind type of amp, and even at that price, you'll still be hard press to find something that sounds just as good or better for less. The same can't be said for Sonys, but now I'm repeating myself, so enough...

I'm sorry, I really didn't mean it that way, honest.

Besides, he's not the only one with R-10's, I belive there was someone else using it with an E.A.R amp.

Yes.

I'd love to hear what you think is better sounding for less money. Oh wait, you haven't heard R10s or CD3000s

(sorry to be annoying about this :P)