Quick Impression: Sony MDR-7550 - Page 4

From that pic, the 7550 elbow is a better, sturdier engineering design believe it or not.  However, the strain relief on the 600 is better as it is longer and can dissipate stress over a larger area but also worse in that it's actually two pieces.  So the cable actually gains no support from the surrounding material against yanking.  The 1000 is a bad two piece design IMO and puts all the stress at the wrong point if you ask me.  Maybe there is more going on inside than the eye can see.  The plug is pretty though.

From that pic, the 7550 elbow is a better, sturdier engineering design believe it or not.  However, the strain relief on the 600 is better as it is longer and can dissipate stress over a larger area but also worse in that it's actually two pieces.  So the cable actually gains no support from the surrounding material against yanking.  The 1000 is a bad two piece design IMO and puts all the stress at the wrong point if you ask me.  Maybe there is more going on inside than the eye can see.  The plug is pretty though.

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. Is the american version of the 1000 cable the same as the one pictured or is it same as the 600's?

For one thing, your comments on EX1000's highs "scared" me and I trust your ear on the highs since we both love the DBA-02.

Well thanks, just to be clear it was a single peak not the treble as a whole.  Some upper mid/lower treble splashiness.  The EX1000 isn't a Grado headphone.

Question: are all the models Made in Japan?

EX1000=Japan, EX600=Thailand.

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. Is the american version of the 1000 cable the same as the one pictured or is it same as the 600's?

7550 arrived.  Nice looking package.

Initial impressions and differences.

Nozzles-7550 is different!  600/1000 both have the 'equalizer'/foam visible from the sound bore.  The 7550 has an integrated 'neck' or ring on the inside.  Can't make out whether it is using the same foam as the others.  Could be for increased durability, no idea on sonic impact.

Plug-Been covered.  1000 has prettiest but weakest design followed by the 600 which is a little better but the cable is unsupported by the strain relief.  The 7550 has the simplest and most 'typical' 90 degree elbow but damned if it isn't solid.  I could plug and unplug it thousands of times w/o issue as long as I don't grab the actual cable.

Vent/Port-7550 and 1000 have the bass vent in the same location on the outer part of the housing towards the cable connector.  600 in on the inner underside of the housing.  

Housing-600 has a plastic hump on the outer part of the shell but has a nice, smooth contour but also on a raised hump or disc.  7500 has a smooth front side to the housing and a flusher overall backside than the 600 but there is a plastic bridge across the middle of the backside that is straight rather than contoured.  The 600 is a black chrome color.  The 7550 looks like the 600 but without the plastic hump on the front making it look like a gloss black Mentos w/ a barrel poking out.  1000 has the best of both and improves upon them.  Smooth, flush front face and contoured plastic cable bridge on the backside.  The 1000 has a tapered nozzle and looks like a gunmetal Hershey's kiss.  Rough eyeball thickness ranking from center to center is 600 (7/16")>7550 (5/16")=1000 (5/16").  No dial caliper, sorry.  Convert to decimal and multiply by 2.54 for cm.

Comfort-1000>7550>600.  It is entirely possible your ears won't notice any differences between the two.  Ranking based on ergonomic design of the housing.

Hanger stiffness-Same for all.  7550 has shorter hanger that so far is less willing to conform than the others.

Cable-600/7550 have same feel.  Euro/Asia 1000 cable has thicker feel.  7550 connectors are gold plated.

DC resistance values: 

EX1000 w/ EX1000 cable = 33.0 ohms

EX1000 w/ EX600 cable = 33.3 ohms

EX1000 w/ MDR7550 cable = 33.3 ohms

EX600 w/ EX1000 cable =33.4 ohms

EX600 w/ EX600 cable =33.7 ohms

EX600 w/ MDR7550 cable =33.7 ohms

MDR7550 w/ EX1000 cable =17.3 ohms

MDR7550 w/ EX600 cable =17.7 ohms

MDR7550 w/ MDR7550 cable =17.7 ohms

*EX1000 cable is European/Asian version.

Sound-Quick out of the box impressions.  More refined than the EX600.  This may be the one.  Still early and I break in my phones like I roast my BBQ, low and slow.  No further impressions for the next few days.

Post updated.

It's all good.

Well, talking about sonics, if the 7550 is more refined than the EX600... May really be worth trying out.

Also you can eyeball a distance with fractional accuracy? Wow...