Sony MDR MA 900 (new release from Sony) - Page 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by zzffnn 

 MA900s' overall design and tech spec has not impressed me enough to blindly pull the trigger. I am very interested to hear some owner impressions for MA900s.

 

agreed. I've never owned a pair of open headphones, but these are very interesting. Hope the $ comes down soon. at the moment, they're a little too steep for me especially for build quality which was "flimsy". Overall though, I do like the design. I think it looks simplistically elegant? Am I the only one?
 

No detatchable cable is a bit of a downer too, but wouldn't deter me from buying these. Lack of accessories is a bit killjoy. Thought there would've been a hard case for the design, even if the case was rather large, I wouldn't mind

Thanks for the review swbf, and I'll certainly follow these for a bit; my guess is that they're probably trying to be too many things for too many people though, and will ultimately not be spectacular at anything. I also love that this thread brings the F1 fans out! Knew I couldn't be the only one. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by swbf2cheater 

... Check out the page for the full review.

What page?

I'm not so sure the person who wrote it has any idea what they were talking about.  While I love me some HD 6 fitties never once thought it had a better sound stage or presentation over the original F1, not even remotely close.  So when I hear Sony babbling on about the larger spacious and IMPROVED sound, I question his source and amplification.  

Thanks for the review, my comments above is due to the fact that my MDR-F1 which uses an impedance circuit built in cannot be driven by my tube amp (high impedance cans needed).

The bass from the F1 with the tube is outstanding, the treble overly recessed, that's the exact opposite of what the F1 is able to do with SS amps.

Anyway F1 is very good at being comfortable and be plugged in cheap amps!

As for comparaison, the HD650 has more detailed bass, more detailed medium and more detailed highs than F1.

What amp did you use?

Thanks for the review.  From the pictures, they look plastic and cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecaster 

Thanks for the review, my comments above is due to the fact that my MDR-F1 which uses an impedance circuit built in cannot be driven by my tube amp (high impedance cans needed).

The bass from the F1 with the tube is outstanding, the treble overly recessed, that's the exact opposite of what the F1 is able to do with SS amps.

Anyway F1 is very good at being comfortable and be plugged in cheap amps!

As for comparaison, the HD650 has more detailed bass, more detailed medium and more detailed highs than F1.

What amp did you use?

You misunderstood, sorry for not making this clear lolol! I did not post that review, its not mine, i found it posted online last night and simply copied and pasted it for us to have here.  I found it interesting the reviewer did not say anything about the massive sound staging and implied it, along with everything else was inferior to the HD650, which to me sounds like a load of crap.  The HD650 vs the original F1 is like night and day, nobody would say the HD650 had a larger sound.  Yet, the MA900 is the improved F1 with a larger sound ( so says Sony ) So I am really confused.  

70mm drivers is insanely huge. What could justify such large drivers?

What the difference in the MDR and MA Sony headphone range? Is one model range directed towards a different audience or are they both consumer rangers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jtom94 

70mm drivers is insanely huge. What could justify such large drivers?

 

What the difference in the MDR and MA Sony headphone range? Is one model range directed towards a different audience or are they both consumer rangers?

The full code is actually MDR-MA900. MDR I'm guessing is used for any personal audio equipment i.e headphones/earphones while the MA range is new, aimed at home listening with an open back sound.

MDR has been used for Sony headphones and most in-ears since at least the late 1980s (MDR-R10); they've deviated a few times, like the PFR-V1, but generally it's MDR. 

MA is the model name, no idea what it's supposed to be shorthand for. Sometimes they're easy to guess (SA = Super Audio, XB = eXtreme Bass), but other times it's just Sony's quirky nomenclature at work. It's probably best for your sanity if you don't try to figure out the whys and wherefores of how Sony thinks. 

The professional series don't have the secondary letters, you'll have MDR-#### like MDR-7520 or MDR-7509, and they'll have a blue/orange "PROFESSIONAL" tag on the side. They're usually pretty rare in practice, relative to the consumer counterparts, and I'm not aware of any open-back pro headphones (they usually target ENG/EFP and broadcast (like Beyer and Senn do), because headphones aren't used for mastering). 

Like SA being super audio I hope MA means mega audio and performs as such too ;) 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jtom94 

70mm drivers is insanely huge. What could justify such large drivers?

Bass distortion, bass extension and general low end performance.  Just physics.  The concern is that you have significant increased surface area yet uses a heavier driver material than the more advanced bio-cellulose and LCP materials.  Might leave some of us resolution junkies wanting for more.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnakChan 

 Decent bass & treble, but mids sounded a little bloated (hope I got the right terminology there).

Bloated is usually reserved for bass performance. Did you mean "forward" perhaps? What was the source?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anaxilus

 

Bass distortion, bass extension and general low end performance. Just physics. The concern is that you have significant increased surface area yet uses a heavier driver material than the more advanced bio-cellulose and LCP materials. Might leave some of us resolution junkies wanting for more.

 

Yeah that's a good point. The LCP material is supposedly has the best lightness/rigidity ratio known to Sony's staff (FWIR in the Z1000 manual) so it'd be ideal for a large surface area transduccer such in this case. Then why would they "go back", assuming it's the same good ol' PET stuff they've been using for a few decades now..? I'm guessing the MA900 is designed along the same line as the F1's slightly warm and unfatiguing, though quite accurate charcter and the LCP "enhances" the treble response just too much for this function.

Or maybe not. It's not really my thing to spread misinformation like *some* others in this thread have been aiming for in the last few pages.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnakChan 

I had a quick 5 min listen to these today. Since I was in a shop & these are somewhat "open" it wasn't the most ideal conditions. But I quite liked what I listened to. Decent bass & treble, but mids sounded a little bloated (hope I got the right terminology there). I used to own the MDR-F1 but that was 10 yrs ago. I don't recall being as impressed with the F1 as I do with these 900's
But for that price i thought it was great value (¥20,800).

If you get a chance would you be able to go back and give it a proper listen? I know conditions wouldn't be ideal, it being an open headphone in a noisy shop you can't crtically listen to it properly but just put on some tunes you know very well and see if they were enjoyable. Your info will give those of us in Europe who have to wait till May, something to chew on.