Well I purchased the Sony MDR-1A last week from Amazon for $298 and I was in love with the headphones. The build, the looks and most of all the sound. But I had one issue with the right ear pad applying an annoying pressure at the back behind my ear near my hairline in small spot. I sent these headphones back and was planning on just buying another pair to see if I had the same results or if it was just that one pair. I searched and looked around at different headphones in the $300 range and below. I looked into Beyerdynamics, AKG, Audio Technica's, Bowers & Wilksons, B&O, Sennheiser and more. But every headphone I read about, watched reviews on and more did not seem to fit what I was looking for. Like I said I loved everything about the Sony headphones from the build, looks and most of all sound. So I decided to try the Sony MDR-1A's once more and ordered a pair from B&H Photo for $298 and next day shipping for $20. So I will see if I have the same issue with the slight pressure behind my ear in the small spot from the ear pad on the right side of my head. Hopefully I will not have this issue again and be able to keep this headphone.
I know some people frown upon Sony here and some people love them but I think some people don't give Sony the chance because they sale crazy to everyday big box store in the world. But thing is Sony has been around forever and known for headphones and they have the money and fans that help them be able to sale everywhere. This is not so easy for some companies because they are not as well known, its not the issue that they have not been around as long. Sony has been a company with a lot of money and that builds and sales headphones for everyones wallet whether it be $10, $50, $100, $300, $1000 and so on. I'm not saying Sony is the best and probably not even near it but close with some headphones. A lot of people judge the MDR-1A's from hearing the MDR-1R's and assuming they are pretty much the same. And hearing ether headset in the store for an hour doesn't really help make a valid decision ether. I mean
Tyll Hertsens did put the Sony MDR-1R's on the Wall of Fame and I trust his opinion pretty good and I think
Tyll Hertsen is pretty open and honest about his reviews and views on headphones, I don't see him as or think he is really bias at all. Now knowing the Sony MDR-1A's are out I believe he would find them great.
I'll let everyone know how this pair goes and I've missed the Sony MDR-1A's ever since sending them back. No matter how many headphones I looked at I couldn't stop thinking about the Sony's and how much I really loved them. I even raised my budget to $400 but still kept coming back to the Sony's every time. I believe Sony hit the sweet spot with these headphones. I believe those who haven't tried, judged them by the MDR-1R's or tried only for a short time and judged them on this alone should really sit down with a pair for a couple day or so and give them an honest try. If someone is a pure bass head they are not going to be thrilled by these although these have great bass, they are not bass head style. The mids on these headphones were beautiful sounding and the highs seemed great as well. Again this is just my opinion only and I am not in any way an audiophile and technically who is? It's all personal taste and what you like. We all smell different, taste different, hear different and see different. I'd say they are worth the try and a good long try.
Btw I'm not saying higher end headphones are not worth it because believe me I believe some of them truly are but sometimes those brands sold at big box stores are close and if not sometimes just as great. And I'm in no way referring to Beats at all, in my opinion I do not like them. I do have a pair of their in ear earbuds that someone bought me as a present and they are not that tasteful to me. Like millions of others say the bass is just overkill and not done properly. I like my mids a lot and again this is just my opinion. The brands I'm referring to are brands like Sony. Not every brand sold at big box stores like Best Buy, Walmart, Target and others is bad brands. I'm not saying that the models they carry in those stores are great but referring simply to the brand itself. Sorry for the long drawn out reply.
