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SONY'S MDR-ZX770BN
INTRODUCTION
It’s been a little while since my last review, so for my regular readers I do apologize! I’ve been quite busy lately, and haven’t had as much time as I would have liked to review audio equipment. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the Sony MDR-ZX770BN Wireless Bluetooth NFC Noise Cancelling Headphones. Don’t be deceived by its Terminator-esque naming convention–the MDR-ZX770BN is actually one of Sony’s most stylish offerings to date. Featuring an elegantly utilitarian design, the MDR-ZX770BN also brings an impressive amount of functionality to back up its aesthetics as well. In essence –it is Sony’s answer to the highly popular offerings from Beats and Bose. However, we’ll also take a close look at its audio performance, and see how it does by audiophile standards.
Before I go any further into this review, I’d like to offer a big thank you to Sony for helping to coordinate the logistics of this review and sending me a loaner unit. The usual disclaimer stands: I am neither an affiliate nor an employee of Sony. All photos seen are taken and owned by me. Without further ado, let’s get started with the review and see how Sony’s latest headphones fare.
SPECIFICATIONS
TYPE: Closed
DRIVER UNIT: 40 mm Neodymium
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 8-22,000 Hz
IMPEDANCE: ANC (ON) 23 Ω, ANC (OFF, CABLED) 50 Ω
SENSITIVITY: ANC (ON) 98 dB/mW, ANC (OFF, CABLED) 100 dB/mW
BATTERY LIFE (MUSIC PLAYBACK): ANC (ON) 13 Hrs, ANC (OFF) 19 Hrs
BATTERY CHARGING TIME: 2.5 Hrs
BLUETOOTH CODECS: SBC, AAC, APT-X
BLUETOOTH RANGE: 30 ft (10m)
CONSTRUCTION: Around-Ear
WEIGHT: 245 g
PACKAGING/ INCLUDED ITEMS
The packaging of the MDR-ZX770BN is fairly simple and no frills. Opening the matte cover box reveals a plastic mold containing the headphones. The rough cardboard and blister pack-style plastic makes the unboxing experience somewhat unimpressive, and it is in this area that the MDR-ZX770BN definitely loses out to offerings from competitors like Beats. The included items are few in number as well –a pouch, charging cable, and headphone cable. The headphone cable is of relatively low quality, and is a reminder to users that the MDR-ZX770BN is meant to be used in a wireless configuration. However, there is nothing particularly bad either, and some may prefer that the MSRP wasn’t inflated by superfluous packaging.
BUILD/ DESIGN QUALITY
The MDR-ZX770BN definitely wins a few points right off the bat in terms of design. It looks amazing. With elegant contours that integrate just the right amount of flashiness with an otherwise subtle design, the headphones are definitely the best of all of Sony’s attempts at wireless headphones. The monstrous MDR-RF865-RK is reminder of just how far Sony has come in terms of design. Taking a page right out of the Beats playbook, Sony has decided to go with pleather for both the headband and the earcups. The headband itself is made of a combination of plastic and metal, and a metal trim lines the entire headphone. Clamping force is light, so for those intending to run or workout with their headphones, the MDR-ZX770BM won't be your cup of tea.
The earcups are nicely sized and surprisingly deep. The pleather earpads are also similarly comfortable, though they do have the tendency to heat up quickly. All the electronic gadgetry is located on the bottom of the earcups. On the left cup are the power button, cabled input, and noise cancellation button. On the right cup are the volume and track controls. The controls are well integrated and highly sensible (take a look at the Bose AE2W for comparison). Furthermore, earcups do swivel to a flattened position, making transportation easy.
If there’s one complaint to be had, it’s that the MDR-ZX770BN is almost too light. I might even venture to say that it feels a bit flimsy at times. However, some (especially business/ power users) may prefer this to a heavier headphone for prolonged use. After all, the battery life is quite impressive (see specifications for details). Overall, the MDR-ZX770BN is a good-looking headphone with excellent design and build characteristics.
SOUND QUALITY
We’ll start out by taking a look at the noise-cancelling capability of the MDR-ZX770BN. Featuring 3 modes, the MDR-ZX770BN's active noise cancelling can reduce a wide range of sounds; super low frequencies to relatively quiet/varied noises are all covered by the ANC function. Fortunately, users won’t really have to toggle between the three modes, as the headphones can automatically analyze ambient sound components to choose the most appropriate one. With regards to the actual noise cancelling abilities, the MDR-ZX770BN is very successful at reducing repetitive sounds produced by air conditioning/ engines. However, for users looking for a “silver bullet” capable of blocking out noise completely, a traditional triple flange is still the best solution. In addition, the amount of white noise produced while the headphones are on standby in ANC is very much audible.
With regards to the sound performance of the MDR-ZX770BN, I’ll start generally by comparing the wired and wireless modes. The wireless mode works respectably, but won’t be turning any audiophile heads. While in busy environments that it was designed for, the wireless MDR-ZX770BN plays fairly well, featuring solid performance. However, when in quiet environments, it becomes clear that the MDR-ZX770BN does experience a bit of congestion while on wireless. It simply doesn't sound quite as clear as when it is wired. That said, for the added functionality, I was quite impressed with how little the MDR-ZX770BN had to give up by way of SQ.
Now, moving to the actual sound quality of the earphones –the bass is well defined, featuring good separation and attack. However, fullness is somewhat compromised by the low quantity of bass produced. In addition, the extension of the bass isn’t particularly good either. That said, it is commendable that Sony attempted to go for a higher fidelity sound, instead of simply attempting to cover everything with bloated amounts of bass.
The mids are comfortably placed. With a somewhat warm tinge and a laidback nature, the MDR-ZX770BN is great for vocals. While some may also complain that this makes the MDR-ZX770BN fairly predictable, I would hesitate to criticize a headphone that performs well in mids. It's far from being "clinical", and allows the headphones to play well with a lot of different genres. Highs are good and provide necessary sparkle. However, they do get to be slightly tinny at times. Fortunately, sibilance is not a problem in the upper mid-high range.
Soundstage is respectably sized, but by no means huge. Good separation (do take into account that this gets reduced in wireless mode) does help to compensate for weaknesses in this area. Overall, sound quality on the MDR-ZX770BN is good, but definitely won't be its biggest selling point.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Sony MDR-ZX770BN is a highly successful, functional pair of everyday carry headphones. While it isn't exactly an audiophile headphone, its functionality and design gives it a universal appeal that just about everyone can appreciate. If you're in the market for a pair of headphones that sound relatively good and have great aesthetics and utility, then this might just be the right pair for you.
Hope you enjoyed this review and happy listening!
Best Regards,
Thatonenoob
| << Alclair Curve Universal Monitor | Quick Navigation Panel |
INTRODUCTION
It’s been a little while since my last review, so for my regular readers I do apologize! I’ve been quite busy lately, and haven’t had as much time as I would have liked to review audio equipment. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the Sony MDR-ZX770BN Wireless Bluetooth NFC Noise Cancelling Headphones. Don’t be deceived by its Terminator-esque naming convention–the MDR-ZX770BN is actually one of Sony’s most stylish offerings to date. Featuring an elegantly utilitarian design, the MDR-ZX770BN also brings an impressive amount of functionality to back up its aesthetics as well. In essence –it is Sony’s answer to the highly popular offerings from Beats and Bose. However, we’ll also take a close look at its audio performance, and see how it does by audiophile standards.
Before I go any further into this review, I’d like to offer a big thank you to Sony for helping to coordinate the logistics of this review and sending me a loaner unit. The usual disclaimer stands: I am neither an affiliate nor an employee of Sony. All photos seen are taken and owned by me. Without further ado, let’s get started with the review and see how Sony’s latest headphones fare.
SPECIFICATIONS
TYPE: Closed
DRIVER UNIT: 40 mm Neodymium
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 8-22,000 Hz
IMPEDANCE: ANC (ON) 23 Ω, ANC (OFF, CABLED) 50 Ω
SENSITIVITY: ANC (ON) 98 dB/mW, ANC (OFF, CABLED) 100 dB/mW
BATTERY LIFE (MUSIC PLAYBACK): ANC (ON) 13 Hrs, ANC (OFF) 19 Hrs
BATTERY CHARGING TIME: 2.5 Hrs
BLUETOOTH CODECS: SBC, AAC, APT-X
BLUETOOTH RANGE: 30 ft (10m)
CONSTRUCTION: Around-Ear
WEIGHT: 245 g
PACKAGING/ INCLUDED ITEMS
The packaging of the MDR-ZX770BN is fairly simple and no frills. Opening the matte cover box reveals a plastic mold containing the headphones. The rough cardboard and blister pack-style plastic makes the unboxing experience somewhat unimpressive, and it is in this area that the MDR-ZX770BN definitely loses out to offerings from competitors like Beats. The included items are few in number as well –a pouch, charging cable, and headphone cable. The headphone cable is of relatively low quality, and is a reminder to users that the MDR-ZX770BN is meant to be used in a wireless configuration. However, there is nothing particularly bad either, and some may prefer that the MSRP wasn’t inflated by superfluous packaging.
BUILD/ DESIGN QUALITY
The MDR-ZX770BN definitely wins a few points right off the bat in terms of design. It looks amazing. With elegant contours that integrate just the right amount of flashiness with an otherwise subtle design, the headphones are definitely the best of all of Sony’s attempts at wireless headphones. The monstrous MDR-RF865-RK is reminder of just how far Sony has come in terms of design. Taking a page right out of the Beats playbook, Sony has decided to go with pleather for both the headband and the earcups. The headband itself is made of a combination of plastic and metal, and a metal trim lines the entire headphone. Clamping force is light, so for those intending to run or workout with their headphones, the MDR-ZX770BM won't be your cup of tea.
The earcups are nicely sized and surprisingly deep. The pleather earpads are also similarly comfortable, though they do have the tendency to heat up quickly. All the electronic gadgetry is located on the bottom of the earcups. On the left cup are the power button, cabled input, and noise cancellation button. On the right cup are the volume and track controls. The controls are well integrated and highly sensible (take a look at the Bose AE2W for comparison). Furthermore, earcups do swivel to a flattened position, making transportation easy.
If there’s one complaint to be had, it’s that the MDR-ZX770BN is almost too light. I might even venture to say that it feels a bit flimsy at times. However, some (especially business/ power users) may prefer this to a heavier headphone for prolonged use. After all, the battery life is quite impressive (see specifications for details). Overall, the MDR-ZX770BN is a good-looking headphone with excellent design and build characteristics.
SOUND QUALITY
We’ll start out by taking a look at the noise-cancelling capability of the MDR-ZX770BN. Featuring 3 modes, the MDR-ZX770BN's active noise cancelling can reduce a wide range of sounds; super low frequencies to relatively quiet/varied noises are all covered by the ANC function. Fortunately, users won’t really have to toggle between the three modes, as the headphones can automatically analyze ambient sound components to choose the most appropriate one. With regards to the actual noise cancelling abilities, the MDR-ZX770BN is very successful at reducing repetitive sounds produced by air conditioning/ engines. However, for users looking for a “silver bullet” capable of blocking out noise completely, a traditional triple flange is still the best solution. In addition, the amount of white noise produced while the headphones are on standby in ANC is very much audible.
With regards to the sound performance of the MDR-ZX770BN, I’ll start generally by comparing the wired and wireless modes. The wireless mode works respectably, but won’t be turning any audiophile heads. While in busy environments that it was designed for, the wireless MDR-ZX770BN plays fairly well, featuring solid performance. However, when in quiet environments, it becomes clear that the MDR-ZX770BN does experience a bit of congestion while on wireless. It simply doesn't sound quite as clear as when it is wired. That said, for the added functionality, I was quite impressed with how little the MDR-ZX770BN had to give up by way of SQ.
Now, moving to the actual sound quality of the earphones –the bass is well defined, featuring good separation and attack. However, fullness is somewhat compromised by the low quantity of bass produced. In addition, the extension of the bass isn’t particularly good either. That said, it is commendable that Sony attempted to go for a higher fidelity sound, instead of simply attempting to cover everything with bloated amounts of bass.
The mids are comfortably placed. With a somewhat warm tinge and a laidback nature, the MDR-ZX770BN is great for vocals. While some may also complain that this makes the MDR-ZX770BN fairly predictable, I would hesitate to criticize a headphone that performs well in mids. It's far from being "clinical", and allows the headphones to play well with a lot of different genres. Highs are good and provide necessary sparkle. However, they do get to be slightly tinny at times. Fortunately, sibilance is not a problem in the upper mid-high range.
Soundstage is respectably sized, but by no means huge. Good separation (do take into account that this gets reduced in wireless mode) does help to compensate for weaknesses in this area. Overall, sound quality on the MDR-ZX770BN is good, but definitely won't be its biggest selling point.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Sony MDR-ZX770BN is a highly successful, functional pair of everyday carry headphones. While it isn't exactly an audiophile headphone, its functionality and design gives it a universal appeal that just about everyone can appreciate. If you're in the market for a pair of headphones that sound relatively good and have great aesthetics and utility, then this might just be the right pair for you.
Hope you enjoyed this review and happy listening!
Best Regards,
Thatonenoob
i had the same question and was answered by an owner via youtube
