Sony MDR MA900 Impressions Thread
Jun 7, 2014 at 4:54 AM Post #1,216 of 2,659
I just traded my MDR 7550 for MA900 and I'm gonna get it tomorrow or Monday.


 


My expectation for MA900 is that I think I'll retain most of 7550's sound but with added front-back space to the sound.  7550 to me has really broad left-right space to thje sound but front-back is kinda shallow as expected of IEMs.

 


Hmm :/ There is a fair anount of difference between the two. The MA900 doesn't have quite as much a linear low end compared to the 7550. The 7550 has very tight bass extension that is quite flat and well extended, the MA900 has more of a mid-bass kind of warmth to it. I love both but I don't think they sound all that similar.
 
Jun 7, 2014 at 4:41 PM Post #1,217 of 2,659
 
  I just traded my MDR 7550 for MA900 and I'm gonna get it tomorrow or Monday.
   
  My expectation for MA900 is that I think I'll retain most of 7550's sound but with added front-back space to the sound.  7550 to me has really broad left-right space to thje sound but front-back is kinda shallow as expected of IEMs.

 


Hmm :/ There is a fair anount of difference between the two. The MA900 doesn't have quite as much a linear low end compared to the 7550. The 7550 has very tight bass extension that is quite flat and well extended, the MA900 has more of a mid-bass kind of warmth to it. I love both but I don't think they sound all that similar.

 
To me the 7550 with stock shallow tips has slight touch up in the mid bass section. 
 
When I paired 7550 with Monster gel super tips... besides the gaining superior isolation the whole bass region (usually broken down to 3 sections) sounded leveled and equalized.
 
 
Also, I want to get my hands on the MA900 real quick because it's out of production and due to comfort speaker-like sound hype that I see on reviews. 
I can always re-buy 7550s for cheap on bhphoto in the near future, but for now I want to feel and hear the MA900 anjd see if it lives up to its hype... Ultimate in comfort and sound.
 
Jun 9, 2014 at 6:39 AM Post #1,219 of 2,659
I found the MA900 to sound basically the same regardless of what I attached it to. It really just goes well with everything. Ironically, I preferred it off my lowly E17 over the beefy Compass 2. Probably the slight addition of warmth made the MA900 more pleasing to me.
 
Jun 10, 2014 at 2:19 AM Post #1,220 of 2,659
Lachlan, any updated thoughts on MA900 vs HD 650?  I have owned and enjoyed the MA900 for just over a year and recently decided to search for an upgrade to them.  I ordered the HD 650 about a week ago and will be trying them out for about 3 more weeks to decide if they are worth the ~$415 I paid for them.  Amazon's return policy is awesome :)
 
Perry
 
Jun 10, 2014 at 6:20 AM Post #1,221 of 2,659

  Lachlan, any updated thoughts on MA900 vs HD 650?  I have owned and enjoyed the MA900 for just over a year and recently decided to search for an upgrade to them.  I ordered the HD 650 about a week ago and will be trying them out for about 3 more weeks to decide if they are worth the ~$415 I paid for them.  Amazon's return policy is awesome :)
 
Perry

 
Nothing really updated... the HD650 has much deeper bass extension and tightness and overall sounds a bit darker. The MA900 sounds leaner and has a wider and more relaxed soundstage. I think in outright technical performance the HD650 is better, but there's something very laid back and comfortable about the MA900. I will probably end up taking the HD650 off my friend though, as it seems more like a critical listening headphone compared to the MA900.
 
Jun 10, 2014 at 6:26 AM Post #1,222 of 2,659
   
Nothing really updated... the HD650 has much deeper bass extension and tightness and overall sounds a bit darker. The MA900 sounds leaner and has a wider and more relaxed soundstage. I think in outright technical performance the HD650 is better, but there's something very laid back and comfortable about the MA900. I will probably end up taking the HD650 off my friend though, as it seems more like a critical listening headphone compared to the MA900.

 
Wow, the veiled and slow HD650 as a critical listening headphone? Why don't you choose HD600 instead? HD600s are significantly better and also more suited for critical listening...
 
Jun 10, 2014 at 6:51 AM Post #1,224 of 2,659
   
I think he meant, he would prefer hd650 over ma900 for critical listening.

 
It's like prefering Koss Porta Pro over Beats by Dr. Dre for critical listening, you know... 
tongue.gif

 
Jun 10, 2014 at 8:10 AM Post #1,225 of 2,659
   
Wow, the veiled and slow HD650 as a critical listening headphone? Why don't you choose HD600 instead? HD600s are significantly better and also more suited for critical listening...

 
The HD650 isn't slow. It's just veiled. The MA900 is kind of veiled as well, though it obviously doesn't have the same kind of low end heft the HD650 has. I also didn't choose, since I'm just borrowing a friend's pair of HD650's while he borrows my K612.
 
The HD650 has to my ears a better sense of layering and resolution compared to the MA900. It just doesn't have that nice natural soundstage. 
 
While I haven't heard the HD600 extensively, I have heard the HD580 with the grille mod to make them technically identical to the HD600. I don't really think the HD600 is 'better', it's just a different mix of bass and treble. I wouldn't consider upgrading from the MA900 to the HD600 because they are too similar in signature.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 4:59 AM Post #1,226 of 2,659
I find that the last HD650 I owned (of 2) was very linear sounding with a warm tonal shift. It was definitely possible to use for critical listening. All it did was shave off the edge in the upper range. easily among my favorite headphones for all purpose use.

I think people overstate the slow/smooth character of the 650. It is still a very clear sounding headphone, just don't expect a treble extension. Top 3 for mids, for me.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 5:01 AM Post #1,227 of 2,659
I find that the last HD650 I owned (of 2) was very linear sounding with a warm tonal shift. It was definitely possible to use for critical listening. All it did was shave off the edge in the upper range. easily among my favorite headphones for all purpose use.

I think people overstate the slow/smooth character of the 650. It is still a very clear sounding headphone, just don't expect a treble extension. Top 3 for mids, for me.

 
Side by side with HD800, calling them slow and veiled is almost an understatement (you are just in a shock how much better HD800 are in rendering what's in the recording)... As I said, HD600 are perfectly fine - a little slower but fine. HD650? Veiled, dark, slow.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 5:22 AM Post #1,228 of 2,659
Well, the HD800 has a tilt towards treble, which is polar opporsite of the HD650's balance, so of course, next to the HD800, the 650 will be dark/slow. I don't like comparing headphones with an obvious difference in balance, which will make one sound bad depending on your personal preference. I for one, favor the 650's warm tilt (among others like the LCD2), over something on the bright side of neutral like the HD800. I'd choose those two any day of the week.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 5:52 AM Post #1,229 of 2,659
Well, the HD800 has a tilt towards treble, which is polar opporsite of the HD650's balance, so of course, next to the HD800, the 650 will be dark/slow. I don't like comparing headphones with an obvious difference in balance, which will make one sound bad depending on your personal preference. I for one, favor the 650's warm tilt (among others like the LCD2), over something on the bright side of neutral like the HD800. I'd choose those two any day of the week.

 
Have you seen measurements of both HD650 and HD800? FR aside, HD800 measures much better in all possible aspects (innerfidelity)...
 
HD800's technical superiosity is definitely not only about having more db in treble... HD650 are slow/veiled even compared to other darker to neutral headphones (LCD-2/LCD-3 are a perfect example of how to do darker headphones right).
 
You know, even Tyll prefers HD600 and sees HD650 as slightly veiled and dark... And that means something (considering his preference for warm-sounding headphones).
 
To sum up, all I wanted to say is that HD650 simply are veiled and slow... It's not an overstatement. IMHO.
 
Jun 12, 2014 at 8:49 AM Post #1,230 of 2,659
well, they are also measuring slower in attack/decay, impulse response. That's the ultimate proof after listening. The comparison is unfair though, isn't it?
 
The HD 800 is lightning fast and measures well along with the best Stax. 
 

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