Sony MDR-1A Prestige Overhead Headphones - Black

Product Information

Very soft protein (ie synthetic) leather pads large enough to encompass most ears and a fairly low-tension headband make the Sony MDR-1A fit quite sumptuous. These are headphones you can wear for an 8-hour stretch without feeling any discomfort. In the trade-off, they are not perfect for exercise. The bass is aided by sculpted vents which maximize airflow and a liquid crystal polymer diaphragm with an aluminum coating and works well even at loud volumes. Audio is distortion free and you will be able to make out even tiny details even when the sound is turned up. While the bass is certainly the headliner for the MDR-1A, it’s sort of by default because everything else well executed. However, those seeking a flat frequency response may not be satisfied. These headphones aren’t terribly portable either and the choice of plastic housing may impact long-term durability. A bit less clarity and more muddled than mdr600. Especially with high hats and cymbals which sound unnatural and a bit splashy when compared to the 600. Snare drums also sound low quality like it has been downgraded from 320 to 128kbps. I suspect the 1A’s unnatural sound could be attributed to the massive peak at around 9khz and a big drop off from around 12khz onwards (thanks to rtings.com frequency graph).

Note that these are overall a notably huge improvement in nearly every way (less rolled-off treble, more solid bass-texture, less bleed from bass to mids, less distortion, more clarity, a bit mroe soundstage) over the MDR-1R which they replaced in Sony's product-line. When people talk about the wild, clear, dynamic Grado sound - they are talking about this. I used to own Grados, but I sold them all. I couldn't stand them at all, and I always wondered what people heard in them. They talked about punchy bass, clear treble, etc, but all I heard was a shrill midrange and colored sound. While we didn’t have the Sony MDR-1A for direct comparison, from memory it also seems that Sony may have toned down the bass a little this time. There is a bass emphasis here, but only a slight one. The impression they give off is of a balanced, and fairly natural-sounding headphone. The ear candy factor is its own lure, though, and the smooth, expansive-sounding Sony MDR-1A are a great choice if enjoyment is a greater concern than pure accuracy.However, if you don’t care too much the Sony style or the super-soft fit, the Audio-Technica ATH-50X still trump them in some respects for less money. The Sony MDR-1A are headphones that marry an overemphasised bass with otherwise refined sound. There is some resonance to the bottom-end that stops it from sounding entirely balanced. It is quite obviously ‘larger’ than intended, especially when doling out dance beats.

Also included with the MDR-1A: A drawstring carrying pouch that the headphones fold down flat into for easy stowing. That touch of treble sparkle prevents the Sony MDR-1A from being a true “in your head” listening experience, but it’s not really a soundstage king by any stretch of the imagination. Around same bass as mdr600 though 600 may have a tiny bit more boom due to on ear design which position driver closer to ear and seals better. Quality wise both are same, no bleeding or overwhelming of other frequencies. The bass is very nice on both headphones, i'm a big fan of Sony's bass. A V-shaped headphone is an apt way to describe the Sony MDR-1A. But in this case it doesn’t mean they have non-existent mids.

As with any wireless or noise cancelling set of headphones, before buying the Sony MDR-1ABT, you need to make sure you need their spotlight feature. Because (stating the obvious) you do pay for it. In terms of comfort, they are both very comfortable on my head. If I had to choose, I would give the edge to the 598s. The velour padding allows my ears to breath better, while the sony pads are just a tad too small for my ears which is slightly annoying because I have to adjust them once in a while. When it comes to the mids, I can get an impression of detail. Not as detailed as it could be, but still competitive. Vocals are, for the most part, spot on. It’s been over three years since Sony introduced their MDR which was headed by the MDR-1R which were described as being able to produce “prestige” sound. Even though they were pricey, the MDR-1R was an impressive pair of over-ears and delivered in both performance and build quality. The Sony MDR-1A have one important win, though. They offer a wide and expansive soundstage that is not only involving and, well, big-sounding, it also helps to stop the chunky bass from sounding like it’s drowning everything else.