Sony launched the MDR-MV1 Reference Monitor Headphones, aimed at professional sound engineers and musicians, a couple of months back. It has a lightweight and comfortable design, and promise precise sound object positioning in a 360-degree space, along with clear, hi-resolution audio and a wide frequency range. Here we have the review of the headphones.
Box Contents
In the box, there is a 2.5 meter cable with 6.35 mm unbalanced jack and also comes with a 6.35 mm to 3.5 mm Adapter, in addition to the headphones and the user manual.
Specifications
| Sony MDR-MV1 Review | |
| Impedance | 24 ohms at 1Khz |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz – 80,000 Hz (IEC) |
| Sensitivities (dB/mW) | 100 dB/mW |
| Driver Unit | 40mm |
| Jack plug | 3.5 mm jack plug with 6.3 mm adapter |
| Weight | 233 g |
| Acoustic principle | Dynamic, Open |
| Ear pad material | Memory foam |
Build quality and design
The headphones feature an open-back acoustic structure, and the company says that the sound field is virtually reproduced by performing signal processing that considers HRTF (Head Related Transfer Function) for the spatial information of the sound source.
With the open-back acoustic structure, the reflected sound inside the headphones is reduced, offering a more accurate sound field reproduction.
In addition, for optimal control of the airflow in front and back of the driver unit, the acoustic resistor is used over as large an area as possible to eliminate spatial resonance, added the company.
The headphones feature a sufficiently padded memory foam that is comfortable to wear for long. It also has a lightweight body at just 233 grams.
The headphones fit perfectly, and the aluminum headband is adjustable to fit your head perfectly. The 3.5mm audio jack is present on the bottom.
The headband has a faux leather finish, which is thin, and could wear out on prolonged use. Otherwise, the build quality is solid, and offers a perfect fit and comfort without getting fatigued for several hours of use, during my editing work.
Audio quality
Like most reference-type headphones, the MDR-Mv1 is an open-back style pair of headphones. One of the benefits of this style of headphones is the wide sound-stage that you can achieve. These headphones are specifically designed for creating and mastering spatial audio, so it excels with Dolby Atmos and other spatial audio files.
The separation between instruments is very clear and distinct, and there is accurate positioning of audio sources around the head. Vocals sound very forward and enjoyable. With a frequency response range of 5-80KHz, you can also hear plenty of detail in tracks that would otherwise not be produced in lower-end headphones.
Being reference-type headphones, they have a neutral response across the frequency range. I did not perceive any preference for any one particular frequency range, and that is ideal for studio headphones. The mids and highs in particular sound great. The bass, on the other hand, sound rich and natural. Not too over-powering, but not flat either.
Conclusion
Overall, the Sony MDR-MV1 are excellent open-back reference monitor headphones that offer a neutral sound signature, a wide soundstage, and excellent comfort.
Pricing and availability
The Sony MDR-MV1 is priced at Rs. 39,990 and is available from Sony retail stores, ShopatSC portal, major electronics stores and other e-commerce websites like Amazon.in.
Milan Nair contributed to this review