Sony MDR-1R

Sony's forays into headphones of late have often been focused on boosted bass, or even co-branding with television shows (like the X Factor), so it's refreshing to see a no-nonsense, high quality pair like the MDR-1R. At $299.99 (direct), it's priced for serious music lovers, and its sound signature, with powerful-yet-refined bass response and crisp highs, does not disappoint. The design is visually pleasing, well-constructed, and comfortable, and includes thoughtful features like detachable cables. There are no ugly surprises here?the MDR-1R doesn't distort at top volumes, nor does it lean too heavily in favor of deep bass.

Design
The design of the MDR-1R is graceful, with the simple black matte, shiny metallic-colored surfaces, and luxurious-looking padded leather all combining to create a classic backdrop for the familiar Sony logo. A touch of bright red is used on the ear cups, and it elevates the look from stately to cool. If there's a complaint, it's only that some of the materials feel a little cheap for a model of this price?but they don't look cheap, and they function perfectly.

The headband, for instance, is not only well-padded and extremely comfortable, but adjusting it is an unusually smooth and graceful process?it's easy, using the stop-clicks, to get the proper-fitting size and keep it. Equally comfortable are the circumaural (around-the-ear) ear-pads, which feel almost like pillows. Swivel joints above the ears allow for the headphones to fit even more seamlessly, pivoting to the shape of your head. The headphones also fold down flat for easier packing and toting.

That the cable, which connects to the left ear, is detachable adds value to the MDR-1R?but the inclusion of two cables, one with an inline microphone and remote?even further solidifies the headphones as a solid investment. Since cables are often the first part of the headphone equation to malfunction over time, being able to swap them out, rather than replace the whole unit or send it in for repair, is a money saver.

Call clarity is solid enough?the mic picks up voices well, and the headphones block out a bit of ambient room sound (passively), allowing for clearer conversations. But, this is cellular audio quality we're talking about, so don't expect it to sound stellar.

Along with the two cables, the MDR-1R ships with a drawstring protective carrying pouch. Surprisingly, there's no 1/4-inch headphone jack adapter for stereos and pro-gear, nor is there an airline jack adapter. These exclusions on a pair this pricey are annoying, but if you need them, the problem can easily be remedied at a Radio Shack for cheap.

Performance
At top (and unsafe) listening volumes, the MDR-1R reproduces deep bass effectively and cleanly?there's no distortion on The Knife's sub-bass-laden "Silent Shout", and at this price, there shouldn't be. The manual claims that the frequency range of the MDR-1R is 4Hz to 80kHz, which is bound to make some audiophiles snicker?typical adult human ears top out at the high-end of the frequency spectrum anywhere from 15-20kHz, depending on the listener, so we'll just have to take Sony's word for it that these headphones extend a full 60,000 Hertz beyond the limits of human hearing.

Even the low end of the MDR-1R's range is unusually low?it's not terribly common to see a pair dip below 10Hz in the realm of subwoofer bass response, but these headphones apparently reproduce sub-bass frequencies all the way down to 4Hz. (You have a much better chance of hearing those frequencies than ones hovering around 80kHz.)

These potentially dubious claims shouldn't scare the serious listener off, however?the MDR-1R packs a robust, yet refined, bass response. If it does indeed go all the way down to 4Hz, it does so without needlessly boosting the bass beyond sensible limits. There's perhaps more bass than someone seeking flat response might want, but this is not an outrageously bass-boosted pair by any means.

On Bill Callahan's "Drover," the MDR-1R strikes an ideal balance between the low frequencies, high-mids, and treble. Callahan's vocals on this track can sound muffled on a bass-heavy pair that lacks enough treble edge, or overly sibilant on a pair that tweaks the high-mids and highs too much. Here, his unique baritone vocals have a smoothness and edge all at once, while the drumming receives a nice bit of low-end boost without threatening to take the spotlight.?

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild", the kick drum loop's attack has enough high-mid presence to sound punchy, while its sustain is rounded out by the MDR-1R's smooth low-frequency response. The sub-bass synth hits that lend this song an ominous feeling are conveyed accurately here?not overly-boosted so that the mix sounds off-balance, but certainly with some added oomph. If anything, both Callahan's and this track might have benefited from the slightest bit of boosting in the high-mids, to add an extra bit of crispness to the vocals and snap to the percussion?but this is nitpicking. The MDR-1R sounds pretty fantastic.

On classical tracks, like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances", the higher register strings already possess enough high-mid crispness to fend for themselves. The lower register strings are given a nice, subtle boost, adding a sense of depth to the mix. The huge drum hits at the end, which can sound comically unnatural on heavily bass-boosted headphones, sound large and intense here, without venturing into a realm of fake mega-bass. The MDR-1R, in other words, suits classical music quite well.

If you're looking in this general price range, and you want that added bass depth that the MDR-1R's reigned-in sound signature lacks, you have options. The less expensive Denon Urban Raver AH-D320 and the SMS Audio Street by 50 DJ both pack healthy, boosted low frequency wallops.

If you just want to explore other similar options in this range, the Yamaha PRO 400, which doesn't boost things nearly as intensely, shifts the focus to the midrange. Its styling isn't as classy as the MDR-1R's, but sonically, the pairs are comparable. If you have a local electronics store that can make it happen, it might be worth a head-to-head comparison to see which you favor most, as it's about personal taste and not overall quality at this point. And if all of these pairs are out of your range, consider the excellent, Editors' Choice Sennheiser HD 558, a sonic marvel at a sub-$200 price.?

At $300, the Sony MDR-1R delivers powerful audio with focus on overall balance. It could use a bit more high-mid presence, and bass lovers will wish there was more low-end boosting, but the sound signature comes close to the audiophile ideal of flat response, without throwing bass presence out the window. There's no question of whether these are high quality headphones; it's merely whether their sound signature is what you're looking for.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/amSfEnbqmOM/0,2817,2417268,00.asp

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