Ok so when I saw the MDR 7509 had been redesigned I got all antsy about what I was missing. So when recently buying more cans for studio and CHiPOD use I looked into a few pairs of MDR-7505 phones. The salesman also had some very well priced new MDR-7509HD sets which I picked up on a pure whim.
So I get home and break out the 7505 sets to compare and start with the let down...No such let down came. The 7505 sets although smaller perform extremely well when compared to the old 7509 series.
Then came head to head tests between HD and Previous series 7509's. I must say the low end on the HD set is compromised to clarify their "better Midrange response". I found them more annoying for long sessions of monitoring...I prefer less high end in my sound and a more subdued midrange. Thats just my own preference.The old 7509 series is bassier if that's what tickles your fancy. It certainly does it for me. So I personally prefer the old series and the 7505 set to the HD series. Sorry to disappoint.
This now bring the question...Which of the 7509's are more colored and which are flat? So much for industry standards.
If you are getting them because of the 80 KHz response you won't hear it unless you're a dog eared human being.Typical hearing in a Human is commonly between 15Hz and 20 KHz.
This being said they are great phones but if you get a chance compare both sets before buying and see which you like best. For me they are no loss as I can use them for monitoring and recording with other musicians in studio.Happy shopping and always trust your own ears not someone's reviews. we all hear differently
Have had the DJ-style MDR-V700 (THE #1 DJ) cans for years since they came out - still the best hi-fi set due to basic technology (50 mm Neodymium with response down to 5 Hz, huge power handling at 3+ Watts and extremely high efficiency at 24 Ohms). These are larger and more comfortable, more suitable for home use and less suitable for travel. Other manufacturers have still not matched the technology/fidelity at anywhere near the price (if available at all). Both are closed designs, relieving outside noise without the large high fidelity sacrifice inherent in any noise cancellation scheme. With its greater cushioning, ELF bass (5-20 Hz) is not quite as formidable as the MDR-V700 model (slight rolloff). Seller is also one of the world's finest.
The Sony MDR-F1 Headphones are a respected headphone in the industry, and for a good many number of reasons.
The sound is AMAZING!! I compared them to my friends noise-canceling Bose headphones, and there were many differences. Please note that I turned the noise-cancellation on for the tests, so give it as much help as it could get. Now I should mention that I am a real Audiophile, and can be very picky about this. I rated the sound of the MDR's on a 1-10 scale, with 1 at Discusting and 10 for Unbelievable.
For lower Frequences like a bass guitar or the main beat of a r&b song, they are number one. In there description from sony it is pointed out that they have a special driver on the speaker that aids in clarity and pronouncieation of the bass. And how amazing they work. Simply un-deniable bass from these. It made the Bose look like third-rate over-priced paper-cone speakers. 11/10 for bass.
For midtones Sony did what they do normally, giving it the standard design for those mid frequencies that include slightly lower voices and classical music. But don't underestimate the beauty of Sony and mid's. However Bose out-did them here. I believe that Bose loves to get to this on most of there woofers, so I was expecting this. for the MDR's, I give it 8.5/10 for mids
The High Notes. To many this is the most important. Due to the large size of the speakers and the solid construction, the high notes came out most excellent. Even on the highest pitches, there was no hiss or the very common rattle at high notes. They are made from a solid metal frame which has taken a lot, and can take the High's very well. Now when I compared this to the Boses' I Had trouble noticing any differences, and had to get out my meter on my computer that displays and remakes frequencies to do something like this. Both are almost equal contenders, with the only difference is that the Bose will be a little quietter on the hights, but by about +/- .03 dB. Thats not much. So little that I eventually gave up and said that they were as close to perfect as any will get. 10/10.
Since I LOVE rock of all kinds the MDR-F1's were a blessing from God. One last thing. Open-Air Design. If you feel better off knowing when someone is talking to you when you are listening to music, the MDR-F1 is the answer. Again it is all about taste.
I've owned quite a few high-end headphones over the last few years, but this new model from Sony take a page from Metallica, and kills 'em all. The comfort and design are unparalleled, and the materials used are top-notch, outclassing similarly priced and even more expensive cans. The sound is unprecedented, certainly among sub-$1000 dynamic headphones. The frequency spectrum is amazingly well balanced, from the deepest bass to the highest treble, with no readily apparent gaps or peaks. The frequencies transition very smoothly, which results in virtually no listener fatigue. Detail is excellent, surpassing all other dynamic headphones I've heard, rivaling that of the expensive, esoteric electrostatic models. Individual instruments and sounds are rendered wonderfully, each with it's own distinct static place in the spectrum, and are placed with pinpoint precision around your head.
If you listen to a lower-quality source or amp, the SA5000 might not be for you, as it will spit that garbage right back into your face. In that situation, more forgiving cans like the Sennheisers or Grados would be better suited. If you have some great sounding gear though, like my Benchmark DAC-1, then the SA5000 will give you the detail and transparency that other cans will hide.
Here are my impressions of a few other prominent high-end cans compared to the SA5000:
Grado RS1 (An ergonomic nightmare, and no benchmark for build quality, the Grado succeeds in making even a lowly MP3 player sound exciting to listen to. However, it achieves this through a bumped upper bass and upper mids, which can grow annoying when used on a high-class source and amp, which reveals these colorations. Also has the most distortion (sibilance) and least frequency extension of the group. It's best attribute is that bass boost, which is quite thumpin' with the right music.)
Sennheiser HD650 (This headphone makes almost anything quite listenable, with its slow, decay-oriented presentation, and muted high end, it takes the edge right off even the harshest recordings. This is good if you like your hi-fi to whisper sweet lullabies, however it makes the sound quite dull and lifeless compared to any of the other cans mention. The Zu Mobius cable helps fix this, and extend the lower and upper ends, but it is still no match for the detail and accuracy of the SA5000.)
Sony MDR-CD3000 (The SA5000's predecessor, by comparison has bloated bass and a lacking midrange. The extreme frequencies are also underrepresented. Its only "advantage" is an artificially wide soundstage that can make a studio rock recording sound more like a live concert. The cans are also VERY large and bulky, which makes them a tad annoying to wear, though they are very soft.)
