Sony MDR-1A Prestige Overhead Headphones - Black

Product Information

The Sony MDR-1A is a newer, updated version of the 1R which is lighter, smaller and more affordable. While they don’t have the “prestige” tag associated with them like the 1R, the MDR-1A is more than capable of delivering high-res audio no matter what you are listening to. They can be powered by almost anything. My Galaxy phone has never sounded better. They really don't need that much power, which is a big plus. The Sony MDR-1ABT look, no surprise, an awful lot like the MDR-1A headphones we reviewed earlier this year. Sony’s headphones have a distinct style, and it’s a sound one that offers a hint of urban flavour while being a lot more neutral than a pair of Beats headphones. The MDR-1A and both of it’s color options offer a lot of modern appeal with the use of clean, rounded shapes, soft and supple (fuax?) leather with “invisible” seams, while also providing some old-fashioned, tried-and-true headphone design techniques, such as how the enclosed speakers appear as distinct circles as opposed to a unibody design that blends into the earpads. Vocals don’t have as much presence as 600. Too smoothed off for my likings. As a result, less detail and clarity. This vocal recession is evident when looking at the frequency graph which shows a dip in mids with the lowest amplitude at the low-mids.

The choice of plastic seems deliberate for comfort reasons as opposed to a cost-saving method, but it does come at the cost of durability. These headphones are also non-collapsable, so making for compact travel is pretty difficult with these. The only thing I really dislike about them is how moving around makes the plastic creak. Sounds cheap. OK so the lower frequencies absolutely steal the show with these Sonys. Bass is elevated by a significant margin, which makes some genres like rap, grime and hip hop come absolutely alive. It’s a perfect combo. Also included with the MDR-1A: A drawstring carrying pouch that the headphones fold down flat into for easy stowing. Speaking of plastic housing! That turns out to be one of the MDR-1A’s biggest upsides! The design choice of plastic housing make this one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones you’re ever likely to wear.The case it comes with is basically just a bag. No hard case. Not a fan of soft carry-cases since they don't actually protect headphones.

For our large noggin the MDR-1A fit is fine, but those with smaller heads might struggle to get the same experience. That's something to keep in mind, as you might not get the same five-star experience, but from our week's worth of listening sessions, and given the sensible price point, we have to say the Sony MDR-1A is a top class choice. If you’re looking for bass, you will certainly find it with these headphones, but there are some distinctions that make it of the awesome variety and not the crap variety. Bass response is reasonably controlled and tight in its presentation. Where the bass really shines is its’ overall impact and volume. It can be described as nothing short of stupendous. While I hear a slight bleed into the lower mid-range and just a touch of bloom in mid bass region, it’s really impressive how it handles these details considering its’ overall volume and impact. Equally as impressive is the bass region’s versatility in regards to different music genres. If the cool kids are throwing a rager and bass was invited to the party, it shows up in spades. If, however, the parents are having a house-warming or wine-and-cheese party, bass will still show up with a few small gifts, but doesn’t have a problem behaving himself. It would be foolish to say that the Sony MDR-1A provides a flawless listening experience. Because from almost every standpoint it certainly does not. But what I can say is that after every listening session with these perched on my ears I have a massive grin on another part of my face. The MDR-1A has 40mm drivers which are capable of delivering frequencies ranging from 3 – 100,000Hz which exceeds human capabilities in both the high and low ends. No wonder then that these headphones sound astoundingly good. These headphones do add a bit of bombast to sound and if you are an audiophile looking for a set that perfectly recreates audio, the MDR-1A may be a bit of a disappointment. But, most people won’t have any complaints.

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Compared to many of its competition, the MDR-1A feels like it has a wider soundstage which is clearer, more immersive and well separated. The large ear cups also go a long way in delivering surround sound effect. All this adds up to exceptional bass and pristine mid-level frequencies.

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. It’s so limited at present it’s not worth putting too much emphasis on, unless you already own an LDAC device. Still, the Sony MDR-1ABT also support the next best thing, aptX. And what may arguably have more of an effect in some cases than LDAC is actually the processing that goes on after the headphones receive the audio signal. From the moment you plug them in and pop them over your ears, everything sounds exceptional whatever your musical genre of choice. Bass response is top drawer, punchy without being over the top, while mid-level and higher frequencies are crisp and clear. The separation of sound gives an all-encompassing stereo listen that's really engaging - more so if you have high-resolution audio files - and although it's not a neutral listen, the Sony MDR-1A add the exact kind of pomp we like our audio to have.

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I have found that these respond really well to EQ. The bass impact and sub-bass depth is rather impressive to my ears when EQ'd or paired with amps that have a bass boosting feature. One other thing I am very pleased with is that because of the low impedance of these cans, they play well with just about any source. I use a sony NZW-A25 right now (I have an amps I use occasionally) and they sound pretty dang good straight through the source. These do benefit from having power applied (their max power input is 1500mW) via a good source or amp, but they sound pretty damn good on just about anything. From the specs, we can see a huge frequency range, a relatively low nominal impedance, and a decent sensitivity – in theory translating to more detail, the ability to play from portable devices, and a fairly standard level of volume, respectively. The foam padded ear cups have a soft finish and are extremely comfortable even when used for long periods – great for a long commute or for extended music sessions. There is not even a slight hint of discomfort or pinch. Weighing in at 225g, it feels buoyant, which is helped by the plush headband. The fact that it is not leather might disappoint a few people. DesignIt's clear Sony put quite a bit of effort into the design of the circumaural (over-the-ear) MDR-1A—it is one of the more simple, beautifully executed headphone frames currently available. The first thing you notice when holding the good-looking MDR-1A is how exceedingly cushioned the earpads and headband feel. You almost can't wait to put them on, and the fit doesn't disappoint: The MDR-1A is very comfortable, even over long listening sessions. These headphones have far more features than most. And they’re all well-implemented. No amateur moves here.