$9 Headphone Review: Sony MDR-ZX110

[ZööZ]

Trying these sonys as we speak, surprised how hard I have to drive these to get decent volume, the build quality does feel appropriate for a sub 10$ pair of headphones, and at first the pads made me cringe, paper mache came in to mind, but after just wearing them for a moment they seem to disappear, actually surprised how much these are to my liking out of the box. Really raises the expectations for amirm's eq.

I accidentally grabbed the AP version first and had to go back in and trade them for the correct version, would there been any other difference than the mic and remote for mobile use (and the 5€ higher price )? Bass boost perhaps? EDIT: the non AP version was 15€ so not a sub 10$ pair for me.

These don't isolate outside noises for the wearer much but the sound leaking outside seems to be minimal.

 

[LTig]

I ordert too. Iam very curious whats @amirs taste. So it gives me a much better impression of other listening tests. Some kind of a orientation line. And btw i have a new headphone.

Me too yesterday. Using the RME ADI-2 PRO'S EQ I'm also curious about the stated improvements.

 

[nerone]

I made some changes by inserting 2 cotton balls and a make-up remover pad inside the headphones.
Finally I removed the first layer of protective foam.
It sounds much better now

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/modified-sony-mdr-zx100.570309/page-2

 

[Solveit]

GraphicEQ: 20 -0.2; 21 -0.2; 22 -0.2; 23 -0.2; 24 -0.2; 26 -0.6; 27 -1.1; 29 -1.9; 30 -2.3; 32 -3.0; 34 -3.7; 36 -4.5; 38 -5.3; 40 -6.1; 43 -7.2; 45 -7.8; 48 -8.6; 50 -9.1; 53 -9.8; 56 -10.5; 59 -11.1; 63 -12.0; 66 -12.5; 70 -13.0; 74 -13.4; 78 -13.5; 83 -13.6; 87 -13.7; 92 -13.6; 97 -13.5; 103 -13.4; 109 -13.3; 115 -13.3; 121 -13.3; 128 -13.3; 136 -13.2; 143 -13.0; 151 -12.8; 160 -12.6; 169 -12.5; 178 -12.5; 188 -12.5; 199 -12.5; 210 -12.6; 222 -12.5; 235 -12.1; 248 -11.7; 262 -11.1; 277 -10.5; 292 -10.1; 309 -10.1; 326 -10.2; 345 -10.2; 364 -9.9; 385 -9.4; 406 -8.9; 429 -8.8; 453 -8.8; 479 -8.6; 506 -8.5; 534 -8.4; 565 -8.1; 596 -7.7; 630 -7.3; 665 -6.9; 703 -6.2; 743 -5.5; 784 -4.8; 829 -4.0; 875 -3.3; 924 -2.9; 977 -2.9; 1032 -3.3; 1090 -3.9; 1151 -4.4; 1216 -4.9; 1284 -5.4; 1357 -5.9; 1433 -6.4; 1514 -6.6; 1599 -6.6; 1689 -6.5; 1784 -6.2; 1885 -5.7; 1991 -5.1; 2103 -4.5; 2221 -4.1; 2347 -3.7; 2479 -3.6; 2618 -3.5; 2766 -3.3; 2921 -3.0; 3086 -2.6; 3260 -2.5; 3443 -2.8; 3637 -3.1; 3842 -3.0; 4058 -2.4; 4287 -1.4; 4528 -0.5; 4783 -0.2; 5052 -0.2; 5337 -0.2; 5637 -0.2; 5955 -0.2; 6290 -0.2; 6644 -0.2; 7018 -0.3; 7414 -0.7; 7831 -1.1; 8272 -1.1; 8738 -1.2; 9230 -1.1; 9749 -0.9; 10298 -0.8; 10878 -1.1; 11490 -1.3; 12137 -1.6; 12821 -1.8; 13543 -2.1; 14305 -2.3; 15110 -2.6; 15961 -2.8; 16860 -3.0; 17809 -3.3; 18812 -3.5; 19871 -3.8
Filter: ON HSC Fc 3206.49 Hz Gain -3.2 dB Q 0.5091

This is pretty nice for me neutral EQ for EQAPO but feel free to add som bas and less HF.
Sounds similar to my speakers,

 

[infinitesymphony]

I made some changes by inserting 2 cotton balls and a make-up remover pad inside the headphones.

For a second there I thought you were going to transition into a makeup tutorial. Just blot away those bad frequencies. Apply concealer to smooth out the tone.

 

[Cahudson42]

ZooZ says it very well - "surprised how hard I have to drive these

It appears, if necessary, you could convert these to balanced. Saw youtube where trs was clipped off. There are 4 wires, 2 to each cup. So you could go 2.5mm TRRS, or even xlr it seems...

 

[ZööZ]

It appears, if necessary, you could convert these to balanced. Saw youtube where trs was clipped off. There are 4 wires, 2 to each cup. So you could go 2.5mm TRRS, or even xlr it seems...

why would you though? or is my "knowledge" that balanced can introduce problems to headphone playback and it isn't generally needed to get the best out of your headphones, wrong? Sure balanced can give you more power but headphones aren't inherently balanced so it isn't better by default? I'm not an expert and my memory might be failing me because I read something like that a while go.

 

[nerone]

@infinitesymphony, for those like me who does not know how to use EQ with this simple modification I consider this headphone exceptional

 

[Jimbob54]

why would you though? or is my "knowledge" that balanced can introduce problems to headphone playback and it isn't generally needed to get the best out of your headphones, wrong? Sure balanced can give you more power but headphones aren't inherently balanced so it isn't better by default? I'm not an expert and my memory might be failing me because I read something like that a while go.

For these especially, yes, unless you only have a balanced USB dongle, it wouldn't serve any useful purpose to convert. Not sure what you mean by balanced can "introduce problems to HP playback" though?

 

[Cahudson42]

why would you though?

When you have, say, a Qudelix that can provide either single-ended or balanced, and power-hungry HP.

The exact situation I had with my HE400i and Qudelix. SE really didn't cut it. So I spent $42 for a balanced cable - all the difference in the world. Wish I could let you hear SE 'before' and Balanced 'after'..

 

[ZööZ]

@infinitesymphony, for those like me who does not know how to use EQ with this simple modification I consider this headphone exceptional

eq is even simpler when the values are given to you on a silver platter

Just switched on the eq couple of tracks ago, these opened up quite nicely and the sound greatly improved.

 

[nerone]

@ZööZ I do little use of the PC, yesterday I bought Tonebooster in UAPP but I don't know how to use it

 

[ZööZ]

For these especially, yes, unless you only have a balanced USB dongle, it wouldn't serve any useful purpose to convert. Not sure what you mean by balanced can "introduce problems to HP playback" though?

I'll have to search the interwebs for the article I referred to because I don't actually remember all too well what it was, just remember that balanced amps tended to do worse in some regards vs single ended ones and it could introduce some "distortions" to the signal more often, it didn't mean good balanced amps did it on regular basis if I recall correctly. Guess I shouldnt comment from memory but I'll look around... it is ofcourse possible it was bullshit all together anyways

 

[Jimbob54]

I'll have to search the interwebs for the article I referred to because I don't actually remember all too well what it was, just remember that balanced amps tended to do worse in some regards vs single ended ones and it could introduce some "distortions" to the signal more often, it didn't mean good balanced amps did it on regular basis if I recall correctly. Guess I shouldnt comment from memory but I'll look around... it is ofcourse possible it was bullshit all together anyways

Ah, yes, on that count technically correct I think. In a balanced amp you have 2 amps, L+R. There is a noise penalty for that. But if it is a good amp, doubling effectively no noise is still effectively no noise.

I thought you meant balanced might somehow prevent playback or introduce some incompatibility into the chain.

 

[ZööZ]

@ZööZ I do little use of the PC, yesterday I bought Tonebooster in UAPP but I don't know how to use it

Youll just have to input the values as they are shown here
"
Sony MDR-ZX110:



Preamp: -8.6 dB
Filter 1: ON LS Fc 40 Hz Gain 8.0 dB Q 1.0
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 1000 Hz Gain 5.0 dB Q 3.0
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 2500 Hz Gain 5.0 dB Q 2.0
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 5900 Hz Gain 7.0 dB Q 2.0

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/list-of-amirs-headphone-peq-filters.18590/"

the preamp goes to the gain row at the top and all the values go from left to right like in the instructed values, the Ls refers to Low shelf (youll have to select it from the drop down window and then input the hz to the first ?column? and the db to the second, and the qvalue to the last. The PK setting in toneboosters is called analog or digital bell (don't know which one is the correct one using the analog one myself) which you'll have to select from the droptown menu on the filter you are inputting. Remember to activate the filters aswell... only the 4 first ones by clicking the slider thingy next to the filter number to activate it.

 

[SimpleTheater]

Just ordered a pair. How much money went into this headphone? I mean I paid $10 on Amazon, shipping included, so Amazon is warehousing these, paying for shipping and is still making money. Sony is also making money selling them to Amazon. I'm assuming the factory workers are being paid as well as liability costs are factored in (returns/defects). I once heard that a $10 bottle of wine, when all the costs for distribution, marketing, etc are factored in, your getting $2 of wine. If Sony can make headphones this good for $2, what could they do with $20?

 

[ZööZ]

Ah, yes, on that count technically correct I think. In a balanced amp you have 2 amps, L+R. There is a noise penalty for that. But if it is a good amp, doubling effectively no noise is still effectively no noise.

I thought you meant balanced might somehow prevent playback or introduce some incompatibility into the chain.

https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/audio-myth-balanced-headphone-outputs-are-better

I think this was the article I was talking about, didn't have time to re-read it yet though. I'll go through it a bit later.

But man these on-ears sound good equalized, not getting the subbass rumbles like I do with the Dt990 (equalized) though.

 

[infinitesymphony]

Just ordered a pair. How much money went into this headphone? I mean I paid $10 on Amazon, shipping included, so Amazon is warehousing these, paying for shipping and is still making money. Sony is also making money selling them to Amazon. I'm assuming the factory workers are being paid as well as liability costs are factored in (returns/defects). I once heard that a $10 bottle of wine, when all the costs for distribution, marketing, etc are factored in, your getting $2 of wine. If Sony can make headphones this good for $2, what could they do with $20?

Neodymium magnet cheapies are knocking it out of the park, value-wise. The real question is, how much better would a $20 headphone be now? Could be huge, or it could be marginal until $30+, or $50+, or who knows where. Can't wait to see more reviews in the low-end range to figure out what the value curve actually looks like.

 

[nerone]

@ ZööZ, did I do it right?

 

[ZööZ]

@ ZööZ, did I do it right?

no
you still have analog bell selected in the first filter
and the gain setting should be negative 8.6 (-8.6) or are you using auto gain setting? the interface lookse different than mine (I don't have the graphics in the top part... is there just a setting to activate such a interface?)