$9 Headphone Review: Sony MDR-ZX110

[Dave Harris]

Hi @Dave Harris! Welcome to ASR.

Here's the ZX110's frequency response relative to Harman:
View attachment 506058

As you can see, the headphone starts to lose track at ~100Hz, significantly undershooting the target approaching 20Hz.

Amir's EQ parameters try to correct this, at least partially.

Hence, the bass boost.

It's not the most precise application of frequency response correction, as can be seen here, but it is sound in theory.

Aaahhhhhh.....got it ! It's not about bass enhancement, it's about ironing out the frequency curve, allowing the driver and compressor
to act more aggressively. How could I have been so blind ? Feel such a fool...

 

[Dave Harris]

LOL

The pads are pleather (PVC-leather look).
Cloth covered with PVC with a leather-look embossing basically.

Yeah, "faux" leather, what they make PC chairs out of........basically "not" leather at all !!

 

[zany.ninja]

I've had the ZX110-NC noise cancelling variant for about 10 years. Switching on the ANC does absolutely no noise cancelling now, what with the pads being all worn out, but it does add a very lively v-shaped sound signature to the otherwise lifeless sound. It's terrible for music imo, but is great for gaming - retro games on my 3DS never sounded so good

 

[roladyzator]

I saw these in Kaufland today and thought "why the hell not"
I like to have something I'd use for those "dirty hair" days, so I don't worry about my hair / skin degrading the earpads too much.

Without EQ these are not horrible, I would agree that the holes in the FR make the sound not exciting but also not particularly offensive. I've expected worse from the wonky FR graphs.

Comfort is good due to light weight and little clamping force.

With EQ they're of course better sounding.
I'm alternating between these and Edition XS (also equalized) today.
It's funny that the Sonys don't totally suck in comparison, although my budget favorite is still the Superlux HD-668B.