Sony MDR-M1 | studio headphones

[AyeYoYoYO]

Sony's newest release of closed-backed studio monitor, the successor of the MDR-7506, Sony MDR-M1...

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Would be good if someone hands to Amir this for review and testing, sounds promising.

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Early frequency response of the M1 compared to the 7506 (yaxi) and Fiio FT1 by gadgetrytech....


Pricing and availability:
The MDR-M1 headphones are available for $249.99 MSRP USD/ $349.99 MSRP CAD and available for pre-order today at Sony.com and other authorized dealers including Amazon, B&H, Sweetwater and Guitar Center.


General Specs:
Type:
Closed dynamic

Driver Unit:
40 mm (1.58 in) neodymium magnet

Power Handling Capacity:
1,500 mW (IEC *1)

Impedance:
50 Ω at 1 kHz

Sensitivity:
102 dB/mW

Frequency Response:
5 Hz - 80,000 Hz (JEITA)

Mass:
Approx. 216 g (7.62 oz) (without cable)

Which Yaxi pad was utilized on the 7506 ?

The on-ear ST-Pad 1 ?
The circumaural ST-Pad 2 ?
The microfiber model ?

 

[AyeYoYoYO]

Interesting...

Now I'm more leaning toward the M1.

But, do you have the 7506? how does it compare? his chart makes it seems to look similar (albeit change the pads on 7506)

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How about compared to the M1ST? (if you happend to have it)

Gadgetry Tech never specified WHICH YAXI pad were on this 7506 ….

The circumaural ST-Pad2-LR ?

Supra-aural ST-Pad1-LR ?

Microfiber STpad ?

 

[FTB]

Meh, very empty between 4 and 7 kHz.

 

[stalepie2]

Meh, very empty between 4 and 7 kHz.

Is that due to angled drivers?

 

[AyeYoYoYO]

Meh, very empty between 4 and 7 kHz.

Yes, I felt like Sony did very very well with the visual style of all this new generation of studio-designated models (M1ST, M-1, MV-1), staying true visually to the models they are evolutions of.

But several ranges of their frequency responses, did not do a great job at all, continuing that established legacy, and strayed much to far, to make good on the sales targets they likely envisioned for them.

All are a bit shy of ideal from 1k-3k, but I say this for most headphones, and this very pronounced gap from 4k-7k definitley is shocking for the headphone billed as studio/broadcast/reference quality sound, branded and styled like a true successor to their long established vocal tracking models ; I.e: bright, mids&treble forward, with the signature upper bass dip, just beneath typical vocal range, to “showcase” any/all vocalists using them to track with, which was pretty much everybody, for 30years.

 

[AyeYoYoYO]

Is that due to angled drivers?

Senn’s HD490Pro features angled drivers, and a nearly perfect target presence from 4k-7k

 

[Pursuit]

Meh, very empty between 4 and 7 kHz.

That graph does not really translate to actual earing. In comparison to my daily HD650, M1 is on the bright side. Bass is full and clear too. Can't detect any dip at 200HZ or any bump below.

 

[FTB]

Measurements don't lie.

 

[Pursuit]

Measurements don't lie.

Can't argue with that. Only report what I heard.

 

[solderdude]

That graph does not really translate to actual hearing. In comparison to my daily HD650, M1 is on the bright side. Bass is full and clear too. Can't detect any dip at 200HZ or any bump below.

A small dip at 200Hz usually 'translates' as; well separated and impressive lows with no 'bloat'. It is not perceived as 'a dip'.
When the dip is small and combined with emphasized lows it is even preferable. Also seen a little in the Harman curve.

 

[Pursuit]

A small dip at 200Hz usually 'translates' as; well separated and impressive lows with no 'bloat'. It is not perceived as 'a dip'.
When the dip is small and combined with emphasized lows it is even preferable. Also seen a little in the Harman curve.

That's indeed the case for the dip. It makes bass sound perfect.
Any thoughts on the 4-7K scoop? To me, it's definately brighter than HD650, maybe at HD600 level, just a little shy of 7506.

 

[solderdude]

There is more 'detail' and 'sharpness' because of the elevated treble (7kHz-15kkHz)
Brightness (as in forward sound/clarity) is in 1-3kHz range. 'Shout' (a form of brightness) is in the 3-8kHz range.
the 4-7kHz dip makes drum hits etc a little bit less accentuated (opposite of shout) as if listening to drums a little bit further away and makes instruments a little more 'mellow''.

Also... dips are usually not as 'sound degrading' than peaks which are more audible and sound determining.

 

[Pursuit]

That makes sense. The elevated treble is easy to perceive in comparison to M1ST. M1ST is softer. Though, the 4-7K dip is not obvious compared with HD650.

 

[AyeYoYoYO]

A small dip at 200Hz usually 'translates' as; well separated and impressive lows with no 'bloat'. It is not perceived as 'a dip'.
When the dip is small and combined with emphasized lows it is even preferable. Also seen a little in the Harman curve.

Couldn’t agree with this more.

A subtle, smoothly tapered 200Hz lowland valley in the 1st Gen Apple AirPods Pro … is a huge part of why I have always said they sounded vastly better than their successor 2nd gen’s frequency response.

BeyerDynamic’s DT-250 line also features a similar dip, which makes sense, since it’s another very similar, longtime studio stalwart, vocal tracking headphone.

An underrated wired IEM, Sony’s XBA-3 also features a really nice use of that.

 

[JediJoker]

Measurements don't lie.

With perfect methodology and a full understanding thereof: yes. But acoustic measurements, especially those undertaken by hobbyists and reviewers, are fraught with issues. Headphones are also very sensitive to HRTF differences, so what any one person hears will differ from the response measured by any particular rig.

 

[FTB]

With perfect methodology and a full understanding thereof: yes. But acoustic measurements, especially those undertaken by hobbyists and reviewers, are fraught with issues. Headphones are also very sensitive to HRTF differences, so what any one person hears will differ from the response measured by any particular rig.

Yes, looking back to that, I agree.
I checked again the measurements made by Gadgetry tech and obviously these don't fit what I hear, based on some headphones I already tried.
I recently made a direct comparison between Fiio FT1 and AKG K371, the graph doesn't show what I hear e.g. the Fiio have more bass than the AKG. In the graph it is the opposite... Plus a mid/treble peak for the FT1.

Oratory ones show that.

So, waiting for true measurements of this Sony.

In the past I had the MDR-1AM and these was the most comfortable headphones I had. This MDR M1 have the same structure.
Sadly a bit metallic sound due to the ~10 kHz peak. It was the only obvious default.