Customer Reviews

Sony MDR-V900HD Studio Monitor Type Headphones HD Driver

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After 30 years as an "Audiophile" (Yes Alice, I remember tubes...) these phones are an honest performer in today's line up of available products. There is no exageration of the musical spectrum so the bass lovers will be disappointed w/o some equalization on the bottom end. I enjoy using these to listen to "unplugged" type performances with great vocals. They shine on these cans.

They work great with my iPhone, when I'm tolerant of compressed repackaged musicality, but my PC, a Sony VAIO can't seem to step up and drive these babies to a normal listening level. Remember I'm not sitting first row at a Metallica concert.

I prefer the over the ear type phones (circumaural) to create a constant spacial environment for the phones to work in. In the ear and over the ear types are critical to placement. They are also great on binaural recordings...awesome.

I currently have them plugged into a NAD 5300 Reference Player with hand tuned Burr Brown DAC's. ZERO noise floor gives these phones a chance do their thing. This setup is a dedicated CD listening assembly. Try a DMP mastered CD like "Flim and the BBs" to really out a smile on your face...

Unless you have 2 grand for a pair of electrostatics with dedicated amp, you can't do much better. One more piece of advice: Stay away from the music cancelling, oops I mean noise cancelling phones unless you fly alot. The Bose are absolutely awful. Cancel the noise with an over the ear design. Just my 2 cents.

This is what a $200 pair of headphones should sound like- the original source material. Very little coloration. Balanced from high/midrange/low and dynamic. I am an audiophile with custom speakers I personally designed and they kick ass. These headphones are even more resolving (as they should be). As mentioned in previous reviews, these are closed headphones, can get warm, are a bit (10.2 oz.) heavier than the open foam or buds, but the sound quality is definitely worth it. All in all Sony has done well in making the trade offs. If you want the same quality DJ's and recording engineers are using, then this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. And yes, don't judge this book until you have at least 24 hrs. of break in time. Quality construction always takes time to loosen up and become effortless. Enjoy!

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.

This product is excellent. The headphones fit well and comfortably, even for someone like me who wears glasses. The padding is snug, but not too tight and the whole construction of the headphone seems very durable. I've been using it for over a year and the durability of this item is unquestionable.
The sound quality is equally excellent for its price range. For a closed headphone, it sounds remarkably good, and unlike many other closed headphones, the bass is not overburdening on these Sony headsets. I strongly recommend this product!

I bought these V900's when I thought my V500's were stolen. (They've since reappeared, and I can actually make a comparison.)

I loved my V500s. They gave me very clean sound reproduction and excellent b ase. the V900's have even clearer base. So clear, in fact, that I'm noticing some fatigue after usage that I didn't get with the V500's. I use both pairs daily (one at work, one at home) and I really like the sound from both.

The difference in sound is, as everything with acoustics and psychoacoustics, subjective to the person. I believe the requisite larger driver in the V900's, along with the deeper base, has created a problem with a larger cup size. Where the V500's more firmly wrapped around my ears, there is more airspace with the V900's. This seems to lead to another issue of brighter highs which also add to fatigue.

It's going to depend on your ear size and listening preferences what headphones are best for you. I'd suggest trying them for at least an hour in the store before deciding between similar headphones, especially if you're going to be using them for long periods. You can always stiff the store and come back here for the cheaper, tax-free price.

The one thing you CAN count on is that Sony delivers some quality studio monitor headphones for the price. Not only that, but you can even use them with iPods and other lower-power sources. I get great sound quality out of 1/8" jack low-power devices and my main Audio I/O box on attached to my computer at home. Again, try them out first, but odds are that you won't get better for the price.

Very comfortable, covers my whole ear with room to spare, and very generous amount of padding. Reduces environment noises very well, and it does not leak music at all at reasonable volumes.
I use these with a Zune 120, mostly with 320kbps mp3's. Plenty of volume, and the sound is very clean, polite and uncolored. The bass and low mid is natural, highs remain clean, even when loud. It's an engaging, pleasant listening experience.
Build quality is excellent, although the easy-to-smudge shiny black sides seem like a strange design choice. I much prefer the matte black of the MDR-V6's I've owned for 9 years.

This is just a review to educate anyone that is thinking of buying these headphones, so they can make sure they are getting REAL Sony headphones. I will explain my story:

I purchased a pair of "Sony" MDR-V900HD Headphones from a popular auction website (not on Amazon) from a U.S. seller than claimed these came from a "pro audio shop". I paid around seventy-five dollars for them (includes shipping) which is about one-third of what actual department stores like Best Buy and Sony's website themself sold them for. I guess I just believed they were real as there were so many on the website, and even China sellers said they are 100% sure that they are authentic sony (liars...). So obviously it turns out, I received them, listened to them, and was very unsatisfied with the audio from "Sony" headphones. Why? Because come to find out, 3 months later, I read online forums and find that they are in fact generic, fake Sony headphones, and that I threw away seventy-five dollars. I realize it was my fault, but I would just like to educate people so this mistake doesn't happen to you.

Solution: If it's too good to be true, it is. If you're looking to buy a pair of these MDR-V900HD headphones, buy them through a reputable dealer like from Amazon.com themselves, or any of the authorized dealers that sell Sony products. Never buy them online from China, and if you ever do infact get headphones that are fake (look at online forums, or pictures someone posted above about real and fake MDR-V900HDs) then report the seller and you should get a full refund.

Hope this helps anybody out there! I wouldn't want anyone else to have the same thing happen to them.

These headphones are great in every sense of the word. Exceptional sound quality (without making your music sound 'overly colorful'), extremely comfortable, and really low impedance for PMPs and un-amped equipment. The only problem that I have ever had with these, is that their cups practically disintegrate after a few months. But don't fear, they make many replacements. I personally recommend the Beyerdynamic Velour Cushions, which aren't specifically designed for the V900HD's, but fit perfectly.

[...]

I have the following monitoring and audiophile headphones:

Sennheiser HD-280
Sennheiser HD-25
Sennheiser HD-650
AKG K701
AT ATH-AD900

I prefer the Sony's above all other headphones I have. it seems like some customers have gone and bought fake versions of these cans, you will never see these for less than $160.00. Therefore you get what you deserve trying to pay low $$$$ and buying from unscrupulous sellers. Shame on Amazon for letting these sellers sell without much effort.

Shame on the customers who have left SINGLE STAR ratings based on their fault (buying fake gear for too good to be true prices), these headphones deserve nothing but 5 STAR. You have to rate the counterfeit sellers negatively and alert Amazon, not bring an awesome product down.

The literature I got with one of my sets of MDR-V900HDs said they were 'studio recording monitors' . And that is what I use them for. The tight seal that people complain about is exactly what you need. The slightly higher impedance is great too works well with all headphone amps. These things are clean, clear, and exactly what you want if your in a band. Low impedance headphones can sounds good but they suck the juice up and can bog down a headphone amp, especially if your using more than one set. I bought 4 sets. I've practically worn the earmuffs off the first set because everyone wants to use them. So I had to buy more. They are well built too. Sturdy.
--Shredder
Deep Blue dJinn ( deepbluedjinn.com )