Sony MDR-V150 Monitor Series Headphones with Reversible Earcups

Other products by Sony

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Note: Gift-wrapping is not available for this item.
• ASIN: B000092YPR
• Item model number: MDRV150
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (399 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank

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  #18 in	Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Headphones
  #47 in	Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Audio & Video Accessories

• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 2, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The MDR-V150 closed supra-aural headphones provide top-end comfort and sound quality. Sony's closed type headphones allow only a limited amount of ambient noise into the ear canal, giving your attention fully to the music. The padded earcups fit comfortably, hour after hour. For those who like to use the headphones for single-sided monitoring, these MDR-V150s come with reversible earcups. The supra-aural design is engineered for excellent listening comfort. The wide headband distributes the headphone's weight evenly. The two meter cord (6.6 feet) is made of oxygen-free copper wiring and is double-sided.

Sony has installed several key features to these headphones to enhance their sound quality. The thirty millimeter drive units delivers a deep bass sound and a wide dynamic range (the frequency range extends down to 18 Hz.) Both the stereo mini-plug and the UniMatch phone plug are gold-plated to make sure sound is transported fully and accurately. The gold-plated treatment also helps resist corrosion and supports the headphones' high conductivity and low noise. Lightweight ferrite magnets allow for high power at a minimum size. Finally, the PET diaphragm works to deliver low distortion.

Excellent fit, excellent compatibility and excellent sound: these headphones fit the bill for a sound professional.

What's in the Box
Sony MDR-V150 headphones and UniMatch plug adaptor

Product Description

Studio Monitor Series Headphones incorporate high-end materials and advanced engineering; critically clean, exceptionally clear sound for professional and high fidelity applications. Reversible earcups enable single-sided monitoring flexibility. 30 mm diameter drive units are larger than many headphones for deeper bass, lower distortion and wider dynamic range; bass response extends down to a low 18 Hz. 500 mW power handling stands up to day-in, day-out use at high output levels. Ferrite magnets allow for high energy and compact size producing ample sound output - 98 dB/mW sensitivity. Oxygen-free copper cord assures maximum conductivity, minimum noise. It conducts electricity better than conventional copper. Supra-aural design rests lightly on the ear and creates a controlled environment for better sound. Driver is positioned the correct distance from the ear canal. Wide, molded headband distributes the headphone's weight over a wide area; reduced pressure means comfortable listening for hours on end.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

316 of 334 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Technical Explanation and Spec Review, February 9, 2007

By	Real Name "argo_navis" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

It seems from a lot of the reviews on here, that people don't quite understand the specs behind headphones which are crucial to its sound. A lot of people are comparing these headphones to iPod earbuds and saying that it sounds like something is missing. Here's why:

The technical specs for iPod earbuds:
Bandwidth response-20Hz to 20,000Hz
Impedance-32ohms

The technical specs for MDR-V150s:
Bandwidth response-18Hz to 22000Hz
Impedance-24ohms

For those of you who don't understand the numbers, it means that the MDR-V150s have a broader range of sound, but the iPod earbuds pack a bigger sound. This is precisely why you think something is missing.

If you listen to iPod earbuds over a long time, your ears become accustomed to really loud, albeit a small range, sound. This is also why iPod earbuds are known for causing serious harm to your ears over prolonged periods of use. For it to sound right, you have to use the full amount of power, which the earbuds provide. Your close-range hearing becomes damaged over time and you can't hear subtle sounds or details, but you can still detect low volume. The earbuds won't sound deafening because you can still hear outside noise.

The MDR-V150s have a larger range of sound and lower impedance. That means there is a much richer sound. You don't need to jack up the volume to get a good listen (but you do need your hearing intact). You also may not be used to the larger range of sound so the range of sound you're used to will sound drowned out at close range. Many of the comments complaining about this transition from earbuds are noting that staples of their music listening sound strangely undetailed on the MDR-V150s. High levels of bass have a way of "drowning" out treble sounds if you're not used to listening to music with ample bass at close range.

Another major difference is that since these are "on-ear" headphones instead of "in-ear" buds, you have much less outside noise interfering with listening. It's like the difference between listening to a car stereo with the windows up or the windows down. You have to listen to things louder if there's more outside noise and you can't notice as many details either. There is a reason cellphone handsets for the car use earbuds instead of headphones, and that's so you can still hear the road. Why would you want to use earbuds that are intentionally designed so you can still hear your surroundings but compensate for it by deafening you?

I work a lot with sound whether it's production, music, or art and I use these as portable stereo phones because of their quality and sound range. I use them with my iPod with the long cord tucked into my case's belt clip. They are incredibly affordable for their quality. Most comparable headphones cost at least $30. I have been using these headphones since freshman year of college when I was first exposed to them in my school's sound lab.

My opinion aside, the manufacturer specs speak for themselves and it's hard to imagine that iPod earbud fans really believe that these provide less sound when physically they have a much broader range of sound and do not permanently damage your ears.

As for the tightness, it's good. It'll keep the phones pressed against your ears. The padding coupled with the tightness is what keeps as much outside noise sealed out. The more noise cancellation you can get, the better the sound.

And for the hair complaint: you could always tie up your hair or give up on headphones with plastic size adjusters. The plastic size adjusters were just designed to snag hair, so it seems.

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best headphones I've ever owned, December 12, 2006

By	Peter E. Johansen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not a connoisseur of headphones, and quite honestly I don't think I've even paid much more than $20 for a pair of headphones. And maybe because of this, I've never owned a set of headphones that I was totally happy with until now. These are by far the best headphones I've even bought, and I was just floored by how good some of my favorites sound on these headphones. I just hear so much more.

I hesitated to buy these since so many people on Amazon complained about the feel of these headphones saying they pinched. Well, they are bigger than what I'm used to - a little bulky maybe - but I found them really pretty comfortable. Also, because they fit a little tighter, they seem to block out a lot more noise, which make them great for the gym or walking down a busy street.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great on the ears but tight on the head, July 18, 2006

By	TheWaldo "W." - See all my reviews

I bought my set from Wal-Mart. The sound is excellent with deep full bass and clear higher frequencies. Much better sound than the foam ambient noise type. My main concern was that the headphones are TIGHT on the ears. The cups (as noted by other reviewers) do not cup the ears, but rather sit on and press directly against the ears. Great sound or not, after half and hour or so of listening I would actually have a headache from the ear pressure. I gave these away and found a set of headphones at Radio Shack that sounds just as good and has a large enough cup to totally enclose the ears. After 3 or 5 hours these are still comfortable.