For many of you who read MC, Sony is known among other things for their headphones for the end user who “simply” likes to enjoy their favorite music, guaranteed to do so with mostly quality equipment.

Undoubtedly, much less known is his approach to the professional public, a field in which he was able to position himself with solutions such as line of MDR headphones. In this area, the Japanese multinational has just launched its MDR-MV1, his new studio headphones.

How are studio headphones different from others? Basically, we’re talking about a type of headphone that was specifically designed for use in a music recording and production environment. The important thing here is not to offer “processing” that more or less artificially improves the audio experience, but that they are designed to offer accurate and detailed sound reproduction: that is, they usually offer a flat and balanced response. in which certain frequencies are not amplified or attenuated.

Since headphones are designed to be used by a professional for several hours, they are usually designed to be lightweight, very comfortable and easy to carry. So all the benefits? You could almost say yes, although they also have some details that might not be so convincing to the end user, such as not being designed to have especially beautiful or attractive (they generally don’t), the fact that they openly disclaim active noise cancellation technology, or any type of chip that allows for wireless music (no Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.). When using this type of headphones, the quality of the sound source that we will listen to is also important.

This means they tend to emphasize “passive” isolation of the user, so no other sounds enter the headset. Surprisingly, this is not the case with these MDR-MV1s, which have opted for an open design with the aim, according to the brand, to guarantee “accurate reproduction of a wide sound field, making them an ideal choice for mixing and mastering. sound. surround space, such as 360 ​​Reality Audio, as well as high-resolution stereo sound”, which, incidentally, is an approach that many headphones aimed at the audiophile audience are committed to, and which in this way manage to reduce hearing fatigue which occurs after several hours of listening to music.

Comfort at work and not only that

Of course, this does not mean that even non-professional users can find these types of headphones attractive. In fact, if they are big fans, the type who listen to three to four hours of music a day, such as when working remotely, they are a great option to consider.

In this case, what does Sony present to us in its MDR-MV1? As expected, a spartan design in which from the first moment the emphasis is on the purpose we talked about, in which almost all the main role is taken by the huge and extremely comfortable breathable inserts that fulfill what they promise and what they give us. it is easy to use this device for several hours without getting tired. All materials used are designed to lighten their weight 223 grams and the perfect balance (I think the Apple AirPods Max weighs 385 grams) makes it so that we hardly notice that we are wearing them on our heads. In fact, and although a high dose of subjectivity comes into play here, these are probably the most comfortable headphones we’ve ever tested.

In the connectivity section, they include a removable and replaceable high-quality cable with machined aluminum connectors that fit the classic 6.3mm Jack. which is normative in this type of environment and which Sony supplements with a 3.5mm mini-Jack adapter as a nod to the home user. in case we want to connect it to a smartphone or player that does not have this connector. We insist that it is removable, we can connect the cable, which is also more interesting for us.

what are we missing Perhaps in headphones that we do not forget, the brand is sold at the recommended price 480 eurosIt would be nice if the package included a case or cover. In addition, it would not be bad if the brand invented a system that allows the replacement of plates in case of damage or deterioration due to use.

High fidelity and surround sound

However, you only need to connect these headphones to an audio source to discover the good job that Sony has done in terms of offering a tremendous experience in terms of being able to appreciate and enjoy any detail of the recording they are working with.

For this, they opt for a control unit capable of reproducing sound in an ultra-wide band (5 Hz – 80 kHz), when it is usual for a headset intended for the consumer market to remain at 20 Khz. This guarantees a very wide frequency range, ideal not only for the dynamic range offered by genres such as classical music, jazz or rock, but also for appreciating the subtleties found in any professional recording, from film to video game or any other format. It also has a 40mm diaphragm. which in itself ensures better performance in reproducing bass sounds.

Sony further promises that the MDR-MV1 offers greater spatial sound reproduction capability and accurate positioning of sound objects in 360-degree space. To verify this, we first resorted to Amazon Music’s surround sound offering, only to later check on YouTube how various videos and audiovisual productions use this technology, as well as what is known as 8D audio (which was always known as 3D Sound).

Feeling? Simply spectacular, with a completely surround sound and in which it is very easily identify dozens of sound points different. Although in musical compositions with a very wide dynamic range and specifically prepared for the use of this technology, the use of these headphones is of course interesting, where they really make a difference is in the area of ​​audiovisual production, where we really feel that you can live right inside the film.

In addition, Sony says the MDR-MV1 will also work seamlessly with the recently announced 360 Virtual Mixing Environment (360VME), a technology that accurately reproduces the acoustic field of an immersive sound studio inside the headphones. To this end, the multinational company explains that after a single measurement in the studio, the environment can be recreated anywhere using headphones and 360VME software.

The open back structure of the earcups reduces internally reflected sounds and eliminates acoustic resonances while accurately reproducing natural surround sounds and information. On the other hand, it lacks any type of passive isolation, so even at medium volume we can simultaneously listen to any conversation we have next to us.

In other words: if what you’re looking for is complete isolation from your surroundings, these headphones are not for you… also considering that by design the music “leaks” so you can annoy the people you work with or share the space with in that moment. If, on the other hand, you need to interpret some cases with the highest possible fidelity of your sound sourcehere is a serious candidate for you to consider.

The Sony MDR-MV1 are available in a Spanish retail channel such as Amazon, which currently sells them 428 euros.