What is it?
The Sony MDR-M1 studio headphones are the successor to that most iconic set of cans in the MDR-7506, designed to build upon the legacy by providing several improvements. If you’re looking for a 7506 replacement though, you’ll find these are a very different proposition indeed.
They’re considerably more expensive for a start, retailing at $269.99 versus the 7506’s much more reasonable $109.99, which is interesting considering the differences between the two are relatively small. The MDR-M1s feature a wider frequency response, a lower impedance, a detachable cable that isn’t coiled, and are ever so slightly lighter by a few grams.
The cups have also had a redesign with comfort in mind, featuring the same spec of drivers but newly built for this model. The exposed wires are gone too, which for most people will be a welcome addition. Unlike the 7506s, the pads of the MDR-M1 only swivel, which does make them slightly less transportable.
Performance
Whenever I get a new pair of cans, my first test is to listen to some of my favourite reference tracks, music I know every inch of. Kicking off with the bass test, I popped on Lil Wayne’s ‘A Milli’ to see how they handle the low end. The MDR-M1s certainly have more bass than the MDR-7506, but it’s very well behaved. My usual Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pros are decidedly more detailed in the super low stuff, but these have a nice balance to them that gives you a good overview of the lows without feeling overpowering.
Looking for something a little more complex, I move on to Radiohead’s ‘Paranoid Android’ to see how they perform with a busier mix. I’m impressed again; there’s a really nice balance across the whole spectrum. The frequency response is V-shaped, so in terms of sound, they’re very different from the 7506s, with none of the clean mids that are a signature of those cans. I also find the highs to be quite tame, which I end up enjoying as they’re less fatiguing when you’re listening over a long period of time.
Speaking of time, they’re incredibly comfortable, with the lightweight design almost allowing me to forget I had them on. They’re much more cosy than my usual DT 990s, and even after hours of tracking some guitars in my home studio, I didn’t feel any aches from the headband or the pads pushing on my ears. They're synthetic leather, but didn't feel sweaty despite a heatwave during my review.
The inclusion of two cables is nice, especially as I’m not a huge fan of the coiled cable that comes with 7506s. The short length is great for working at the laptop or using the audio interface at a home studio desk, while the longer one is ideal for tracking and general monitoring duties. The cables screw into the left-hand side of the headphones, so swapping them out is nice and quick, and you can easily sort a replacement if need be.
Verdict
If you’re a fan of the MDR-7506s and are looking for an upgrade, then these aren’t the headphones for you. The Sony MDR-M1s may be the spiritual successor to Sony’s Scheps-approved mixing cans, but they tread their own path. The balance of sound across the spectrum is really nice, and I love the tame high end, which makes them really well adapted to monitoring and tracking over long periods of time. For mixing, though, I’d prefer something with a little more detail in the very high and low-end.
Hands-on videos
SoundGuys
GadgetryTech
Sean Divine
Alternatives
Specifications
Price |
$269.99/£209 |
Design |
Closed back, over-ear, dynamic |
Driver |
40 mm |
Transducer magnet |
Neodymium |
Impedance |
50 Ohm |
Frequency Response |
5 Hz - 80,000 Hz (JEITA) |
Sensitivity |
102dB/mW |
THD |
N/A |
Connection |
2x detachable cables with gold, stereo Unimatch plug 1/4" and 1/8" |
Ear pads |
Synthetic Leather |
Ear cups |
N/A |
Included extras |
2x detachable cables |
Weight |
216 |
Contact |
