Sony Launches MDR-M1 Closed Monitor Headphones with High Sound Isolation

[Nomad76]

Sony Electronics Inc. today announced the MDR-M1 Reference Closed Monitor Headphones, designed for music creators and sound engineers to produce music in any environment, heard as intended. The headphones host a closed acoustic structure with high sound isolation, exclusively developed driver, and a lightweight and comfortable design that allow users to create in their own environments, as if they were in the studio. The MDR-M1 headphones combine studio sound quality with extreme comfort and reliability, suitable for a wide range of music production and high-resolution audio applications.

Sound Characteristics
The MDR-M1 offers studio sound quality with a carefully tuned acoustic structure to support a wide range of music production, all while offering high-resolution audio. At the core of the sound quality is a uniquely developed driver unit that achieves ultra-wideband playback (5 Hz - 80 kHz), featuring a combination of a soft edge shape to reproduce low frequencies with sufficient volume and low distortion, and a hard dome shape to accurately reproduce ultra-high frequencies.





The closed acoustic structure helps eliminate ambient noise and sound leakage from the headphones, making them suitable for use in a variety of production processes, so that each note can be carefully tuned and monitored to support accuracy and authenticity of the creator. A tuned port (Beat Response Control) acts as a ventilation hole to control low frequencies. By optimizing the operation of the diaphragm, there are improved low-frequency transient characteristics, making it possible to accurately reproduce sound with a very tight bass response.

Sony aims to create products that enhance both content creation and listening experiences for professionals and consumers. The MDR-M1 headphones were created in collaboration with some of the top sound engineers in the industry, including Mastering Engineer of Battery Studios, Mike Piacentini, and Recording and Mixing Engineer of Power Station at Berklee NYC, Akihiro Nishimura, to ensure an authentic and enriching music experience.

Mike Piacentini, Mastering Engineer of Battery Studios

"As engineers, we are often tasked to work in a variety of formats, which are all produced in different environments, on ever-changing speaker systems. Throughout the record production process, I believe it is important to have headphones that provide an accurate reference point, whether you are working on near-field monitors, mastering speakers, or an immersive speaker setup. I've worked alongside the Sony's incredible Tokyo headphone design team, to help create a pair of headphones that are accurate across the frequency spectrum in a variety of use cases. MDR-M1 are a great entry point for any creator who wants to be sure that the sound they are hearing in the studio translates to the end user in the best way possible."

Akihiro Nishimura (Recording and Mixing Engineer of Power Station at Berklee NYC)

"The tonal balance of the MDR-M1 feels very close to the impression of Power Station's Studio A control room. In recording sessions, it is important to care what musicians or singers are listening to when they play or sing. MDR-M1 gives you the same impression of listening in a control room headphone, which makes it easier to create music by listening to each other. The comfort design also makes us focus on music in long sessions. I hope MDR-M1 will become the standard monitoring system for any recording sessions."

Comfort and Design
Engineered with comfort in mind, the MDR-M1 ear pads were carefully designed to achieve both fit and long wearing comfort. Thick, low resilience padding is used to ensure airtight listening, and a new lighter design makes for a precise fit and excellent comfort for long mixing and mastering sessions. The MDR-M1 includes two cables, one is a high quality replaceable, detachable cable with a stereo mini-plug and plug adapter (stereo mini-plug to stereo standard plug) and the second shorter cable is also included and can be used depending on the connected equipment and usage environment for ease of use in a professional setting.

The MDR-M1 will also work seamlessly alongside Sony's 360 Virtual Mixing Environment (360VME) service to free creators from space constraints and heighten reproduction abilities from virtually anywhere.

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.

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[Archdragoon]

So... I have been using mdr-m1st for few years... Is this it global version or what?

 

[Dr. Dro]

This seems like a replacement for the venerable MDR-7506 and their classic studio cans from the 80's, but the pricing is all wrong.

Were I in the market for a studio headphone and had $250 to burn in my pocket, I would be looking at importing a MDR-CD900ST from Japan instead. Lucky me I scored my vintage MDR-V7 already... it should be roughly 33 to 35 years old by now, having owned it for the past 2 years and using it 8 hours a day ever since, all it needs is a new headband and earpads - the ones from the MDR-7506 may not look authentic, but they fit and I can inexpensively fix it up.

 

[Vincero]

Whilst I acknowledge there are minor differences, and improvements to some of the design features over time and production runs...

"Oh look.... it's another new MDR-7506"

 

[Onasi]

Come on, Sony. These are professional grade cans, less fluff in the press release and more actual specs. Hell, a frequency response graph would be nice as well to see how it is supposed (at least according to you) to sound.
Here, lemme help out anyone who’s interested:

Type	Closed-back dynamic
Driver size	40 mm
Sensitivity	102 dB/mW
Magnet	Neodymium
Frequency response	5 Hz – 80,000 Hz（JEITA）
Impedance	50 Ω at 1kHz
Maximum input	1,500 mW (IEC)
Weight	Approximately 216 g (7.6 ounces) without cable
Accessories	Headphone cables x 2: 1.2m, 2.5m (stereo mini plug), Plug adaptor (Stereo standard plug to Stereo mini plug)

Source: Ecoustics

 

[THU31]

Looking forward to seeing some reviews. The 7506 sound amazing and are super comfortable, but the build is definitely outdated (the wrinkled pads, the fixed cable, and personally I don't like the foldable design).

Obviously this is a completely different price class, but visually it seems like they would fit me perfectly. And I love the super low weight.

 

[ZoneDymo]

Come on, Sony. These are professional grade cans, less fluff in the press release and more actual specs. Hell, a frequency response graph would be nice as well to see how it is supposed (at least according to you) to sound.
Here, lemme help out anyone who’s interested:

Type	Closed-back dynamic
Driver size	40 mm
Sensitivity	102 dB/mW
Magnet	Neodymium
Frequency response	5 Hz – 80,000 Hz（JEITA）
Impedance	50 Ω at 1kHz
Maximum input	1,500 mW (IEC)
Weight	Approximately 216 g (7.6 ounces) without cable
Accessories	Headphone cables x 2: 1.2m, 2.5m (stereo mini plug), Plug adaptor (Stereo standard plug to Stereo mini plug)

Source: Ecoustics

80k hz yeah..... sure

 

[trsttte]

80k hz yeah..... sure

Finally headphones cats and dogs can use