Sony MDR-7506 Headphones have become a go-to option for recording studios and creators. The headphone set costs just $100 and delivers crisp, clear sound so you know exactly what your audience is going to hear. Today, the company announced a more robust option for studio headphones, The MDR-M1which has a slightly updated design, new drivers, a wider frequency range and improved bass response.
Inside, the MDR-M1s pack newly developed drivers capable of delivering a frequency response of 5 Hz to 80 kHz. Sony explains that this ultra-wide range is crucial for things like subtle details in various recorded sound sources (especially Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio). More specifically, the drivers have a soft edge for those super-low frequencies and a hard dome shape for accurate reproduction in the ultra-high range. There’s also a “tuned port” on the outside of the earcups, or Beat Response Control as Sony calls it, that provides the venting needed for better control of low frequencies. That component works in tandem with a diaphragm that’s optimized for a “very tight bass response,” according to the company.
“In recording sessions, it’s important to pay attention to what musicians or singers hear when they play or sing,” explained Akihiro Nishimura, an engineer at Power Station at Berklee NYC who worked with Sony to develop these headphones. “The MDR-M1s give the same impression of listening into control room headphones, making it easier to create music by listening to each other.”
These are closed-back headphones, so you won’t have to worry about sound leakage or ambient noise. Sony improved the replaceable ear cushions for greater comfort and better noise isolation. It also reduced the overall weight compared to the 7506, meaning longer recording sessions shouldn’t be as much of a burden. The MDR-M1s will come with two detachable cables with machined aluminum connections, one that has a stereo mini-jack and plug adapter (mini-stereo to standard stereo), and the other a shorter option for connecting to various professional equipment. Sony also took care to make the MDR-M1s more durable, since they’re likely to get dropped or knocked over in a studio or other recording and editing environments.
The MDR-M1s are now available for pre-order for $250, a significant increase over the MDR-7506. If open-back headphones are more suited to recording and editing, The MDR-MV1 It has a similar spec sheet to this new model, but the price is even higher: $400.
