Sony MDR-1A Black
Never available again
View alternatives in the sidebar
View alternatives in the sidebar
According to our headphones expert
The Sony MDR-1A are Hi-Res headphones for the real music lover. Thanks to the frequency range of 3 to 1,000,000Hz, the sound is detailed. The 40mm drivers produce a realistic sound. Heavy bass sounds and high vocal notes stay natural. With the remote control in the cable, you can easily switch between songs. Are you getting a phone call? Take the call with the button on the cable and call hands free. The leather ear cushions are soft and don't press on your ears. After use, fold the headphones and keep them in your carrying bag.
Type of ear cushions | Over-ear | |
|---|---|---|
Bluetooth | ||
Noise canceling | ||
Sound quality according to customers | Very good | |
Carrying comfort according to customers | Excellent | |
Built-in microphone |
5 stars
33
4 stars
22
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
The Sony MDR-1A is definitely recommended if you opt for great sound quality and fantastic wearing comfort. I myself am a person who uses headphones every day, so I prefer to have pleasant sound and be able to wear them for several consecutive hours without experiencing any discomfort. Most of the time I use it at home or as a passenger in the car, train, plane, etc. Certainly not for long active trips, such as a long walk on the street, jogging in a park or cycling.
The sound is detailed; low tones come into their own without suppressing the other sounds. Compared to my previous headphones (an AKG K430), the Sony MDR-1A reproduces a more balanced sound and also the subtle details in the music are more clearly discussed. The headphones match the studio quality that the producer wanted to reproduce.
These headphones have a good build quality, they certainly don't feel cheap, which is okay for this price. The adjustment mechanism in the headband has a soft click which feels nice when adjusting. It also provides assurance that the band will not adjust itself in size when wearing the headphones.
There is also little to complain about in terms of wearing comfort. On paper, these headphones may not be one of the lightest, but the headband and ear cushions are extremely soft, which ensures plenty of comfort. The ear cups don't hug the head tightly, so you won't experience pain in the places where it rests. This means that you don't have to make too abrupt head movements or the headphones simply slide off your head. Despite this loose placement on the head, it does seal off the ambient noise well, which is definitely a plus for me. After wearing it for a long time, you may start to sweat around your ears because the ear cups are so warm, so you should definitely clean the leatherette after each use to prevent it from crumbling.
The fact that the cable is detachable and interchangeable is certainly a positive. Usually the cable is the first thing that breaks when using the headphones a lot. Also, there are 2 cables included in the box, one with remote and microphone, one without. However, the cable with remote control only seems to be compatible with Apple and Sony devices. I myself have a OnePlus One smartphone (Android) and the Smart-Key app does not appear to work with it. Anyway, I hardly use this remote control function anyway, so I prefer the cable without an extra container.
As far as design goes, it's an eternal discussion about flavors and colors, in my humble opinion it certainly doesn't look bad. As a final point, I would also like to add that the supplied bag certainly offers enough protection to take it with you on the road in the backpack (or hand luggage).
Too Long, Did Not Read: excellent sound quality, adequate wearing comfort, good build quality, not for active movements, warm ear cushions, compatibility with devices other than Apple and Sony leaves something to be desired.
Koen Geerts
2 August 2016
Automatically translated from Dutch
I prefer to listen to music through a good set of speakers. In addition to the modern ways of listening to music, a passion for LPs and standing in front of an old stereo set. I also used earplugs for my mobile and for the tablet. I also like to watch Netflix on this last one. Furthermore, a simple Sennheiser and a Creative for gaming. I wanted nice sound quality for all my devices and a closed system, which is nice when you're watching Netflix on the couch and not living or being alone. Now the happy owner of a Sony that meets all my wishes and certainly later in the evening to those of my roommates. The Sony reproduces a nice soundstage, the instruments are easy to place, and has a very nice bass sound, this was a real revelation for me. Two cables are included, which could have been a bit longer than 1.20 meters, this has already been solved by purchasing a longer one. Even with intensive use, the Sony sits comfortably on your head. I actually only found out later that these headphones have a great microphone, I hadn't read, but a nice extra. Are you looking for nice headphones for all your sound sources, with this Sony you can do it all!
Marco
18 October 2015
Automatically translated from Dutch
Tired of wearing in-ears (shure se215), I went for a full-size pair of headphones. The choice fell on the MDR-1A for a number of reasons:
This headphone is really very comfortable, you can wear it all day without any problems. It is an over-ear model so wearing glasses does not matter. The sound of these headphones is very good. There is a much more even sound image than for example Beats by Dre models, although the bass has received a small boost. The mids sound very natural, and the soundstage (spread of the sound) is very reasonable for a closed model of headphones. The highs sound nice and are never (unnecessarily) shrill. All in all, these are headphones that do pretty much everything right. Extremely comfortable, good build quality, detachable cable and good sound. However, if you are not looking for headphones for on the road, but just for home use, there are more options out there. I would then recommend looking at the open models of headphones, which give a better sound for the same price.
Rowan Vermeulen
6 November 2015
Automatically translated from Dutch
The Sony MDR-1A Black was rated best by independent consumer website Kieskeurig.
Product number | 538104 | |
|---|---|---|
Manufacturer code | MDR1AB.CE7 | |
Brand | Sony | |
Warranty | 2 years | |
Processing of your defect | Carry-in warranty |
Weight in grams | 225 g | |
|---|---|---|
Color | Black | |
Material | Plastic | |
Built-in microphone |
Sound reproduction | Stereo | |
|---|---|---|
Impedance | 24 O | |
Hi-Res audio | ||
Volume limit | ||
Active headphones | ||
Noise canceling |
NFC | ||
|---|---|---|
Bluetooth |
Detachable cable | ||
|---|---|---|
Ribbon cable | ||
Coil cable | ||
Braided sleeve | ||
Remote in cable | ||
Volume control cable |
Sound quality according to customers | Very good | |
|---|---|---|
Carrying comfort according to customers | Excellent |
Water-resistant |
|---|
Type of ear cushions | Over-ear | |
|---|---|---|
Types of design | Closed | |
Foldable | ||
Rotatable ear cups | ||
Ear cushion material | Leather (skai) | |
Physical buttons ear cups | ||
Touchpad ear cup | ||
Remote control on ear cups | ||
Volume control ear cup |
Awards NL/BE | Kieskeurig | |
|---|---|---|
Best tested |
