Sony launches MDR-M1 reference closed monitor headphones

Designed in collaboration with professional music producers, the MDR-M1 headphones are built to achieve sound that accurately reproduces creative intent.

Speakers vary, acoustic environments vary, but the theory is that if you have a reference pair of headphones you’re alway going to be able to measure what you’re hearing against a known soundscape.

That is the goal of the MDR-M1 Reference Closed Monitor Headphones, designed for music creators and sound engineers to produce music in any environment, heard as they intended. The headphones host a closed acoustic structure with high sound isolation, exclusively developed driver, and a lightweight and comfortable design that allows users to create in their own environments, as if they were in the studio.

At the core of the sound quality is a uniquely developed driver unit that achieves ultra-wideband playback (5Hz – 80kHz), 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.

Sony says that 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.

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 headphones are available this month for €249 / £209.

tl;dr

• The MDR-M1 Reference Closed Monitor Headphones are designed for music creators and sound engineers to reproduce music as intended in any environment.
• They feature a uniquely developed driver unit that achieves ultra-wideband playback, ensuring accurate reproduction of both low and ultra-high frequencies.
• The closed acoustic structure helps eliminate ambient noise and sound leakage, making them suitable for various production processes.
• The headphones offer a lightweight and comfortable design, with high sound isolation and two included cables, and are available for €249 / £209.