Sony’s new monitor headphones “MDR-MV1”
Sony will release a new model of monitor headphones “MDR-MV1” on May 12th. The price is an open price, and the expected store price is around 59,000 yen. The color is black. It is intended for use by professional engineers and general listeners, and comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty for free repairs. I will report on the first impressions I listened to in a separate article.
Differences from MDR-CD900ST and MDR-M1ST
As Sony’s monitor headphones, the legendary “MDR-CD900ST”, which is a standard model used in professional sites, and the “MDR-M1ST”, which appeared in 2019 as the “new generation of the CD900ST” which supports high resolution .” It has been known.
From left, the new model “MDR-MV1”, the standard model “MDR-CD900ST”
From the left, the new model “MDR-MV1”, high resolution against the new generation machine “MDR-M1ST”
The main feature of the new model “MDR-MV1” is that the housing is an open back type, which is good at expressing three-dimensional space. In addition, Mr. Tomohiro Matsuo, an engineer who is familiar with the specially tailored “Just ear” earphone, also participated in the development of this earphone.
New model “MDR-MV1”
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people, including professionals, creating music at home rather than in studios, and there is also a growing interest in creating music that supports spatial audio such as 360 Reality Audio (360RA ). On the other hand, for example, when making music while checking the 360RA correctly, 13 speakers need to be arranged properly, so it is difficult to create such an environment at home.
More and more artists are creating music at home.
It’s difficult to create a studio with 13 properly placed speakers at home
Image of 360RA music production, where sound images are arranged in three dimensional space
Therefore, the MDR-MV1 has been developed as a model with high performance as a headphone that reproduces stereophonic sound while having high performance as a 2-channel monitor headphone.
The MDR-CD900ST and MDR-M1ST are sold by Sony Music Solutions for professionals, and there is no free repair period. On the other hand, since the new MDR-MV1 model is also expected to be sold globally, it will be sold by Sony Marketing, the same as ordinary consumer headphones, so it comes with a warranty year manufacturer.
In addition, in order to fully demonstrate the capabilities of the 360RA monitoring headphones, a service called “360 Virtual Mixing Environment” (360VME) is provided which measures “the sound experienced by the user in MiL Studio” and reproduces it with headphones to be . Details will be described later.
Large sound field with open back
open back
The central part of the houses is slightly higher
In order to realize monitoring headphones that can be used in stereophonic production, the housing adopts an open back type. By reducing the reflected sound inside the headphones, it is possible to prevent the influence on the reflected sound given by signal processing and accurate sound field reproduction.
In addition, by providing a wide opening that connects the front and rear of the driver unit, the airflow control by the acoustic register is optimized. Unnecessary spatial resonance is said to be eliminated, and natural and full bass can be reproduced with minimal coloration.
The driver unit is specially developed and has a diameter of 40mm. Wideband reproduction from 5Hz to 80kHz is possible. Derivative diaphragm shape and corrugation suitable for open back type houses. Reproduction in the low range is high, realizing very high range reproduction and high sensitivity reproduction.
The corrugated edge of the diaphragm has straight folds, but the shape has been redesigned. In order to achieve low distortion even with an open type, we have devised ways to prevent physical distortion even when the diaphragm moves violently. In addition, we do not use rare materials for the diaphragm material, and say, “We use materials that can be made stable for a long period of time, such as the M1ST.”
An acoustic load duct is connected directly to the rear of the unit to optimize the operation of the diaphragm. The transient characteristics of the low range have been improved, and the low range reproduction of sufficient volume and the sense of separation from the midrange are compatible. It is said that the rhythm can be reproduced accurately.
The whole headset is about 223g and lightweight (cable not included). The ear pads are made of suede-like synthetic leather for a comfortable and stable fit. The ear pads are also replaceable.
Light weight of around 223g
hinge part
head pad
The cable is detachable and uses a screw lock ring. A headphone cable with standard plug input is attached at around 2.5m. This cable has the same specifications as the MDR-M1ST. In addition to this, a conversion cable (approx. 20 cm) from the standard plug to the stereo mini plug is also included.
There is an attached cable of about 2.5m
A conversion cable (approx. 20 cm) from standard plug to stereo mini plug is also included.
Sony will not release a balanced connection cable for the MDR-MV1. However, since the locking mechanism is not the same, it is not possible to lock, but it is possible to connect the balanced connection cable that can be used with the MDR-M1ST to the MDR-MV1 as a trial , and it is possible to produce sound with a balanced drive, rice field.
Sound pressure sensitivity is 100dB/mW. Impedance is 24Ω (at 1kHz). Maximum input is 1,500mW. Although it is a monitor headphone, it is easy to sound, and it is said that you can fully enjoy music even with a Walkman.
Detachable cable
360 Service Virtual Mixing Environment
The 360 Virtual Mixing Environment service is provided by “MiL Studio” in Tokyo, with technical cooperation from Sony.
It will allow headphones to reproduce the sound field environment of the reference studio for sound production in MiL Studio with high fidelity.
User keeps a studio and brings headphones. We measured the “audibility” of the sound field reproduced by the studio speakers, taking into account the user’s skeleton. By taking it back as profile data and applying it to Pro Tools, etc., it is possible to reproduce the “MiL Studio sound” in great detail even when listening with headphones at home.
In addition, it is said that the best effect can be achieved when using the MDR-MV1, but the headphones used do not have to be MDR-MV1.
