I have had mine for nearly a week and am so impressed with these as I use them in my high end professional studio. The detailing is fantastic and they are extremely accurate. What I like is there is just the right balance of wiggle room to give me the right final sound optimisation or finish. And they are super comfortable.
Yours was the first video I saw that introduced me to the Sony MDR-M1. After watching other review videos and reading some more, I bought mine, though it was backordered. Mine was delivered today. Afer unpacking, I found them definitely on the lighter side, compared with my Beyerdynamic DT-770 headphones. Putting them on, it was a welcome change for my ears; not as tight as the 770s, feeling really comfy. And when I played a few favorite reference tracks I use for mixing, the sounds popped. The low end is really impressive, and the highs and mids sound balanced. I like that I can use it in my home studio, but can pack them in my carry bag and use them at a cafe. Looking forward to going deep; thanks for the recommendation! I know it's first impressions, but been happy with Sony products for decades and I"m feeling confident about this product too.
I have relied on the 7506s for decades for recording both studio and location. For mixing, I use the Audio Technical MD50x. I will definitely have to look into the new M1s see how they compare.
This is great, The only thing that really stopped me from getting the 7506 was the lack of a detachable cable. I know yours lasted 20 years, but I'll admit that I am really hard on headphones. Im going to stay with my M50X for monitoring, but I will look more into these for mastering.
Nice! Yep, time will tell on the build quality... they feel sturdy enough. I can tell you the M1 are in a different league compared to my M50 in terms of sound accuracy and translation. Let me know how they work out for you.
@@SeanDivine Oh no doubt they are more accurate than the M50x; but I don't really think that is where the M50's shine outside of being "good enough" for most things. Where I think they truly shine is giving a very good understading of how the majority of consumer headphones will sound in the final cut. I do voiceover/voice acting and my voice is on the deeper side, so I like the M50x for monitors because it gives me a decently reliable idea of how far I am over the line with bass. Slightly too boomy means I really have radio broadcast sound which means roll things back until it sounds like radio broadcast sound in the cans. If it sounds like radio broadcast in the cans, means it has a decent warm sound for most users. The place where I think they lack is higher frequencies where I need more presence in the EQ, something it sounds like the MDR-M1s would be perfect for when moving to do fine corrections in mastering.
Ordered today, shipping oct10, lets hope I like them :) Mostly listening to various things like youtube, youtube music and spotify connected to my external soundcard but also want to use for making music in studio one once in a while :)
Hi Sean I been waiting for videos like this to get more insight about mdr m1 one thing that I noticed ore i dislike should I say is the wrinkled fabric inside the ear cup , that's the only thing that I suggest sony should fix it asap there is no need for smth like that on a product this good , best .
Thats the only thing i disliked other than that i cant wait to grab these and start working i do all of my work exclusively on headphones for a long time use Akg k701 to be exact @@SeanDivine
@@SeanDivine Would like to know how much of a sound do they leak thanks to their port. MDR7520 used to seal it perfectly and very little sound leak at high volume levels. Not sure how much of sound this leaks. This got a tuning port which worries me in this regard.
@@SeanDivine Got it. Will order it anyways. I am curious to see how this stacks up against the Legendary MDR7520s I got. That itself gonna be worth it. If the leakage is too much and causing disturbance to people in the room I will use it only when in my room(which I am rarely in). I mostly sit in the living room with my family and have headphones on so yeah will have to test that.
Great review! 🎧 The MDR-M1 seems like a strong contender for both studio use and everyday listening. Its warm, balanced sound makes it super versatile. I’m curious-do you think it can fully replace industry staples like the MDR-7506 for professional work, or is it more of a complement for different use cases? Loved the detailed breakdown-looking forward to more reviews like this!
We'll see... been using these exclusively of recent. Recording with them while also having mixes AND masters translate so well is kind of a game changer for me.
Thank you, good review! Please make a comparison if you can with the new Adam Audio H200 when they come out, they are cheaper but target this and the 50x and have nice options like replaceable headband cushions.
Glad you said they aren't as bright as 7506. I definitely found them too harsh for casual listening. Are they also less hot in the treble than the M50x?
In other words they finally did what KRK KNS-8400 did 10 years ago. I have both BTW but while the Sony were easy to replace their sponge, In the KRK it's surprisingly tough. The Sony still going strong since 2001.
Honestly, they’re the 2 headphones sitting on my desk right now… comes down to preference. The M1 are lighter and translate very, very well. Low end is there but not as hyped… 700 pro x have a full low end and exciting sound overall, a bit heavy for long periods.
@@SeanDivine I'll probably go with the M1 then. I mainly need a set of cans that are travel friendly that will translate well when recording and mixing vocals on the go with my RME Babyface Pro FS. The exciting sound of the Dt700 would be nice when making beats but accuracy is more important if I can only depend on 1 set of Headphones on the go.
The MV1 are open back headphones, which are quite different altogether. They won't have the isolation compared to the M1. Just depends on your preferences and if open backs fit your needs.
Hey Sean, if I want a headphone for the best listening sound quality and might want to make music someday too, should I get B&O H95 or SonyDR-MV1 open back headphone? I tried both M1 and MV1 in Sony store in mall, for some reason the Horizon Dreamer music off TH-cam sound fuzzy on the MV1 while M1 didn't, both didn't sound shockingly good too tho maybe as you said they are monitor headphone hence they should be, I do prefer MV1 look more than M1, if I will get one or 2, which one should I go for first? I want to watch movie and play games with it too, likely won't bring them outdoor
That really comes down to preference. I personally am not a huge fan of open back headphones - bass can be underwhelming and they require better amplification as they’re usually higher ohm. Also, they’re not isolated / discreet. The M1 sound quality is plenty good enough for gaming imo.
@@SeanDivine I see but they said this MV1 I surprisingly has deep base tho By the way, my name is Johnny and I'm a freelance logo designer, would you love to have a logo for your channel and your music production journey to help your branding to be more memorable, as a trademark to know which are your hardworks and also as the proud image to print on your merchs for your fans to own? Let me know if you interestedd I would love to design it for you!
I'm curious to try them and find out why they're not good for casual music listening. Supposedly audiophiles are looking for neutral sound too (I'm a newbie at this)
Self-confirmed Audiophile here. I have Kali IN5 + ws6.2 dual subs as my monitors, Meze109 Pro Primals, Beyerdynamic dt770, dt1990, JM Audio XTC 2 opens, and Dan Clark Audio E3. I also have compared (but do not own) Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noires, and the Meze Empyrean 2. I have about $10K USD invested betwwen all my audio gear. I can confirm these MDR-M1 are more for monitoring, present very neutral, and have a very pure, colorless timbre. Compared to something like the hd600, which is warm, full, lush, and mid-forward, these for me are just purely flat, tonally speaking, without being cold or warm. However, they lack in dynamics. And are not very musical sounding to my ears. Even the Sennheiser HD600 feels more dynamic and musical, although warm. The MDR-M1 would be very good budget-level phones for tracking, mixing, recording, and music production, but I find the macro dynamics almost completely flat. For music and movies, at around the same price of $200-300, I would recommend some Harmonicdyne Eris, Meze 105 Air, Beyerdynamic dt770 (+Dekoni choice hybrid pads and a tissue mod), Fostex t20rp (with a dekoni dt series or ZMF hybrid pad), Fostex T40/T50/T60rp, Modhouse Argon Mk3, or Sennheiser HD600/650/6XX. For music listening around $500-700 -the Meze 109 Pro, Beyerdynamic dt1770, dt1770 mk2, or dt1990, Sennheiser HD800S, Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noires, depending on tuning preferences or JM Audio XTC mk1 original open or closed (which come custom tuned). If budget is no concern, at $1-2K the JM Audio XTC 2 open, JM XTC 1 or 2.5 closed, Meze Empyrean 1 or 2, or DCA E3 would be my picks. Still, out of all the phones I have, if the Sony M1's do excell at one thing, it is its absolutely colorless and neutral timbre. Rivaled only by my $1K JM Audio XTC 2 open (which is not only neutral, but has actual bass punch and a sweet musical, and detailed top end to back it up.) The Sony M1 is great tonally speaking, but dynamics are its weakness for me, despite what the frequency graphs show. If you need something small, portable, and neutral there are a great budget option to have around, but its just outshined by almost any other budget headphone in its class as far as dynamics. Srill, soundstage is neutral to fair. And mids are neither forward nor recessed. And the top end is present, without being sibilant. Overall, it is just very flat. But this is rare in headphone designs and sometimes that is exactly what you need for music production, editing, or recording. The MDR-MV1 may be more interesting, possibly more sibilant, but at least more open and extended if you are using for music listening and enjoyment. I am still experimenting with my M1 to see if a pad swap will bring some more life to it and make it more versatile for my use, but so far I havent enjoyed any of my usual music on it for enjoyment. Even my sub-$200 Philips SHP9500 or X1/X2HR, or HD600 is more enjoyable. But again, I must admit, the M1 is one of only 2, maybe 3 headphones I own that are this tonally neutral. For me they would be great for portable beatmaking or working with my Roland MPC's on the go, I just wouldnt use it for music enjoyment or movies, but I will have to see if some Yaxi pads do anything for it.
I've been using the MDRV700DJ for decades. How does this new M1 compare to the MDRV700DJ? My demands: lows must be as super good as the MDRV700DJ ! Even on higher volume it will stay rock solid (techno / trance / melodic house) listener! And also: How does the M1 compare to the Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10K ?
990's are very V-shaped, bro... Not the best for accuracy. Besides, the new 900 and 700 are better than the old 770/880/990 models. 700 is THE ONE, the best they've ever made, I'd say. So good, like it wasn't even made by Beyer!
Not sure how Sony (or anyone else) can call the MDR-M1 'closed-back' headphones if they have a port on the enclosures. That would make them semi-open at best by default definition.
There'd be a very serious problem if +the same manufacturer+ made headphones that were 2.5x more expensive than the 7506's and they DIDN'T sound better. A more effective comparison would be against OTHER $250 headphones. But, whatevs..
They’re designed to be a true successor to the 7506 - perhaps the most common studio headphones worldwide, so I figure it’s a good reference for comparison.
Actually try the M1. Although I will still use the 7506 for recording, I haven’t thought to reach for them since I got the M1. They’re in a completely different league sound and build wise.
I have had mine for nearly a week and am so impressed with these as I use them in my high end professional studio. The detailing is fantastic and they are extremely accurate. What I like is there is just the right balance of wiggle room to give me the right final sound optimisation or finish. And they are super comfortable.
Yours was the first video I saw that introduced me to the Sony MDR-M1. After watching other review videos and reading some more, I bought mine, though it was backordered. Mine was delivered today. Afer unpacking, I found them definitely on the lighter side, compared with my Beyerdynamic DT-770 headphones. Putting them on, it was a welcome change for my ears; not as tight as the 770s, feeling really comfy. And when I played a few favorite reference tracks I use for mixing, the sounds popped. The low end is really impressive, and the highs and mids sound balanced. I like that I can use it in my home studio, but can pack them in my carry bag and use them at a cafe. Looking forward to going deep; thanks for the recommendation! I know it's first impressions, but been happy with Sony products for decades and I"m feeling confident about this product too.
Glad to hear they're working out for you! Listening on them over here as we speak, still loving it 🙌
Describe the main differences in comparison with dt770, please
This or 1770 pro mk2? @@SeanDivine
😮 woah - looking like a must have!
I'm glad they kept that retro look!
Same here! Iconic 👍
Looks promising especially for the light weight!
I have relied on the 7506s for decades for recording both studio and location. For mixing, I use the Audio Technical MD50x. I will definitely have to look into the new M1s see how they compare.
Audio Technical MD50x? There's no such brand, no such model, no such headphone.
@@dsanj4745 I think he meant the Audio-Technica M50x.
This is great, The only thing that really stopped me from getting the 7506 was the lack of a detachable cable. I know yours lasted 20 years, but I'll admit that I am really hard on headphones. Im going to stay with my M50X for monitoring, but I will look more into these for mastering.
Nice! Yep, time will tell on the build quality... they feel sturdy enough. I can tell you the M1 are in a different league compared to my M50 in terms of sound accuracy and translation. Let me know how they work out for you.
@@SeanDivine Oh no doubt they are more accurate than the M50x; but I don't really think that is where the M50's shine outside of being "good enough" for most things. Where I think they truly shine is giving a very good understading of how the majority of consumer headphones will sound in the final cut. I do voiceover/voice acting and my voice is on the deeper side, so I like the M50x for monitors because it gives me a decently reliable idea of how far I am over the line with bass. Slightly too boomy means I really have radio broadcast sound which means roll things back until it sounds like radio broadcast sound in the cans. If it sounds like radio broadcast in the cans, means it has a decent warm sound for most users. The place where I think they lack is higher frequencies where I need more presence in the EQ, something it sounds like the MDR-M1s would be perfect for when moving to do fine corrections in mastering.
Love this! Could you do a video comparing to other popular closed backs like the m40x, focal, etc🙏🏿
I'll see what I can do 🙌
Ordered today, shipping oct10, lets hope I like them :) Mostly listening to various things like youtube, youtube music and spotify connected to my external soundcard but also want to use for making music in studio one once in a while :)
Let me know what you think, enjoy 🙌
Hi Sean I been waiting for videos like this to get more insight about mdr m1 one thing that I noticed ore i dislike should I say is the wrinkled fabric inside the ear cup , that's the only thing that I suggest sony should fix it asap there is no need for smth like that on a product this good , best .
I hear you. They’re comfortable though and don’t get hot.
Thats the only thing i disliked other than that i cant wait to grab these and start working i do all of my work exclusively on headphones for a long time use Akg k701 to be exact @@SeanDivine
@@SeanDivine Would like to know how much of a sound do they leak thanks to their port. MDR7520 used to seal it perfectly and very little sound leak at high volume levels. Not sure how much of sound this leaks. This got a tuning port which worries me in this regard.
@@KING_DRANZER It's just for the low end driver to move air. I measured the bleed levels at typical volume and it wasn't a factor.
@@SeanDivine Got it. Will order it anyways. I am curious to see how this stacks up against the Legendary MDR7520s I got. That itself gonna be worth it. If the leakage is too much and causing disturbance to people in the room I will use it only when in my room(which I am rarely in). I mostly sit in the living room with my family and have headphones on so yeah will have to test that.
Great review! 🎧 The MDR-M1 seems like a strong contender for both studio use and everyday listening. Its warm, balanced sound makes it super versatile.
I’m curious-do you think it can fully replace industry staples like the MDR-7506 for professional work, or is it more of a complement for different use cases?
Loved the detailed breakdown-looking forward to more reviews like this!
I still use the 7506 for tracking (many artists prefer them), however, for my own mixing and tracking use the M1 is far superior IMO
Hey Sean, good to see you!
Are you really gonna replace the Beyerdynamics you have?
We'll see... been using these exclusively of recent. Recording with them while also having mixes AND masters translate so well is kind of a game changer for me.
Thank You!👍
I need to check these out. I love Sony headphones. I want to compare these to my Sony CD900ST. :)
Thank you, good review! Please make a comparison if you can with the new Adam Audio H200 when they come out, they are cheaper but target this and the 50x and have nice options like replaceable headband cushions.
I'll see what I can do 🙌
Glad you said they aren't as bright as 7506. I definitely found them too harsh for casual listening. Are they also less hot in the treble than the M50x?
In other words they finally did what KRK KNS-8400 did 10 years ago. I have both BTW but while the Sony were easy to replace their sponge, In the KRK it's surprisingly tough. The Sony still going strong since 2001.
If we compare them from an audiophile point of view for listening to music/movies - which one will have a more pleasant and dense bass?
These or the DT700 Pro X for music production?
Honestly, they’re the 2 headphones sitting on my desk right now… comes down to preference. The M1 are lighter and translate very, very well. Low end is there but not as hyped… 700 pro x have a full low end and exciting sound overall, a bit heavy for long periods.
@@SeanDivine I'll probably go with the M1 then. I mainly need a set of cans that are travel friendly that will translate well when recording and mixing vocals on the go with my RME Babyface Pro FS. The exciting sound of the Dt700 would be nice when making beats but accuracy is more important if I can only depend on 1 set of Headphones on the go.
I think you'll be very pleased 🙌 let me know what you think
Where do you get your instrumentals ? Do you make them ? Sell them ?
I made these - seandivine.com/beats
are these good for just listening to music?
Amazing review. Finally, I can put my 7506 into a backpack for good.
Thanks for doing this review 🙏 😊 I suppose the handband doesn’t lean forward, does it?
Most welcome. With the swivel ear cups, you can adjust where it sits on your head but no it doesn’t tilt forward.
So we should get MV1 instead of M1, because it's more expensive and therefore obviously better?
The MV1 are open back headphones, which are quite different altogether. They won't have the isolation compared to the M1. Just depends on your preferences and if open backs fit your needs.
M1 more bass. Better for outside (isolation) Mv1 more open sound better comfort , less clamp , choose your poison
..pls, are they better than dt 700 prox?
They're quite different, I do like both... if accuracy and mix translation is most important to you, I'd say MDR-M1 wins there.
These or the very popular ATH M50 ? 🤔
MDR-M1 all day. My M50 cans fell apart after a couple years and I just could never get mixes to translate well with them.
Are these just international M1ST?
Is the foam around the ears really interchangeable with the foam of the MDR 7506? Thank you
Hey Sean, if I want a headphone for the best listening sound quality and might want to make music someday too, should I get B&O H95 or SonyDR-MV1 open back headphone? I tried both M1 and MV1 in Sony store in mall, for some reason the Horizon Dreamer music off TH-cam sound fuzzy on the MV1 while M1 didn't, both didn't sound shockingly good too tho maybe as you said they are monitor headphone hence they should be, I do prefer MV1 look more than M1, if I will get one or 2, which one should I go for first? I want to watch movie and play games with it too, likely won't bring them outdoor
That really comes down to preference. I personally am not a huge fan of open back headphones - bass can be underwhelming and they require better amplification as they’re usually higher ohm. Also, they’re not isolated / discreet. The M1 sound quality is plenty good enough for gaming imo.
@@SeanDivine I see but they said this MV1 I surprisingly has deep base tho
By the way, my name is Johnny and I'm a freelance logo designer, would you love to have a logo for your channel and your music production journey to help your branding to be more memorable, as a trademark to know which are your hardworks and also as the proud image to print on your merchs for your fans to own? Let me know if you interestedd I would love to design it for you!
I'm curious to try them and find out why they're not good for casual music listening. Supposedly audiophiles are looking for neutral sound too (I'm a newbie at this)
Self-confirmed Audiophile here. I have Kali IN5 + ws6.2 dual subs as my monitors, Meze109 Pro Primals, Beyerdynamic dt770, dt1990, JM Audio XTC 2 opens, and Dan Clark Audio E3. I also have compared (but do not own) Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noires, and the Meze Empyrean 2. I have about $10K USD invested betwwen all my audio gear.
I can confirm these MDR-M1 are more for monitoring, present very neutral, and have a very pure, colorless timbre. Compared to something like the hd600, which is warm, full, lush, and mid-forward, these for me are just purely flat, tonally speaking, without being cold or warm. However, they lack in dynamics. And are not very musical sounding to my ears. Even the Sennheiser HD600 feels more dynamic and musical, although warm.
The MDR-M1 would be very good budget-level phones for tracking, mixing, recording, and music production, but I find the macro dynamics almost completely flat. For music and movies, at around the same price of $200-300, I would recommend some Harmonicdyne Eris, Meze 105 Air, Beyerdynamic dt770 (+Dekoni choice hybrid pads and a tissue mod), Fostex t20rp (with a dekoni dt series or ZMF hybrid pad), Fostex T40/T50/T60rp, Modhouse Argon Mk3, or Sennheiser HD600/650/6XX.
For music listening around $500-700 -the Meze 109 Pro, Beyerdynamic dt1770, dt1770 mk2, or dt1990, Sennheiser HD800S, Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noires, depending on tuning preferences or JM Audio XTC mk1 original open or closed (which come custom tuned).
If budget is no concern, at $1-2K the JM Audio XTC 2 open, JM XTC 1 or 2.5 closed, Meze Empyrean 1 or 2, or DCA E3 would be my picks.
Still, out of all the phones I have, if the Sony M1's do excell at one thing, it is its absolutely colorless and neutral timbre. Rivaled only by my $1K JM Audio XTC 2 open (which is not only neutral, but has actual bass punch and a sweet musical, and detailed top end to back it up.)
The Sony M1 is great tonally speaking, but dynamics are its weakness for me, despite what the frequency graphs show. If you need something small, portable, and neutral there are a great budget option to have around, but its just outshined by almost any other budget headphone in its class as far as dynamics. Srill, soundstage is neutral to fair. And mids are neither forward nor recessed. And the top end is present, without being sibilant.
Overall, it is just very flat. But this is rare in headphone designs and sometimes that is exactly what you need for music production, editing, or recording.
The MDR-MV1 may be more interesting, possibly more sibilant, but at least more open and extended if you are using for music listening and enjoyment.
I am still experimenting with my M1 to see if a pad swap will bring some more life to it and make it more versatile for my use, but so far I havent enjoyed any of my usual music on it for enjoyment. Even my sub-$200 Philips SHP9500 or X1/X2HR, or HD600 is more enjoyable.
But again, I must admit, the M1 is one of only 2, maybe 3 headphones I own that are this tonally neutral. For me they would be great for portable beatmaking or working with my Roland MPC's on the go, I just wouldnt use it for music enjoyment or movies, but I will have to see if some Yaxi pads do anything for it.
I've been using the MDRV700DJ for decades. How does this new M1 compare to the MDRV700DJ? My demands: lows must be as super good as the MDRV700DJ ! Even on higher volume it will stay rock solid (techno / trance / melodic house) listener! And also: How does the M1 compare to the Pioneer DJ HDJ-X10K ?
can i use the m1 for casual listening? tks
Definitely. I’m listening to music on them at the moment, plugged into my phone with the shorter cable that’s included 👍
Can MDR-M1 use Balanced Cable like MDR-MV1?
💯💯🎯🎯💯💯
Would you say these more accurate than DT 990 pro's?
990's are very V-shaped, bro... Not the best for accuracy. Besides, the new 900 and 700 are better than the old 770/880/990 models. 700 is THE ONE, the best they've ever made, I'd say. So good, like it wasn't even made by Beyer!
Not sure how Sony (or anyone else) can call the MDR-M1 'closed-back' headphones if they have a port on the enclosures. That would make them semi-open at best by default definition.
The port is slightly bigger than a pin hole. It's just moving a small amount of air away from the driver. No additional bleed that I can notice.
check out the mv1
These are nice. I just know the headband fake leather will peel over time.
Hopefully not, we'll wait and see!
There'd be a very serious problem if +the same manufacturer+ made headphones that were 2.5x more expensive than the 7506's and they DIDN'T sound better. A more effective comparison would be against OTHER $250 headphones. But, whatevs..
They’re designed to be a true successor to the 7506 - perhaps the most common studio headphones worldwide, so I figure it’s a good reference for comparison.
@@SeanDivine I dig it. Not complaining. Just saying.
🙌
noone is ever talking about replacement earpads. sony dont sell original m1 earpads. from where do i get new ones ???
Yaxi pads on Amazon
Better acoustic isolation... with a hat
😁
Is the “new” MDR-M1 the same as the MDR-M1ST which has been available from Japan for 5+ years? 🎧
Just in huuuuh?
It took 30 years to out preform the 7506's full prope to sony.
why they don't update that kind of headphones ?? too old..
99 bucks vs 249 for the M1. more expensive for more plastic. i wouldnt go for M1. what we want Sony, is a 7506 wireless. jezz.
Actually try the M1. Although I will still use the 7506 for recording, I haven’t thought to reach for them since I got the M1. They’re in a completely different league sound and build wise.
mv-1 is still king
Looks like it's not great for musical richness and grandeur from a Dap. Not much point to it then outside the studio it seems.
Bro, i can tell just by looking at those headphones they would crush my ears after an hour. Hellllllll nah.
I’ve been wearing them for extended periods, no issues. Feel pretty comfortable to me.