Sony MDR-MV1 headphones review

09 October 2023
The MDR-MV1 are Sony's newest studio mixing and monitoring headphones

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  • 03 May 2025

Sony MDR-MV1 – A Real Creator’s Counter Review
Written from the perspective of someone who actually uses DAWs, not Discord

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Let’s cut the fluff. You can’t review a studio-grade headphone like the Sony MDR-MV1 by wearing it for a few gaming sessions and then declaring, “meh, it’s not flat enough.” That’s like renting a Formula 1 car, using it to buy milk, and then giving it a 2-star rating because it doesn’t have cupholders.

So here’s the real breakdown:

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1. “It’s not neutral, it’s v-shaped.”

False. The MV1’s tuning is engineered for spatial accuracy, not flat consumer curves. It gives slight warmth in the upper bass and presence in the highs, which helps in immersive mixing — especially in cinematic, orchestral, or 3D audio design. The guy complains it’s not flat, but flatness alone doesn’t define mixing utility — clarity, imaging, and staging do.

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2. “They’re better for gaming.”

Yes, because good imaging, clarity, and stage naturally benefit gaming. But if you’re seriously using “great for gaming” as your final stamp on a pro-level open-back monitor, you’re clearly looking through the wrong lens. MV1 wasn’t designed for 14-year-olds playing Valorant. It’s for professionals working with spatial audio workflows like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360RA.

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3. “Other headphones are cheaper.”

HE400se? Great headphone, no doubt. But planar magnetic ≠ better for mixing. And nowhere in that review did he mention the HD650, which is the actual gold standard in the mixing world. Why? Because he never touched a DAW. He’s not mixing stems, just Spotify tracks.

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4. “$400 is too much.”

You’re paying for engineering, not brand markup. MV1 is one of the lightest open-backs, with a low impedance of 24 ohm, ultra-wide soundstage, fast transients, and hyper-clean stereo separation. It doesn’t require a beefy amp to drive like most audiophile cans. It was built for working, not flexing.

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5. Real Talk from a Real User

I’ve used the MV1 with Logic Pro, Kontakt libraries, and Spitfire BBC Orchestra. You can hear ghost notes, reverb tails, EQ masking, and poor phase coherence like a sniper — not with booming bass, but with surgical clarity. You learn to focus your ears, not expect fireworks.

Is it the only headphone you need? No. Is it a serious tool for creators who mix with precision and work on spatial sound? Absolutely yes.

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Final Words

The MV1 isn’t for someone who thinks audio quality is the same as “how fun music sounds.” It’s for those who treat sound like a canvas — and know the value of a headphone that disappears, so only the mix remains.

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Verdict: That review was written by a casual user. The MV1 is a professional tool. Know the difference.

    • F
    • Fastermaster
    • 8wZ
    • 18 May 2024

    I must express my complete disagreement with your analysis regarding the sound quality of those headphones. Recently, I have been evaluating numerous headphones in search of a mid-priced professional option suitable for immersive mixing. It appears that your ear training is accustomed to highly processed, high-mid heavy sounding products, which may explain your perception of a lack of clarity in the high-mid range.

    In my experience, these headphones deliver exceptionally sweet and precise high-mid frequencies, with an incredible level of detail that reveals nuances in well-known tracks for the first time. Audio review is a serious endeavor that should be conducted by highly trained professionals, not by bloggers accustomed to listening to music on earbuds.I bought those and I'm really happy.

      • D
      • Distorted Rec.
      • iGf
      • 29 Oct 2023

      I solely disagree with your notion that there is no mixing ore mastering done on headphones you are completely wrong there are many professionals that do all the work on headphones exclusively , I have tried these headphones and they do have the Sony known signature sound improved i would say and they sound pretty accurate .

        Anonymous, 12 Oct 2023Nope, with or without dedicated AMP, FR stays the same, whi... more> "which means it will sound the same"

        Incorrect. It will sound louder (obviously).

        Besides, how would you do a volume-matched blind test if the AMPless set is too quiet to even meet an SPL satisfactory for music listening? This is assuming the source is something as weak as a budget Android phone.

          Anonymous, 11 Oct 2023No. Some difference in output impedance can affect some re... more> "but that is not why one AMP is better than other"

          I was never arguing that in the first place. You said it yourself, some headphones react differently to output impedance, and that's exactly what it is.

          Yes you're right, EQing is a much more effective solution if the problem is sound signature-related, I will take my previous statement back, but there is another problem: low volume output. I admit I've never heard the HD600, but given its 300 ohm impedance, it wouldn't be wrong to assume that it's very hard to drive. Hence the need for an AMP.

          AMPs are essential for driving headphones with very high impedance, I'm sure this is something we can all agree on...

            Anonymous, 12 Oct 2023Nope, with or without dedicated AMP, FR stays the same, whi... morei repeat, you can't simply plug high impedance headphones into weak source. you would still need an amp no matter what. impedance and voltage somehow affects loudness and sound quality.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • Ki8
              • 12 Oct 2023

              you have to suffer, 11 Oct 2023that headphone are just picky. you should need dedicated da... moreNope, with or without dedicated AMP, FR stays the same, which means it will sound the same, don't talk without proof, it is a snake oil that have been parrotted for so many years.
              Volume-matched blind-test you won't be able to tell what AMP is running.

                Anonymous, 10 Oct 2023Nah, dedicated AMPs and DACs are just snake oil in the hobb... morethat headphone are just picky. you should need dedicated dac and headphone amp just to feed the power it needs. you wouldn't just simply plug it into an audio source that have low impedance like 32 ohms found in smartphones, laptops, and desktop pcs. it would just sound faint either no sound at all.
                i hope this helps much.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • Kim
                  • 11 Oct 2023

                  NeonHD, 10 Oct 2023You'll need a dac/amp to boost the lower end or else t... moreNo.
                  Some difference in output impedance can affect some region in lower freq a little bit, but that is not why one AMP is better than other, it is just because different headphones react differently to output impedance.
                  It's amazing, audiofools still believe in AMP and DAC in 2023.
                  FR doesn't change.
                  You want different sound? Use EQ or buy different headphones, not AMP or DAC.

                    kevinmcmurtrie, 10 Oct 2023That's exactly Sony. They start with an idea to build ... moreThat sounds like Sennheiser too. They overpriced their HD599 for 300 something dollars when in reality it sounds more in line with a $100 headphone.

                      NeonHD, 10 Oct 2023The fact is that they do make good headphones, always have.... moreThat's exactly Sony. They start with an idea to build an absolutely perfect product but don't finish it. It goes on sale with a skyhigh price to pay for the premium materials whether it works as advertised or not.

                        Anonymous, 10 Oct 2023Nah, dedicated AMPs and DACs are just snake oil in the hobb... moreYou'll need a dac/amp to boost the lower end or else the treble peaks will dominate most of the sound. If you don't want to use an amp, get the HD650 instead which has tamer treble.

                          Fearghast, 09 Oct 2023Why you act like Sony ever produced good sounding headphones? The fact is that they do make good headphones, always have. However, this one just happens to be one of their more terrible headphones.

                            Anonymous, 09 Oct 2023Another audiophool..*audiophile

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                              • Anonymous
                              • KiN
                              • 10 Oct 2023

                              you have to suffer, 10 Oct 2023with HD600, you also need proper headphone amp. or else it ... moreNah, dedicated AMPs and DACs are just snake oil in the hobby.
                              HD600 plugged into anything will sound the same, unless the source is so bad maybe from ancient years, as long as volume is enough and no audible distortion/buzzing, which almost all modern electronics will do the job.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • iF4
                                • 10 Oct 2023

                                you have to suffer, 10 Oct 2023with HD600, you also need proper headphone amp. or else it ... moreYeah. I had an Objective 2 combo device (amp + dac) with the HD600's, great combo. Especially for the price, less than 500 euros total.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 0BG
                                  • 10 Oct 2023

                                  Sony are really terrible in higher end headphones (And higher end stereo systems too) - all you hear is bass. Their strength is in budget headphones. I have the ZX110 and the CH510 and i find them perfect for my taste. With little help from the equilizer, you get really neutral and pleasant sound with enough bass down to ~40hz.

                                    Anonymous, 09 Oct 2023Those really wake up with a decent headphone amp and DAC. A... morewith HD600, you also need proper headphone amp. or else it wouldn't sound right

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 0%R
                                      • 09 Oct 2023

                                      Fearghast, 09 Oct 2023MDR-Z1R are considered as one of the worst technically made... moreI'd call neither the WH-1000XM5 nor the Anker Life Q30 particularly good. Both are too bassy and not that balanced, the Anker wins purely because it's cheaper, so it has an excuse. But yeah, both get good ratings because of ANC, I tried a few of bluetooth headphones and even the highly rated ones were mediocre to me, including Sony WH-1000XM3 and Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+. Got Moondrop Space Travel purely for games on my phone since I can't use my IEMs when my phone is inside my controller and they sound way too good for what they cost, especially compared to what I tried before.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 0%R
                                        • 09 Oct 2023

                                        Anonymous, 09 Oct 2023Go listen to their ier-m9 and z1rSo to get something good from Sony all I need is to spend 1k? No thanks, others can provide good audio for a fraction of that price, which includes my Soundmagic HP151.

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