SonyMDR1AM2 Wired High Resolution Audio Overhead Headphones, Black (MDR-1AM2/B), 9.2 x 4.4 x 10.2 inches

I've owned several Sony headphones over the years, including noise cancelling models WH1000-XM4 and WH1000-XM5 as well as some others I can't remember. I've owned mostly Sony headphones for the last several years but at one point also had headphones from Sennheiser and Audio-Technica.I consider myself somewhat of an "audiophile" and personally feel like I can tell the difference between FLAC 96kHz/24bit and regular old 44.1Khz/16bit 320Kbps MP3 and other compressed audio formats.So with my history of headphones out of the way, let's talk about how amazing these Sony MDR-1AM2/B sound. Simply put: they're the best sounding headphones I've ever owned. The bass is much better than I expected and is clear, simultaneously crisp and smooth, and not overly powerful or underwhelming. The bass is less powerful than what I would get out of the WH1000-XM4/5 however I consider that a good thing because bass, in my opinion, shouldn't be boosted. I want to hear it as the artist intended, and these MDR-1AM2 deliver that original sound perfectly.The mid and higher octaves of music also sound clear, and simultaneously crisp and smooth. It's exactly what I would expect from headphones like these. It's simply amazing.These headphones have a very smooth and flat frequency response curve, which is excellent and hard to get in headphones. It makes a big difference. I want to hear music just as it was intended from the artist, and with such a smooth and flat response curve, you'll get that original sound.The build quality is surprisingly top-notch and way better than I expected. They're so light you'd think they're made cheaply, but that's not the case. Several parts of the headphones are actually made of metal, such as the band you can adjust to fit your ears, and the cup housing the drivers.For those who like to change up the way they sound, you can do that using an equalizer in your music app or the phone's default one, or one on your desktop. Personally I don't bother because I like the sound just as it is.These headphones are very lightweight. They weigh next to nothing compared to a WH1000-XM5. It's amazing as it makes long listening session much more enjoyable and comfortable. The padding around the ears is very thick, soft, and extremely comfortable. It does a good job at sealing out most other sounds too, which enhances the music experience. They are very comfortable to wear for as long as you'd like.Sony spent a lot of time and effort into getting these headphones certified HiRes - and it clearly worked out well. The grill has a very neat pattern to it. The drivers are simply amazing and can even reproduce sounds as high as 100kHz (way beyond the ability for a human ear to hear). The aluminum coated drivers do make a big difference, as it adds a certain level of stiffness that helps keep sound more accurate.I listen primarily to music recorded at 96 or 192kHz at 24bit depth. I feel like I'm finally getting every ounce of that from these headphones. I listen on my phone using a DAC that goes up to 384kHz/32bit and is very clear and clean. The DAC I use for my phone is exactly what's needed to truly enjoy the music. In my case the DAC was well priced for it's amazing chipset. My desktop has an even better DAC that also does the same 384kHz/32bit but has even better noise reduction and such. They sound amazing on both phone and desktop. You'll need a good DAC to enjoy these headphones to their fullest.I highly recommend these headphones to anyone, especially audiophiles or those who take music seriously, or even work with music, such as producing or mixing. These headphones are so good, I wish I started with them and never bothered with the noise cancelling ones. They simply don't compare at all in clarity and accuracy of the music.These headphones are a must buy!

Let's start with what I can say for sure: the are the best sounding and most comfortable headphones I've ever used, full stop. If you want the best possible sound quality and the most comfort these are the top of the heap. I'm using these with an Xperia 10 and FLAC music, HiRes end to end, and these headphones do the high quality audio justice. I've been a music fan all my life and have lived through record, tape, CD, compressed audio, etc and nothing has ever sounded as good as these with HiRes music. These headphones are also extremely comfortable. The pads are a super soft fake leather that is as soft as skin or a flower petal or velvet, it is extremely soft. The head piece is also coated in soft fabric. And the headphones are so light that it is shocking when you first hold them. You can listen to these for hours without fatigue.Now, let's get to what only time can clarify: I don't know how durable these are. As I mentioned they are so light that it is shocking, but that lightness makes them feel cheap. On closer inspection they are made with high quality materials. What feels in places like an all 0lastic body is in fact metal in many places. The metal is simply so thin and light it feels lime plastic. That said coming from a pair of Master & Dynamics these feel very light and brittle. Only time will tell. At first I thought they were cheaply made but like I said over time I've realized that they are actually very well made, just with an emphasis on lightness. That said, I know I'll have those master and dynamics in 10 or even 20 years. How these will fare we can only wait and see.Ultimately I recommend these highly. My priorities are comfort and sound quality and these do the trick. These don't have features that reduce quality like Bluetooth or noise cancelation so what you are paying for here is premium audio quality, not xoensive extras that make your music sound worse. These paired with HiRes music and a player are as good as it gets and the first true improvement I've heard in audio quality I've heard in my adult life.

I own OneOdio, and Sennheiser SD569's, and was looking for something more comfortable, and offering the BEST possible sound. I needed closed back, and wired because my wife listens to stuff on her IPODS nearby. Turning bluetooth on and off was a pain.First, I tried Senheiser SD300, and my new IPAD PRO would not drive hardly any volume. Next I tried Koss Pro 4S, and they sounded good and were light weight, but kept shorting when I shrugged my shoulder. I exchanged for another pair, and had the same problem. Next I tried Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro. Again, IPAD PRO wouldn't drive sufficient volume. It seems I needed an amplifier. Tried one, and didn't like the hassle of being tethered to another device, and didn't find the sound quality or comfort to be better than what I already owned. So, I decided that despite mfgr claims, and other reviews, I needed low impendence headphones. Most articles I read said low impedance means lower sound quality.Not sure what to do, I called an expert on headphones, and he mentioned these Sony's. In fact he said these are what he used personally. I just received them, and my search is over! They sound better than all the others I tried, even with the amplifier on the others. No amp needed for Sony's, lightweight to the point I don't notice they are even on my head. Low enough impedance I'm only slightly over half maximum volume on the IPAD.I know I sound like a commercial, but simply hope others can benefit from my experience. These fit the bill perfectly for me, and my search is over. I highly recommend these for IPAD and mobile device use, and in my experience these are simply the best. Not cheap, but well worth the investment.