Did SONY just make a better DT-990?

Measurement Index

Resolve's Headphone Ranking:

How to read headphone measurements

00:00 - Intro
00:37 - Build, Design & Comfort
03:49 - Sound: Objective
07:25 - Sound: Subjective
08:41 - 360 Reality Audio
09:34 - Studio use vs music listening
12:29 - Conclusion

[ResolveReviews]

Just for clarification, the DT-990 is not a high bar to clear. The reason for the comparison is that the tuning of this is more reminiscent of that one, just better in the bass and mids.

[ubacow]

Sony did say they designed this for Spatial mixing. In regards to that this headphone also allows you to go to certain Sony studios or labs to get your HRTF professionally measured and they will give you the file for when you're mixing. I think the 6-7k boost is designed for that purpose in mind. Sony lists on their site which studios/stores/labs that you can go to get you're HRTF measured for this specific headphone.

[GankWater]

The headphone show: Sennheiser products 'S++++ tier, especially considering the price!'. Beyer product 'This headphone nearly 3x the cost trashes it!'

[eva]

If Sony made a consumer version with their typically warm tuning and made it slightly cheaper it would be an absolute hit.

[iocomposer]

Where these headphone shine is specific to people like me, who mix films in immersive technologies like Atmos. The VME software allows me to emulate a large mixing room in a virtual way, allowing me to mix accurately without sitting on a dubbing stage which typically costs $500/hr. Thanks for the review!

[domonickwilliams]

I’m a studio engineer and yes we often use headphones that are specifically meant for pointing out flaws within a mix and a completely neutral headphone will not do that as well so in that sense this Sony headphone would be well suited for studio use and just too clear the use case of a studio headphone is always to point out flaws and inconsistencies

[eliasbergstrom]

At $400 I expect it to be better than the DT990 lol

[TheJediJoker]

Headphones have multiple uses and purposes in a studio.

1. The most common use is as monitors for talent (musicians, voiceover artists, etc.). For that purpose, an open-back headphone is probably not going to work, depending on the sensitivity of any microphones nearby to the headphones. You don't want bleed from whatever is being monitored to show up on the recording. For talent monitoring, therefore, you generally want closed-back headphones with minimal leakage, good comfort, and excellent durability. Sound quality takes a back seat. That's why the DT770 is king in the studio. (There are also single-sided headphones so that talent can more easily hear what's going on around them during recording, including their own voice/instrument.)

2. The next most common is as monitors for engineers during recording. Sometimes, talent will be recorded in the control room for various reasons. In that case, bleed may need to be minimized just as in the live room or booth. Less frequently, an engineer may work from within the live room. In either case, the desirable characteristics are identical to talent monitors. (The same applies to field and location recording.)

3. The least common use is as tertiary, secondary, or rarely primary monitors for mixing and mastering. Depending on the goal, desirable characteristics for this purpose can vary widely. A tertiary monitor may be a consumer reference, in which case you're more likely to see AirPods than "studio/pro" headphones. A secondary monitor may be to zero-in on problem areas, in which case a tuning emphasizing those problem areas may be desired over a neutral, "reference" tuning. If being used as a primary monitor, however, a headphone should likely be as neutral as possible to help the engineer make decisions that will translate best to any and all end user playback systems. Even so, an engineer may prefer a less neutral headphone because they are used to it and know how their mixes and/or masters translate from it, and/or because it highlights problem areas.

For these reasons and more, a studio/pro headphone may not be a good choice for reference listening.

[MajrTac]

Had this for a month now. I only use streaming for music (Tidal). The app has a feature that works for this headphone. Having the Sundara and HD650. Each provides a different experience.

Update: it's perfect on electronic drums. It gives that surround sound when playing

[shonen]

I just got these. I have a Focal Clear Mg, Sennheiser HD 595 and Focal Bathys. And. I. Absolutely LOVE these!!! Jacked into my WMZ1, Discman (DE350) and RME Adi2FS — WOW! Right up my alley! Fun but technically well done V shape with great soundstage and super comfortable?! I might buy two!!

[Qimchiy]

I tried this headphone and I think it's excellent for most people. It sounds good, good bass, didnt notice that treble peak, its extremely comfy with its clamping and weight. I thought it was plastic, but as you've found out its metal. So itll probably last really long and stay comfy for maybe even days especially with thicker earpads.

[MonoPod_DD]

I got these for gaming. Needed a heaphone with good sound imaging so I could pinpoint direction and distance of audio. Went from those classic $20 headphones from the 2010 days of console gaming to HyperX Cloud IIs, to Phillips SHP9500, and now to these, and each step has been a more than significant improvement. Was considering getting the Audeze MM-100s but I could've gotten the Sonys faster, so I got 'em to try 'em and I kept 'em, because of how relaible of an improvement it was on what headphones I already had for how I wanted to use them.

[bdsattern]

Some aspects of the MDR-MV1 design seem like a response to Sennheiser’s new HD 490 Pro, which seems like a response to Beyerdynamic’s studio headphones. The studio monitoring headphone market looks to be shifting to meet the needs of people who want to create and consume spatial and VR/AR content. The MDR-MV1 may not be the type of headphone I want, but a lot of reviewers on the Headphone Show seem to expect every headphone to be tuned for “reference.” It even feels like they tend to push down anything that doesn’t hit their standards that way. So, yes, I think having a completely separate category for headphones that are purpose-built and designed as a studio tool is fine. It fills a niche.

[universeman]

On studio headphones— I just mix and master with my Aeolus on a tube amp, because it’s what I listen to music through, and I know exactly what I want things to sound like on it.

[nativeenglishu]

Girth and gumption! Wow! An ever-widening audiophile vocabulary. Thanks Andrew ;-)

[ericying]

Thanks for another detailed review resolv! I noticed the WF-1000XM5 (IEM) and WH-1000XM5 (full-size) both have a plateau in the treble from around 4.5K to 10K. Maybe it's indeed something to do with 360 Reality Audio.

[launchpadmcquack]

Studio headphones are almost always used as a second reference (monitors being the primary) for checking various flaws in a mix that might go unnoticed on many monitoring systems. Very few accomplished mix engineers used headphones as their primary reference.

[jamestorres]

I've been waiting to hear your review of this one in particular

[KaledTV]

you should review the HD 490 Pro and compare them to the MV1, that would be a great head to head.

[themastroiannis]

great review. thanks so much. owned the Beyer DT1990 for mixing and mastering (jazz and classical) but got exhausted with the treble boost. I now use Sennheiser HD600 and Neumann NDH 30 and i'm getting waaaay better results! don't believe headphones have to be so treble boosted for mixing and mastering or to "facilitate" hearing flaws in a mix. from your reviews, i would love to try the Audeze MM-500 for mixing and mastering. hopefully soon i'll get a pair.