Item #MDR1AM2/B

Sony MDR-1AM2

Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones
Item #MDR1AM2/B

Sony MDR-1AM2

Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones
$298.00
Discontinued

Overview

Tuned for clearer sound
Sony's newly developed 1.57" lightweight HD driver with an aluminum-coated liquid crystal polymer (LCP) diaphragm delivers clear, lively sound, especially on mid to high tones—perfect for vocal-focused styles—and a smooth, precise response across the entire frequency range.

Pitch-perfect ultra-highs
Specially-designed Fibonacci-patterned grills protect the drivers while minimizing sound damping of high-resolution frequencies, so you can revel in every detail of the ultra-high notes.

Truly authentic sound
A supplied Φ4.4mm balanced connection cable retains all the clarity of studio sound so you can savor every detail of High-Resolution Audio.

Listen in style and comfort
With an ultra-lightweight frame and pressure-relieving earpads, you can listen comfortably in style for long periods of time.

Enjoy music as the artist intended with High-Resolution Audio

Take your digital music collection to another level with High-Resolution Audio. By digitally capturing music at a higher rate than CD, High-Resolution Audio allows you to get closer to the original studio recording and enjoy your music just as the artist intended.

Aluminum-coated LCP diaphragm for more precision

An aluminum-coated, liquid crystal polymer diaphragm gives a more consistent and precise sound across the entire frequency range than even a conventional LCP driver. High frequencies uniquely contained in High-Resolution Audio especially benefit from the added rigidity, and energy lost during transmission to the headphone housing is more uniform, ensuring a true and authentic performance.

Wide frequency response for a full range of sound

The wide-band frequency range, spanning 3 Hz to 100 kHz1, is designed for a broad variety of music styles. Such a wide frequency response ensures even advanced audio formats, which require a much larger spectrum, can be accurately reproduced without hard limits or frequency roll-off, giving your music more life and realism.

Patterned grill for smooth ultra-highs

Grills help to protect the precision headphone diaphragm and are designed specifically for passing ultra-high frequencies without introducing "color" to the sound. The grill pattern is based on a Fibonacci sequence to ensure no frequency is boosted or cut. The result is a smooth, refined sound right across the frequency range.

Supplied balanced-connection headphone cable

A 4.4Φ balanced connection cable separates left and right sound signals completely, unlike conventional headphone cables which share a ground wire. This minimizes signal transmission loss and resulting sound deterioration, so you hear less distortion and cross-talk.

Silver-coated oxygen-free copper

The MDR-1AM2 uses silver-coated oxygen-free copper cables, designed to minimize resistance and signal-transmission loss. The result is less sound degradation, finer detail, and smoother treble sounds.

Heavy bass with Beat Response Control

Built-in Beat Response Control improves the transient characteristics in bass sound and delivers accurate rhythm.

Enfolding closed-back design seals in sound

The closed-back, enfolding design wraps around the ear, helping to seal in music and keep distractions out. Meticulously crafted acoustics ensure sound is exclusively directed towards your ears, so you hear even the subtlest of sounds. You'll also feel every beat, as the closed-back design helps to maximize the bass signatures in your music.

Pressure-relieving earpads for total comfort

Soft, synthetic leather earpads with pressure-relieving cushions have been designed to rise and shape around your ears, ensuring a comfortable fit. Smooth materials and seamless stitching provide comfort and durability for long hours of listening.

Super-lightweight design for hours of comfort

The MDR-1AM2's super lightweight design relieves pressure on your ears so you can listen for hours in comfort.

Swivel design makes travel easy

Take these headphones with you anywhere. A swivel design makes them easy to store on the go. The earcups swivel flat for easy packing in a bag or slipping into the supplied pouch.
Size & Weight
WEIGHT 6.60 oz
General Features
HEADPHONE TYPE Closed Dynamic
DRIVER UNIT 1.57 in (Dome Type)
MAGNET Neodymium
IMPEDANCE (OHM) 16 Ω
DIAPHRAGM Aluminum-Coated LCP
FREQUENCY RESPONSE 3–100,000 Hz1
SENSITIVITIES (DB/MW) 98 dB / mW
CORD TYPE Detachable/Silver-coated OFC
CORD LENGTH 47-1/4"
PLUG Gold-plated L-shaped Stereo Mini
WEARING STYLE Circumaural
CNET Review Stars

1AM2 Headphones

The precision sound and full-spectrum clarity of the MDR-1AM2 headphones captures the hearts of music lovers everywhere. And with an ultra-lightweight frame and pressure-relieving earpads, you can listen for hours in total comfort.
1AM2 Headphones

Enjoy music as the artist intended with High-Resolution Audio

Take your digital music collection to another level with High-Resolution Audio. By digitally capturing music at a higher rate than CD, High-Resolution Audio allows you to get closer to the original studio recording and enjoy your music just as the artist intended.

Aluminum-coated LCP diaphragm for more precision

An aluminum-coated, liquid crystal polymer diaphragm gives a more consistent and precise sound across the entire frequency range than even a conventional LCP driver. High frequencies uniquely contained in High-Resolution Audio especially benefit from the added rigidity, and energy lost during transmission to the headphone housing is more uniform, ensuring a true and authentic performance.

Wide frequency response for a full range of sound

The wide-band frequency range, spanning 3 Hz to 100 kHz1, is designed for a broad variety of music styles. Such a wide frequency response ensures even advanced audio formats, which require a much larger spectrum, can be accurately reproduced without hard limits or frequency roll-off, giving your music more life and realism.

Patterned grill for smooth ultra-highs

Grills help to protect the precision headphone diaphragm and are designed specifically for passing ultra-high frequencies without introducing "color" to the sound. The grill pattern is based on a Fibonacci sequence to ensure no frequency is boosted or cut. The result is a smooth, refined sound right across the frequency range.

Supplied balanced-connection headphone cable

A 4.4Φ balanced connection cable separates left and right sound signals completely, unlike conventional headphone cables which share a ground wire. This minimizes signal transmission loss and resulting sound deterioration, so you hear less distortion and cross-talk.

Silver-coated oxygen-free copper

The MDR-1AM2 uses silver-coated oxygen-free copper cables, designed to minimize resistance and signal-transmission loss. The result is less sound degradation, finer detail, and smoother treble sounds.

Heavy bass with Beat Response Control

Built-in Beat Response Control improves the transient characteristics in bass sound and delivers accurate rhythm.

Enfolding closed-back design seals in sound

The closed-back, enfolding design wraps around the ear, helping to seal in music and keep distractions out. Meticulously crafted acoustics ensure sound is exclusively directed towards your ears, so you hear even the subtlest of sounds. You'll also feel every beat, as the closed-back design helps to maximize the bass signatures in your music.

Pressure-relieving earpads for total comfort

Soft, synthetic leather earpads with pressure-relieving cushions have been designed to rise and shape around your ears, ensuring a comfortable fit. Smooth materials and seamless stitching provide comfort and durability for long hours of listening.

Super-lightweight design for hours of comfort

The MDR-1AM2's super lightweight design relieves pressure on your ears so you can listen for hours in comfort.

Swivel design makes travel easy

Take these headphones with you anywhere. A swivel design makes them easy to store on the go. The earcups swivel flat for easy packing in a bag or slipping into the supplied pouch.

CNET Editors' Rating
4.5 out of 5 stars.

The good

The Sony MDR-1A is a relatively lightweight, very comfortable full-size headphone that offers sound that's improved over the MDR-1R's, with better definition from the bass through the midrange to the treble. The headphones now sit on your neck correctly (the earcups rotate the proper direction) and you get two cables, one of which has an in-line remote for smartphones, along with a nice carrying pouch.

The bad

Somewhat pricey; in-line remote lacks some functionality for iPhone users.

The bottom line

The supercomfortable Sony MDR-1A does a good job balancing clarity with just enough of laid-backness to make it a very versatile headphone that's well worth considering if you're looking for a full-size headphone in the $250-$300 range.

The overall rating is 8.7 out of 10.
  • Design rating is 9.0 out of 10.
  • Features rating is 8.0 out of 10.
  • Sound rating is 9.0 out of 10.
  • Value rating is 8.0 out of 10.

Reviews

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
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G
Gus
I love these headphones.

This was my 4th buy from Audio Advice, having previously purchased the Peachtree M25 desktop speakers, Audeze LCD-2, and Dragonfly Cobalt DAC from them, Each of my experiences with Audio Advice has been more fabulous. I can also attest to how terrific they have treated me after the sale when needing warranty replacement on the DAC and on a couple of occasions where I had decided after making a purchase that an item wasn't to my liking and I had to make a return. I hate having to do that.

So I bought this headphone as an open box pair at a great price and I just couldn't be happier with my purchase. Several years ago I owned the International version of the MDA-1A and while I enjoyed that headphone, it had this annoying problem where the right ear cup would make this crackling sound every time I turned my head or shifted my jaw. It drove me crazy so I sold them. And on some level I really had a bit of remorse. I had my eyes on these for some time and had read about them being significantly improved from the 1A and decided to give them a shot. I'm happy to say that Sony has eliminated the noise issue 100% and that they do in fact sound better than the previous model.

This Sony is a FUN sounding headphone to my ears. I didn't buy them to sit back and listen real critically. I bought these in order to place atop my head and listen to youtube video on my laptop, or to put on some music to listen to while enjoying a bit of a nap. I am a disabled guy and sometimes need to do that. I'd feel less angry with myself if I broke these than if I were to break either of my LCD series cans (I also own the LCD-X) or my Dan Clark Audio, Focal, etc. Those are the cans I go to for critical listening.

Don't get me wrong, I like this headphone and think it sounds great given the price point and for my needs. It's a lightweight, very comfortable headphone which may be made of plastic but I think that if taken care of should last a long time. My only gripe with it would be the included cable. It's a little shorter than I'd like. I prefer a length of 7 feet so that I can have the option of using at my desk and sitting back. I found a solution, an aftermarket cable (I haven't found many) but it's 10 feet long and that's a bit long.