It’s an ok write up. I am just playing around and had to share since these and other Sony hear doesn’t get much love. Like Audeze I swear there is a house sound and when you hear music mixed with a Sony, you are blown away.
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Honestly though, I like Sony as a brand a lot. I have trust in their products as a reputable company, and none of the Sony products I have had so far have broken down prematurely or been cheaply made.
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Well… if you spend more the $20 on a pair of Sony’s it’s not bad. At certain point you can’t ask for amazing for cheap. Koss managed to pull it off with enough products but they’re an enigma.
Unless you are talking about the Sony MH755/MH750 IEMs for about $20 and $10, respectively. Those things are awesome for the price!
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How would you say these compare to the DT 177x? Or the 770 PRO 250? Or the Meze 99?
I’ve been though the 770 (too much treble, tight headband) and the Meze (great sound but uncomfortable), and I’ve been tempted to try the DT 177x, but haven’t managed to convince myself, esp. at the current $470 price point…
These sound like they might be the answer I’m looking for?
I have not had the M2, but I had the original MDR 1A and I think the are fairly similar. It was a very comfy headphone. They are light and the headband and ear pads are very well padded. They are not built nearly as solid as the DT770 but they have a nice clean look and they are sturdy enough. Speaking about the sound from memory they have a nice warmer sound signature. Not as detailed as the Beyers but also the treble is much more tame. They had a good amount of bass. Probably not quite as impactful as the Beyers but it’s pretty prominent. I don’t remember their imaging or soundstage to be stand out characteristics so I think they were probably average. It’s been a while since I’ve heard them and I’ve owned several headphones since I’ve had these, so hopefully my memory is serving me well.
Do you need a closed back for isolation? If not the AQ Nighthawks are the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn and you could find them used cheaper than the DT177x. You could also try to find a pair of Nightowls if you really need a closed back. Not the same sound as the Nighthawks from what I’ve been told, but still probably a solid choice.
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If you didn’t like the treble on the 770’s then you definitely won’t like it on the 1AM2’s. It can get peaky (and harsh if you’re treble sensitive) at times. I’d stick with the MDR-1AM (the one with the red accents), but also check out the V-Moda M100’s if you want gobs of bass and relaxed treble.
I haven’t heard those headphones but in the end, the 1AM2’s are just a comfortable headphone. As for the comment as not resolving as well as the Beyer’s, I can’t say personally but I can say my issue with the 1AM2’s over time is the resolution just doesn’t compare with my other much more expensive stuff.
But… I do say enough artists record with Sony gear so 1 set of Sony headphones is ideal. I’d just be torn against saving money and going with the MDR-7506 (which I have) instead.
What are some similar headphones to the 1AM2 in terms of sound signature? I’m planning for an upgrade for better overall resolution, but it seems like there aren’t many headphone models for the mainstream at the upper price echelon…
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sony z7m2 might be the “upgrade”
Probably Campfire Cascades.
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Hmm…Are there any options from the world of open-back headphones?
I’m sure there are, but none of the opens I have really sound like a sony, so take these with a grain of salt:
Out of what I have, my beyerdynamics T1.2 after a pad swap (leather/hybrid/suede materials) turn into a very warm, v-shaped can, with great detail.
Other beyers: The T1.3 comes very warm out of the box.
The dt880 (600ohm version) is cheaper and also recommended.
My sennheisers hd6xx and hd560s, when bass boosted (software or amp) get incredibly warm, the hd560s are pad rolled with brainwavz XL suede which make them extra warm and bloomy, extremely enjoyable combination.
Haven’t heard these 2 but they might be the better options:
If you really want the sony-house sound you can look for an used sony mdr ma900, have seen for like $300 in great condition, kinda hard to find.
Harmonicdyne zeus, widely recommended, easy to drive, should have enough warmth and sparkle reminiscent of sony sound, with great soundstage and detail.
Also maybe check out the focal elex and elear, aren’t really like a sony but the bass and mids impact are ludicrous, recommended. Same goes for audeze’s, hifiman and monoliths planars.
Some reviewers said that the T1.2 is similar to a HD800, which is bright-neutral. Then do you think I could just get a HD800s instead? Are there any differences between the T1 Gen 2 and the HD800?
Never heard a hd800, but some do say theyre very similar. I wounldnt call the T.1 bright-neutral, its more of a bright v-shape, but gets very bassy after a pad roll.
At this point Id say make another thread to get better help, the thing about the hd800 (and T1) is that it has a very specific kind of bright tuning that aims for detail and soundstage, a lot of people end up not liking it, its something to buy if you care about soundstage the most.
This is the first Sony headphone I have ever seen that comes with only a balanced cable out of the factory.
Does this mean it can only be used with a balanced cable & amp, or can I also use unbalanced cables & amps?
Does it sound like it was meant for balanced amps?
You get both a balanced and an SE cable. You can use it with both balanced and SE amps.
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Ah, I see. On a second look, I think I mistook the microphone cable for balanced lmao.
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currently on the fence between the 1am2 and the takstar pro82, does anyone have both and gets the ups and downs of each? I like a light bass emphasis most of the time for orchestral and instrumental music but I also love cranking the low end for basshall, dubstep, rap, hip hop, edm etc
I’ve just bought these headphones (awaiting delivery) and must admit it was quite a journey trying to choose from the abundance of headphones out there! I managed to narrow it down to two, the Meze 99 Classics and the Sony MDR-1AM2s. I went with the latter as it seemed to tick all the boxes - Watching movies was a big part of that decision.
Now I need to choose a portable DAC/AMP and was wondering if anyone could help? The iFi Audio GO blu (and make use of the 4.4mm cable included with the Sony headphones) or the Fiio BTR5? Specifically, the functionality of aptx LL in watching movies is quite important.