Reviews | Sony MDR headphones

Sony MDR-7510 and

the 7520s take headphone monitoring
to a whole other level, as you’d hope, as
these cans cost £455 – more than three
times the price. The quality is

MDR-7520 | from £134

unmistakable, with an extremely
detailed sound and staggering power.
Like their little brothers, they feature
a closed-back design which provides a
great level of acoustic isolation but
unlike the 7510’s 2000mW of power
With a good pair of headphones a studio essential, handling, these headphones provide a
whopping 4000mW, driven by a 50mm
Jono Buchanan runs the rule over two new pairs unit which uses a liquid crystal polymer

N
film diaphragm. Also, frequency
o programmer, producer or an every-day choice. What’s response is effectively doubled here, as
WHAT is it?
mix engineer worth their salt immediately striking is the detail in the while the 7510s range from 5Hz to
Two new additions to
Sony’s MDR-7500 would contemplate carrying bass end of these headphones – not 40kHz, the upper limit is extended to
headphone series, offering out a professional task murky or dark but full of weight and 80kHz within the 7520s. The amount
quality to match price
without referring their mix to power. Similarly, the top end is nicely of power offered here would cause
Contact headphones at some stage. Indeed, balanced – not falsely coloured or vibrations in most headphone designs
Who: Sony many are as reliant on a decent pair of over-flattering, which is so important as but Sony have countered this with a
Tel: +44 (0)1256 683871
Web: pro.sony.eu cans as they are on their studio these are the frequencies which lead to specially-designed magnesium-alloy
monitors. Sony have a proud pedigree in ear fatigue. For me, the detail in the housing, which has the added benefit of
HIGHLIGHTS
this field and the models on review here mid-range is the only area where you reducing weight and aiding comfort
1 7510s are good value
for money extend its MDR-7500 range by two, have to be careful if you’re making through extended listening sessions.
2 7520s ooze sonic class which are both designed for critical Dance music as the bass end is And what a joy those sessions are
3 Both offer comfortable, listening with different budgets in mind. generous enough to leave low-mids, in – bass is robust again but with tighter
rounded monitoring
particular, a little swamped. definition, the stereo picture seems
pricing MDR-7510 However, they compare very more controlled, treble absolutely
MDR-7510
Starting with the cheaper MDR-7510s, favourably to my trusty AKG271s, shines without becoming over-flattering
£134 these are built both for mixing and which actually sounded a touch thinner and there’s a detail which users will find
MDR-7520
reference monitoring, pitching them as by comparison. What’s also pleasing is an essential friend as they check and
£455 that the generous frequency response is double-check mixes. Comparatively, the
specs consistent regardless of listening 7510s offer better value for money, as
MDR-7510 volume. Some headphones encourage their quality belies their substantially
Headphone Type: Dynamic, louder monitoring through their cheaper price but the 7520s do provide
Closed
Magnet Type: Neodymium poorer performances at low a richer, more rewarding sound. The
Driver Size: 50.0mm levels – fortunately, this isn’t choice is yours but both models are
Frequency Response:
5-40kHz the case here at all. seriously impressive.
Impedance: 24 Ohms
Sensitivity: 108 dB/mW
Power Handling: 2,000mW
MDR-7520
If the 7510s are VERDICT MDR-7510
Plug Type: Gold, Stereo
Unimatch 3.5mm/6.3mm impressive, Build
adapter ❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
Cord Length: 3m (9.8 ft) VALUE
Weight: ❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
261g EASE OF USE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚

MDR-7520 VERSATILITY
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
Headphone Type: Dynamic,
Closed RESULTS
Magnet Type: Neodymium ❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
Driver Size: 50.0mm
Frequency Response:
5-80kHz VERDICT MDR-7520
Impedance: 24 Ohms
Sensitivity: 108 dB/mW Build
Power Handling: 4,000mW ❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
Plug Type: Gold, Stereo VALUE
Unimatch 3.5mm/6.3mm ❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
adapter
Cord Length: 3m (9.8 ft) EASE OF USE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
Weight:
VERSATILITY
269g ❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
RESULTS
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚

Two very solid pairs of pro

headphones – check your wallet
and take your pick.

104

FMU246.rev_sony.indd 104 10/11/11 2:59:40 PM