Sony MDR-1AM2

HI-FI, LOW-PRICE

SONY’S LATEST WIRED cans aim to bring high-fidelity audio out of the stratosphere and offer it at a more grounded price, and they largely succeed. Their 40mm drivers are capable of producing frequencies well outside of the human hearing range — a nuanced feature common in high-end audio gear that provides more of a buffer before the signal distorts. Sony has also included a 4.4mm balanced cable for the reduced interference that it apparently offers over an unbalanced 3.5mm connection. In practice, these both produce subtle results that not all users will be able to detect, but such is the world of high-end audio.

With that said, the MDR-1AM2 do offer an excellent sense of space, clarity and separation in their audio, and their frequency profile is nicely balanced with a slight mid push. This is ideal for a wide range of genres but perhaps a little lacking if you really want your bass to kick.

As for construction, the vast majority of these Sonys are made from a lightweight plastic which, in combination with the cloud-like padding, makes them feel at once weightless, comfortable, and fragile. This is a great trade-off if you’re planning on leaving them hooked up to a system at home, but we’d be concerned about their durability on the road.

Ultimately, $399 is a great price for the audiophile specifications and sound that the MDR-1AM2 offers. If its design were slightly more rugged, and if the wireless market weren’t offering such compelling alternatives at this price point, then we’d gladly recommend them for more than just home use.