SONY MDR-1R brings together fashion, comfort and sound quality

I have a collection of headset mostly because I like to listen to music and audio books as well as watch videos any chance I can find a small window of alone time. Over the years, I’ve been able to amass different brands of headset looking for that brand that meets my personal preferences: lightweight and portable, good sound isolation, and most of all  not overly expensive.

My current brand of headsets at home include a Sennheiser, Bose, Beats and AudioTechnic. I was recently offered a chance to try out the Sony MDR-1R. Sony markets the MDR-1R as “prestigious” family of premium headsets. There are three models in the Sony Store. The unit I have is the entry model priced at HK$1,880.

The Sony MDR-1R over-ear headphones speak volume about what’s important to the target audince for this series of headset: size, fit and comfort. The MDR-1R is light but has a very sturdy feel. It speaks of premium quality. One of the things I dislike about my Bose Quiet Comfort 3 headset if the skull-pinching after just an hour of use.

The earcups are mounted with three-dimensional flex. It takes a little bit of getting used to but once you find the sweet spot (fit), you are hooked.

Included in the box is a carry pouch and two serrated, non-tangle cables. One includes a remote for use with iPhones. The shorter length cable fits most other devices.

In the weeklong test of the MDR-1R, these have traveled with me on the MTR, on trams, buses and just plain walking around town. When indoors (even with the TV blaring my favorite program) listening with the MDR-1R is heaven. The cups provide some isolation sufficient to create the illusion that you alone in your very own theater listening to your favorite music tracks or watching a video with surround sound.I am not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination. However I do enjoy good music and my pet peeve are headsets that can block out outside noise, including human chatter in an enclosed area. Unfortunately I suspect all headphones are designed this way to keep the user from accidentally getting run over by a passing motorist.

WHAT I LIKE
I love the experience of using the MDR-1R indoors. It feels like I am in a sound-proof room where all I can hear is the music I am listening to or the video I am watching – nothing else. I love not feeling like my head is stuck between the jaws of a bench vice. The feel of the soft leather is difficult to put into words.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

My single biggest gripe about the Sony MDR-1R is its inability to block external noise when used outside of the quiet comfort of your room. These are not your walkabout headsets.

CONCLUSION

At HK$1,880 suggested retail price, the Sony MDR-1R is priced to compete against the fashion-driven Beats headset overpriced headset. Without a doubt the MDR-1R bested the Beats headset IMHO. There is sufficient detail (clarity) in the sound quality using your standard iPod or portable music device. If you want a heavier base, more thudding in your head, consider using one of those portable amplifiers.

For my money, the Sony MDR-1R is comparable value to many of today’s mid to high headphones. These are comfortable, stylish and a great addition to your home entertainment system or when you just want to quietly listen to your favorite music.

PHOTO GALLERY

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TECHNICAL SPEC

Type
Headphone Type	Closed, dynamic
Power
Power Handling Capacity	1500 mW (IEC*)
Audio
Driver Unit	40 mm, dome type (HD, OFC Voice Coil)
Impedance	24 Ω at 1 kHz
Sensitivity (dB/mW)	105 dB/mW
Frequency Response (Hz)	4 Hz – 80,000 Hz
General
Mass (g)	Approx. 240 g (without cord)
Supplied Accessories	Inline remote and microphone cord for iPod/iPhone/iPad (1.2 m cord, using PCOCC, Four-conductor gold plated L-shaped stereo mini plug) (1)** Carrying pouch (1) Operating Instructions (1)
Remark
Remarks	** Not compatible with all iPod/iPhone/iPad models.

 

I don’t like sashimi but…

Wikipedia defines Sashimi (Japanese: 刺身, pronounced [saɕimiꜜ]; English: /səˈʃiːmiː/) as a Japanese delicacy primarily consisting of very fresh raw seafood, sliced into thin pieces and served with only a dipping sauce (soy sauce with wasabi paste or other condiments such as grated fresh ginger, or ponzu), depending on the fish, and simple garnishes such as shiso and shredded daikon radish.

Since having my first taste of sashimi in high school I’ve always detested this delicacy. I love almost everything Japanese – Sony, Toshiba, Nikon, Canon, and even Tempura (天麩羅, tenpura, also written as “天ぷら”), a popular Japanese dish of deep fried, battered seafood, or vegetables. I can even have a bite or two of sushi (寿司, 鮨, or 鮓), vinegar rice topped with other ingredients, such as fish, shrimp, eel and octopus.

So why am I writing this? I was in Tokyo from December 17-19 to attend a business meeting. I was invited by my host to join them for dinner Friday evening. The restaurant they picked was Nadaman, on the basement of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. According to my host, Nadaman is famous throughout Japan for the quality of the cuisine it serves.

For the December 18 dinner, my host treated us to a fine selection of Japanese cuisine in true Nadaman tradition. Unfortunately my host had difficulty translating the names of each of the dish that was served so to avoid giving you the wrong names, I will just publish the photos of each dish and let your imagination run wild.

Appetizer

Nadaman Appetizer

First of main course

Nadaman - main course #1

Second of main course

Second main course

Third of main course

Third in the main course

Fourth of main course

Fourth course

Dessert

The dessert

As I said at the beginning of this blog, I’ve never liked sushi much less sashimi. And for the five years I brought customers to Japan to enjoy a traditional meal (or two), I’ve always passed up the chance to eat the best sushi and sashimi in town. But on this trip, I decided I couldn’t say “no” to my host and so I sucked up enough courage and ate my fill of sashimi. And I can tell you, it was worth every bite.

Oishii.