MDR-MV1 Open Back Reference Monitor Headphones

Recently picked up the Sony MDR-MV1 open-back headphones after looking for a serious monitoring upgrade that wouldn’t blow my budget — and I have to say, these headphones are the most honest, immersive, and comfortable pair I’ve ever used. What Makes the MDR-MV1 Special? These aren’t your average consumer headphones — they were engineered specifically for professional mixing and spatial audio creation, and it shows. But here’s the twist: you don’t need to work in a multi-million-dollar studio to appreciate what they bring to the table. Whether you're a bedroom producer, podcast editor, or YouTuber who cares about audio integrity, the MDR-MV1 will change how you hear your work. Key Reasons to Buy: Open-Back Design = True-to-Life Soundstage This is where the magic happens. The open-back structure creates an airy, wide soundstage that replicates the feel of nearfield monitors — perfect for mixing, spatial panning, and detailed editing. You’ll hear reverb tails, background noise, and panning choices more accurately than on any closed-back headphone. For a home studio without acoustic treatment, this is a massive win. Flat, Transparent Frequency Response Sony tuned these to deliver ultra-flat and neutral audio, especially in the mids and highs. There’s no artificial bass boost here — just clean, reliable sound. That means what you hear while mixing is what your audience will hear after mastering. Spatial Audio Monitoring Ready If you’re dabbling in immersive formats like Dolby Atmos or 360 Reality Audio, these are built for it. The imaging and stereo separation are unbelievably precise. Even for stereo mixes, the detail is outstanding — you can place every instrument exactly where it belongs. Featherweight Comfort for Long Sessions At just around 223g, these are so light and breathable you’ll forget you’re wearing them. The open-back design also keeps your ears from overheating — ideal for those long late-night sessions or Zoom-based collaborations. Pro Build, Home Studio Friendly You don’t need expensive gear to pair with these. I run them through an affordable interface (Focusrite Scarlett 2i2), and they sound phenomenal. They’re low impedance (24 ohms), so you don’t need a headphone amp to drive them — they’ll work great even if you’re starting out. Why You Should Get These Over Other "Studio" Headphones: Most closed-back headphones (even expensive ones) are great for tracking or casual listening — but they lie to you when mixing. You’ll often make EQ or balance decisions based on colored sound. The MDR-MV1 tells the truth, which is exactly what you want if you're publishing content or producing music people will actually hear on other devices. For the price, these compete with headphones double their cost. If you're in a home studio or content creation space, and want pro-level sound without investing in expensive room treatment or full-size monitors — this is your solution. Final Verdict: The Sony MDR-MV1 is hands-down the best investment I’ve made for my home studio. It delivers uncompromising sound quality in a package that respects both your ears and your wallet. If you want your work to sound the way it’s meant to — no guesswork, no hype — get these. Don’t mix blind. Listen smart. The MDR-MV1 is your new best friend.

I demoed a dozen headphones in the $300–$400 bracket at a specialty audio shop before settling on the MDR-MV1. While a few contenders had slightly more sparkle or slam in specific ranges, nothing came close to these in long-session comfort. The clamping force is mild, the weight distribution is smart, and the pads are breathable. These are the first over-ears I’ve owned that disappear on the head without sacrificing build quality. Tuning is where Sony’s engineers made some smart decisions. The MV1 walks the line between reference neutrality and casual listenability. There’s a gentle warmth in the lower mids—enough to give body to strings and ambient synths—without muddying the midrange or veiling detail. Treble is extended but not fatiguing. Imaging is sharp, and the soundstage—thanks to the open-back design—is generous and layered, especially for orchestral and spatial electronic material. They’re also surprisingly easy to drive. I’m using a portable TEA amp (which also handles phone calls), and it delivers more than enough voltage swing to get solid dynamics and headroom without hitting its ceiling. That efficiency means you’re not locked into desktop gear. Build quality is pro-tier: minimal branding, no gimmicks, and a cable that feels like it’s built for field use, not just coffee-table sessions. If you’re wired-only and appreciate a monitor-grade sound with just a touch of musicality, the MDR-MV1 punches above its weight. It’s not chasing flavor-of-the-month tuning trends or overhyped V-curves. It’s doing something more mature—and I respect that.

I’ve owned the AKG Q701 for over 10 years. They were my go-to for mixing and critical listening, but I always struggled with the low end. It felt distant and hard to judge. After trying the DT 990 Pro and Sennheiser HD600 as well, I picked up the Sony MDR-MV1—and it’s the first time I’ve felt confident in the bass on open-back headphones. The low end is clear, defined, and sits exactly where it should. I can mix bass-heavy tracks without guessing, and everything translates well to monitors, other headphones, and car systems. It doesn’t feel boosted or artificial, just accurate and usable. The Q701 still has a wider stage, but the MV1 feels more focused. The DT 990 is very close, and I tried multiple tracks and genres to make sure I was comfortable with my pick. The DT is beautiful, but definitely scoop biased . The HD600 has nice mids but lacks clarity in the lows. The MV1 gets it right across the board. They’re also comfortable for long sessions… ridiculously comfortable... No pressure, no heat, no distractions. If you’ve been chasing an open-back that actually gets the bass right, this is it. I trust what I hear, and that’s what matters most. Sound is a very personal opinion, so take from this what you will. But at this price point, I can’t imagine finding anything better…give them a try, they will blow you away

The Sony MDR-MV1 is an incredible all-around headphone and my new daily driver. For an open-back design, the bass is outstanding — clean, deep, and perfectly balanced. They sound amazing right out of the box with no EQ, perfect for just vibing out and enjoying music. At the same time, they’re detailed and responsive enough to fine-tune for studio or mixing work. The soundstage and spatial imaging are excellent, delivering a wide and immersive experience. I haven’t been this impressed with a pair of headphones in a long time — an instant classic. Outstanding job, Sony.

My favourite so far, mainly for mixing, you can hear more details than anything else. Listening to recordings I’m familiar with I was able to hear new details with ease, usually takes a lot of concentration to hear, I was able to hear the individual notes of a chord instead of just the chord. I highly recommend it for listening and mixing, the only drawback is the vocals are not in your face like some others and you may need to lower 8k a tiny bit to make them sound even better, and flat. Every db of + or - eq you do, is very noticeable it’s really something.

These headphones are great has good bass definition and nice vocals treble can be improved with eq overall built is great and very very lightweight n sturdy detachable cable is 3.5mm with round circling lock u can buy that elsewhere or get to 3.5mm to 3.5 mm cable n use but the included cable is Amazing very strong and tangle free but a bit long then the build amazing feels great on head the micro Fiber like cushions very nice but if u have very long ears tell be a little small still great for comfort these are amazingly efficient u don’t need amp very loud nice no distortion but might need eq get any of hat to tune it but I think most people will like these great bass effect too then I think its 24 ohm or something everything sounds great I have tube amp though that o my god insanely good warm and loud then u can use it without amp too so that’s that I own Hifiman and Sennheiser etc open backs m these sound more warm and nice I like it long listening session also feels great no discomfort I didn’t have any issues with them I love these it’s great choice soundstage good and clarity is great not too sharp and comfy listening great headphones

So light weight but more powerful. Very good cushioning which feels very soft on ears.very comfortable,I can wear it long hours without fatigue. Overall build quality is superb. I got it in 18k which is steal deal for me. MRP is 59.9k mentioned in the box. Value for money headphones. Functionality is simply 3.5mm input, no other physical buttons present, no microphone, no battery as it is professional headphone.

So I compared these against my Sony MDR V600s..... Huge upgrade in sound quality. The bass is much better than the 600s which are closed back. The soundstage is not much wider but the clarity is there. I bought the Geekria silver upgrade cable for the MV1s but have not tried it yet. Will update after I give em a try.

Build wise these are super lightweight, but well made, and comfortable for long listening sessions. Sony has made them to be the most fun sounding analytical headphones. I’m pairing them with Topping DX1 and gosh they sound so beautiful… Got mine for 21k and they were a steal at this price! Now, I just can’t get myself to like any other pair of headphones 🥲