Sony MDR V6: История легендарных студийных наушников.

Sony MDR V6 is a large diaphragm folding pair of headphones, the initial entry in Sony's Studio Monitor headphones, one of the most popular model lines among professional audio engineers. The product line was augmented by the MDR V600, the MDR 7506 and then the MDR 7509 and MDR 7509HD models, which continue to be popular for audio editing, live sound and broadcast applications. The four models use a closed, circumaural sealed ear design with a coiled oxygen free copper cord, tipped with a combination ¼″ (6.35 mm) and ⅛″ mini (3.5 mm) TRS phone connector. As a product line, the MDR series Studio Monitor folding headphones have been noted as a "favorite of sound professionals because they're reasonably flat sounding, inexpensive, compact, and they can take a lot of punishment." The MDR prefix is an initialism of the Micro Dynamic Receiver trademark.

The MDR V6 was introduced in 1985 and became popular with sound engineers and disc jockeys (DJs). The headphones were listed as having a very wide frequency response and were convenient for travel as they could be folded and carried in an included leatherette bag. In 1987, audio industry journalist Daniel Kumin wrote, "Throw away your loudspeakers. There is now what may be the most perfect transducer yet made by man. Recently I auditioned a pair of Sony MDR V6 Studio Monitor headphones, then purchased them. There are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe the performance of these headphones. Listening to them with a good CD recording is like being in the center of a live performance." Consumer Reports wrote in 1989 that "there seems little reason to look beyond the check rated Sony MDR V6. That model combines the highest accuracy we've measured in headphones, comfortable design, moderate weight, and enviable bass reproduction." In 1993, the headphones were described as "almost industry standard" for the monitoring of location sound recording for film and television. Newer designs were introduced by Sony, most notably the MDR V600, yet the MDR V6 continued to be produced. By 2003, the headphones were so well known that Electronic Musician magazine, recommending headphones with a "fold up design", called the MDR V6 "venerable". In a comparison of many headphones models, Dave Rat introduced them as "one of the most popular live sound headphones", and tested them to be "a little low on the top end, a little low on the bottom; definitely close" to neutrally flat. After 35 years, Sony discontinued manufacturing the MDR V6 in 2020.

First reviewed in 1993, the MDR V600 was designed to satisfy DJs who wanted a greater emphasis on bass. To help DJs in cuing songs with one ear, the MDR V600's earcups can be swiveled around backwards. In a test of virtual surround on a portable DVD player, using the movie House of Flying Daggers, the MDR V600 was praised: "the imaging, separation, and clarity of sound was impressive".

In 1991, Sony introduced the MDR 7506 headphones, which were marketed to audio professionals. The MDR 7506 and the MDR V6 share the same part number for their driver and all other parts (except gold plated 1/4" and 3.5mm connectors, and earcup covers embossed with model numbers), but the magnet therein is known to vary according to various Sony documentation. The MDR 7506 was introduced with a samarium–cobalt magnet, as was originally used in the MDR V6. However, at some point, the MDR 7506 switched to the slightly more powerful neodymium magnet. These changes were made without changing the driver part number. In addition, Sony's own store website specifications for the MDR V6 also list a neodymium magnet, further calling into question whether the MDR V6 and MDR 7506 actually use different magnet types in their drivers. The likelihood, therefore, is that Sony at some point updated the magnet in the driver, and it was incorporated into both the '7506 and 'V6. In 1997, EQ magazine wrote, "Most people will use Sony MDR V6 or similar headphones, such as the professional version Sony MDR 7506 or Koss Pro 4A. These Sony headphones have a reputation for loud sound and for blocking out at least some outside noise." A 2001 book about web audio described the MDR 7506 as "the industry favorite". On March 7, 2014, CNET reviewed both headphones. The result was that the V6 had a flat, neutrally balanced sound. The 7506 accentuated its treble range, and had less bass than the V6. The overall sound of the two models was very close.

In Sony's pro line, the now discontinued MDR 7509HD used a larger driver. Truesdell included the MDR 7509HD in his list of "top of the line" headphones for digital audio production, under other models by Bose and Beyerdynamic. In 2008, The Sound Effects Bible listed the earlier MDR 7506 as essential for the "standard recording package", and the MDR 7509HD best suited to the "professional recording package", calling them "top of the line Sony High Definition headphones".

Sony MDR V6Sony MDR V600Sony MDR 7506Sony MDR 7509HDSony MDR 7510Sony MDR 7520Sony MDR CD900ST TypeCircum aural, closedCircum aural, closedCircum aural, closedCircum aural, closedCircum aural, closedCircum aural, closedCircum aural, closedDriver Units40 mm diameter, dynamic40 mm dia., dynamic40 mm dia., dynamic50 mm dia., dynamic50 mm dia., dynamic50 mm dia., dynamic40 mm dia., dynamicImpedance63 ohms at 1 kHz45 ohms at 1 kHz63 ohms at 1 kHz24 ohms at 1 kHz24 ohms at 1 kHz24 ohms at 1 kHz63 ohms at 1 kHzSensitivity106 dB/mW106 dB/mW106 dB/mW107 dB/mW106 dB/mW108 dB/mW106 dB/mWFrequency Range5 Hz ~ 30 kHz5 Hz ~ 30 kHz10 Hz ~ 20 kHz5 Hz ~ 80 kHz5 Hz ~ 40 kHz5 Hz ~ 80 kHz5 Hz ~ 30 kHzRated Power0.5 W0.5 W0.5 W1.0 W1.0 W1.0 W0.3 WPower handling capacity1 W1 W1 W3 W2 W4 W1 WCord3 m (extended length) coiled cord3 m (extended length) coiled cord3 m (extended length) coiled cord3 m (extended length) coiled cord3 m (extended length) coiled cord3 m (extended length) coiled cord2.5 m straight cordPlug typeNickel plated stereo unimatch, 1/4" and 1/8"Gold plated stereo unimatch, 1/4" and 1/8"Gold plated stereo unimatch, 1/4" and 1/8"Gold plated stereo unimatch, 1/4" and 1/8"Gold plated stereo unimatch, 1/4" and 1/8"Gold plated stereo unimatch, 1/4" and 1/8"Stereo, 1/4"WeightApprox. 230 g (without cord)Approx. 260 g (without cord)Approx. 230 g (without cord)Approx. 300 g (without cord)Approx. 260 g (without cord)Approx. 270 g (without cord)Approx. 200 g (without cord)