Sony MDR-ZX700

Release Date
2011

Price
Sony’s suggested retail price is $119.99, but I’ve seen them for as low as $104 on Amazon and $99 Buy It Now on eBay. The average price seems to be in the $115 range.

Sony’s Specifications
50 mm drivers (dome type, OFC copper voice coils, integrated multi-layer film diaphragm)
neodymium magnets
frequency response: 5-40,000 Hz
nominal impedance: 24 ohms at 1 kHz
sensitivity: 106 dB/mW
max input capability (a.k.a. power handling capacity): 2,000 mW
cord length: 3.94 ft (1.2 m)
weight: 9.17 oz (I assume that’s without the cord. Sony doesn’t specify.)
1/8″ gold-plated stereo mini plug

Headphone Type
The Sony MDR-ZX700 are full-size headphones featuring a closed-back circumaural design. That means they cup the entire ear and are sealed, which helps keep them in place, helps muffle outside noise, and helps prevent the sounds inside the headphones from leaking out and disturbing people nearby.

Comfort
Comfort is very important for a pair of headphones. My daily commute to and from NYC is at least an hour each way and I spend that time listening to music and podcasts, so whichever pair of headphones I end up wearing must be comfortable.

The Sony MDR-ZX700 headphones weigh 9.17 oz. (260 g). Believe it or not, that’s fairly heavy, even for full-size headphones. To compare (without the cord, except where noted):

AKG K 240 MK II – 8.5 oz. (241 g)
Audio-Technica ATH-M30 – 7 oz. (198 g)
Bose AE2 – 4.9 oz. (140 g) (with the cord)
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro – 7.8 oz. (221 g)
Shure SRH440 – 6.4 oz. (181 g)
Sony MDR-V6 – 8.1 oz. (230 g)
Sony MDR-ZX700 – 9.17 oz. (260 g) (I assume that’s without the cord. Sony doesn’t specify.)

The only pair of headphones I’ve come across that weigh more than the Sony MDR-ZX700 is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50, which weighs 10 oz. (284 g) without the cord.

So the question remains, are the MDR-ZX700 headphones comfortable? If I’m listening to them for 45 minutes or an hour, my answer is an unenthusiastic “yes”. If I’m listening to them for a couple of hours, my answer is “no”.

The headband is padded, but not quite enough to overcompensate for the weight of the headphones. Because of their weight, I don’t enjoy wearing them for more than an hour at a time. They feel nice at first, but I slowly begin to feel the pressure building at the top of my head. If the headband were slightly wider and slightly more padded, I think that would’ve eliminated the problem.

By comparison, I have an old pair of Sony MDR-CD570 heapdhones from 1995 that feature a soft, self-adjusting headband that’s very comfortable. Why did Sony ditch the self-adjusting design in favor of a traditional, hard, less comfortable headband? And is the top of my head abnormally sensitive?

The ear cushions are nicely padded and feel good on my ears. It’s just the top of my head that feels uncomfortable after a while.

The headband is adjustable beyond the size of my head (in both larger and smaller directions), so it should fit most heads fine. And I don’t feel a tight “clamping” or “squeezing” effect like I have with some other headphones (Koss UR55, Shure SHR440).

I’ve worn headphones that were far more comfortable (Bose AE2, Sony MDR-CD570), some that were less comfortable (Grado SR80i, Koss UR55, Shure SHR440), and some that were downright painful (Sony MDR-NC7). The MDR-ZX700 are somewhere in the middle, especially when wearing them for a few hours at a time.

Sound Quality
In terms of sound, the Sony MDR-ZX700 compare favorably to many of the other headphones I’ve tried. They definitely sound better than any of the $200 and below Sennheisers I’ve tested, but not as good as the Grado SR80i.

Even though the MDR-ZX700 headphones sound good, they aren’t fantastic. They sound a bit “dark”, as if the high frequencies were rolled off. Some people might actually prefer this, but I don’t. I prefer more sparkly, detailed highs…not to the point of being sibilant or harsh, but definitely brighter.

The low frequencies are slightly plugged-up, contributing to the “dark” sound and making the bass sound a bit more muddy than it should. The MDR-ZX700′s large 50 mm drivers handle very low frequencies nicely and the bass doesn’t sound overly boxy or boomy like other headphones I’ve tried, but I still would’ve liked a tiny bit more detail here.

So out-of-the-box, the MDR-ZX700 sound good…not mind-blowingly fantastic, but good. However, with a tweak of the equalizer, they go from good to great. Here are the EQ settings I use in iTunes:

As you can see, I reduced some of the low frequencies by one or two decibels, boosted the midrange frequencies by one or two decibels, and boosted the high frequencies by two to four. With these settings (or the equivalent settings on your device), the MDR-ZX700 sound great. I hear bright detailed highs, strong detailed lows, and a nice even tone in between. To me, this makes them very pleasant to listen to, no matter what style of music.

Keep in mind, these are the settings I prefer. I feel like they really open up these headphones and make them shine, but you might have a different preference. That said, my EQ settings are still a useful visual indicator of which frequencies are too prominent and which are too subdued out-of-the-box.

Cord and Plug
The Sony MDR-ZX700 headphones feature a 3.94 ft cord (47.25″, or 1.2 m). I bought these headphones to use on-the-go and find the cord length perfect. I get the benefits of full-size headphones that sound good and block out some bus and train noise, without the drawback of having to wind up several feet of excess cord and jam it into my pocket.

For listening to music at home or recording in a studio, the cord might be too short. If that’s the case, an inexpensive extension cord is required. It’s an easy solution and I like having the option of a short cord for commuting and using a separate extension cord at home.

The plug is standard 1/8″ and gold-plated. It’ll work with iPhones, Android phones, portable MP3 players, and other devices that have 1/8″ jacks. For listening on a home sound system or recording in a studio, a separate 1/8″-to-1/4″ adapter is most likely required.

I must also point out that the cord doesn’t have an inline microphone or device controls. It’s just a plain old regular cord. Remember this if you plan on using these headphones with a mobile phone.

Overall Value and Closing Comments
The Sony MDR-ZX700 headphones straddle the line between portable and home use. The short 3.94 ft (1.2 m) cord, 1/8″ stereo mini plug, and low 24 ohm impedance are perfect for use with portable audio devices, but their overall size and the fact that they don’t fold up might make them better suited for home or studio. Then again, if you’re going to use these at home or in a studio, you’ll probably need to buy a separate extension cord and stereo 1/8″-to-1/4″ adapter.

I actually like the fact that these are full-size headphones because I want the cups to enclose my ears and block out some of the bus and/or train noise during my daily commute…and I don’t want to sacrifice sound quality and power just because I’m on-the-go. I understand some people might prefer smaller headphones that fold up, even if sound quality suffers a little, so it comes down to personal preference.

Are these headphones worth $100 to $120? That’s a tough question to answer and it depends on what you’re looking for. $120 isn’t cheap, but it isn’t super expensive, either. If the MDR-ZX700 had cost $150, I’d say they aren’t worth it. If they had cost $75, I’d say they’re totally worth it. But at $120, it gets tricky.

The sound quality by itself is good, and becomes great with a few minor tweaks to the EQ. That would be a plus, except not all devices have customizable equalizers. If yours doesn’t, you’d be settling for “good” sound quality, which might suit you perfectly fine…but spending $120 and settling for anything less than great sound bothers me. (For $120, I don’t expect to be completely blown away by amazing sound quality, but I do expect it to be great.)

There’s also the fact that after an hour or so, I have to take a break because the top of my head gets uncomfortable from the weight. Again, for $120, it bothers me that I have to settle for something that gets uncomfortable after a relatively short period of time. I know there are headphones that are far more expensive, but still, $120 isn’t cheap and I expect a little bit more comfort.

My old pair of Sony MDR-CD570 headphones from 1995 with the soft, self-adjusting headband are more comfortable. Sony should’ve stayed with that design.

I do like the short cord and soft ear cushions. I like the relatively plain appearance (I’m not trying to make a fashion statement with my headphones). I like that with a couple of accessories, they make good home headphones, too. Getting a good full-size pair of portable and home headphones for $120 (plus another $15 or so for the extension and adapter) is a good deal.

You won’t find a better pair of full-size, closed-back, circumaural headphones that are portable for less than $175. However, you will find better headphones for use at home. Overall, if you want the best of both worlds (or as close as you’re going to get for a reasonable price), go ahead and buy the MDR-ZX700.

And if you own these headphones, please let me know your thoughts!

I realize it’s been 10 months since my last post. Wow! A lot of great changes that required my full attention have taken place these past several months, but now I’m back to posting reviews and video music lessons and everything else here on goodrob13.com.

I am, of course, passionate about music and sound quality and am very particular when it comes to headphones. I have a difficult time finding a pair that makes me happy. Some people are fine going to a store like Best Buy and spending $30 on a pair of headphones they think looks cool. Other people follow the crowd and spend $300 on a pair of Beats by Dr. Dre without doing research or testing out different brands. I prefer to make more informed decisions.

Even though I’ve come across dedicated gadget web sites and headphone forums, none of them were useful for finding the best-sounding, most comfortable, affordable pair of headphones. That’s why I feel the need to share my own findings with you.

So, I’m starting my own ongoing series of honest, informed, and detailed headphone reviews. I hope you find them useful and helpful! Stay tuned…

As an analytical, math-oriented guy, I find Berkeley’s style of staging fascinating. I definitely appreciate the flowing movements in this clip, but what really stands out are the dozens of neon-tubed violins that light up twice during the instrumental break. That, coupled with Mervyn LeRoy’s directing, results in a beautiful scene.

Prepare to be blown away…and remember, this was filmed 78 years ago in 1933 without the aid of computers!

YouTube – Busby Berkeley’s violin sequence
(posted by YouTube user takethetube9010)

To me, this performance is more enjoyable and impressive than today’s music videos and pop star performances. Someday, innovation and beauty will make a comeback, right?

In 2010, I saw Gold Diggers of 1933 at the Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City. I usually hate musical numbers in movies, but I admit, one of the scenes I enjoyed the most features Ginger Rogers singing “We’re in the Money,” including a verse in Pig Latin! Enjoy:

YouTube – Gold Diggers of 1933 – “We’re in the Money”
(posted by YouTube user chackwor)

Children’s TV music!

Goodrob13 Music Show episode 9:

• my previous recording gone wrong,
• my childhood neighbor’s record collection,
• being unfazed by 20 year old records as a child,
• trains with no passengers,
• are 20 year old CDs cool and impressive today?,
• the level of musical sophistication and variety in children’s TV shows from the 1970s and 80s (Sesame Street, The Electric Company, The Great Space Coaster, etc.),
• Sesame Street Jazz #3 video,
• Sesame Street Pinball Number Count video,
• Sesame Street Capital I and Lowercase N video,
• composer Joe Raposo,
• The Electric Company LY (Tom Lehrer) video,
• Sunbow Productions (Ford Kinder, Anne Bryant, Spencer Michlin, and Barry Harman),
• and the music of Jem.

Download this episode:
46 minute MP3 file – 42 MB (right-click to save)

Listen to this episode:
Download audio file (goodrob13-music-show-009.mp3)

Goodrob13 Music Show episode 8:

• figuring out the best spot to stand on the train platform,
• my weird experience coming out of the PATH station this morning,
• scaffolding in NYC,
• being more efficient when paying for groceries,
• most people in front of me in line taking 10 times longer than I do,
• bank tellers and post offices,
• most people entering and exiting elevators too slowly,
• unusually warm weather,
• my hatred of obnoxiously loud motorcycles,
• why it’s so important to leave comments on podcasts,
• the importance of online interaction and discussion,
• buying an electric guitar soon,
• and being realistic and reasonable about my music equipment and prices.

Download this episode:
31 minute MP3 file – 28.3 MB (right-click to save)

Listen to this episode:
Download audio file (goodrob13-music-show-008.mp3)

Goodrob13 Music Show episode 7:

• Tanya Donelly (founding member of Belly, The Breeders, and Throwing Muses),
• musicians moving away from rock music as they get older,
• my introduction to Juliana Hatfield and Blake Babies,
• a dummy wanting to pull the PATH train emergency brake because a passenger fainted,
• digital audio and non-linear editing vs. cassette tapes,
• Hatfield’s superb minimally-produced rock album Bed (1998),
• Become What You Are (1993) and Only Everything (1995),
• Hatfield’s book When I Grow Up: A Memoir (2008),
• meeting Juliana Hatfield (Maxwell’s in 2005, Knitting Factory in 2008, and Bowery Ballroom in 2008),
• asking her to be a guest on The Paunch Stevenson Show,
• Jessica Simpson,
• and does the cream really rise to the top?

Download this episode:
33 minute MP3 file – 30.2 MB (right-click to save)

Listen to this episode:
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Goodrob13 Music Show episode 6:

• watching TV shows illegally,
• growing up with free 24 hour streaming radio and TV content,
• getting used to paying for songs and TV shows on computers,
• getting used to paying for cable TV years ago,
• the fragmented world of online music and TV content (iTunes, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Rhapsody, etc.),
• the Overnightscape Central podcast,
• Wayne from Sparetime Radio talking about George Carlin,
• most people being too arrogant and/or afraid to admit they’ve been lied to, poisoned, and cheated their whole lives,
• turning a blind eye vs. dealing with new knowledge and stressors,
• my questions about chemtrails,
• socially acceptable smoke vs. unacceptable smoke,
• and dangerous substances being viewed as harmless to people who grew up with them.

Download this episode:
47 minute MP3 file – 43.3 MB (right-click to save)

Listen to this episode:
Download audio file (goodrob13-music-show-006.mp3)

Jig dolls!

Goodrob13 Music Show episode 5:

• more current music I actually like (Camera Obscura, Rilo Kiley, and Dolores O’Riordan),
• bad audio mastering,
• my extreme hatred of asymmetrical headphones,
• Creative Commons vs. copyrighted music and art,
• my Creative Commons photos on Flickr being used on blogs and in books,
• Frank Nora talking about jamendo.com free Creative Commons music site,
• jig dolls (also known as limberjacks- video),
• and not being able to copy and paste the file path in MS Windows or Mac OS X.

Download this episode:
22 minute MP3 file – 20.2 MB (right-click to save)

Listen to this episode:
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Screaming Orphans!

Goodrob13 Music Show episode 4:

• the Goodrob13 Music Show on the Overnightscape Underground podcast network,
• the 53rd annual Grammy Awards (2011),
• today’s pop stars focusing on outlandish costumes and gimmicks instead of good music (Lady Gaga, Cee Lo Green, etc.),
• wondering how people in the future will judge today’s music,
• feeling stupid saying current artist’s names,
• today’s music having no lasting value (disposable music),
• the New Kids on the Block revival,
• nostalgia,
• current music I actually like (Screaming Orphans and Dean and Britta),
• clips of Screaming Orphans songs (“Liar,” “City of Chicago,” “Give a Little,” “Here Comes Your Man,” “Don’t You Cry,” and “Circles”),
• L’Avventura (2003),
• Tony Visconti,
• good arrangements,
• and clips of Dean and Britta songs (“Out Walking,” “Night Nurse,” and “Moonshot”).

Download this episode:
34 minute MP3 file – 31.1 MB (right-click to save)

Listen to this episode:
Download audio file (goodrob13-music-show-004.mp3)