Sony
Headphones
Speakers
Best Known For
Headphones
/
Used Products
0
 Available
Average Price
$500
Brand Popularity
795
 of 900+
Products Listed
35
Review Count
213
Founding Year
1946
Headquarters
Japan
Sony
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What's unique about the brand

Sony developed the LDAC Bluetooth codec enabling wireless streaming at up to 990 kbps and 360 Reality Audio that personalizes playback by analyzing photos of your ears to tailor spatial imaging. They've given a lot to the hifi audio industry, and manufacture some of the most popular wireless headphone models available today.

What reviewers are saying

We read all the reviews. Here's what reviewers feel most strongly about:

Our favorite reviewer quotes:

  • "What those drivers deliver is some of the most amazing bass I've ever experienced. I'd never expect that classic Coltrane could deliver a bass kick in the right areas, but the Z1Rs manage to extract things out of the low notes to a degree that my first impressions were of regular dynamic headphones attempting to imitate planar magnetic models." (https://hear.audio/2017/04/07/sony-mdr-z1r-headphones-review)
  • "The first thing we notice is the Sony's seismic bass performance. It's not massively overstated as is the current fashion, but impresses through a combination of power, authority and agility that few rivals match." (https://www.whathifi.com/sony/mdr-z1r/review)
  • "And honestly, these have blown my expectations out of the water. Particularly when it comes to the sound stage and bass levels. And how bassy these can get once you start playing with the EQ." (https://www.whatgear.net/technology/sonys-most-affordable-anc-earbuds-yet-wf-c710n-review-)
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Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

From Julian's interview with
.

Products

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Lineup comparison

We think it's helpful to understand how their products compare. To learn more about each, scroll to the section above to click through to individual product pages.

WH-CH720N

  • Positioning: A budget-friendly noise-cancelling option built for everyday portability.
  • Description: Offers active noise cancellation and wireless operation with a design that emphasizes ease of use and portability. The simpler technology and affordable build cater to users with modest budgets and daily commuting needs.

WH-1000XM6

  • Positioning: A mid-tier wireless headphone combining advanced noise control with a streamlined design.
  • Description: Features smart sensor integration and enhanced digital noise cancellation that adapts to ambient conditions, ensuring a balanced sound profile in varied settings. Compared to the CH720N and XM5 models, it strikes a middle ground by offering improved connectivity and performance.

WH-1000XM5

  • Positioning: A premium flagship wireless headphone known for top-notch noise cancellation and sound accuracy.
  • Description: Delivers advanced noise cancellation paired with refined acoustic tuning and robust digital processing for an immersive listening experience. When compared with the XM6, it offers a broader soundstage and a more established build quality.

MDR-MV1

  • Positioning: A professional-grade headphone designed for high-fidelity listening and studio applications.
  • Description: Uses a focus on precise audio reproduction and accurate frequency response, supported by technologies that emphasize clarity and neutral tuning. Relative to the consumer-focused wireless models, its design and performance are tailored for users who require technical accuracy for critical listening in controlled environments.

MDR-Z1R

  • Positioning: A high-end audiophile headphone that emphasizes superior build materials and uncompromising sound quality.
  • Description: Uses high-resolution drivers and premium construction to deliver detailed and dynamic sound reproduction, ideal for immersive listening sessions. Compared with the more casual and wireless offerings, it stands out with sonic precision and a focus on luxury performance.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer

Used

Sony

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Headphones

brands

Known For
Headphones
/
Average Price
$500
Used Products
1
 Available
Brand Popularity
593
 of 900+
Headquarters
Japan

About the brand

Audio-Technica is a Japanese hifi brand that stands out with their Direct Power System phono cartridges, which place coils directly above the stylus tip for faster transients; their Pure Digital Drive wireless headphones that bypass internal DACs; and their proprietary A2DC connector system for more secure connections. The brand maintains exceptional in-house manufacturing depth, with hand-assembled wooden headphones crafted from Japanese woods in Tokyo and phono cartridge production at their Fukui plant.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Headphones
/
Average Price
$500
Used Products
2
 Available
Brand Popularity
539
 of 900+
Headquarters
Germany

About the brand

Sennheiser pioneered the world's first open-back headphones with the HD 414 in 1968, which became the bestselling full-size headphone of all time, and later developed the HD 25, evolving from 1980s broadcast use to become the industry standard in DJ booths worldwide. The brand is known for unique engineering approaches, such as integrating high-voltage amplifiers directly into earcups with Carrara marble chassis in the HE 1, developing proprietary ring-radiator transducers and absorber technology to eliminate resonances, and creating the long-running MD 421 microphone that has remained in production since 1960.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Headphones
/
Average Price
$500
Used Products
7
 Available
Brand Popularity
38
 of 900+
Headquarters
Germany

About the brand

Beyerdynamic is known for their Tesla driver technology, producing designs which are easy to drive with various sources and are commonplace in professional environments. The brand caters to both professional users and home listeners, with products ranging from analytical studio headphones to gaming headsets designed for precise sound localization.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Headphones
/
Average Price
$500
Used Products
0
 Available
Brand Popularity
809
 of 900+
Headquarters
Austria

About the brand

AKG pioneered several groundbreaking headphone technologies, including flat-wire voice coils and the Varimotion two-layer diaphragm. The brand also created the legendary C12 tube condenser microphone with its distinctive CK12 capsule and launched the first dynamic cardioid microphone in 1953, earning a Technical GRAMMY Award in 2010 for contributions to recording technology.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Headphones
/
Average Price
$500
Used Products
0
 Available
Brand Popularity
781
 of 900+
Headquarters
China

About the brand

Edifier, a hifi audio brand, horn-loaded ribbon tweeters to affordable active monitors through their Airpulse series. The brand achieved the first Hi-Res Audio certified true wireless earbuds with their NeoBuds Pro and in 2010 became China's first publicly listed audio speaker company.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Headphones
/
Average Price
$500
Used Products
0
 Available
Brand Popularity
794
 of 900+
Headquarters
United States

About the brand

Apple deserves credit for making its entire Apple Music catalog available in Lossless (ALAC) up to 24-bit/192 kHz and adding Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos at no extra cost, while creating Personalized Spatial Audio that uses an iPhone's TrueDepth camera to scan your ears and head to build an individualized HRTF profile applied across Apple devices. The brand has also engineered a proprietary lossless, ultra-low-latency wireless link between Apple Vision Pro and specific AirPods models that bypasses standard Bluetooth limits, and created the open-sourced Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) that makes its lossless format royalty-free.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page

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