Sony targets music creators and sound engineers with its new MDR-M1 Reference Closed Monitor HeadphonesSony is hoping to target music creators and sound engineers who wish to produce in any environment with its new MDR-M1 Reference Closed Monitor Headphones.
Featuring a closed acoustic structure with high sound isolation, a newly developed driver unit for this particular model, and a lightweight design, Sony says these cans offer producers a studio experience from anywhere.

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And while comfort and ergonomics are certainly positioned as a selling point of the MDR-M1 headphones, Sony’s primary emphasis lies in sound quality. Their exclusively developed driver unit achieves “ultra-wideband” playback from 5 Hz to 80 kHz. Given that the average human hearing range is between 20 Hz and 20 kHz, it’s safe to say these headphones cover all bases, and then some.

Elsewhere, the headphones feature a closed acoustic structure for the elimination of ambient noise, making them suitable for production where such sounds are detrimental to monitoring. There’s also a tuned port ventilation hole to control low frequencies.
Additionally, Sony has optimised the operation of the diaphragm, meaning improved low-frequency characteristics, and therefore better production decisions with regard to bass frequencies.
The MDR-M1 headphones have been developed in collaboration with top engineers in the industry, including Battery Studios Mastering Engineer Mike Piacentini, and Recording and Mixing Engineer of Power Station at Berklee NYC, Akihiro Nishimura.
Credit: Sony
“As engineers, we are often tasked to work in a variety of formats, which are all produced in different environments, on ever-changing speaker systems,” says Piacentini. “Throughout the record production process, I believe it is important to have headphones that provide an accurate reference point, whether you are working on near-field monitors, mastering speakers, or an immersive speaker setup. I’ve worked alongside the incredible Sony’s Tokyo headphone design team, to help create a pair of headphones that are accurate across the frequency spectrum in a variety of use cases. MDR-M1 are a great entry point for any creator who wants to be sure that the sound they are hearing in the studio translates to the end user in the best way possible.”
Credit: Sony
“The tonal balance of the MDR-M1 feels very close to the impression of Power Station’s Studio A control room,” adds Nishimura. “In recording sessions, it is important to care what musicians or singers are listening to when they play or sing. MDR-M1 gives you the same impression of listening in a control room headphone, which makes it easier to create music by listening to each other. The comfort design also makes us focus on music in long sessions. I hope MDR-M1 will become the standard monitoring system for any recording sessions.”
The MDR-M1 Reference Closed Monitor Headphones are available this month, priced at €249/£209. For more info, head to Sony.
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