Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3537 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: MDR-V500DJ
• Released on: 2003-07-07
• Dimensions: 4.53" h x 8.47" w x 10.63" l, .49 pounds

Features

• Swivel housing for DJ monitoring
• High 1000 mW maximum input
• 10-25,000Hz frequency response
• 40mm drive unit
• Neodymium magnet (5x more powerful than Ferrite)

Manufacturer's Description
The MDR-V500DJ closed supra-aural headphones provide top-end comfort and sound quality. The headphones are part of Sony's Studio Monitor Series and are built with high-end materials using advanced sound engineering. They are designed to meet the demands of professional and high fidelity users. Sony's closed type headphones allow only a limited amount of ambient noise into the ear canal, giving your attention fully to the music. The padded earcups fit comfortably, hour after hour. For those who like to use the headphones for single-sided monitoring, these MDR-V500s come with swivel earcups. The earcups are also reversible, and have been designed to be comfortable for on-shoulder use. The supra-aural design is engineered for excellent listening comfort. With this design, the earcups rest lightly on the ear, while the driver units are positioned along the ear canal for ideal sound transport. The wide, molded headband distributes the headphone's weight evenly. The headphones are foldable for easy storage and portability; when folded, the headphones will easily fit in a backpack or purse. The three meter cord (ten feet) is made of oxygen-free copper wiring for maximum conductivity and minimal noise.

Sony has installed several key features to these headphones to enhance their sound quality. The forty millimeter drive units delivers a deep bass sound and a wide dynamic range (the frequency range extends down to 10 Hz.) Both the stereo mini-plug and the UniMatch phone plug are gold-plated to make sure sound is transported fully and accurately. The gold-plated treatment also helps resist corrosion and supports the headphones' high conductivity and low noise. The neodymium magnets allow for superb power at a minimum size; these magnets provide more magnetic energy than other inferior magnets. Finally, the PET diaphragm works to deliver low distortion.

Excellent fit, excellent compatibility, excellent portability and excellent sound: these headphones fit the bill for a sound professional.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

MDR-V500 earphones and pain
I bought these headphones about 3 years ago, and they're still here, still pumping joy to my ears, still solid as ever. Sure, the thin plastic covering the sponges that surround the speakers is gone on one side, but the sponge itself is still intact. These headphones with normal use will most probably last you a long time.

But they clamp to your head like no tomorrow, ensuring that all their sounds do not escape your ear. I have them on about 3 to 5 hours a day, and i'm sure i've developped some form of brain damage due to the massive clamping. After 2.5 hours i begin to feel a sharp pain in my left ear, and i just HAVE to take them off. My mind gets torn between wanting to listen to sweet sweet music, and my brain is crying because my ear is oh-so painful. My left ear, i must add (because that's also where the connecting cable is on the headphones). The voices in my head tell me it's ok though, eventually my ear will sink into my skull and the headphones will rest on the bone, therefore no more pain.

The swivelling is good -- you can swivel it flat so it can fit in a messenger bag, or into a small(ish) lump to fit in a rather large hangbag. Hell, you can also swivel them around so you can feel like a DJ while you try to scratch using your ipod, resulting in the much loved "now you hear it now you don't" effect.

All in all, i live with the pain, because those are damn good headphones. 5000 stars for the sound quality, -4996 stars for the pain it now causes me.

Sound
Just got these today and first thoughts when opening the box was "omg there tiny" but when i put them on i was sursprised that they covered my ears quite nicely and by as lightweight as they are i hardly noticed i had them on. The only draw back i have found about the fitting is they clamp to the sides of your head causing a little bit more pressure than im used to with headphones.

The sound repoduction is chrisp and well balanced through the ranges, the bass has`nt distorted once yet. Hearing outside noises is nearly impossible which is good if you want to get stuck into your music.

Pros :- great response to all ranges
loud & balanced
solid design

Cons :- Clamps to head, could get uncomfortable after prolonged use.

MDR-V500DJ - Retract last post! Humble apologies :o)
Humble apologies!

On reflection, after giving the MDR-5V00DJ headphones a little more time to get use to the difference in sound, I have to retract my last statement! The base is more raw on the MDR-V300 which may suit hard heads who love raw hard sound, but like me you could be converted once you give the headphones a chance, especially if you're upgrading from the MDR-V300. But it's really down to what you're expecting, sound quality wise, don't get me wrong the base on MDR-V500DJ is very good, it delivers a better quality of base than the MDR-V300. The sound that is delivered from MDR-V500DJ is actually more superior in quality, something I failed to appreciate on initial listening. I suppose after being use to the all upfront slightly unrefined sound of the MDR-V300, I kind of got use to it, when in fact the MDR-V500DJ has a superior sound range and is far more comfortable, and like I said earlier looks much better.. Apologies for the initial post, I'm man enough to appreciate I was wrong! Good head phones, worth the price....