Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65524 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: MDR-DS3000
• Released on: 2004-03-31

Manufacturer's Description
Sony's MDR-DS3000 Infrared Wireless Digital Surround headphones are designed for audiophile home theater enthusiasts, and are ideal for DVD players and other components with Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround or DTS Surround Sound. They feature a comfortable, open-air design and a self-adjusting headband, and work at a 23 foot transmission range and a 90 degree transmission angle.

The transmitter that comes with the headphones and enables their wireless transmission incorporates Sony VPT Virtual Phones Technology with advanced level 125MIPS (125 million instructions per second) Logic 3D Processor to provide richer and more natural sound quality, and weightier, more substantial bass sounds to enhance the sound's live presence. There's even a Decode-Mode indicator on the front which visually indicates when the system is in Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround, or DTS mode, and provides a snazzy, stylized representation of the virtual speaker placement relative to the listener. The optical digital input allows you to use the phones with Dolby Digital and PCM audio-enabled devices, and its gold-plated analog input provides noise-free Dolby stereo and pure stereo sources from external devices.

For you audiophiles out there, please note these phones sport a fifth order Delta/Sigma A/D converter that uses 64X over-sampling for high precision audio, as well as a multi-level Delta/Sigma D/A Converter that achieves 18 bit resolution. There's also SILMIC Electrolytic capacitors at the analog stage, for more natural sound, and the copper board traces are literally twice as thick as conventional designs, giving you higher conductivity.

The phones sport a high power infrared transmitter with separate FM carriers for wide bandwidth, and high channel separation, and its 90-degree transmission angle further enhances your ability to enjoy uninterrupted surround sound listening without pinning you down to one spot. You'll get superb transient response with the long-stroke 12um polyester film diaphragms: the new diaphragm shape resists bending and flexing to provide low levels of distortion. Plus, the oversized 30mm diameter drive units are larger than most headphones, for noticeably deeper bass sounds.

The built-in Dolby Pro Logic II decoder unlocks any Surround Sound tracks included in traditional VHS Hi-Fi, and stereo TV, sources to provide the maximum "live" entertainment experience available even here. Built in Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS 5.1 Decoders reproduce all popular surround sound systems, including state of the art 5.1 channel sound as well as Digital Theater Systems surround sound. Headphone functions include automatic On/Off, volume control, muting, power save, and the ability to recharge on the base.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Please read if you intend to use with a Plasma TV ...
One thing to be aware of before purchasing the Sony MDR-DS3000K Infrared Wireless Headphones is they aren't compatible with Plasma TV's - the light from the Plasma Display Panel 'interferes' with the infrared transmission of the sound from the base station to the headphones. This is mentioned on the box but not in Amazon's listing, unfortunately I had to return mine (although Amazon refunded everything and the return via DHL was free also). Not sure if it's all Plasma TV's, but mine's a Sony KP-42M1S. I've awarded it 5 stars so as not to negatively affect it's rating, if you find yourself in the same boat as me consider the Sony MDR-V700DJ Professional DJ Headphones instead.

Great sound, good looking and easy to setup
To start off with, the sound is awesome, whether it's listening to music, playing games or watching a movie, there is a perfect setting for everything. Being a night person im constantly worrying about the volume, not anymore, i would even go as far and say that these headphones, on movie mode, sound better then 5.1 speakers.

The headphones and the base are pretty cool looking, they feel
comfortable and light whilst on and have a great auto off feature when you take them off. Charging is simple, and the batteries last for a while. Didn't have to do any fiddling to connect the headset to the base unit, it just worked straight away, the IR distance isn't great, but that's because they are really designed for close direct listening, and you will probably need to buy a certain audio cable for your specific requirements.

I know paying this much money for headphones seems a little over the top, but trust me they are most definitely worth it.

Sony infra red headphone review
Excellent sound reproduction, as good as corded variants. Has analogue and digital optical i/ps. Hooked up to the headphone socket of my DVD sounds great, good bass response, cinema surround sound mode is excellent, will rattle your ear drums. Doesn't suffer with background hiss common with analogue RF cordless headphones. Battery life good. If using headphone socket need to turn volume to near maximum else some background hiss noticed. Need to use optical i/p for DTS encoded movies. Imune to RF interfence. Well worth spending the extra 50 quid compared to the analogue RF cordless headphones and as a bonus blocks out Mrs as well when trying to endulge oneself in an action movie in full surround sound with ones cold beer, bliss enjoy