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Review 3 of 40
Price Paid:
$60.00
from Bay Bloor Radio Summary:
I've just replaced my Sony MDR-V300's with the slightly better (to my ears) Sennheiser HD-457's, but thought I should give the Sony's a proper send-off with a good review.
I purchased the 300's four years ago just before Sennheiser came out with their current lineup. The Sony 300's sounded better than Everything I'd tested that was under $100 (Canadian), and a few that were well over $100 (including some Grado models!). In factI found the 300's to be the best sounding Sony headphones bar none. They sound more even and balanced than the vaunted 500DJ and 700DJ models. I didn't want to like the Sony's because every product of theirs I ever had let me down, and I vowed long ago "No Sony! Never Again". These headphones changed my perceptions a little.
I thouroughly enjoyed their performance as my second set, for portable use only (CD walkman and iPod), for 4 years until the second break of the right side earcup bracket (aye, the first break was repaired with glue and tape, I tried the second time but alas, it didn't hold...).
My new Sennheiser HD-457's are very slightly sonically superior from the midrange on up. The bass on the 457's is even more overboosted than the Sony's, but they're also an open design which has to compensate for more outside noise. Because of the "too-much-bass" I wouldn't choose the new 457's to be my home stereo headphones (I have another pair of old Sennheisers for that), but the MDR-V300's don't suffer from that quite so badly. If you wanted a nice pair of 'phones for under $75 for both home and portable usage it's tough to beat the 300's.
They're great for any portable use, and passable for most home stereo use if you're not too critical a listener. Strengths:
When I purchased them they sounded slightly better than the equvalent model Sennheisers and Denon's at the time.
They do have a boosted bass response which would be overbearing for an audiophiles home stereo, but this extra bass is good for a portable set since they have to compete with outdoor noise.
They're *relatively* Durable. I've abused mine for 4 years. I've had them in sub-sub-zero Canadian temperatures using them as earmuffs, causing the cord to freeze. I've played them non-stop, dropped them, banged them around, have them scuffed and scratched. They look like hell now - but they've always sounded pretty good. But I did manage to break them. Twice.
Quality of the cord and gold-plated connector is nice for this price point.
Weaknesses:
Slightly uncomfortable for extended periods of time due to the hard plastic headband putting too much pressure on the top of your head. Causes your ears to sweat.
Overboosted bass (but no worse than most other players at this level, and not quite as pronounced as my new HD-457's).
Shrill, sibalant highs when compared with the smoother Senn 457's. It's not awful, but the Sennheisers are just a little better.
Cheapish construction. They look cheap and plasticy. The earcup brackets broke twice on mine rather easily. This is what caused their replacement.
Long cord. WHY is it so long? Why?! Similar Products Used:
Sennheiser HD-455's (I've owned these as my primary home pair for more than nine years)
--other products I'd tested before buying the MDR-V300's:
Sennheiser HD-430somethings
Sony MDR-V150
Sony MDR-V250
Sony MDR-V500DJ & 700DJ
Denon (I don't know the model number)
AKG (ditto)
Grado SR-60's
Grado SR-80's
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