Sony MDR-V6 Monitor Series Headphones Amazon $40

OOS at $39.99, Back to $70

if anyone happened to pick up an extra set at the $40 price and feels like passing on good will to a member here, lmk. I've got paypal ready to go...

Yep. If one has a unit to spare...
(And 1 hour ago I wasn`t even considering buying it any time soon )

Quote from falleng0d : Just for some insight here. I have owned this model headphones for like 8 years or so. They are decent, but not anywhere near the best. Of course, I think I paid $100-200 for them at the time when they were new models. The biggest issue that most people have, myself included, is the fact this sit on top of your ears, not around your ear. This gets very uncomfortable very fast, even for watching movies or something. I dont ever use them anymore because of their flawed on-your-ear design. They produce decent sound, but the pressure being on top of your ears is bloody uncomfortable. This is a very old model headphone as well, put your money into something newer is my advice. I am surprised they even have these for sale(probably why they are $40).

Its not a flaw in the design, what you are referring to is circumaural vs supra aural. Some folks prefer the circumaural ( surround the ears) but the drawback is that these phones are usually much larger and heavier. Also your ears heat up from being enclosed. Also these were never intended to be audiophile quality, these are more the work horse type phones using metal parts designed to be user replacable. There's a reason why these have been on the market since the mid 80s are still a strong seller.

Wonder what Amazon's cost is for these headphones?

To all who have purchased, you made a GREAT move; these are ubelievable headphones, even for the $65-70 they normally go for!

Some advice:
1. Once you receive them, many recommend "burning them in" by leaving the headphones with music playing through them at a moderate volume for a long time, somewhere between 10-24 hours. This is said to loosen the mechanical components of the new headphones so the sound reaches its full ptoential.

2. I have had these for about 20 years (they've been in production more or less continuously since 1985!) and can definitely say to make them sound their best, they should ideally be run through a quality (headphone) amplifier section, like in a receiver or dedicated COMPONENT CD player, etc. Don't get scared or get me wrong, they still sound great through an MP3 player's/iPod's low-powered internal amp, but the sound is really best amplified, better bass especially. This will be the case with ANY (that's A N Y) quality full-sized headphones you buy. However, since the V6 is a high-sensitivity headphone for its size, you are already at an advantage. You can buy ultra mini portable headphone amps for use with an MP3 payer through Amazon for under $30. You will definitely appreciate the difference.

3. As far as comfort, I find that if they ever start bothering my ears, just a very small shift in their position on your ears and/or head will alleviate any discomfort and you can continue wearing them for another 30 minutes to an hour or more before another "shift" is necessary. Don't forget that the headband adjusts individually for each earcup from 1 to 11 (not the standard 10; I always wondered if this was some Japanese designer's inside joke reference to This Is Spinal Tap, as that movie was released in 1984 just before these headphones were released ). Most people (those without lopsided heads) will want both sides of the headband at identical numbers for proper fit. Also, make sure the headband is properly sitting across to top center of your head.

4. The build quality of the V6 is outstanding. Yes, the earpads will fail eventually by starting to flake off or split at the seams, but this should only happen after 3-5 yeard of regular use, unless you're really throwing these around or something. Many people buy Beyerdynamic EDT 250 velour earpads as an upgrade replacement. EVERYTHING else on these can should last 15-20++ years, seriously. These are the closest an heirloom an electronic item will be, especially because they will not break and they won't become "obsolete", unlike your iPhone 5, 6, 7, etc. or just about any other electronic item... As an expamle, even the silkscreening on both the top of the headband and on the supplied carrying bag has not worn one bit in 20 years! These are lifetime headphones!

5. These headphones will bring out the best, or worst, in a recording. You will likely hear details and instruments that you have never noticed before, even in recordings that you are very familiar with. On the other hand, if a recording is weak, you will know it when listening to it through the V6. Don't balme the headphones... And if the bass sounds weak, first try running through a better amp (see #2 above) or listen to a better recording! These things will accurately reproduce deep, visceral bass with aplomb, but only if it's really in the recording. If you expect artificially overemphasized bass, adjust your EQ, or get a crappier set of cans! By the way, these can handle as much volume as you throw at them, so if something is distorting it's either A) your little MP3 amp is overloaded, or B) the distortion is in the original recording, or C) you just blew out your eardrums!

ENJOY! (Even if you missed the $40 deal, these are WELL WORTH $70, and if you've never heard of the MDR-V6 before and this thread notified you of their existence, you have benefitted already today, "slick deal" or not. BUY THEM!)

Quote from cowguy : Its not a flaw in the design, what you are referring to is circumaural vs supra aural. Some folks prefer the circumaural ( surround the ears) but the drawback is that these phones are usually much larger and heavier. Also your ears heat up from being enclosed. Also these were never intended to be audiophile quality, these are more the work horse type phones using metal parts designed to be user replacable. There's a reason why these have been on the market since the mid 80s are still a strong seller.

I know the differences. All I am saying is, be aware. Most people get annoyed with this phones. They arnt for long term use, I guess if youre a person who likes circumaural go for it.

Quote from cowguy : Also these were never intended to be audiophile quality, these are more the work horse type phones...

I believe you are incorrect as to the purpose of the design. I have read that the V6 was designed and used to showcase Sony's new line of digital multitrack tape recorders to recording studios in the mid 1980s.

Quote from o0adam0o : How much you pay? Where? I forgot where i saw them

http://slickdeals.net/f/5557760-A...900-79-99?
Looks like they won't honor it though

Quote from falleng0d : Just for some insight here. I have owned this model headphones for like 8 years or so. They are decent, but not anywhere near the best. Of course, I think I paid $100-200 for them at the time when they were new models. The biggest issue that most people have, myself included, is the fact this sit on top of your ears, not around your ear. This gets very uncomfortable very fast, even for watching movies or something. I dont ever use them anymore because of their flawed on-your-ear design. They produce decent sound, but the pressure being on top of your ears is bloody uncomfortable. This is a very old model headphone as well, put your money into something newer is my advice. I am surprised they even have these for sale(probably why they are $40).

These are circumarual unless I am mistaken. They should not sit on your ears.

Quote from Blindsorrow : I believe you are incorrect as to the purpose of the design. I have read that the V6 was designed and used to showcase Sony's new line of digital multitrack tape recorders to recording studios in the mid 1980s.

Ah , that's what the "for digital" badging was for. I always thought it sounded silly. But still these are more for the studios and monitoring rather than for "music appreciation". The reason I say this is because most monitoring phones pride themselves in a flat and linear freq response where as the critical listener phones like stax-omegas have some amount of wave shaping built in to account for what the human ear can actually hear. I am not comparing this to a stax omega , just trying to say that one is "monitor class" and the other is "imaging" oriented.

Quote from cowguy : Ah , that's what the "for digital" badging was for. I always thought it sounded silly. But still these are more for the studios and monitoring rather than for "music appreciation". The reason I say this is because most monitoring phones pride themselves in a flat and linear freq response where as the critical listener phones like stax-omegas have some amount of wave shaping built in to account for what the human ear can actually hear. I am not comparing this to a stax omega , just trying to say that one is "monitor class" and the other is "imaging" oriented.

this is where personal preference detours from the true sense of seeking a "reference" playback system.

Quote from spikey911 : My wife wants the $299 Beats... She listens to Beatles mostly... Would these be better?

Woman like and buy things based on looks, style, popularity. They could sound like crap but look good and they'll be happy. I think men tend to have a more discerning ear and would rather have the better sounding pair of headphones.
I could totally imagine getting these for my girl and having her say "those are not the ones I wanted". And even trying to convince her that they sound better, have better frequency response, etc. it wouldn't matter.

I personally would pick these over the Beats (which are overpriced as well), but I guess it will depend on what will make your wife happy...

back at $50

I am not a huge audiophile. But am now looking at buying a good pair after a lot of deliberation. I like to hear more of the lower frequencies and that is why I want to move from my in ear sennheiser and ipod earbuds.

Would you guys recommend this? I see a lot of talk of flat music and stuff. I dont understand it am a noob. I liked the HD202 and 280 by Sennheiser. is this pair worth it at the now going price of $50?