Sony MDR-V700DJ Studio Monitor Series DJ Headphones

Rating:
Summary: Great on sound... but not great on the ears
Review: I bought these because they were one of a few Sony models that have 50mm drivers. My MDR-CD580 set has been flying colors all the way, so Sony may as well have already had my money for these. In hindsight, I should have shopped more or been willing to spend more money.

I'm not a DJ but I selected these based on the specs for sound quality. Great sound they have in abundance, comfort they do not. My ears got quite uncomfortable and did so quite quickly. I had some foam padding handy, so I cut some foam rings and inserted them under the covers and now I can wear them longer. They still get uncomfy after a while but it's not as bad.

My only other con is the cord. It would have been nice if it were removable and it would be more functional to me if it were not coiled. I'd rather have the slack than the tension.

Since I have not owned these for a long time, I can't speak for the structural integrity issues that I've read about, but I don't really travel with them. With any luck I'll get more than a few years out of them.

If you don't plan to use them for long periods of time, or if you have some spare foam padding lying around, you might have trouble finding better sounding headphones for the price. The 50mm drivers make a noticeable difference.

Rating:
Summary: First-rate sound! Hard not to love'em.. even when they crack
Review: I just want to echo what a lot of reviewers have said...

The sound is absolutely first rate! Music no longer feels like it's around you, you're part of it. Bass sounds absolutely crisp and clean, not muddled and washed out like some other headphones I've used. Highs and midtones are well represented. Pretty much perfect for any sort of music, be it electronic, rock, or classical. I used to game with these headphones on my PC as well, which completely spoiled me.

But like others have said, wear and tear seem to plague this pair of headphones. I don't DJ, but I do use my headphones on a regular basis and my first pair eventually formed cracks near one of the earpiece joints which was the beginning of the end. My second pair's demise was my own fault, having fallen asleep with them on and somehow twisting them in just the appropriate direction to break off a joint.

Other than the joints, however, I'm pretty happy with the ear pads. Given the amount of wear, the pads have held up quite well, where other cheaper headphones have eventually fallen apart due to heat and perspiration.

Comfort-wise, I'd rate them a 4 out of 5. They feel pretty much like what they look like. Part of the great sound is because they pretty much cup your head pretty snugly and feel pretty comfortable for the first several hours. However, after an extended period, your ears are ready for a break from being mashed to your head. I don't rate them too badly on this, mainly because there are other similar-looking headphones which are pure orture compared to the Sonys.

If you're looking for comfort, I would suggest the Bose Triport headphones which sells in a similar range or the more expensive Quiet Comfort 2 (which adds Noise Cancelling). Although I can't speak for wear'n tear, I've tried out the Triports at my friends place and I currently own a pair of QC2 (mainly because I needed noise cancellation for work-related reasons), and these two pairs of headphones are unmatched for comfort.

HOWEVER, for pure sound, I preferred the Sony's by far. I'll probably pick up another pair of these Sony's soon, because writing about them make me miss them.

So my bottom line?

PROs:
1) Sound - my favorite sounding pair to date by far!
2) Portability - they fold up nicely and come with a travel pouch
3) Comfort - reasonably comfortable for extended periods
4) Durable Ear Pads
5) Sound
6) Sound
7) Sound
8) Sound
9) Sound
10) Sound

CONs:
1) Quick wear'n tear on the plastic joints, so careful with twisting the earpieces too much
2) High price for such fragility

For such an pricy pair, Sony should have constructed these headphones better, but at least for me, the sound is definitely worth it.

Rating:
Summary: plastic stress cracks
Review: I'd like to echo the sentiments of a previous reviewer by saying that the plastic swivel joints on these are guaranteed to crack. It took mine awhile as I no longer do club djing professionally so they are basically light duty super hifi ipod headphones for me. But crack they did. I compared notes with my club DJ friends... and waddya know? They ALL said their V700 swivel joints were cracked!!! That's called a death knell where I come from, baby. They do sound absolutely great. Really beautiful. But once the plastic starts cracking the cups no longer fit snugly on one's ears. Listen, before these I had the old school Sony V-6's (NOT the impossibly bulky new version... the V600) which were a serious workhorse phone set and sounded amazing. You can still get the classic V6's and that's what I'm gonna do rather than re-up another pair of these V700's. These shiznits should not be disposable! My V6's would last forever, until I sat on 'em, or bent the 1/4 inch plug in half, or something!!! Fortunately, they still make 'em after they were briefly discontinued when the V600's were introduced. So there is an important difference between the V700's and the V6. The V700 has a 50mmm driver and the V6 has a 40mm driver. Bigger IS better when it comes to drivers and headphones... but I need DURABILITY and RELIABILITY on top of awesome sound. So out comes the super glue for these damn cracks, and these V700 are relegated to emergency spares.

Rating:
Summary: Inferior Quality Compared to Previous Japanese Made Units
Review: A year ago, I purchase this exact product that was made in Japan. Right now, they are made in the Philippines. I only knew this after purchasing one unit days ago.

As I carefully compared the two, I was surprised to find the difference was striking. The original unit had much more powerful and cleaner bass (that's what a great pair of headphones are all about!). The current model sounded so inferior. The curled wire is now made with cheap-felt, almost sticky rubber as opposed to the polished and smooth wire on my original Japan made unit.

Without comparison, everything stands acceptable. I doubt the reviews for this product would stay as well if the reviewers had a chance to listen to the original 700DJ that was made in Japan.

Rating:
Summary: Ear Candy
Review: These headphones are candy for the ears. They fit extremely well (are soft and snug) and even I forget that they are on my head! Although they are designed for "DJ use," they work flawlessly with every application and I highly recommend them. They will not let you down and are worth every penny paid.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for the DJ with 15 months to live
Review: Just wanted to toss in my own two cents, even though they're very similar to some others on here...

The sound is great. Zero complaints on that. Before these I owned V600's, and the sound quality on the V700DJ is worlds better.

The comfort took some getting used to. It took a few weeks to break them in before I could wear them for an extended period of time without taking them off to give my ears a rest.

The problem? They break. I take good care of them, using them at home or at the office, always keeping them in the carrying case when they aren't in use. The problem is on the plastic joints. For the last month or so I've been holding them together with tape or twist-ties, but the cracks are getting bigger and its days are numbered. I owned the V600's for about 7 years with the only problem being the gradual padding deterioration. I've had this pair for about a year and a half, and it's about done.

So, if longevity isn't a priority for you, go ahead and get the V700DJ's. But be warned that you'll be shopping for a new pair within two years.

Rating:
Summary: Intense Headphones
Review: I really enjoy my pair of these headphones. They deliver top notch sound with killer bass. They can at times be uncomfortable after extended listening periods. I've had mine for about 7 months and use them almost every day. I noticed some people said they wear quickly but I have yet to have a problem.