A delicate waveform was carved out of the interior wall, achieving sound expansion and acoustics equivalent to that of a concert hall.”Įxperts attribute the extraordinary sound quality to the newly developed 50 mm Bio-Cellulose Dome Diaphragms. In order to overcome the problem of designing housing that could produce a natural, distortion-free sound, engineers used the FRESDAM (Freeform Shape Design and Manufacture) computer-aided design system. Evaluation was made in terms of hardness, timbre, weight, and overall sound-transferability characteristics. “After extensive testing of materials from all over the world, the heart-wood of mature Zelkova trees was selected as most suitable for the housing of the MDR-R1O. Users often report that they are one of the most comfortable headphones they have ever used, regardless of the relatively large size and weight (400 grams). Although the Zelkova wood enclosures are big and bulky, they are well balanced and have a comfortable headband, along with lambskin leather ear pads. The fit and finish of this MDR-R10 are top-notch. It was available in two flavors, one with more emphasized bass. They remain for many, the pinnacle of closed-back headphones, with an exceptional soundstage and with a superbly natural and musical sound profile. How can this almost 30-year-old headphone compete with modern offerings at this price?Įven when evaluated today, the MDR-R10 sound is described as effortless, highly detailed and extremely clear. This scarcity and reputation meant that the few that come up for sale these days have price tags often in excess of $5000. Since 1989, 2000 pairs were made, and with a price tag of $2500 USD, it certainly captured the spirit of this article. They looked to dominate the headphone market with an “Ultimate Headphone”, namely the Sony MDR-R10. In the 1980’s Sony electronics could do no wrong – they ruled the portable market with the Walkman and eventually with the Sports line.
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