Reviews by kiling92
“The absolute never needs to be explained. It speaks for itself, and people can understand what it
He says, they place him out of time.”
Since I entered in this world I’ve been alsways fascinated by this item.
My hobby started with the principle of listening only closed headphones as I did not want to have interference with external noise.
I bought many closed back headphones to find the most suitable one for my taste;from the hd820 to the focal stellia,the veritè closed,the Denon 9200.
My only open back was the Stax-sr9000.
Finally I have the opportunity to buy a Sony MDR-R10 after many years,any the pair was definitely in pristine condition!
It’s not my intention to talk about what I’ve been able to listen to with the headphones above, but what the R10 made me listen to with no other headphones has been able to do.
Music.Really immersive music like no other hifi gear I ever listened since I entered in this rabbit hole called hifi.
The headphone is kept inside in a leather chest, the experience of unboxing is among the most luxurious ever tried, if not the most luxurious.
The headphone is supported by a kind of soft red velvet of high manufacture, and next to the R10 there is a compartment dedicated to the cable 3 meters, the cloths to clean the shell of zelkova, the key to be able to close the casket;In the midst of all this elegence lies the mythical King.
the headphone from the first sight looks like a product of high manufacture.there is no trace of plastic, but only magnesium, carbon fiber (located inside the headband)and genuine Greek lamb leather used for the bow and earpads;the shells come from the zelkova at the time (1989)two hundred years Japanese, located precisely in Aizu:
“Freed from the unconventional approach, we started designing by avoiding proven formulas. We have thus proceeded with numerous experiments carried out with samples of materials variously found all over the world, evaluating each of them according to the parameters of weight, resistance, mechanical properties, sound transfer capacity and many other characteristics. Analysis of the collected data showed zelkova wood* to be the most suitable material for our containers. This particularly compact wood is obtained from trees older than 200 years, which grow in Japan in the regions of
Chubu and Tohoku.
To design the zelkova pavilion, the remarkable operational capabilities of the three-dimensional computer graphic design system (CAD) were used
FRESDAM** The feeling you have of listening to music in a concert hall has been obtained by digging into the heart of the wood, obtaining a volume of about 300 cc, and also providing for special and delicate processing on the inner walls of the hollow obtained.”
Together with wood, the characteristic that determines the sound of the unique R10 is the beating heart of the headphone, the transducer,created with the biocellulose ,the first used in the acoustic field:
“The first problem that arose to the designers of the R10, eager to achieve the same sound result typical of loudspeaker systems that sound in the environment, consisted in the search for a substance that would allow a musical quality impossible to achieve by using the usual membranes of plastic material, normally used in headphones produced previously. We looked at the existing membranes from all points of view, but none of them allowed the designers to achieve the sound quality they had in mind.
After frustrating research we discovered the "biocellulose".
In fact, we have discovered that some saccharides, bacteria 2 microns long, produce very thin cellulose fibres, whose diameter varies
200 to 400 angstroms (10000 angstroms = 1
micron). These fibers are called biocellulose. Using advanced biotechnologies it is possible to increase, in about two days, the thickness of this biological culture, obtaining thickness of about 2 mm. Then the culture undergoes a dehydration process and a reduction in thickness to 20 microns, thus assuming the typical shape of the finished membrane.
Our biocellulose membrane allows you to combine the speed of sound reproduction, typical of aluminum or titanium membranes, the heat and the delicacy of reproduction that are, instead, characteristics of the membranes made of paper.
(The speed in sound reproduction is a function given by the rigidity and density parameters of the material used for the construction of the transducer membrane).”
Now that I’ve mentioned the statements from the instruction manual, let’s get to the point.
How does that sound?
Thanks to these two unique characteristics the sound result is an unprecedented sonic signature;the resolution are in pair with the modern TOTL headphones,with the most natural timbre you can find in this hobby.
SOUNDSTAGE: Eh,what can I say..is so big and perfectly cohesive in every direction that it literally immerses you in the music, it tears you off to be in front of two high-end speakers (note, this result can be obtained by adding an amplifier worthy of driving the R10, which delivers a lot of power output).
I still never heard any headphone that can reproduce an accurately images and soundstage like the R10.the sound with the right songs exit from your head.and i so "airy" that i can pinpoint where different instuments is placed.
BASS: I’ve read a lot of reviews that speak negatively of the bass of the R10 -too"light"-
IMHO has deep bass and also very articulated,"meaty".
Everything comes from the foam that you have inside the headphone, also responsible for the sound;the more the foam is disintegrated, the more the sound will be dry and metallic,with no bass, for this reason I do not believe in the legend of "bass light" and "bass heavy;the results simply depends from the health of the foam
The bass here have a great cadence and punch,but it goes down until the 60 hz;after that if you want to hear more you need a hi end amplifier.
For the sub bass however many headphones work better. (Maybe the unic cons)
P.s small precision;between the frequencies, the basses are warmer and softer than the mid and high, you can actually perceive the difference
MIDS: What they all claim about that headphone is the midrange.And I confirm ,those are hands down the most glorious mids you will ever find, regardless from the type of system,if headphones or speakers. The only mids I can compare are from the Stax 9000, which also has exceptional mids. I try to go straight to the point; the 9000 is soft and warm, and very open to the voices, but the R10 outclassed it,because the voice is so real that you perceive the smallest detail, is not dry, is not soft.simply is real; if a voice sounds melodic you hear melodic,If you feel the voice scratchy you will be able to perfectly perceive the anger that had at that time the singer.
HIGHS: now it may seem to you that they are biased, but even in this context I declare for my taste the R10 with the most natural high frequencies that there are around.probably there are more airy.extended and detailed headphones, (but to find this you have to switch on electrostatic TOTL)but you have to know that the R10 is free of harshness, it is so grainless that you could listen to it for hours without stressing your ears, all always if the foam is in optimal condition.
LEVEL OF DETAILS: not many words to write here,very detailed but not like electrostatic headphones,a bit more detailed then a sennheser hd800.
in short..as you understand from this review,there is no frequency that is not at the right place,and for what concerns me,the R10 really has the perfect sound.
I think that despite the technology will advance, this now forgotten mausoleum from Sony will continue to sit comfortably on his throne.. ah, and remember! is a closed headphone!
And a closed-back that outclass also modern open-back TOTL headphones says a lot about its legendary status.
Hails to the king!
Mine unit is drive by an analogue chain,composed by:
Rega Planar RP10
Hana ML cartridge
Prephono: audioanalogue AA phono
Ampli: Leben cs300xs
He says, they place him out of time.”
Since I entered in this world I’ve been alsways fascinated by this item.
My hobby started with the principle of listening only closed headphones as I did not want to have interference with external noise.
I bought many closed back headphones to find the most suitable one for my taste;from the hd820 to the focal stellia,the veritè closed,the Denon 9200.
My only open back was the Stax-sr9000.
Finally I have the opportunity to buy a Sony MDR-R10 after many years,any the pair was definitely in pristine condition!
It’s not my intention to talk about what I’ve been able to listen to with the headphones above, but what the R10 made me listen to with no other headphones has been able to do.
Music.Really immersive music like no other hifi gear I ever listened since I entered in this rabbit hole called hifi.
The headphone is kept inside in a leather chest, the experience of unboxing is among the most luxurious ever tried, if not the most luxurious.
The headphone is supported by a kind of soft red velvet of high manufacture, and next to the R10 there is a compartment dedicated to the cable 3 meters, the cloths to clean the shell of zelkova, the key to be able to close the casket;In the midst of all this elegence lies the mythical King.
the headphone from the first sight looks like a product of high manufacture.there is no trace of plastic, but only magnesium, carbon fiber (located inside the headband)and genuine Greek lamb leather used for the bow and earpads;the shells come from the zelkova at the time (1989)two hundred years Japanese, located precisely in Aizu:
“Freed from the unconventional approach, we started designing by avoiding proven formulas. We have thus proceeded with numerous experiments carried out with samples of materials variously found all over the world, evaluating each of them according to the parameters of weight, resistance, mechanical properties, sound transfer capacity and many other characteristics. Analysis of the collected data showed zelkova wood* to be the most suitable material for our containers. This particularly compact wood is obtained from trees older than 200 years, which grow in Japan in the regions of
Chubu and Tohoku.
To design the zelkova pavilion, the remarkable operational capabilities of the three-dimensional computer graphic design system (CAD) were used
FRESDAM** The feeling you have of listening to music in a concert hall has been obtained by digging into the heart of the wood, obtaining a volume of about 300 cc, and also providing for special and delicate processing on the inner walls of the hollow obtained.”
Together with wood, the characteristic that determines the sound of the unique R10 is the beating heart of the headphone, the transducer,created with the biocellulose ,the first used in the acoustic field:
“The first problem that arose to the designers of the R10, eager to achieve the same sound result typical of loudspeaker systems that sound in the environment, consisted in the search for a substance that would allow a musical quality impossible to achieve by using the usual membranes of plastic material, normally used in headphones produced previously. We looked at the existing membranes from all points of view, but none of them allowed the designers to achieve the sound quality they had in mind.
After frustrating research we discovered the "biocellulose".
In fact, we have discovered that some saccharides, bacteria 2 microns long, produce very thin cellulose fibres, whose diameter varies
200 to 400 angstroms (10000 angstroms = 1
micron). These fibers are called biocellulose. Using advanced biotechnologies it is possible to increase, in about two days, the thickness of this biological culture, obtaining thickness of about 2 mm. Then the culture undergoes a dehydration process and a reduction in thickness to 20 microns, thus assuming the typical shape of the finished membrane.
Our biocellulose membrane allows you to combine the speed of sound reproduction, typical of aluminum or titanium membranes, the heat and the delicacy of reproduction that are, instead, characteristics of the membranes made of paper.
(The speed in sound reproduction is a function given by the rigidity and density parameters of the material used for the construction of the transducer membrane).”
Now that I’ve mentioned the statements from the instruction manual, let’s get to the point.
How does that sound?
Thanks to these two unique characteristics the sound result is an unprecedented sonic signature;the resolution are in pair with the modern TOTL headphones,with the most natural timbre you can find in this hobby.
SOUNDSTAGE: Eh,what can I say..is so big and perfectly cohesive in every direction that it literally immerses you in the music, it tears you off to be in front of two high-end speakers (note, this result can be obtained by adding an amplifier worthy of driving the R10, which delivers a lot of power output).
I still never heard any headphone that can reproduce an accurately images and soundstage like the R10.the sound with the right songs exit from your head.and i so "airy" that i can pinpoint where different instuments is placed.
BASS: I’ve read a lot of reviews that speak negatively of the bass of the R10 -too"light"-
IMHO has deep bass and also very articulated,"meaty".
Everything comes from the foam that you have inside the headphone, also responsible for the sound;the more the foam is disintegrated, the more the sound will be dry and metallic,with no bass, for this reason I do not believe in the legend of "bass light" and "bass heavy;the results simply depends from the health of the foam
The bass here have a great cadence and punch,but it goes down until the 60 hz;after that if you want to hear more you need a hi end amplifier.
For the sub bass however many headphones work better. (Maybe the unic cons)
P.s small precision;between the frequencies, the basses are warmer and softer than the mid and high, you can actually perceive the difference
MIDS: What they all claim about that headphone is the midrange.And I confirm ,those are hands down the most glorious mids you will ever find, regardless from the type of system,if headphones or speakers. The only mids I can compare are from the Stax 9000, which also has exceptional mids. I try to go straight to the point; the 9000 is soft and warm, and very open to the voices, but the R10 outclassed it,because the voice is so real that you perceive the smallest detail, is not dry, is not soft.simply is real; if a voice sounds melodic you hear melodic,If you feel the voice scratchy you will be able to perfectly perceive the anger that had at that time the singer.
HIGHS: now it may seem to you that they are biased, but even in this context I declare for my taste the R10 with the most natural high frequencies that there are around.probably there are more airy.extended and detailed headphones, (but to find this you have to switch on electrostatic TOTL)but you have to know that the R10 is free of harshness, it is so grainless that you could listen to it for hours without stressing your ears, all always if the foam is in optimal condition.
LEVEL OF DETAILS: not many words to write here,very detailed but not like electrostatic headphones,a bit more detailed then a sennheser hd800.
in short..as you understand from this review,there is no frequency that is not at the right place,and for what concerns me,the R10 really has the perfect sound.
I think that despite the technology will advance, this now forgotten mausoleum from Sony will continue to sit comfortably on his throne.. ah, and remember! is a closed headphone!
And a closed-back that outclass also modern open-back TOTL headphones says a lot about its legendary status.
Hails to the king!
Mine unit is drive by an analogue chain,composed by:
Rega Planar RP10
Hana ML cartridge
Prephono: audioanalogue AA phono
Ampli: Leben cs300xs
Attachments
Caldera sound like a headphone;R10 sound quite similar to a speaker,and while caldera is better technically (bass region),the R10 have a unique timbre,natural as no other nothing here and very euphonic.
However imo caldera is the best headphone from ZMF hands down