Short answer: the Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X. Both are rated 3.8/5 for sound quality (#98 and #92 of 216 over-ear headphones), and the Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X costs $279.99 against $328 for the Sony MDR-MV1, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
Why pick the Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz lands right on the Harman target, and the 48 ohm, 100 dB sensitivity design drives easily from a laptop or interface. Watch for: A deep 12.8 dB dip near 3.9 kHz pulls vocal presence and consonant clarity backward, and presence overall runs about 3.5 dB under target.
The case for the Sony MDR-MV1: The open back has lively, extended treble and a full low end, with sub-bass on target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.7 dB above, so it delivers real punch for an open design. The catch: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 4.4 dB above target, with a 6.9 dB peak near 6.2 kHz, so cymbals, sibilance and hi hats can sound sharp or fatiguing.
Buy the Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $48.01 less than the Sony MDR-MV1.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X | Sony MDR-MV1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $279.99 | $328.00 |
| Ranked | #98 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #92 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.58 dB standard deviation | 2.34 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 48 ohms | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB SPL (1mW/500Hz) | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (350 g) | 0.5 lbs (223 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony MDR-MV1:
- Austrian Audio Hi-X65 vs Sony MDR-MV1
- Audeze Maxwell vs Sony MDR-MV1
- Sony MDR-MV1 vs Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
- Sony MDR-MV1 vs Sivga Audio Phoenix
- Audeze Maxwell vs Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X: $279.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz lands right on the Harman target, and the 48 ohm, 100 dB sensitivity design drives easily from a laptop or interface. The closed back and 350 g weight suit tracking and long monitoring sessions where bleed matters. A preference score of 77 with a fairly smooth 2.6 dB deviation makes it an easy listen overall.
Cons: A deep 12.8 dB dip near 3.9 kHz pulls vocal presence and consonant clarity backward, and presence overall runs about 3.5 dB under target. Sub-bass is about 2 dB light, so the lowest notes lack rumble. The Austrian Audio Hi-X65 matches its rating for noticeably less money, so the price is hard to justify on sound alone.
Full Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.58 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 48 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB SPL (1mW/500Hz) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (350 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +1.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 131 Hz | -4.1 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 2,692 Hz | -2.6 dB | 0.37 |
| Peak | 265 Hz | +4.2 dB | 1.71 |
| Peak | 3,557 Hz | +6.8 dB | 2.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,709 Hz | -2.0 dB | 3.38 |
| Peak | 62 Hz | +1.5 dB | 3.47 |
| Peak | 88 Hz | -0.8 dB | 3.25 |
| Peak | 4,028 Hz | +1.4 dB | 5.91 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony MDR-MV1: $328.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The open back has lively, extended treble and a full low end, with sub-bass on target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz about 2.7 dB above, so it delivers real punch for an open design. At 24 ohms and 100 dB/mW it is easy to drive from a phone, and at 223 g it is the lightest headphone in this group. The preference score is 78, and it ties the Austrian Audio Hi-X65 on rating.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 4.4 dB above target, with a 6.9 dB peak near 6.2 kHz, so cymbals, sibilance and hi hats can sound sharp or fatiguing. A 4.1 dB dip near 4.6 kHz can leave vocals less natural. The bass and low mids add warmth that moves it away from neutral, and the open back leaks sound with no isolation.
Full Sony MDR-MV1 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.34 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (223 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +9.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 46 Hz | -9.2 dB | 0.37 |
| Peak | 1,722 Hz | +2.8 dB | 0.95 |
| Peak | 4,643 Hz | +9.2 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 5,779 Hz | -9.2 dB | 1.50 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 705 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.45 |
| Peak | 242 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.04 |
| Peak | 128 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.09 |
| Peak | 2,955 Hz | -0.9 dB | 4.58 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons