Sony MDR-M1ST vs OLLO S4R

Short answer: the Sony MDR-M1ST. It ranks #164 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $277.91; the OLLO S4R ranks #171, rated 3.0/5, and costs $289, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.

The case for the Sony MDR-M1ST: A wired closed-back studio monitor with a 40mm driver, 24 ohms and 103 dB/mW sensitivity, so it plays loudly from a phone or interface without extra amplification. Watch for: The Harman score of 62 means the response drifts noticeably from what most listeners prefer.

What the OLLO S4R does well: It is a closed back wired headphone with a 50 ohm, 106 dB SPL sensitive 50 mm driver that plays loudly from a phone or interface without a dedicated amp. Watch for: Its preference score is only 60.0 with a 3.28 dB deviation, so the tonal balance is uneven overall.

Buy the Sony MDR-M1ST. It is rated higher for sound quality than the OLLO S4R and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.

Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

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• Sony MDR-M1ST vs Focal Listen Professional
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• OLLO S4R vs Austrian Audio Hi-X55
• OLLO S4R vs Focal Listen Professional
• Audeze LCD-3 vs Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS

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The Two Headphones In Full

Sony MDR-M1ST: $277.91 Amazon eBay

Pros: A wired closed-back studio monitor with a 40mm driver, 24 ohms and 103 dB/mW sensitivity, so it plays loudly from a phone or interface without extra amplification. Its Harman preference score of 62 in crinacle’s measurement puts it near the middle of the pack. At 215 g it is light for a full-size studio headphone, and the closed back provides some isolation.

Cons: The Harman score of 62 means the response drifts noticeably from what most listeners prefer. There is no microphone and no wireless option, so it is for wired listening only. The price is high for the score, and the Fairphone Fairbuds XL and the Bose QuietComfort 35 II have higher ratings.

Full Sony MDR-M1ST review and specifications →

Released	Aug 2019 (7 years ago)
Back	Closed
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.97 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 40mm dynamic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	62 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	24 ohms
Sensitivity	103 dB/mW
Tonal Tilt	-1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	0.5 lbs (215 g)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.9 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	+8.3 dB	0.70
Peak	6,393 Hz	+6.4 dB	0.33
Peak	1,534 Hz	-4.1 dB	0.56
Peak	86 Hz	-6.3 dB	0.46
Peak	250 Hz	+3.6 dB	3.14
High shelf	10,000 Hz	+2.1 dB	0.70
Peak	450 Hz	-0.6 dB	2.33
Peak	3,737 Hz	-1.6 dB	5.19
Peak	2,997 Hz	+1.3 dB	4.44
Peak	35 Hz	+1.0 dB	4.47

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the Sony MDR-M1ST (crinacle measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Sony MDR-M1ST vs Focal Listen Professional
  • Sony MDR-M1ST vs Austrian Audio Hi-X55

OLLO S4R: $289.00 OLLO Audio eBay

Pros: It is a closed back wired headphone with a 50 ohm, 106 dB SPL sensitive 50 mm driver that plays loudly from a phone or interface without a dedicated amp. In oratory1990’s measurement, bass holds within 2 dB of target at 30 Hz and upper bass gets a 2.5 dB lift, which suits listeners who like a warm, bass forward tone. It is rated a touch higher than the more expensive Austrian Audio Hi-X55 and Focal Listen Professional.

Cons: Its preference score is only 60.0 with a 3.28 dB deviation, so the tonal balance is uneven overall. A deep 13.9 dB dip near 7 kHz and treble averaging 5.7 dB below target from 6 to 10 kHz make cymbals and detail sound muffled. At 420 g it is also on the heavy side.

Full OLLO S4R review and specifications →

Back	Closed
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	3.28 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Dynamic
Drivers	1 x 50mm dynamic
Form Factor	Over-ear
Frequency Response	15Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	60 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	50 ohms
Sensitivity	106 dB SPL @ 0 dBu
Sub-bass Extension	Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.6 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	-0.85 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	0.9 lbs (420 g)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.2 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	+2.6 dB	0.70
Peak	188 Hz	-5.9 dB	0.48
Peak	409 Hz	+9.7 dB	1.70
Peak	2,060 Hz	-3.3 dB	2.18
Peak	7,656 Hz	+4.9 dB	3.00
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-0.1 dB	0.70
Peak	36 Hz	+3.9 dB	4.97
Peak	51 Hz	-1.8 dB	2.71
Peak	3,962 Hz	-2.9 dB	5.89
Peak	3,178 Hz	+2.9 dB	6.00

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the OLLO S4R (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • OLLO S4R vs Focal Listen Professional
  • OLLO S4R vs Austrian Audio Hi-X55