Short answer: the Sony MDR-MV1. It ranks #153 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $418; the ThieAudio Cypher ranks #201, rated 3.7/5, and costs $429, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick 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. Watch for: 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.
What the ThieAudio Cypher does well: An open-back over-ear headphone with a 50mm dynamic driver and treble right on the Harman target, scoring 75. Watch for: Bass sits about 2.1 dB below target, so it sounds lean.
Buy the Sony MDR-MV1. It is rated higher for sound quality than the ThieAudio Cypher and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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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.
Amazon $418.00 Lowest Sony $419.99 eBay
An open-back over-ear headphone with a 50mm dynamic driver and treble right on the Harman target, scoring 75.
Amazon $429.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony MDR-MV1 | ThieAudio Cypher | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $418.00 | $429.00 |
| Ranked | #153 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #201 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 75 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.34 dB standard deviation | 2.59 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 24 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 96 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (223 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Sony MDR-MV1 from audioamigo, gadgetrytech, hadoe, listener, sai and superreview; the ThieAudio Cypher from aden, audioamigo, dl and superreview, all via squig.link.
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