The Sony MDR-1000X ranks #132 out of 382 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Sony
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 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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#132 Sony MDR-1000X Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Sony WH-1000XM6, ranked lower, rated 2.3/5, released May 2025. See every Sony WH-1000X generation.
Pros: Measured response gives it a very good Harman preference score of 79 with a 2.19 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 1.3 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Bass is lifted about 2.5 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. It uses 1 x 40mm dynamic.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. A 4.5 dB peak near 5.8 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
| Released | Oct 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Bluetooth |
| Deviation From Target | 2.19 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 4Hz - 40kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 46 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.54 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (275g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.6 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 | +0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 150 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.88 |
| Peak | 1,161 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.95 |
| Peak | 3,038 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.89 |
| Peak | 1,773 Hz | -3.0 dB | 2.92 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,816 Hz | -4.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 380 Hz | +1.3 dB | 4.43 |
| Peak | 277 Hz | -0.8 dB | 3.98 |
| Peak | 4,259 Hz | -1.1 dB | 6.00 |
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