Sony MDR-SA5000

The Sony MDR-SA5000 is a very expensive top of the line set of high definition sound producing headphones with a Circum-aural design (completely covers the ears) and a custom tailored headband to provide excellent, and long withstanding, listening comfort. According to Sony the SA5000 headphones are "designed perfectly for long-wearing comfort with a combination of crystal clear HD sound". The MDR-SA5000 headphone set features a 50mm nano composite HD diameter drive unit, and provides a super wide frequency range for use with the nanocomposite diaphragm. The Sony MDR-SA5000 headphone set was released on June 21, 2006 and has an MSRP of $699.99, which is listed on the official Sony website.

Sony MDR-SA5000
MSRP $699.99
Release date June, 2006
Brand Sony
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
1 review
56
negative
mixed
positive
0 positive
1 mixed
0 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

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Pros:
Do you agree?
•
designed for comfort (many high end headphones aren't)
+1agreedisagree

•
leather earpads with large area disperse pressure
+1agreedisagree

•
magnesium frame structure adds to comfort by making the headphones lighter than they look
+1agreedisagree

•
very neutral sound - often compared to the AKG K701/702, debated as to which is superior
+1agreedisagree

•
good for studio work
+1agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
strange look
+1agreedisagree

•
doesn't compare to older Sony high-end models
+1agreedisagree

•
very few upgrades over the MDR-SA3000, same drivers and body
+1agreedisagree

•
might be too neutral/cold for music listening
+1agreedisagree


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Details

The MDR-SA5000 headset also includes additional features such as a 360kJ/m3 high power neodymium magnet, a magnesium frame structure for super lightweight design, gold plated stereo plugs to maximize sound efficiency, comfortable leather ear pad fittings designed with pressure dispersing dimensions for enhanced wearing comfort, a 3.5m texture type wire with an oxygen free highly conductive core, and a fully adjustable, lightweight, headband for custom fit. 

Key Specs

  • Circum-aural (completely covers ears) ear-bud design
  • Magnesium frame for super lightweight design
  • Comfortable leather material fitted ear pads with pressure dispersing design
  • 3.5 texture type wire with an Oxygen free copper core
  • Gold plated stereo plugs
  • Fully Adjustable Headband
  • Frequency Response: 6Hz -100,000Hz
  • Driver Unit: 50mm Nano composite HD, dome type
  • Impedance: 70 ohms
  • Sensitivity: 102dB/mW
  • Power Handling Capacity: 1,500mW (1.5W)
  • Magnet: Neodymium (360kJ/m3)
  • Release Date: 04/21/2006
  • MSRP: $699.99

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This report was started October 31, 2008 at 9:45 am by BrileyKenney
with the last edit occurring April 3, 2009 at 8:45 pm by Sousukex7
This page has been viewed 605 times, with 21 edits by 3 contributors.
See the full report history »

Competitors

Sony MDR-SA5000 is ranked 2nd among it's competitors.  See the top picks in Headphones »
Sony Q010-MDR1 Qualia 010

Sony Q010-MDR1 Qualia 010

MSRP  $2,400.00    Released  January, 2004
Pros
  • Electrostatic levels of detail and resolution.
  • Good bass quality and quantity.
  • Great for electronic genre of music.
Cons
  • Proper fitting required to get the best sound quality.
  • become harsh and sibilant if not listened to at low volume
  • extremely expensive
ProSCORE
3 reviews
62
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Sony MDR-SA5000 0% vs. vote Sony Q010-MDR1 Qualia 010 100%
Grado RS2

Grado RS2

MSRP  $500.00    Released  --
Pros
  • gorgeous headphone - truly classic
Cons
  • very expensive
  • can dent more easily than the plastic or metal of cheaper models
ProSCORE
1 review
33
Vote! (0 votes)
vote Sony MDR-SA5000   vs. vote Grado RS2  
AKG K 701

AKG K 701

MSRP  $400.00    Released  --
Pros
  • was the top-of-the-line AKG headphone until the recent addition of the K702
  • some of the best highs of any headphone
  • Very detailed sound.
Cons
  • Needs a dedicated headphone amp to shine.
  • 1000+ hours of break-in time.
  • The auto adjusting headband is great but has a plastic strip which threatins to break.
ProSCORE
2 reviews
69
Vote! (0 votes)
vote Sony MDR-SA5000   vs. vote AKG K 701  

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Reviews

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Yale

avatar
October 31, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
56
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
4 cons

Pros

  • designed for comfort (many high end headphones aren't)
  • leather earpads with large area disperse pressure
  • magnesium frame structure adds to comfort by making the headphones lighter than they look
  • very neutral sound - often compared to the AKG K701/702, debated as to which is superior
  • good for studio work

Cons

  • strange look
  • doesn't compare to older Sony high-end models
  • very few upgrades over the MDR-SA3000, same drivers and body
  • might be too neutral/cold for music listening

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This product is also known as:

MDR, SA, 5000, MDRSA, SA5000, MDRSA5000