If you want a pair of headphones to make you look like you’re at Abbey Road laying down tracks on a particularly heavy 70s cock rock record, the Sony MDR-XB700s are for you. Epic in size, they also serve up sound so loud you’ll feel like you’re in the studio rather than hunkered down by your stereo. So are they worth that £100 price tag? Read our Sony MDR-XB700 review now and we’ll give you the lowdown.
You’ll struggle to find a pair of cans as comfortable as the Sony MDR-XB700s. The cushions are capacious and will leave your bonce feeling cosseted and without that uncomfortable earache you get with other high-end headphones. But it’s the sound quality where they really stand out.
The Sony MDR-XB700s are built with banging tunes on the brain. Sling through bassy tracks and you’ll feel like you’re in the club itself (minus the shady characters in the corner and a pricey bar to keep you distracted). They handle hip hop, reggae and even the filthiest house music with aplomb. The sound packs a real punch, with little left to imagination. The bottom end is ace and if you love your tunes brash and obvious, these are a peach.
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But that’s not to say that the Sony MDR-XB700s are without their problems. Those lovely cushions mean they’re as big as U2 in America. Consequently, you won’t want to don them on the tube, train or anywhere that isn’t the comfort of your front room. These are very much at home headphones.
Break them out at home without the aforementioned tunage though, and you’re in for problems. See, the Sony MDR-XB700s don’t do detail all too well. That means if you’re partial to some guitar action, or a bit of Americana on the side, you’ll be left wanting. It fails to pick up killer solos well and you’ll struggle to hear backing tracks clearly.
There’s no doubting the Sony MDR-XB700s do dance well. But chuck anything featuring a Les Paul at them and the fun comes to an end. A decent pair of headphones no doubt, but not great for musical chameleons.
