The Sony MDR-V6 was first released in 1985. It is a classic professional headphone that sound engineers have been listening to for decades. In fact, they were my first headphones when I was a young college student first learning about audio.When Beyerdynamic visited MajorHiFi last week with their newest headphone, the DT 240 Pro, they said it is both a consumer level headphone and a professional level headphone. So I want to put it to the test.  Does it stand up to the old classic, MDR-V6? I shall aim to find out with this Sony MDR-V6 vs. Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro comparison.

Sony MDR-V6 vs. Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro Comparison

Build and Design

As I pick up each over-the-ear, closed back headphone, they seem to have similar durabilities. The biggest difference between the two are the shape of their driver housings and ear pads. The MDR-V6 has larger, oval shaped ears, while the DT 240 Pro has smaller, circular ears. I like the DT 240 Pro’s shape. It has less weight and bulk than the MDR-V6.  

The MDR-V6 has more of a retro look but I think the red decals attract unnecessary attention. The charcoal and grey color scheme of the DT 240 Pro is simple, modern, and slick.

Portability

The MDR-V6 is able to collapse in on the headband, fitting conveniently in the provided bag. The DT 240 Pro has swivelling ears, but doesn’t fold. I definitely miss the MDR-V6’s portability.

Cords

The Sony MDR-V6 has a fixed cord that is long and tedious. It is a thick, curly wire, and if my memory serves me, I recall the wire stretching out in all weird sorts of ways over time. The DT 240’s cord is much more manageable. Beyerdynamic decided to stay with the curly wire style (although a straight cord is available for purchase). It is thinner, shorter, and I have no fears of it getting in my way.

Sound

Bass

The MDR-V6 produces full, yet sometimes crowded low frequencies. Right now I’m listening to Oddisee, a hip-hop artist out of Brooklyn. I can hear the kick. I can hear the bass. But the kick feels a bit cloudy. I feel it more than I hear it if that makes sense.

Listening to the same song with the DT 240 Pro, I notice a big difference. The transients and sustain of the kick drum are both clear and precise. Impressive!

Mid-range

Now I’ve switched over to listening to Brahms.It is the Concerto for Violin and Cello In A Minor, Op, 102: 3. Vivace non troppo.  Listening with the MDR-V6, I hear a pretty obvious bump in the mids somewhere between 5khz and 8kHz.The high-mid range takes up a lot of space which accentuates the violins. I’m wishing there was more warmth to really fill out the cellos.

Listening to the same song now with the DT 240 Pro, I notice another strong difference. The strings feel thicker and smoother. They are very pleasant sounding. They are warm while maintaining separation.

Treble

I love the high end in Andy Shauf’s record, The Party, so it is a perfect one to check the treble. Listening with the MDR-V6 sounds nice! The high-end feels more hard than airy which makes the acoustic feel more defined than usual but also make the vocal sound a little bit too present.

Beyerdynamic’s DT 240 Pro’s handle the high end in a great way! The acoustic feels more tucked into the mix. It is less clicky sounding and more strummy sounding. There is an airiness that I enjoy more than the MDR-V6. No harshness is present at all.

Sound Stage

I’m finding that the DT 240 Pro’s extra clarity in the mid-range and high-end gives the sound stage a wider stance. The room sound and reverb is more detailed. And while both headphones have nice stereo imaging from left to right, the DT 240 Pro has better top to bottom imaging. The MDR-V6 pulls the music a bit more toward the center.

Overview

The Sony MDR-V6’s classic design is more convenient to carry because it folds away in a compact case. But the Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro has a superior warmth and delightfulness to its sound. For the similar prices, and both under $100, I am more inclined to purchase the DT 240 Pro, so long as I opt to buy a carrying case to keep it safe.

The Beyerdynamic 240 Pro will be released sometime in mid-October. The Sony MDR-V6 can be found here:

Amazon:

Sony MDR-V6

Audio 46: 

Sony MDR-V6

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