Sony (and other) Headphones

Discussion in 'Brochures, advertising, data & specs...' started by Mister X, Nov 21, 2019.

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  1. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Sony Headphones 1981.jpg
     
    Mister X, Nov 21, 2019
    #1
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  2. Philip Taylor

    Philip Taylor Active Member

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    I am all ears
     
    Philip Taylor, Nov 21, 2019
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  3. Ken80s

    Ken80s Well-Known Member

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    Ken80s, Nov 22, 2019
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  4. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    I can't remember if I've posted this one

    Sony MDR Headphones.jpg
     
    Mister X, Nov 24, 2019
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  5. DrZoidberg

    DrZoidberg Member

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    I am really interested in the MDR-7. I think I have the best Sony lightweight on ear, the MDR-62, but I'd really need to know how the MDR-7 can compete :)
     
    DrZoidberg, Jan 16, 2020
    #5
  6. Easthelp

    Easthelp Active Member

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    I didn’t notice it right away, but now that I have: the guy has three* pairs of ears? Ewww. I know, I know: it’s a “graphics department” trick, but, still … :nonoplease


    Oh, and, very apt, Mr Philip Taylor, very apt.


    (*Well, at least three on the left side of his head. Wonder what celebrity he hoped he resembled, contented smile and all?)
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2020
    Easthelp, Jan 16, 2020
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  7. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    I never saw the optional headphones seen above, we thought people were doing good when they went from the first generation Sony Headphones to the smaller outside earbud style (mostly found on the Sports Models). I don't think the aftermarket headphones were even discussed much on here in the early days, If I had know I would have been looking over the headphone pile most thrift stores used to have.
     
    Mister X, Jan 16, 2020
    #7
  8. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    I found the beautiful Sony MDR-7's also from 1981, this is a full page ad.


    Sony MDR-7 High-Fidelity-1981.png
     
    Mister X, Sep 20, 2021
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  9. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Sony MDR-NC20 from 1997


    Sony MDR-NC20 1997.png
     
    Mister X, Apr 6, 2022
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  10. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    These came out right before the groundbreaking Walkman Headphones, from January 1980


    Sony Headphones January 1980.png
     
    Mister X, Apr 16, 2022
    #10
  11. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Sony MDR-3 from 1980


    Sony MDR-3 1980.png
     
    Mister X, Jun 15, 2022
    #11
  12. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Memorex Headphones from 1990


    Memorex Headphones 1990.png
     
    Mister X, Jan 26, 2023
    #12
  13. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    I had to post these oddities from STAX, the Sigmas from 1978, all I can say is WOW! At first I thought it was just a caricature, but these are real.


    Stax Sigma 1978.jpg
     
    Mister X, Feb 9, 2023
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  14. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    I had to read this ad a few times to figure it out, I bet people sent in $4.50 and didn't get anything?


    RCD 1983.png
     
    Mister X, Feb 14, 2023
    #14
  15. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Stanton from January 1980, I have to believe the "adapter plug" was for the brand new Walkmans?


    Stanton 1980.png
     
    Mister X, Feb 14, 2023
    #15
  16. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    Sony MDR-3 from 1980, maybe the first stand-alone ad for these marvels? Before these, headphones were huge and you looked dorky as heck wearing them, these changed the whole portable private listening experience.

    Sony 1980.png
     
    Mister X, Feb 14, 2023
    #16
  17. StaticAudio

    StaticAudio Active Member

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    That one looks like it's coming from 1979, the ad in post #11 is maybe a little later?

    It's a shame they made the MDR-3 standard with a large 6.35mm (1/4") in stead of a 3.5mm jackplug. Probably because it was to be used with your home hifi-equipment because it also has a pretty long cord.
    I got one of these and you have to use an adapter to use it with a walkman and the total plug gets very bulky.
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2023
    StaticAudio, Feb 14, 2023
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  18. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    I don't have a MDR-3 pair to look at, I didn't know they were 1/4." The ad from post #16 might have been from January, I put down the year it's published, sometimes these ads can be earlier than when the magazine comes out, especially with more popular equipment.

    1980 was such a great year for cassette tape and equipment, one article was saying prerecorded cassettes were doing well against vinyl. One of the reasons is vinyl manufacturers were starting to cheap-out on the process with recycled vinyl, less vinyl and crappy old duplicating equipment.
     
    Mister X, Feb 14, 2023
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  19. stuck-in-time

    stuck-in-time Well-Known Member

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    Is there any additional difference other than the cord length and plug size between the MDR-3 and MDR-3L2? The latter was the pair that came with the TPS-L2, and does have the small plug appropriate for walkmans. Judging from the name, it looks like Sony purposely made the L2 version to be bundled with the walkman. Didn't know before that there was a version without the L2.
     
    stuck-in-time, Feb 14, 2023
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  20. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    I personally don't know, I'm sure one of the members that has that Walkman can help. Even 20 years ago, before GOTG, the TPS-L2 was pretty expensive on ebay, I was always hoping to find one around town but none ever showed up.
     
    Mister X, Feb 15, 2023
    #20
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