Sony MDR-EX1000 User manual

Stereo Headphones
MDR-EX1000
4-257-842-32(1)
Product Information
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©2010 Sony Corporation Printed in Japan

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Introduction
Over many years, Sony has joined together with people who work in professional production studios,
and using their feedback has crafted superior headphones that meet their high expectations. One of the
most important elements among those expectations is accurate sound. In order to allow the wearer to
enjoy that sound in an outdoor environment, these headphones have passed through a development
stage that pursued perfection in functionality and performance. To provide accurate sound and a fit
designed for outdoor usage and portability without compromise, they are packed with technology that
Sony has accumulated to date as well as Sony’s own cutting edge technology. This pamphlet explains
these technological components.

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1. For high sound quality
Rich bass and expansive treble:
Large caliber 16 mm diameter dynamic-type driver unit
In the closed-body-type in-ear headphones, a large caliber dynamic driver unit that is the largest in the
industry at 16 mm diameter was used. It enables a wide dynamic range available only with a dynamic
driver unit and playback of a broad range of sound, providing a clear and accurate sound with
incredible balance from the bass to treble range.
Driver unit size comparison
9 mm driver unit 13.5 mm driver unit 16 mm driver unit

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Suppressing unwanted vibrations and providing high resolution sound playback:
Liquid Crystal Polymer film diaphragm
For the driver unit diaphragm material, lightness and consideration to the seemingly contradictory
features of highly rigidity vs. high internal loss is essential. Though rigidity is key in accurately
converting input signals over a wide bandwidth into sound, a high level of internal loss is also required
to suppress unnecessary vibration of the diaphragm itself.
Liquid Crystal Polymer has already been identified for some time as a material that can provide a
balanced combination of these two characteristics in high order. However, previously it could not be
used to create diaphragms for headphones due to the inability of compositions and manufacturing
methods to obtain sufficient heat resistance and the inability to achieve the thinness required for usage
in headphones, caused by a low degree of film elongation and the difficulty of formation.
To solve this problem, a highly stretchable Liquid Crystal Polymer
was successfully developed for use as a casting film using polymer
varnish. This made it possible to enable both rigidity and a high level
of internal loss over a wide bandwidth, while also providing the level
of strength required to stand up to the process of creating a thin film.
In short, a material for creating the perfect diaphragm for
reproducing accurate sound was born.
Liquid Crystal Polymer filmLiquid Crystal Polymer film

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Increasing flux density and achieving highly sensitive playback:
440kJ/m³ high power neodymium magnets
To enhance sound resolution, 440 kJ/m³ high power neodymium magnets which boast the highest
energy efficiency among general industrial goods were used. They supply clear mid and high tones and
powerful bass.
A manufacturing method called the “transverse field pressing method” boosts the magnetic force of
neodymium magnets even higher. This is a manufacturing method designed to strengthen magnetic
force even further by arranging the orientation of magnetic powder particles parallel in directionality
from the N pole to the S pole of the magnetic field that magnetizes the particles.
Longitudinal magnetic field Transverse magnetic field

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Enabling both high sound quality and miniaturization:
Driver unit-integrated housing
In order to miniaturize and thin the housing, a structure that integrates the driver unit and housing was
implemented. In addition to cutting unwanted air leakage generated from slight gaps between the
components, this also suppresses unwanted vibration and actualizes a smooth response at low pitch
frequencies.

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Front register
Mainly to balance bass.
Earbud
Equalizer
Mainly to balance
midrange and treble.
Front housing
Liquid Crystal Polymer
film diaphragm
Pole piece
440 kJ/m3Neodymium
magnet
Driver register
Mainly to balance
midrange and bass.
Rear housing
Rear register
Mainly to balance
midrange and bass.
Headphone component diagram
Frame
Magnesium alloy housing
Regulator
Mainly to balance
midrange and bass.

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Adjusting sound quality for each set by hand:
Sony original acoustic tuner
In addition to measuring each set meticulously during the manufacturing process, adjustment of
acoustic resistance material to constant values is also performed by hand. To achieve ideal
characteristics, only items that clear strict sound control requirements are shipped. Persistent detailed
tuning with precision controlled acoustic tuning components and original Sony acoustic tuners ensure
sound quality control at a level of precision higher than ever before.
Suppressing transmission loss of music signals:
High grade 7N-OFC Litz cord
The cord for transmitting the signal uses grade 7N OFC (Oxygen Free
Copper) of extremely high purity (99.99999 %). Suppressing signal loss in
the cord minimizes sound degradation.

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The ultimate in sound insulation:
Noise isolation earbud
Pressure-relieving urethane foam inside the earbud equalizes pressure to the ear canal and
complements the complex bumps and dips of the inner-ear. Due to this, sound insulation is increased
with a fit that exceeds the comfort of previous earbuds.
Noise isolation earbud cross section
Low-density silicone
High- density silicone
Pressure-relieving
urethane foam

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2. For a snug fit
Actualizing a superior fit with a large caliber driver unit:
Closed-type vertical in-the-ear method
In using a 16 mm diameter large caliber driver unit, a closed-type vertical in-the-ear method wherein
the driver unit is positioned perpendicularly to the external ear canal was incorporated. And, in order
to absolutely minimize the thickness of the housing, which impacts the fit of the headphones, a high
strength magnesium alloy for the housing was used. This let us shave over 30% off the thickness
compared to housings that use common resin material.