Since the end of the MDR-CD3000 several years ago, Sony has largely ignored the high-end closed headphone market and concentrated instead on their open and rather unusual looking SA headphone series. That's finally about to change with the release of the new MDR-Z1000, which is part of a launch of several new headphone models from Sony. The MDR-Z1000's design is quite conservative when compared to competitors from Denon or Audio-Technica which feature exotic wood baffles, but Sony has not skimped on materials. The ear cups are magnesium, and the headband is high quality metal.

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The drivers are 50mm "HD" featuring liquid polymer diaphragms and neodymium magnets. Frequency response is rated at 5-80kHz, with a very low 24 Ohm impedance and high 108dB/mW sensitivity suggesting that the MDR-Z1000 has been designed to be driven straight from low power devices such as portable music players. The MDR-Z1000 should be available in November, priced around $740.

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