Sony MDR-R10 From Stereo Sound No. 130 (published March 1999), "70 Specially Selected Enchanting Components You Want to Listen to Now" I don't recommend using headphones regularly if the environment allows it. Headphone stereos lack the naturalness of listening through the space provided by speakers. On the other hand, they have the advantage of not being negatively affected by the inherent acoustic phenomena of the room. I use headphones either as a monitor for recordings under limited conditions, or when I want to check the balance of the program source itself from a macro perspective, avoiding the influence of the acoustic conditions of the room where the speakers are placed. That being said, even if headphones are generally better balanced than speaker systems, that doesn't mean any headphones will do. In a sense, balancing under the limited size and the special conditions of the sound source being very close to the eardrum presents a different set of design and manufacturing difficulties. Because they are in direct contact with the body, they require different considerations than speakers. It is well known that the inherent physical properties of the vibrating elements called cones and diaphragms, such as the stiffness, loss, and specific gravity of the material, have a delicate but important influence on the quality of the sound, and headphones are no exception. In fact, because the vibrations occur so close to the ear, it could be said that the nuances and textures of the sound are perceived with even greater sensitivity. The Sony MDR-R10, a high-end and expensive pair of headphones, was created with meticulous attention to these details. It uses a biocellulose diaphragm and a housing made of oak wood over 200 years old, which is both resonant and lightweight, and its price is likely the highest among nearly 3300 similar products. It has been on the market for over 10 years, but its sound quality and balance are outstanding, and it is a masterpiece of headphones that reflects the dedication of its creators.
