Over the last two years it’s becoming abundantly clear that Sony believes that music is meant to be a transformative experience. Not content with tinny sounds from ear buds and MP3 files, Sony has been investing heavily in Hi-Res audio, a new format (and not propitiatory!) that’s meant to capture the equality many audio aficionados believe was lost when we transitioned to MP3. Besides needing proper hardware to support His-Res audio, something which Sony is incorporating more and more into their products like the Sony Xperia Z3, you also need Hi-Res headphones in order to truly drive home that experience when you’re on the go.

After all, it only does so much good if your device can output Hi-Res but your headphones can’t bring through the extra quality. To that end, the Sony MDR-1a Premium Hi-Res Stereo headphones exist. More after the jump.

The Sony MDR-1a is the successor to the Sony MDR-1. Available in black or silver with a leather-like material wrapping, the MDR-1a offers a sophisticated design with sound to match. While light on weight (7.94 oz), the Sony MDR-1a packs a punch with sound reproduction up to 100 kHz (for High Resolution Audio) and 40 mm driver units with ALCP for articulate audio reproduction (3-100 Hz). Sony has in fact gone as far as building them with silver-coated oxygen-free copper (OFC) cable that ensure minimal signal transmission degradation for pure audio response at the driver.

If that wasn’t enough, a “unique 4-wire architecture” is designed to further enhance the audio experience, with a separate signal and ground connection to each driver for “enhanced separation, expanded sound and tight bass.” Not forgetting about the mobile world, Sony is including two cables: a conventional connecting audio cable (1.2 m) in addition to an in-line microphone and remote cable for smartphone (1.2 m).

Priced at $299, the Sony MDR-1a Premium Hi-Res Stereo Headphones are now available for purchase through Sony, Best Buy, and Amazon to name a few.

[showhide]

MDR-1ADAC Hi-Res Headphones with Integrated DAC/Amplifier

The newly created MDR-1ADAC headphones enable listeners to experience the best from multiple digital audio devices. The 1 ADAC can also play both PCM (at up to 192 kHz /24-bit) and DSD (at up to 5.6 MHz) music files directly, without the need of an external decoder. Additionally, its built-in S-Master HX™ digital amplifier reduces noise and distortion across all frequencies, and reproduces each track in outstanding detail. The MDR-1ADAC headphones support PCM 192 kHz/24 bit, and DSD 2.8MHz/5.6MHz – New 40mm aluminum coated liquid Crystal Polymer HD drivers also deliver frequency response up to 100kHz. *1

The new MDR-1ADAC headphones also come with multiple-inputs and the cables that are necessary to connect to a smartphone, portable audio player or PC. In order to accelerate the Hi-Res experience, Sony has created several different cables for direct connection – including the specially developed thin and flexible USB connecting cable, the Digital connecting cables specifically for Walkman® and Xperia® devices, an exclusive iOS Lightning connector cable as well as a conventional audio connecting cable. Plus its built-in rechargeable battery provides up to 7.5 hours of continuous playback. When the battery runs low, you can continue to enjoy your music in a conventional manner.

[/showhide]

Discuss:

Do the Sony MDR-1a headphones interest you?

[Via Sony]