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Sony MDR v150, Audio Technica ATH-M20X and AKG K518DJ


Sony MDR v150, Audio Technica ATH-M20X and AKG K518DJ


Looking for budget headphones? then go ahead and read this article. Ive compared 3 models.
Sony MDR v150, Audio Technica ATH-M20X and AKG K518DJ

 All ranging from 19Euros to 50 euros.

The article looks at, sound, buildquality,  design price.

First we have the Sony MDR v150 headphones. Those are priced at 19Euros. Ive seen them on the marcet since the 90s. They are superlight. adjustable headband and a approx 2 meters of cable.
They are very midrangy in the sound. The bass response is low. They reminds of studio monitor where there is equal respone across the whole frequency. But I wouldnt use them as studio monitor headphone.
If you are on a supertight budget and need a pair of headphones, then Ive rather get these as a pair then a generic or noname brand.


soundquality

16 - 22 000 hz
The midrangefrequency is dominant, there is presence from the bass, but also the upper frequences.
The sound also has a boost in the upper frequencies.
Some perhaps like that, but I think its fatiguing for the ears. They are marceted as DJ headphones (it says so on the box.) But I think they can be used with a walkman mp3 player, for mobilephones or your computer. Since of the mid-frequencies where human speech is at, I think they are more a all-purpuse headphone more then just a dj headphone.

verdict 3 out of 5

buildquality

Ive had these pair for a while now, nothing is broken on them, the left and right speaker still plays fine cord is intact. The only thing I dont like with them is the headbuds are very loose. I sometimes get one earbud at the wrong side when takeing them on.

3 out of 5


design.
Not your super braggy headphones. The design is minimal. they are thin, but not as in bad thin, but thin as in portable. There is a small dot on the left earbud to indicate that its the left side.(this is for the visual impaired. This gets a big plus in the design 

4 out of 5

price

19 Euros.
Priced at this range, you wont get a better pair of headphones at this price. But at the expense of perhaps soundquality a littlebit.

5 out of 5. 


AKG K518DJ

These headphones are in the mid pricerange at approx. 35 euros. They sound good, because of a higher bass response and a more controlled highs. The earbuds can be twisted/angeled. 3 meter cable. The design is glossy plastic and diffuse plastic. The headphoneband is tight and doesent feel wobbly.

Soundquality

Ive mixed alot of music on these pairs. I like them. They arent over biased on the bass or highs. 
The sound feels controlled, there arent any missresonance, even when turning the volume up. Ive even mixed songs on them, They remind in sound a little bit like a studio monitor. Just make sure to A and B between another pair of headphones/speaker.

4 out of 5.

buildquality

Plastic feels robust. You can angle the headbuds. adjust the headband. Everything is good, except the cord. Its too thin. Also the synthetic soft material has begun to crack after a year of usage. So this gets a minus on the verdict.

3/5

design

They look much more expensive then they are. The combined glossy and diffused plastic and the possibility to angle the headbud makes these headphone a good pair to buy. But not only for that, also because of the controlled audioquality.

4 out of 5


Audio Technica ATH-M20X    

The biggest headphones often gets the best impression. But is it so? They are the most expensive of the trio. At 50 euros. The sound quality is ok, but is it worth 50 euros?

Soundquality

Good bass response. Not too much high frequency. They and the AKG have alot of simularities in  soundcharacteristics. Ive done a bunch of mixes on these. They dont have misresonance issues when turning the volume up. When mixing on these you get a simular bass and high frequency spectrum when listening back to speakers with your mix.

4/5

buildquality

Buildquality is sturdy plastic. synthetic and soft material on the headband and inside of the headbuds.
cord is thick at 3 meters. They cant be angled but you can adjust the size of the headband.

4/5

design

They look more expensive than they are. Comfortable. not too much details.

4/5

Final 

So the best budget headphones in this comparison are the Audio Technica ATH-M20X. 

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