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  • The Outfit

  • The Audio

  • The Bottom Line

  • The Insides That Count

  • Frequency Response

  • Distortion

  • Noise Reduction

  • Other Tests

  • The Outfit
  • The Audio
  • The Bottom Line
  • The Insides That Count
  • Frequency Response
  • Distortion
  • Noise Reduction
  • Other Tests

Performance-wise, these cans don't set any records, but they do offer enough bass to keep most happy. Given that they don't even compete with other Sony headphones, you have to look elsewhere to find their value. Where these headphones make their statement is absolutely in their looks.

Boasting a matte yet bold design scheme, these will find broad appeal in either black or white. But are aesthetics enough to overcome mediocre performance?

The Outfit

Smart, inexpensive design

Aesthetically, the V55 cans are fairly unobjectionable. They're matte grey with red accents, featuring a metal band encased in hard plastic and foam. Nothing really screams "high-end" on these, but there are a few smart additions that Sony hides in its modern headphones that improve the overall quality of these inexpensive on-ears.

A photo of the Sony MDR-V55's backs.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Looney

The V55s are attractive headphones.

For starters, the flat cable reduces the possible axes of cable movement—meaning it's much less likely to tangle into a twisted mess. The cord isn't detachable—making it a liability—but at least you won't be greeted with a rat's nest of tangled cable when you stuff the V55s into a bag. Said wire ends in an angled, standard 1/8th -inch TRS plug, which is an odd choice given most headphones are used with smartphones. It's a relatively minor nitpick, until the cord gets caught on your pants pocket and pops out.

Given the notched metal band elements, it's not exactly surprising that getting a good fit with these headphones is a little difficult. The somewhat thin padding of the V55 is comfortable at first, but over time heat and sweat builds up—making for some uncomfortable listening outside in the summer.

A photo of the Sony MDR-V55's plug.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Looney

An angled plug isn't the best choice for your smartphone.

If you generally stuff your cans in a bag when they're not in use, you should take note that these headphones should be able to handle it. The strange-looking hinge where the band meets the ear cup allows the V55 to fold up when not in use, reducing their profile.

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The Audio

Could be better

Given that Sony set their own high watermark with the ages-old MDR-V6 and the MDR-V7506, it's tough to look at another set of $80 Sony cans and not expect a lot. However, the V55 doesn't really hold a candle to what Sony's older legends can give you.

First off, bass lovers will enjoy these cans, as they have a rather dynamic sound performance. Mids and highs have varying emphasis, but the bass is strong with the V55s. Additionally, don't expect to hear any distortion in your music—unless it was added in there to begin with.

A photo of the Sony MDR-V55's speaker.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Looney

A small on-ear cup design is a poor fit for big ears.

It's when you get to the mids and high notes where the wheels come off the wagon. The audio has a violent swing in the high harmonic notes that makes cymbals and other ringing sounds come out weird. It's tough to explain, but you'll definitely notice it if you're used to other headphones.

That error also happens at about the same range as other problems, likely the result of the headphones' relatively cheap design. Though the attack on snare drums is dropped to about 1/8th their normal volume with the V55s, they'll come in the right ear quite a bit louder than they do the left.

A photo of the Sony MDR-V55's band.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Looney

That's some mighty ostentatious branding.

If you're at the office, definitely steer clear of these headphones, as they not only let in a bunch of sound, but they hardly block it out as well. That could be a good thing if you need to hear the phone ringing, or your surroundings, but it's not ideal for anyone looking to lose themselves in their music. Definitely don't take these on an airplane with you—that type of engine noise will hardly be mitigated at all.

The Bottom Line

Tradeoffs aplenty

Given that this is a rather entry-level set of headphones, I'm willing to give some of their idiosyncrasies a pass. It's easy to nitpick a set of inexpensive cans, and even easier when some of Sony's own headphones outcompete the V55 handily.

A photo of the Sony MDR-V55's hinge.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Looney

Fold up your cans and throw 'em in a bag. They can take it.

That being said, the MDR-V55 offers features like tangle-free cables, a slim profile, and an appealing look that the Sony MDR-7506 just doesn't offer. If you're willing to reach a bit, I'd point you towards the Beats Solo 2 and the V-Moda Crossfade LP2—though those will set you back quite a lot in comparison, they both outperform and outshine the MDR-V55.

If you need better performance out of your headphones—but can't really reach in price—you might want to look towards in-ear monitors. There are plenty on the market that offer as-good-or-better performance on the cheap. They also generally have much better isolation for the money.

The Insides That Count

Entry level cans aren't typically that great, and the Sony MDR-V55 follow that trend. They're not terrible, either, but they have some strange performance points that merit discussion.

Frequency Response

Overall, these are decent cans for bass-heads, but the bizarre ~20dB dip at about 3kHz is worrying. Cymbals, the attack on snare drums, and other high-pitched sounds will all suffer at the hands of this de-emphasis, coming in at about 1/8th the power they should. The rest follows an equal loudness contour more or less, though sub-bass falls a little short.

Distortion

Not much to see here. Despite foam pads and a low price, almost no distortion shows up in our recorded tests. This is great for any headphone, so good job, Sony!

Noise Reduction

Noise attenuation is pretty bad. Whether it's due to the design, or the relative inability of foam to block sound, the V55s can't seem to keep garbage noise out. Similarly, we found in our labs that the V55s also leak out about 20dB of noise on average, so definitely be sure to keep a lid on your volume.

Other Tests

Tracking for the most part is good. You don't hear any swings in channel volume from left to right until you get to the "valley of errors" as I call it. Truth be told: you won't really hear it in the presence of other sounds in similar frequencies, but that's only because they're so quiet in comparison to begin with.

Meet the tester

Chris Thomas

Chris Thomas

Staff Writer, Imaging

@cthomas8888

A seasoned writer and professional photographer, Chris reviews cameras, headphones, smartphones, laptops, and lenses. Educated in Political Science and Linguistics, Chris can often be found building a robot army, snowboarding, or getting ink.

See all of Chris Thomas's reviews

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