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Europe force Sony to withdraw MDR-7520 professional headphones

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Sony have been forced to withdraw their excellent Professional series MDR-7520 headphones from sale in Europe because they don't pass the European safety regulations due to their high efficiency, power handling and attainable SPL! In my opinion and that of other professional users, these headphones set a new standard for closed back monitor headphones, but now we are not allowed to buy them.

So, the European government now want to tell us how loud we can play our music?

Another factor to be considered is that these were not on sale in Sony centres or hi-fi retailers, only through Sony professional dealers. It is fair therefore to assume the end users would be professionals, who know what they are doing and understand SPL.

"Nanny" is taking over!

Les Adams OnAirStudio.co.uk

Follow Ups:

RE: Europe force Sony to withdraw MDR-7520 professional headphones - Daniel_W 14:56:14 06/02/14 (0)
Thanks a *lot* for that information Mr Adams.
The MDR-7520 caught my attention because they seemed like really good monitoring phones that would both work well with portable electronics and survive being accidentally fed a really loud 8Hz sine, or whatever.
When, before I got to listen to them, they apparently evaporated from Europe, I thought, unknowing bureaucrats even had a say, they somehow failed in the market, although I could never quite guess how (and Sony just said "discontinued").
While not sure I would have bought them, had I found them nearby, this made it more a matter of principle, so now I've imported a pair.
I like them a lot at, mostly, reasonable levels. I think they'll serve me well for many years, and I love the sheer sensibility in having a standard 3,5mm plug in BOTH ends of the cable. THAT should made a EU norm.

/Daniel

Edits: 06/02/14
Order them through a dealer or mail order outfit in another country - Frihed89 13:39:19 07/11/13 (1)
Customs officials in most countries haven't time to check stuff like this, even if they knew about it.
Observe, before you think. Think before you open your yap. Act on the basis of experience.
- RE: Order them through a dealer or mail order outfit in another country - Les Adams 23:14:24 07/11/13 (0)
  It is not a customs matter. A big company like Sony have to play by the rules. If the European authority say no, then no it is. Sure they could still sell them elsewhere in the world but Europe is a big slice of their market. Having them condemned as "too loud therefore potentially dangerous" if Sony continued to produce them some opportunist may decide to sue for hearing loss in a few years.
  My advice to anyone wanting to earn a few bucks would be to buy stocks while you still can, then sell them as new in a year or two when they are sought after! They retail at circa �450 and are being sold at around �310 by the few dealers that have them in stock, less in the U.S. These really are top quality headphones that sound amazing, so you will be able to name your price when you can't get them from dealers any more.
  Les Adams OnAirStudio.co.uk
  
  Edits: 07/11/13

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