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Sony MDR-1AM2 vs Sony IER-M9

Side-by-side comparison — scores, specs and which one fits your setup.

Sony MDR-1AM2
7.8
/ 10
On-earHigh end
HIGHER SCORE
Sony IER-M9
9.1
/ 10
IEMReference

Specs comparison

7.8/10
SCORE
9.1/10
16Ω
IMPEDANCE
16Ω
100dB
SENSITIVITY
103dB
No
NEEDS AMP
No

Analysis

The Sony MDR-1AM2 scores 7.8/10 with 16Ω impedance and 100dB sensitivity. At 16Ω, it drives well from most phones without an external amp.

The Sony IER-M9 scores 9.1/10 with 16Ω impedance and 103dB sensitivity. At 16Ω, it can be driven directly without extra hardware.

Based on our scoring, the Sony IER-M9 scores higher overall. However, the right choice depends on your full audio chain — use our analyzer to see which fits your actual setup.

Own one of these headphones?

A high headphone score doesn't mean your audio sounds great. Your DAC, amp or source might be the real bottleneck.

Analyze my setup →Sony MDR-1AM2 details →Sony IER-M9 details →

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