Build Quality:
So they're bought in 1980, and I myself have been using them for years back then. I don't really now when they slid into oblivion, but they had some real long closet time. 33 years later nothing has broken, everything still works great. Sliding system to adjust the headband does what it's supposed to, headband itself is still fine, seams didn't come loose. The spiral cord hasn't broke eather and it has the original plug. But what amazes me the most is the fact those volume and tone controls had minor disruptions when I turned them. After two turns everything was fine again. The earpads are completely flat but I don't know how they were new anymore. They are glued but I think they could be replaced if needed.
Comfort:
Allthough the earpads are this flat, these are still quite comfortable. My ears rest against the inner plastic grille but it doesn't hurt. Adjustment works okay and when you take your time you will find a good fit. The broad headband feels good too. One thing that bothers me is the spiral cord, it pulls these headphones off your head when you try to to go further than 4 ft away from your source. All my other phones got straight 8 or 10 ft cords and that's definitly the better choice.
Butt all together it is a nice, comfortable pair of headphones ! The neutral sound also makes it phones I can listen too for hours without fatigue.
Sound:
Since it only has a 6,3 mm jack I plugged it straight into my Yamaha Dolby receiver, which has a nice output, much better than my Macbook. I don't know what these HP need but plugged into this receiver sound is more than decent. I the did it old school and played CD's ! For comparisment I plugged in my filtered HD681-B and on the receiver that one suddenly sounded overly bright again. First thing that I noticed was how neutral these Sony's DR-S5's sound. I think I really hear the pure mix on these.
I never use EQ when listening to music. Because I recorded in several - very good till very bad - studio's, throughout my musician years, I discovered that mixers allways strive to create the best possible flat mix. So using EQ accually changes the sound and position of instruments and is not advised to hear the music as is supposed to be listened to.
Bass: These have firm, puncy bass. Even with the flat earpads. So I have been asking myself how they'd sound with thick, soft pads. But I can 't do an experiment cause I promised my brother I wouldn't tear them apart.
Mids: I don't know how to say this: mids are there and they are all they need to be. Not recessed at all, not pronounced, simply as I need them to be.
Highs: Allthought slightly recessed they are good, every cymbal sounds as they do when you're in the room with them. I know cause I did the latest recordings myself. So highs not too bright, maybe they should be a little brighter.
Soundstage:
It is a bit narrow. The stereo image is like I think it should be. Vocals, bassguitar, kickdrums and snaredrums are all nicely sitting in the middle of my head, where they should be. Panned instruments like guitars, backing vocals, tom toms, cymbals, horns and keyboards are outside of the head but never far away. Nice for being closed though.
Compared to filtered Superlux HD681-B:
These Superlux' come over as 'screamy' next to these Sony's. The Superlux' are much brighter but that's okay. Bass on the Sony's is much better every way. More solid, deeper, firmer and punchy. The biggest difference is in the mids though. Compared with the Sony's the Superlux seems to scream out the mids. Soundstage is wider with the Superlux, guess them being semi-open has everything to do with this. So I would choose the Sony over the Superlux any day.