Sony MDR ZX310b Review | 93 Data compared

The Les Numériques review awards the entry-level, wired Sony MDR-ZX310 a 3 out of 5-star rating, characterizing it as a lightweight option with punchy but limited performance. On the positive side, the review highlights its very low price point (often under €30), decent comfort, clean and well-assembled plastic build, and a warm, smooth, and overall pleasant sound profile. Additionally, its 110-gram lightweight structure features an un-padded headband that still manages to sit securely on the ears without excessive pressure, and the earcups conveniently fold flat for easier storage in a bag. Conversely, the review notes several distinct drawbacks, particularly regarding its overall limited audio performance. Lab measurements show a restricted dynamic range, compressed soundstage, and muffled high frequencies (treble) that drop off severely after 5 kHz. The bass also lacks deep extension, and the headphones saturate quickly if the volume is pushed too high. Furthermore, because the thin on-ear pads offer very poor passive noise isolation, external sounds leak through easily. Finally, this specific base model lacks an inline smartphone remote or microphone, and Sony includes absolutely no accessories or...

The Fnac Lab review gives the Sony MDR-ZX310Go to product viewer dialog for this item. wired headphones a mediocre 3 out of 5 stars, calling them "unconvincing". The expert test reveals a massive mix of high and low technical scores. On the positive side, the headphones scored a high 9 out of 10 for sound leakage (perturbation), meaning they will not disturb people sitting next to you. They also scored a very good 8.4 out of 10 for frequency response, showing they reproduce sound faithfully without weird distortion. Additionally, the physical design is praised for its perfect 10 out of 10 comfort score, lightweight frame of 142 grams, and highly portable foldable build.

The Les Numériques review characterizes the Sony MDR-ZX310 as a basic yet cleverly designed supra-aural (on-ear) headphone that serves as an evolution to the highly popular MDR-ZX300. On the ergonomic side, the review highlights several pros, including its remarkably lightweight build weighing only 109 grams, an adjustable design that sits comfortably without clamping the ears too tightly, and a highly portable, fully foldable structure that tucks away easily into a bag. Acoustically, it delivers a surprisingly interesting, warm sound signature for its price bracket. However, the primary cons focus on its budget construction, featuring thin, ring-shaped ear cushions and an unpadded plastic headband, which directly results in poor passive noise isolation from external environments. Les NumériquesExpanding on its acoustic performance, Les Numériques notes that while the headset offers an engaging, bass-forward sound signature that avoids harsh or fatiguing treble, it suffers from specific technical limitations. The low-end frequencies tend to be muddy and poorly controlled when handling heavy bass drums, while the flat mid-range leaves vocals lacking excitement and dynamic range. Despite these sonic compromises and its fragile plastic hinges,...