Sony PFR-V1 WTFones ears-off

We thought Sony showed a bit of wisdom and discretion by leaving the PFR-V1s overseas, but we were wrong. The $500 "personal field speakers" are definitely headed Stateside, and it's just as we feared: they may sound decent enough to justify the price, but honestly, no one is going to wear these. Really, no one. Probably not even around the house, even despite the fact that they're not really that uncomfortable. See our pained facial expression after the break.

Gallery: Sony PFR-V1 WTFones ears-off

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Features built-in awkward humiliation. And yes, we're well aware they're backwards -- does it really matter?

[Rohit Kapur @ Feb 26th 2008 4:59PM]

WTF is right.

[phanbouy @ Feb 26th 2008 5:06PM]

dude... Moby looks pist

[Rohit Kapur @ Feb 26th 2008 5:08PM]

LOL!

Ryan, you really DO look like Moby there!

[rock99rock @ Feb 26th 2008 5:28PM]

Maybe he's pissed cause his girl made him wear that Cosby sweater. "A cOSby sweatahhhh".

[WTFwtf @ Feb 26th 2008 8:06PM]

Trolls LOVE spam: [e-mail]

[OneLove @ Feb 27th 2008 3:22PM]

thats ryan block? oh my god veronica!

[sunz @ Feb 26th 2008 4:59PM]

i don't get. What are they for?

-sun

[phanbouy @ Feb 26th 2008 5:05PM]

are you plural or singular?

[sunz @ Feb 26th 2008 5:40PM]

I shine Singularly! I'm in the sky.

-sun

[phanbouy @ Feb 26th 2008 7:04PM]

i knew the singularity was coming...

[Joshua @ Feb 26th 2008 5:09PM]

Practicality > Ergonomics

[Blaktornado @ Feb 27th 2008 11:27AM]

No, no.

You mean:

Practicality ≥ Ergonomics.

Can't have one side better than the other! Both should be together in perfect harmony.

[mb @ Feb 26th 2008 5:09PM]

Played with these at the Sony building in Tokyo in December and really liked how they sounded; and seemed like they wouldn't give the common "ear fatigue" I get from earbuds to big cans.

I'm sure I'd get some looks wearing them in public, but that's half the fun ;)

[TX30000 @ Feb 26th 2008 6:35PM]

By chance is the place called The Square?

I did too but it was in January. Tried the headphone, although it looks a bit on the "futuristic" side, it does sound great.

P.S. Did you also try out the HD production studio, watch the 4K in the private theatre and see George Luca's original digital CineAlta? I really like that place now and want to go back. HAHA

[Khris @ Feb 26th 2008 5:16PM]

Just when you thought the little blonde teenager with her Valley Girl attitude standing in line listening to her cell phone pump out the jams wasn't bad enough.....Here comes Sony to make it even easier for the little skank to piss off the people around her.

Bravo Sony!

[Anthony @ Feb 26th 2008 5:22PM]

At $500 a pop that would be rather hard for a young gi...oh wait...parents. Nevermind.

[Plastic Monkey @ Mar 7th 2008 3:34PM]

It's Bravia, not Bravo. (Hits self for bad pun)

[Les @ Feb 26th 2008 5:16PM]

Aren't they just speakers held in front of the ear, wouldn't that be annoying for everyone around you.

Or does that piece affect the sound some how, channel it to your ears

[mb @ Feb 26th 2008 5:21PM]

They're almost silent to anyone standing near you, even with it turned up a fair bit. Tried them out with my dad and they sounded real nice on classical music.

[kal326 @ Feb 26th 2008 5:17PM]

Great exactly what I need, so jackass sitting around sharing their "personal field noise". I wonder if you could get hit in the side of the head hard enough for those metal things to kill you...if you accidently tripped or something...

[Rainier @ Feb 26th 2008 5:17PM]

Ryan-san. Show Miyagi WTFones. Ears on. Ears off. Ears on. Ears off.....

[G Kabik @ Feb 28th 2008 3:39PM]

What's that from? Is it Never Back Down, starring Djimon Honsou?

[rwfu666 @ Feb 26th 2008 5:18PM]

hehe
it looks funny

[Ypoknons @ Feb 26th 2008 5:33PM]

We've been listening to extremely open headphones, whether it's as open as the K100 or other open headphones, including the HD650, K701, DT880 etc... Usually it's around the house. It's hardly a matter in the high-end - if you want portability, there's sealed headphones and IEMs. And while certainly I find the K701s to be more stylish, but ultimately, it's what I hear.

You wouldn't wear headphones this open on the street, anyways. Aside from annoying other people, outside noise would really interfere with your music.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Feb 26th 2008 8:11PM]

How can you call those "extremely open" when things like the Sony MDR-F1 exist?

[larcen007 @ Feb 26th 2008 5:39PM]

I guess you won the fight to wear these (referring to the guy who appears to be icing his head - what is he doing?)

[phanbouy @ Feb 26th 2008 5:43PM]

not sure but looks like Sony's using ice statues for models now

[larcen007 @ Feb 26th 2008 5:46PM]

That ice statute sure is hairy.

[Yoshi @ Feb 26th 2008 6:01PM]

I totally thought it was a video camera with headset. Boy was I wrong.

[Carl Lumma @ Feb 26th 2008 6:01PM]

These appear to be on backwards here, compared to the photo in the original post and the notion that they mimic front-facing speakers. -Carl

[archie4oz @ Feb 26th 2008 6:13PM]

Yeah, Ryan before you bitch at least put them on correctly....

[TS @ Feb 26th 2008 6:23PM]

"See our pained facial expression after the break."

*Looks at a singular Ryan Block after the break*

Just because you're cool enough to wear Sony bookshelf speakers on your head doesn't mean you get to start referring to yourself using the "Royal We". :)

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Feb 26th 2008 7:53PM]

DJ's and aficionado's will love these, as will I.

[Mr. Barlow @ Feb 26th 2008 8:17PM]

Sony thought of everything. Since they clearly can't isolate you from any exterior noise, the only place you will be using them is at home, alone, at night, in your closet. So the whole looking like ass thing works when you think about it.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Feb 26th 2008 8:10PM]

The spiritual successor to the MDR-F1s I own.

(about 3rd in this link).

http://www.goodcans.com/HeadphoneReviews/bigreview.htm

They're rather weird, being completely open air with nothing touching your ears. They sound good, if not a bit bass light and are very comfortable since nothing touches your ears.

The F1s at least TRY to send the sound towards your eardrums, although they bleed a ton. These don't even seem to make the effort.

[KingJackass @ Feb 26th 2008 9:29PM]

Anyone see the episode of Boiling Points where they used the giant headphones?
Those ones were the early model.

Next thing will be mini LCD's strapped to our heads making for even more bad drivers on the road.
Tivo it you moron and focus on the road!
(select, play, select, 30, select)

[Moe Abe @ Feb 26th 2008 10:37PM]

Why didn't someone actually read the manual. Of course no one would wear these when they are backwards.

[Steve @ Feb 27th 2008 2:47AM]

You guy should see my balls.

[dervheid @ Feb 27th 2008 3:12AM]

That is one of the FUNNIEST pictures I've seen in a long time!
I don't suppose those things soung too good when you're trying to listen to them via your ass, which is where they're likely to be inserted if you use them on a crowded tube (subway)train, especially during rush hour!

[alloneword @ Feb 27th 2008 6:11AM]

I tried these out in the Sony building in Tokyo. They are amazing. They really sound like an array of speakers about 3m in front of you. And no one else can hear them. When my friend was listening I thought they were off, but then you put them on. It is really wired, but awesome.

[Zach @ Feb 27th 2008 10:36AM]

Looks like sony made these back in the 80s, and they have been sitting in a box in some warehouse for the last 20 years. They're really ugly.

[peternj @ Feb 27th 2008 10:58AM]

They look great but if you're going to look stupid for the camera even an iPhone would look like rubbish. Watching five Apple clones the other day at a Sushi bar sliding their Wasabi stained fat stubby fingers over the greasy screens was also stupid looking. Let's see other stupid designs... the first iMac was pretty stupid. The first iBook that's now a collectors item though it looked like a toilet seat was also stupid looking.

The Engadget reporter mugging for the shot is not the demographic for style and fashion, his shirt tells a sad story. Unless he also had the shirt on backwards?