Easy Ways to Tell if Sony Headphones Are Fake or Authentic

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Spot real and fake Sony headphones with this easy guide
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Want to know if a pair of Sony headphones are fake? If you bought a new pair from a third party seller, you might be worried about counterfeiters. Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4 are popular and often expensive, which makes them ideal targets. We'll show you how to check if Sony headphones are original.

Spotting Authentic Sony Headphones

  • Enter the headphones' serial number into Google. If the results link to Sony's website, it's likely authentic.
  • Check the packaging for loose shrink wrap, loose plastic panels, and other imperfections.
  • Look up official images of the headphones and compare your pair.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Inspecting the Packaging

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  1. If you aren’t buying your headphones from an authorized store or website that deals directly with Sony, there’s a greater probability that the headphones aren’t legitimate. To completely remove the possibility that the headphones are fake, cross-reference the name of the store or website you’re buying from with Sony’s list of authorized dealers online. [1]
  2. Look for the serial number on the device and enter it into a search engine, such as Google . If the number leads you to the official Sony website, the headphones are original.
    • If you get mixed results, the headphones are likely fake.
    • You can typically find the serial number on the packaging, in the manual that came with your headphones, and printed somewhere on the headphones themselves. [2]
      • On some models, the serial number may be hidden under ear pads.
    • Unlike the model number, the serial number is a unique identifier for your individual headphones. It's a long string of numbers and will not include letters or other symbols.
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  3. Type “Sony” followed by the name and model number of the headphones into a search engine on your phone or computer. Open Sony’s website page for the headphones and check the suggested retail price. If the price on the headphones is more than 10-15% less than the MSRP, the headphones are highly likely to be counterfeit . [3]
    • The name and model number are always printed right next to each other on the front of Sony’s packaging. It’s usually 2-3 letters followed by numbers, and it shouldn’t be too hard to find on the front.
  4. Loose shrink wrap is a clear sign of repackaging, which is an indicator that the headphones have been tampered with. While not every brand of Sony headphones comes shrink wrapped, the models that do should have tight, clear wrapping. If there are lots of wrinkles or the shrink wrap is torn or loose, the headphones are likely fake. [4]
    • Some of the higher-end Sony brands do not come with shrink wrap.
  5. At the end of the bar code on the back, Sony puts a country code to indicate where the headphones were supposed to be sold. Look for 1-2 letters inside of parentheses. Unfortunately, many fake headphones are produced in China, so a code of (CH) or (CN) may be a sign that they’re fake if you aren’t buying the headphones in China. [5]
    • This code is different depending on where you live. In the United States, it is (US), while in India it is (IN). If Sony doesn’t ship directly to your country, they probably ship to a neighboring nation. It’s okay if this 2-letter code matches a country that borders you.
    • Counterfeiters often acquire old or discarded packages and repackage them with fake headphones for resale.
  6. Check the plastic tab that hooks onto the shelving pole in the store. If there is a 2 by 1 in (5.1 by 2.5 cm) plastic tab, it should have a small holographic sticker on it. If the headphones are worth more than $40, Sony typically prints a holographic sticker on this tab. [6]
    • The cheaper earbuds and on-ear headphones may not have this sticker.

    Tip: If the clip is built into the packaging on a large tab at the top, there won’t be a sticker. The key products that won’t have a sticker are Sony’s MDR studio monitors.

  7. If there is a yellow sticker under the shrink wrap that says “1 year warranty,” the headphones are likely legitimate. Sony doesn’t include these stickers on every model, so it’s not a surefire way to determine if the headphones are fake, but they’re more likely to be original if this sticker is present. [7]
  8. If part of the box is made of plastic, press gently on the plastic to see if it is attached to the cardboard, or a separate plastic insert. On real headphones, the plastic covers should be a part of the box. On fake models, the plastic is inserted between the cardboard box and the headphones. [8]
    • This is a particularly helpful test for studio monitors. Sony almost always packages these headphones with a large plastic sheet so that potential buyers can see the fancier headphones.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Analyzing Over-Ear Headphones and Earbuds

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  1. Check the Bluetooth . If you have the device, you can try to sync it to your phone. The model name should show up as you're trying to pair it. If it says any other name, it is fake.
    • Some counterfeiters know how to change the name of the device. If the name shows up correctly, be sure to use other identifying methods in addition to this one.
  2. This is Sony's official app. Connect the headphones to your device's Bluetooth, and then open the app to connect it there.
    • You can download the Sony Headphones Connect app from the Google Play Store or the App Store .
    • If your headphones can't connect to the app, it's most likely a fake pair.
  3. The jack refers to the piece at the end of the headphone cord where you stick it into a phone or speakers. On earbuds and over-ear headphones that aren’t studio monitors, the plastic piece holding the jack in place is L-shaped to prevent bending. If you see lower-end on-ear headphones or earbuds with a straight jack, the headphones are definitely fake.
    • The high-end studio monitors have a straight jack, so the reverse is true for these models.
  4. If there is a bracket holding the cords together where they separate for the right and left ear, there should be embossed writing on it. It will either say “Sony” or have the name of the country where Sony produced it (usually Japan, Thailand, or India). On the shells of the cushions, the word “Sony” should be parallel to the floor when you’re wearing them and raised on top of the plastic. [9]
    • The shells of the cushions are the plastic parts that hold the soft cushioning in place.

    Tip: If the headphones are black, the word “Sony” should be printed in white. If the headphones are white, these letters should be black. On some higher-end headphones, it may be silver.

  5. Sony labels all over-ear headphones and earbuds on the back to let the listener know where each earpiece goes. These labels are always R and L, not the full words “right” and “left.” The R should be printed in red, while the L should be printed in blue. [10]
    • For the really low end models, the R and L may be black or white. Models that cost less than $20 are rarely worth counterfeiting, though.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Checking Sony Studio Monitors

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  1. Unlike their slimmer counterparts, studio monitors have straight jacks so that they don’t get in the way of other cords in an audio mixer or amplifier. Inspect the end of the cord to see if the metal pin and the plastic holding it in place are perfectly straight. If they are L-shaped, your headphones are fake. [11]
    • Sony studio monitors are usually called “Studio Monitors” on the packaging and have “MDR” at the front of their model names.
    • Studio monitors are specialized headphones designed to fit completely around the ear. They’re popular with recording artists and sound engineers.
  2. Studio monitors come with manuals that are packaged in a small plastic bag. If there is no plastic bag and the manual is just floating around in the box, your headphones are almost certainly fake. [12]
    • If the manual looks like it was photocopied or the writing is smeared, this may be another sign that the headphones are fake.
    • For cheaper earbuds and on-ear headphones, there is no plastic bag for the manual.
  3. On studio monitors, the headphone extenders have numbers and hash marks printed on the exterior sides. Extend the headphones as far as they will go and inspect these measurements. If the hash marks are not centered against the numbers they correspond with, the headphones are fake. If there are no numbers or hash marks, the headphones are likely fake as well. [13]
    • On authentic headphones, the hash marks line up with the center of the number that they correspond with.
  4. On headphones with padded extenders, feel underneath the frame of the headphones where they meet the top of your head. If the leather or fabric is wrinkled, they were likely not manufactured by Sony. On original headphones, this leather should be taut and smooth. [14]
    • A few small wrinkles are fine, since the fabric or leather naturally bends when you handle the headphones, but the vast majority of this section should be smooth to the touch
  5. There is a red sticker printed on MDR-V6 models that says “for Digital.” These stickers are high-quality and should never peel since Sony uses an incredibly strong adhesive. The word “Digital” should be embossed in a sequence of dots that make up each letter. If the sticker is peeling or the dots aren’t consistent and even, these headphones may not be legitimate. [15]
    • This is the telltale sign that a pair of MDR-V6s are fake. This part of the headphone is extremely difficult to replicate and most counterfeiters don’t have the adhesive or printer required to create a good fake version.

    Tip: Since their first production run in 1985, the MDR-V6 has been Sony’s most popular set of studio monitors. Depending on what year they were made and whether they’re refurbished or new, they can fetch anywhere from $100-300. This makes them a popular choice for counterfeiters.

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      Tips

      • Sony doesn’t have a serial number cross-checking system for verifying the authenticity of headphones, and many of the headphones don’t have serial numbers to begin with. The only reason some of their headphones have serial numbers is because Sony offers a unique warranty on certain models and you need the serial number to register for the warranty online.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.sony.com/retailers
      2. ↑ https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00248604
      3. ↑ https://www.sony-asia.com/electronics/support/articles/00200902
      4. ↑ https://www.sony-asia.com/electronics/support/articles/00200902
      5. ↑ https://www.sony.co.in/microsite/mdrcaution/index.html
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/e_GFb-7Sy78?t=49
      7. ↑ https://www.sony.co.in/microsite/mdrcaution/index.html
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/qiGoyNbVDvI?t=28
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/e_GFb-7Sy78?t=99
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/e_GFb-7Sy78?t=122
      2. ↑ https://www.sony.com/electronics/headphones/t/headband-headphones
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/qiGoyNbVDvI?t=108
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/qiGoyNbVDvI?t=199
      5. ↑ https://www.thecounterfeitreport.com/product/232/MDR-V6-Studio-Monitor-Headphones.html
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/qiGoyNbVDvI?t=316

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