You can find a list of authorized dealers in the United States at https://www. sony. com/retailers.

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.

Some of the higher-end Sony brands do not come with shrink wrap.

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.

The cheaper earbuds and on-ear headphones may not have this sticker.

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.

The high-end studio monitors have a straight jack, so the reverse is true for these models.

The shells of the cushions are the plastic parts that hold the soft cushioning in place.

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.

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.

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.

On authentic headphones, the hash marks line up with the center of the number that they correspond with.

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

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.