Sony IER-Z1R Signature Series in-Ear Headphones (IERZ1R),Black/Silver

Product Information

In this regard, it is unbeatable by other TOTL, you can't really use an open headphone in your workplace, it might disturb someone else unless on really low volume, but then it's not as enjoyable isn't it? Micro details such from slight finger slides on the guitar to the moment the finger leaves the strings all adds to the organic experience of the songs

Sony IER-Z1R Review — Headfonics

My local dealer provided me a set for audition, and I had planned to audition it for more than a week. Extension wise, I have to say that The Z1R extends way better than the Ether C and EF, the extension and decay is much more noticeable due to both better technicalities and also extra emphasis, there details in my music that I never notice in the other 2 cans that I do with the Z1R. All these headphones come in nice boxes; though the IER-Z1R comes with a cardboard jewelry box, with drawers. Also for the record, the IER-Z1R comes included with the greatest of cables, both 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced. Of all the headphones talked about here, it’s the IEM which is dependent on fit. Meaning they may not fit your ears, and if they don’t fit your ears the party is over. This single concept makes full-size headphones much easier to use in the end. Though for this extra effort we are gifted with a inner head-stage. As the tip sits inside your cranium the sound is both inside and outside your head. This concept in and of itself gets us a different perspective in sound display. Also I can’t help but reinforce the medical insertion of detail into your brain. The IEMs go the extra mile to put the music closer to your soul and under your skin. Also the display is like reading a normal size book where full-size headphones can almost take more effort to take in? It has the same effect as the mids though, for every bit you hear, you hear from beginning till the end but it is not as effortless as the mids.This review is for the people who already watched every Z1R Review on YouTube, read every Review here on Head-Fi and just wants an additional opinion from an long-time owner about if he should really pull the trigger or not. Many old metal recordings were not mastered very well, on this occasions the guitar can be harsh and shrilling, but with the Z1R it is smooth, extended and present in the mix

Sony IER-Z1R Signature Series in-Ear Headphones

for normal size ears though, there is no problem at all, the headphone is very enjoyable to use for long periods due to its lightness and excellent clamping force with soft earpads with leather that feels nice to the skin. Crazy as it sounds you would probably like the 1A the best. People that are after a reference tone are going to be happy with the 1A. The IER-Z1R adds so much of the intrinsic qualities of the 1Z when used with the 1A, it’s not funny. I would actually suggest people get the IER-Z1R and 1A combo first, as it is the best value and most middle of the road. Putting it on my head, it was comfortable and provided a good noise-isolating seal, and it remained comfortable after hours of listening. I think this region is where the Z1R's get a lot right in. There a very good sense of air and clarity, but i think the tuning is where these shine. Some BA drivers can make the treble sound off-ish. My personal experience with BA-driver setups (Encore's, JHA Roxanne) are that they just don't quite sound as natural. I know i said that in my Encore review, that they had very natural sounding highs, but after listening and comparing to the Z1R's, something just sits more right with the trebles. Cymbals and crashes don't sound as holographic is the best way to describe it. Like most of the sound signature, it just sits right. Now the detail in this region is also impeccable. The air in the treble also lends a hand to the massive sound stage that these have.High frequencies are a delicate balance, and the IER-Z1R handles them with breathtaking elegance. There's an airiness to the highs, a sparkle that illuminates without ever becoming piercing or sibilant. The position of the Instruments, the layering, the crowd around and behind me, everything is exactly where it belongs and this is what i use the MDR-Z1R for most of the time. I have a lot of very well recorded Live BluRay and DVD and if i listen to any of them, there is no question about the choice of Headphone. As for ear tips, the IER-Z1R comes with a good selection of foam and silicone. I personally found the silicone to be the more comfortable of the two, and to work best with the fit, even compared to some 3rd party tips I've tried. But if anyone has recommendations, I'd love to hear them. In terms of soundstage/imaging, the former goes to the IER-Z1R whereas the Andro 2020 has slightly better center-imaging than the IER-Z1R but similar cardinal/ordinal imaging otherwise. The bass sounds big and full, extension is superb and despite it being boosted, it almost never intrudes the mids at all, maybe a couple of times it did, but it could be my imagination.

SONY IER-Z1R | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org SONY IER-Z1R | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

Bass: The bass prominence is even more thna that of the MDR-Z7, but no with the bommy mess the Z7 (i'm talking about the MDR-Z7 MK 1) are. The bass on these does not bleed into the mids and for my tastes it is not that too much as other say. Cymbals, Rides and Crashes having natural timbre with decent amount to treble extension, giving it pleasurable decay You might find 100kHz extension useless but the Z1R doubles down as an excellent portable device for your pet bat if you happen to have one. The Sony IER-Z1R didn’t just appear out of thin air; it resulted from years of meticulous engineering and a passion for sound perfection. When Sony set out to create their Signature Series, they aimed for more than just a new product; they aimed for an experience. Indonesian Song (it's basically the Indonesian version of pop, guitar used is mostly acoustic guitar, sounds natural and relaxing however, mastering of the song is usually poor, this is good to test how good a headphone/Iem handle poorly recorded material)Lost in all these is the miniscule side-firing BA treble driver that mostly handles lower and mid-treble. It’s a Sony proprietary T-shaped armature pin and has better timbre and slightly slower decay than typical Knowles BA drivers.

Sony IER-Z1R Review - Major HiFi Sony IER-Z1R Review - Major HiFi

Disclaimer 2: the Z1R is not a free unit, but I did get it at a fat discount because I have badass buddies that shan't be named winner: MDR-Z1R, I really don't like how thin the Ether C sound and it looks like some work needs to be done to fix that part(EF has the fix, but still Z1R has that extra detail and extension)If you ignore the fit (more on that later), the IER-Z1R is one of the best built IEMs or earphones I've ever used. The metal shell feels solid and sturdy - it's got the heft of something built to last. The semi-proprietary MMCX is both a positive and an issue here. It's slightly more recessed than usual, with a bit of a lip around the cable-side connector. This makes it (theoretically) more resistant to bending and more durable. In practice, it makes finding third party cables a bit of a struggle. Two issues arise in the design, but realistically, when we look at the internal design, we see it is more a form compensating for function. To get such a wonderful sound, the earphones are, as a result, a bit big and heavy. When you look at the Sony IER-Z1R, you know you're witnessing something unique. The housings blend zirconium alloy and stainless steel with a lustrous finish that oozes elegance. Sorry for the photo quality, I'm still using iphone 4 and my photo taking skills are quite poor T_T , but that will soon to change with the Samsung Galaxy S8 hopefully. When I first heard the Z1R, I had a hunch that this would be one of the key comparisons for the review. Very few “audiophile” headphones approach the levels of bass that can be found on these two cans, so naturally, it was only a matter of time before a comparison would be made. I do own the TH-900, and am a big fan of its sound. I admire its design aesthetic, and have spent hours trying to capture the way the lacquer cups light up with a soft gradient. I’m kidding…but not really.