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

Product Information

It’s important to note the playing field has been leveled with all headphones being used with the same equipment and music. Only with this methodology could the differences be accurate and comparable. It also should be said, all this equipment was designed to be part of one ecosystem, all sounding optimized yet slightly different. Your choice as best would really be a matter of taste in the end. Even with my Dumbo ears, the IER-Z1R becomes uncomfortable after a few hours of continued use. And of course, the sound quality depends greatly on your insertion depth. Deeper is better, but also less comfortable. I just got it. Warm sounding amp like Chord Mojo 2 i find they pair very well. There is a mild mids recession but the warm sounding mojo 2 amp improves this aa bit Inside the box, the headphones are securely nestled along with ear tips, cables, and a luxurious carrying case. Each accessory is placed with care, reflecting the premium nature of what lies within.

IER-Z1R | Sony UK Support for IER-Z1R | Sony UK

So, How does the bass get so "Perfected" without distortions and while being Closed off for that Isolations and avoiding sound leakages ? Though it could be much at time but still, This is yet another Magic from Sony I would say that the tuning is to mimic a speaker setup in a well damped rrom instead of open and airy like a live performance. Both can expose sibilant in the music but moreso on The EF and even more on The Ether C due to its thin bright nature, The Z1R is so smooth in the vocals, sibilance is still there if its there in the recording but the tuning and smoothness definitely helps and it doesn't bother me at all (think the vocals in the CA andromeda, can be sibilant but somehow it's not bothersome at all) but at the expense of minute details I think. The C and EF are going for details so it will expose all those bad qualities straight up to you.

balanced terminated cable (new standard, I really like this a lot, but again not the most practical, not yet) Mids are excellent with plenty of details to satisfy, smooth but not overly so and can still expose both details and recording imperfection. I compare them to the IER-M9 as this is my reference for pretty much everything and the first thing you notice is the pushed treble. It is a very delicate and well done push that does not cause female vocals to hurt (thanks god non monitor earphone still exist that do not do that), but it causes one issue. If you listen at slightly louder volumes music starts to turn into noise. That is common for all non IEM and it even happens with an IEM at one point, if its too loud, its too loud, but it happens too early with the IER-Z1R imho. I do like how most Sony iems and even the earbuds from the late 80s and early 90s sound, but Sony has almost always had weird designs this past decade that just never felt comfortable with my ears whereas before I never had problems with fit. When I start my headphone hobby, music listening has been a very rewarding experience for me and has helped me in many aspects of life other than music enjoyment, although, with the booming price of high end headphones/IEM atm, it has become a bit of a heavy hit on my wallet >_<.

Sony MDR-Z1R - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and Discussion Sony MDR-Z1R - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and Discussion

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. Sound signature: fluidity in the mid, smooth and lush trebles with sprinkles, bass strong but tight, fast and responsive for LCP or plastic type, warmth. The ability to follow an instrument in it own energies and timbres is excellent and just awesome. Very Musical, fun, engaging. Sony all the way, like not even close, for me anyway. It looks so clean and has that everything is in one piece feel. It makes The Ethers look like a joined piece from many parts if you know what I mean. In a nutshell, the unboxing experience is literally the equivalent of a jewelry box. Opening the top of the lid reveals a hard case that houses the 2 headshells within. Underneath that are literal magnetic trays that can slide out like drawers to reveal the other accesories, which are the 2 cables, balanced and unbalanced to MMCX terminations, as well as two types of tips with a wide array of sizes, to ensure the fit is good for almost everyone. To say that this unboxing experience doesn't heightens the experience of getting this pair would be an understatement. In the ever-evolving world of audio technology, Sony continues to define excellence with its flagship earphone, the Sony IER-Z1R, it has been around a while yet is still considered by many to be one of the best In-Ear Headphones in 2023.In terms of midrange, I prefer the A8000’s vocals by a margin over the IER-Z1R. Final knows how to tune the midrange and the vocals/string instruments are as articulate as they can be on the A8000. Every subtle nuance is highlighted including vocalists breathing in/out. Timbre is another strong point here with the metallic tinge of steel strings being evident against the more natural, softer tone of nylon strings. Though the 1Z is great too, the TA is dark and not for everyone. I just like the imaging with the TA. But the TA is also dependent on which headphones you use. If the headphones are dark to start with it can make them too dark. You will most likely like the 1Z the best with your IER-Z1R; concerning what you own now! But you’ll love it. Also an amazing amount of bass response will go away after 100 hours of burn-in. So when you first plug in your IER-Z1R to the 1Z, it’s nothing like it will sound after burn in. I was able to hear 200 hours of burn in and new out of box side-by-side; way different! 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. 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.

IER-Z1R Signature Series In-ear Headphones Sony IER-Z1R Signature Series In-ear Headphones

The design is excellent and it makes it possible for the headphone to look premium, feels light, durable and clean at the same time, how great is that? Note: ideal treble response only occurs with a deep insert. Due to the size of the housing, this fit may not be possible for certain ears.)Having to own the Sony Z7 before, while it has some flaws, I couldn't wait for another better version of it, the Top of the line from Sony. Why ? Because it is musical and great to enjoy movies with from either the large home system or by an iPad winner: Z1R for me, as it portrays recording environment more accurateley and precisely than the other two.