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. winner: depends on your preference, I like the Z1R more, I listen to Metal so brightness is not my thing. For other Music, EF wins, Ether C is again thin and not enjoyable. This definitely more of the flavour that the Z1R already offered, but I don't think it makes the Z1R sounds too warm at all. The Ts-200 enabled me to use them for hours without comfort issues and are the tips that seem to make them sound most unmodified (if that makes sense). 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?

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

The build quality is top notch, all metal and real leather earpads and headband material. The exterior part of the cups is made from a mesh of woven stainless steel covered in chromium. After this layer then comes a paper filter to absorb resonances made from Canadian wood pulp using japanese paper methods, then the housing of the driver made of plastic. The next thing is the typical recessed lower mids to make everything sound clear (i'm not a fan of this) and a bit cold but thats a slight change. Its still done very tastefull, especially in comparison with its direct competitors. Other than that, the mids are excellent. You can grasp even the slightest change and the tiniest details as they are just insanely fast.Just ear MH1 will always be the top choice and in a league of its own as nothing will beat the experience of a fully tailored and personalised sound signature. The Bass is most likely what makes the show for most. Its as strong in terms of volume as the IER-M9, but the feeling of air, the impact, the physical sensation is much higher. 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. Would i recommend the IER-Z1R over something like the Vision Ears EST, UE LIVE, 64 Audio Fourté and similar? Absolutely yes. Its significantly better than these and this is what makes it look cheap but(!), and here comes the caveeat, its still insanely overpriced imho. If the price is no issue for you and you already have an good reference like an IER-M9, Mach 70, TG335 or even SE846, then grab these. There is nothing for a lower price that gives you what it is. It would seem that I forgot to include my Hifiman impressions in my initial publication, and I do apologize to all readers for the inconvenience caused.

IER-Z1R | Page 5 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion SONY IER-Z1R | Page 5 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion

Taking the Sony house sound to a more mature and maybe advanced level; because everything is clearer; it’s that detailed 3D no stopping clarity! A more physical and carved-out bass than with the full-size Z1R yet focused like the Z7. The IEM here actually becomes of more finesse yet touchable as well as comprehensible! Here we are met with a more in-your-head soundstage, being a more concentrated and mind-bending elixir. Some years ago I had a chance to listen with Sony's legendary R10 headphones, then once again at a meet in Tokyo. In context they were impressive headphones for their driver technology and unique wood cups. With the arrival of Sennheiser's HD800s, I thought that maybe a successor had arrived. While on paper the HD800s were as capable, they didn't have quite the lovely, organic sound that the Sonys were capable of. 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. Sound is where the Sony IER-Z1R truly distinguishes itself. It's not just about hearing music; it's about experiencing it, feeling it, and being a part of it. Let's delve into the many facets that make the sound of the IER-Z1R so mesmerizing. Bass L-shaped, non-magnetic, gold-plated stereo mini plug/L-shaped, non-magnetic, gold-plated balanced standard plugI choose an IEM and two full-size headphones as these three actually represent Sony’s recently introduced top of the line models. Being the level they are at they were/are completely hand made in-house at Sony’s headphone factory in Tokyo Japan. This in itself remains in strict contrast to everything else Sony has released recently except the Z5 IEM and DMP-Z1 desktop unit; which are also in-house builds. Dirty Heads “Sound of Change” opens with a deep bass line and it sounds excellent on the Z1R, the vocals still further away, but the instrument separation is excellent and you can hear the fingers running over the strings of the guitars from 1:09 to 1:12 (which is kind of annoying, but detailed.) Compared to the Z1R, the XTC-C bass comes in with a little less quantity, but no less quality - the vocals are more forward and clearer/cleaner on the XTC-C. The fingers on strings mentioned previously are still there, but less grating than on the Z1R (which seems to struggle a little with sharpness in the highs.) The IER-Z1R will be for people who don't want a custom/with an eye to sell their phones later down the path, otherwise the Just ear MH2 will beat it in terms of fit and comfort, which in turn will also affect sound as fit of IEM is crucial to sound quality, and Just ear fitting as done by Sugano-san is second to none to any CIEM. Sony has tried its best to make it more ergonomically friendly as we see the location of the cable connectors, but I would advise buying these earphones only if you have medium to large-sized ears. Technical Specifications