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

Product Information

The 12mm driver loads into a magnesium housing with an extended acoustic cavity to its rear, which is fitted with an acoustic tube that acts as a tuning device. The 5mm super-tweeter is positioned coaxially to the earphone’s sound outlet nozzle and offers, says Sony, “frequency response up to 100kHz.” Design goals included absolute consistency of voicing and phase coherency between the drive units, with the intent of having them sound, “as though they were a single, ideal driver.” Fortunately I managed to dig the offending part out of the left side with a tiny screwdriver and with some after market cables these are now working flawlessly.

You get some nice accuracy and detail in then IER’s treble, and the height it gives to the imaging is definitely one of the highlights of this area. Its resonance is softer but doesn’t dull itself or roll-off too significantly. I always felt like you were getting a good treble presence that appeared easily digestible for most listeners, even when some of the details aren’t immediately noticeable. Its resonance might be more linear, but it doesn’t take away any form of enjoyment from the treble’s overall timbre. Summary I could use this IEM for hours since there are no sharp edges in its design while its ability to provide a deep comfortable seal adds to a very satisfying fit. Preferences

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The dip starting in the midbass is sustained through the lower midrange of the Z1R. There’s a slight roll-off starting at around 200 Hz with the trough pegged at around 600 Hz before gradually climbing to a neutral tone just beyond 1 kHz. he Refined-phase Structure also proved to be handy for its overall sound since it is void of any incoherence while Sound Space Control technology has managed to contribute to the big soundstage as well as the organic timbre. Bass

The Z1R is rated at 40Ω at 104 dB so you’d get the best out of it when it gets some good power source. While I can already enjoy it straight from my Samsung Galaxy S9+, I feel that there’s a bit of a loss of dynamics. Off from my trusty Pioneer XDP-300R, I could get enjoyable listening volumes around 90 to 95 without any detail loss. The IER-Z1R and Legend X are excellent in their own right with the former having a more sturdy build while the latter having a more comfortable fit due to a semi-custom design. However, the Legend X has a custom option so in that respect, it gets an edge over the IER-Z1R in terms of fit.

From a warm and smooth tonality, the IER-Z1R now has a balanced sound with a mild U-shaped signature. The Bass has now become tighter and deeper while the warmth has become less prominent. I would prefer it over the Solaris for its superior technical prowess while I could also see it as an alternative choice to Empire Ears’ flagship hybrid if I want to add some treble bite to the otherwise smooth Legend X. The bass of IER-Z1R is outstanding as it belts out excellent impact, detail, and accuracy. Highs, meanwhile, have enough bite and air while maintaining a non-fatiguing listening session. Headphone cable (approx. 47 1/4″ [1.2 m])/balanced-connection headphone cable (approx. 47 1/4″ [1.2 m]) The treble region is where the Sony IER-Z1R pulls ahead with no sharp 6KHz peak (A8000’s biggest downside) and more extended upper-treble. This leads to an even wider soundstage (though A8000 has very good stage width). Imaging is about even on both with center-imaging being slightly less accurate on both IEMs. Overall resolution is about similar on both, with the more resolving A8000 midrange being counter-balanced by the smoother yet better extended treble on the IER-Z1R.