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

Product Information

It can't be used on Stage due to the lack of Isolation and it can't be used in the studio as it is not neutral enough.

Now I usually start talking about the bass, mids, and highs, but the Z1R can only be so good due to its technicalities. So after purchasing my beloved Noble Encore's i was quickly eager to make a similar caliber purchase in the headphone realm. These offer the ultimate convenience, but we believe that if you care about an immersive listening experience and audio quality, these are not for you!cable, as it not only provided a much more powerful image but also expanded the separation forming a more spherical expanse of potential immersion. Ah yes, a battle of the giants: How does the IER-Z1R fare against what many would consider to be the most well-rounded IEM on the market, the 64 Audio U12t? I could definitely see it being too much for some listeners, but I personally found it right where I'd like it. You can really track each instrument down to where they sit in the mix and reverbs can clearly be heard coming from there respective direction. Nonetheless, Sony has made a good trade-off IMO and the treble is nearly as good as it gets in the TOTL range.

This is a hybrid driver system that combines two 12mm dynamic drivers and a single balanced armature. The one aspect where it falls short of the likes of, say, Hifiman Ananda in terms of staging is the stage height. The bass hooked me on my first listen, and without doubt it’s the IER-Z1R’s standout feature: Bass-heads look no further, this is your IEM. Between these two, I’d pick the IER-Z1R if you can get a fit and don’t bother too much about midrange. So far the Z1R wins against the Monarch but I have to try the U12t, U4s, Elysian Diva, and the Symphonium Helios/Helios SE.

The U12t has some of the best BA bass out there, but the IER-Z1R eclipses it in the timbre, slam, and decay departments. Mostly lurking around r/headphones as u/kmmbd and a very active member in local head-fi community since 2015. 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.

But after quickly browsing the internet and talking to a few friends, i managed to get my hands on these for a banger of a deal. Upper mids are recessed on Z1R so, vocals and electric guitars on N5005 are more lively and energetic. At the risk of entering shill-territory, it simply makes you feel like a king, and for me this feature is superseded by only the stellar bass response.Every detail, no matter how small, is thoughtfully rendered to ensure you can perceive the most delicate nuances with remarkable accuracy.

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. Now that I’ve gushed over and praised the IER-Z1R’s sound quality, there’s just one problem here: The fit is atrocious. These three drivers work harmoniously as one, realising high definition sound that reproduces even the smallest fading note.Every single element in every song somehow gets a balance to shine regardless of whether they're main tracks of the song such as the lead guitars and vocals, or just layered, accompanied tracks, such as synths, layered vocals, and the micro detailed stuff from chimes to bells and strings in the back.