Sony MDR-Z1R

Good point. That expression might be clearer, and more appropriate
I like the bass, I am concerned with the bass, and calibrate my loudspeakers and subwoofers to have a few decibels in sub-bass with using room correction apps and digital equalizer. And generally sufficient amount of bass is needed for me to evaluate one headphone favorably in terms of bass quality.



And you're right for B&K. I misunderstood that B&K curve was sloping downward by 1db/Octave.

I am not a 100% advocate for harman targets (I found my preference is close to RR1 in the above graphs), but when I have to 'guess' something based on subjective/objective evaluations, I always think how much the response would be deviated from the harman target. I don't mean more deviation as bad things. But It's the most convenient framework and tool for me to imagine how headphones (and loudspeakers) sounds.

 

As an owner of both, I would say that the value of the Z1R for anyone is probably whatever TH900 - a little bass + mids + less peaky treble is worth to them.

 

Nice, sound like what I want from TH900. Hmm, waiting for these to drop to 1100ish or buying Eikon....

 

Ohh so in the end the OEM is Fostex....

 

It would be terrible if they were like the Z7 in anyway, except price. Z7 is one of the worst HPs I've heard. I'm a Sony fan boy, but damn they are just horrific.

If they are like the TH900, I could enjoy. Not at that price though.

 

You aren't alone. I know of at least 4 different people looking to do something like that. 2 or 3 are even looking to sell it. Turns out you can Kinda get bulk TH900 drivers.

 

Subscribed to this. I like Z7 with modifications, the Z1R pricing is stiff ....

 

Welcome to the dark side. Good to see you here too

 

I almost ordered these yesterday, but then again, thought about how fast Sony headphones depreciate and held off. Probably pre-order ZMF's Eikon instead... just worried about potential leaking but @zach915m mentioned that it shouldn't be as bad as the TH-xxx offerings so... that's good enough for me.

 

The THx00 might as well be open with how poorly it isolates. That said, the Omni had a similar design previously and I've known people to have success wearing the Omni in public without it being an issue. The Eikon should isolate acceptably.

 

But driver size and material are quite different from the TH-900.
Considering the 900's MSRP though, the Z1R seems reasonable for the claimed improvement in that sense. But I do agree with @Hands, seeing some Z7 at 300ish seems about right

 

I was quite surprised that there's no noticeable veil with this headphone. I went to a local Sony event and they brought all of the new line up except for the desktop DAC/AMP, I must say the soundstaging and separation is really good, very good dynamic driver but I'm a planar guy so I still can't let go of the planar magic dust. Bass thump is excellent, vocal sound natural and no sibilance, highs can be quite piercing though at times, that's all I can remember. Gotta wait for another 6-8 weeks for a local major event to try Elear - Utopia - Flow and finally the Z1R again, I expect that I'll be either coming home empty handed or going home with an open Flow.

 

An oversight, or an error, sir. There are at least one : W3000ANV

 

I owned the W3000ANV a couple of years ago and from memory it was definitely good-sounding. The Z1R, however, is in another class altogether. To my ears, the Z1R really is something special when it comes to closed cans. It's not for everyone but I hope more SBAF-ers get a chance to hear it and be seduced by them.

 

I've already heard the W3000ANV on the amps that they recommended for it, as well as other amps, on multiple occasions.

I can't quite agree that it's "good" given that headphones lower than that price point are also "good".

Or more like, my definition of how "good" something is is in comparison to its relative price point. At its price point, W3000ANV would be handily beaten by a Stax SR-007, which can also be had for about the same street price now.

 

FWIW I agree with that assessment. People need to know that W3000ANV has such a shit build quality its worth half or lower that its MSRP. The question remains. . . there is no closed back headphones worth more than 1000 USD that is better than R10.