Sony MDR-Z1R

Did you finally say goodbye to your HE1000?

Whats next after returning the Sony?

I'm on the hunt as well, the only issue is money

 

Yep rage-sold the HE1000, kind of regretting it. Having said that, the v2 fits me way better...so, um, I'm kind of considering a new v2. Yes, I'm an idiot.

 

Rage-sold! You need to trademark that term.Its should be trending on headfi.... I've rage-sold just one thing. My Benchmark DAC1 USB..lost £300 pounds on that hunk of junk.

You're willingly jumping into the clutches of Fang again?!

V3 or new Flagship in less than 1.5 years, mark my words.

 

Yeah you're probably right, but it seems I'm just a sucker for that weird HE1000 sound signature. I'm also not willing to pay for the Utopia, and anyway I'd have to rethink my amps as they're super high gain and I'm not convinced it's suitable for my typical long sessions (nor a good match with the Jot...I tried and thought it was too forward).

 

Well, what's just another 1000$?

 

£1k = almost a Gungnir Multibit

 

I just got this arrived. Short impressions is that this is everything that I wanted from Z7. More impressions later.

 

It is much better than Z7, and is worthy of the "R" letter in the name. The separation and layering, controls, air, soundstage is excellent


It is nothing remotely close to sa5000, so I doubt it is similar to r10 in anyway. The only thing is that it is worthy of the letter "R". It is the mother of Z7 as I keep saying, Z1R and Z7 shares some very similar characteristics and preferences

Both is musical, warmth, bass strong, and sweet vocal but it stop there. Z1R is very much isolated, much more air and staging, even better spherical and holographical senses. Z1R is much faster in both bass and trebles plays which results in much more micro details and micro resolutions. Modified Z7 still has that bloated mid bass and some distortions in comparison to Z1R, Z1R is super clean, very well controlled mid bass, powerful sub bass. It is super clean for a dynamic driver design of this large size. It is surprisingly even cleaner than TH900, and I am very serious about it.

In conclusion, Z1R is the mother of Z7, and the R letter means it. So it is worlds apart from Z7 stock with shared characters, and even modified Z7 (grown up Z7), it is still the child to the Z1R stock, period. Especially the sub-bass, the Z7 modified has great sub-bass, but it doesn't offer the air, and the pressures that the Z1R offer...heck not even 900 offer this...the 900 has powerful sub bass but it is droning, the Z1R doesn't drone, it gives authentic pressure and rumbles. The authentic vibrations and rumbling of large kick drums. The first time ever that I was able to felt it from a headphones. It lead me to think that Z1R really is not bass strong, but rather it is the dawn of new technology that allow people to Authentically listen to realistic plays from headphones, where we had been lacking for decades....to each of his own. But I love warmth and bass strong stuff ....lol.

Let me repeat the impression on Z1R sub-bass. If you ever attended any live performances with huge kick drum, you will feel it to your heart. That rumbles, low and powerful slam, I never heard it from headphones....Very realistic, and authentic. At first I thought it was the constant sub-bass that drone-on...but it is not, because I would get fatigue on "drones", I don't get it here, only the goose bumps from the authentic rumbles and pressure.

I feel that the only thing someone need to bring out the best of Z1R is just a simple "cables upgrade". I tried UPOCC copper and Silver, I can say that if you love speed, details, and trebles, silver helps a lot. If you love more bass and a bit laid back in details and speed, go for Copper. Of course I am speaking about upgraded cables where both materials offer a huge upgrades over the stock Ugly Silver plated Copper

 

@Whitigir I agree with your assessment, There is something about Z1R's sub-bass that thumps my heart everytime I listen it with classical recordings. I am waiting for Kimber Kables to arrive. 1 thing I dislike about modding cables with Z7 and Z1R, is that I absolutely need that screw-in connector, and I can only get it if I scavenge it from stock sony cables

 

It's good to know that I'm not crazy for hearing the Z1R as amazing . For its specific niche (closed and easy to drive) I haven't heard, and haven't heard of, any headphones that come anywhere close.

 

That is very true, the Z1R is so easy to drive, which contribute into it high pricing and is totally justified. I can enjoy it just fine out of IPad for movies.

From my experiences, these screw on mechanism is Sony proprietary. There are after market connectors similar and would screw on to Z7 and Z1R just fine, but these are common materials plugs. It is not made of fancy materials such as UPOCC and Thick gold plating stuff....rather brass and n gold plate. However, you can always use anything 3.5mm, assuming you upgrade cables and need good connectors as well. These 3.5 plugs will snap-in and stay in place. It shouldn't come off easily

 

Do I get better SQ if I change the 3.5mm connector, rather than using Sony's stock 3.5mm connector?

 

It depends on the materials of your wires. Wires quality and material accounts for 90% and plugs for the Last 10%. No reason why you would pay a hefty price for wires, but skim out on plugs...is there ? Best 3.5 plugs on the market now is Furutech

 

The question is...how do these compare to the Pioneer SE Master 1?

 

um... are you using the SA5000 as an overall quality metric here, or simply referring to the difference in sound signatures and tuning?

 

Hmm, I suppose Jotunheim could be great match for these cans. Anyone had the chance to pair them? Still ..way too expensive for my tastes. It's a shame as I'd like to have end game closed headphones.

 

Well the Z7 plays very well with the Jot. So one might speculate the Z1R, if its just a more refined flavor, would do equally as well...

 

Can we just stick to sound characteristics and less alphabet "R" worshipping? It feels like waxing lyrical/Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancement. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Rice car
i.e. I don't care if Sony calls it Z7SH1T or whatever, it just does not matter in the context of audio performance.

 

Tru dat. Gonna hunt local hifishops if they have Sony for audit. Interested but frustrated by the price tag :'c