Coming back from a Swiss watch factory drives you crazy when you see dust all over your house. When you listen to music on the IER-Z1R you'll go mad for everything you didn't want and everything you never imagined could be on the record. I prefer an unbalanced cable that uses Sony's in-player DAC and improved sound settings. But on my Mac, I connect it to a FIIO Q3 32bit 768kHz using a balanced 4.4 cable. These headphones scale in performance, but work great with low-powered players like my digital walkman. They also sound great with regular CD quality music. But really, the better the record, the more they shine. Then in lossless format: FLAC 24/192, DSD 2.8/5.6/11.2... Last night I copied the so well recorded Muddy Waters Folk Singer from my Super Audio CD to 11.2MHz DSD files. Oh my god I had to write a review. A completely different experience than listening to a lossless Apple record, mp3, cd... Airiness, huge stage, the level of detail in these headphones is breathtaking. I'm listening as I write this. The scene is like open cans! I can hear every subtle cadence and change in Muddy Waters' voice, dammit, I feel like I can hear the ripples of his fingerprints as each slides over every turn of their guitar string. The details are exceptional. The bass and subwoofer presence is so real it's more real than real. The separation of the instruments is incredible. They don't even bother with noise, although the high frequencies are so clean and impressive. Perfection goes beyond perfection. Truly a miracle stopping you along the way. The fit is not very comfortable. You really have to stuff them deep in your ears to get the full experience. They are not uncomfortable there, but it is uncomfortable to put them there. Although you get used to it. Something like. You are definitely worth it. People experience more discomfort because of the nicer things in life. This is the end of the game. 11/10 Here are my other headphones for comparison and why I use them instead of mixing sound profiles so you don't get used to it and take the Z1R sound for granted: Bowers & Wilkins P7 Wireless (with their cable) I use these at home when I need better noise isolation in a quiet place when others are loud or when I just want to feel a nice sheepskin on my ears. They're on my head so I can't wear them with a real hat. They have a warm sound, a good stage. 40mm drivers but half the bass. They're known for their expansive stage, but it's nothing compared to the IER-Z1R stage. They have a good microphone and bluetooth for zoom and phone calls. I love them, pure luxury. The sound is impressive and delightful, but not as exciting as the Z1R. 9.5/10Sony MDR-7 I use these amazing vintage headphones when I'm working at my desk at home. They're feather light and I can hear things around me when I need to. They sit on the ear and are the most comfortable earplugs out there. I have to drive them with my BTR-5 FiiO amp, however due to the high impedance from my Walkman. Impressive sound but due to the close proximity to the ear you just don't hear the details when they play them back. I still love them, I like wearing them. 8.5/10 Symgot EK3. They are much more comfortable, with better insulation and less noticeable than the IER-Z1R. Well balanced sound. I like their details and cleanliness. I keep them on my desktop for long listening sessions. Yes, I miss the Z1R when I use it. But I remember that it's good to mix the headphones so as not to take the sound profile for granted. They are beautiful but not amazing. Detailed, but less and much less a scene. I use 9/10IER-NW510N for transit. They sound good, have passive and active noise cancellation through the Walkman, and if they snag on the strap of my bag or whatever and fall onto the pavement, I don't cry. You can take a beating. I use 7.5 / 10 Sony WF-1000XM4 for training. They're truly wireless, magical, with passive and active noise cancellation, waterproof and ideal for training and pairing with Tidal on your Apple training watch. OK, don't come out. Nice custom sound. But far away from the sound of the Z1R. Excellent call quality. 7/10 Bowers Wilkins Pi7. Truly wireless. Luxurious. The warm sound is ideal for jazz and blues. Good performance with impressive dynamic range, surpassed only by the Z1R. They have a microphone and bluetooth for zoom and phone calls. normal communication quality. Ideal for traveling on their dedicated movie plane connection. I gave it to someone who appreciates it. 8.5/10 Bowers Wilkins C5 Series 2. They were great in their day a few years ago but now they're completely inferior to those others. They sound distant and confusing, too loud, chaotic. What a change, I used to love her. Built-in microphone and controls, excellent call quality. 5/10
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