Review on SONY MDR-Z1R WW2 Signature: Superior Sound Quality in Black (International Version) by Agata Gawlik-Strzele ᠌

Name: SONY MDR-Z1R WW2 Signature: Superior Sound Quality in Black (International Version)
Item: SONY MDR-Z1R WW2 Signature: Superior Sound Quality in Black (International Version)
Rating: 5

February 14, 2023

Everything in the product suited me, the price is generally perfect.

I am writing a review too early (sorry, could not resist), less than a week in use, but the main thing I can say about the Z1R is that they know how to play music. I catch myself thinking that I've overheard, and I want to listen to them even the music that used to seem uninteresting to me, for example Pink Floyd. And I want to listen to my entire collection. If we evaluate them by the standards of the AudioDoctor FSQ test disk, then, in my opinion, everything is fine, but the detail and microdynamics could be a little better. I chose between Fosteks 900mk2, Denon 7200, Sennheiser 820. Everyone liked the sound, especially the Denon 7200, but in terms of landing comfort and more or less acceptable sound and noise insulation, I considered only Sony and Zenchi. Zenkhs were dropped due to the price of 1.7 times more and, nevertheless, a more modest bass, which, in my opinion, is a little lacking in quantity. I do not claim that the Z1R are the best, and even more so I will not undertake to judge how much they are worth their money, but at least this is a good option, and so far I do not regret the acquisition.
Headphones I've dealt with before:
Technics RP-DJ1210,
Sennheiser HD650,
Panasonic RP-HTF600,
Sony XBA-Z5.
Of these, I liked and like the zenhi 650 and plug-in hybrid Sony z5. Good luck to everyone in your choice!

Pros

The sound is luxurious, delicate, slightly veiled (someone writes - darkened), detailed - everything is heard (and everything is in full view), tireless during long listening, lukewarm, pleasant, atmospheric. Confident and monumental bass, and just the right amount of it. Quality workmanship, comfortable fit. Classic and stylish appearance (zenhi 820 - too spacey for me). Good. Unique - at the moment it is unlikely that much more than 7 or 8 thousand copies have been made. Not the highest resistance (64 ohms) and acceptable average sensitivity (100 dB). I would not say that they require warming up - for me, a normal sound immediately "out of the box", for several hours, for sure. I play from a portable Sony amplifier on a 4.4 mm balance output.

Cons

They are positioned as closed, but they play outside at a volume even slightly below average - a neighbor one and a half meters from you will hear everything (you have to turn down the volume). Also, the headphones are positioned as portable, but for such a price - and there is not even a simple carrying bag. The case, of course, is chic, but everything in it is completely black - the walls of the case, the upholstery, the pouch for wires. Could have chosen more fun colors