🎧 Sony IER-Z1R Signature Series Black/Silver In-Ear Headphones (IERZ1R) - Enhanced SEO Review

I just bought these to frame. Now they sit over my audio system while I listen to music with $100 headphones. I enjoy looking at the framed headphones while shaking my head to the beat.

The first listen with these headphones was magical! My usual music has changed. I heard noises like I had never heard them before. The sound came from all parts of the soundscape, it was amazing. It was like opening my music collection. Unfortunately, bad recordings sound even worse. They are very comfortable for long hours of listening.

Sound quality (with AK SP2000 Silver at 100% volume (of max 150%) on normal 3.5mm output) Pros: Accurate, powerful, assertive and well controlled base - good mids - very clear and bright highs - perfect for instrumental music (sounds so good here, I really like strings and tubes) - the soundstage is very well done and precise. All instruments are in their positions. Disadvantages - I would add more energy to vocals (+12%) (and reduce treble by -6%) - with AK SP2000 you mainly hear…

Without going into detail, here are my clues so far, in no particular order: I'll leave a lot of sources aside for now. Yes, the IER-Z1R is the bomb, the pinnacle of my quest for sonic excellence. So far, they are best used for special occasions. A bottle of wine is required. I still have UE10 Pro, UE11 Pro, W80 and MDR-Z1R. My current sources are Sony TH-ZH1ES and FiiO Q5 (upgraded to Q5S soon). The W80 are general purpose headphones, while the IER-Z1R is for critical listening.

There is no better IEM. PERIOD. Connect them to any Sony One Signature Sound Series DAP and you'll be a "fan" forever. Even some cheap Sony DAPs make these in-ear headphones sound better than many closed-back and open-back headphones. From textured and incredible bass to sparkling highs and holographic sound, these headphones do it all and the best. Each instrument has its own space and I have yet to hear a song that sounds crowded. One of the widest soundstages I've ever heard. They stoop…

I focused on getting these based on many reviews saying they are very good at their low frequencies. They're very decent, but to reach their full potential you'll need to buy the Sony TAZH1ES Portable Amplifier, which costs another $2,100, and the Sony NWWM1Z Hi-Res Walkman Signature Series, which costs another $3,200. To put it simply, my Astell and Kern Roxanne II/JH Audio Roxanne have much better bass response straight out of the box compared to these. I've always looked for an IEM that can…

Just recently I've had a Sony IEM-M9 and a Shure 846 to give you an idea of what I'm comparing the Sony IEM-z1r against . The Z1R is a true engineering marvel in the sense that it can offer the most powerful bass in IEM (in my opinion). If you like techno/house/rap you will find these things to give you the bass you need. Also, the Z1Rs are well built (the real earbuds are made in Japan, the cables and accessories are VERY MADE IN CHINA unfortunately). At the same time, I feel they are…

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…