Based primarily on this review but also with additional input, purchased this headphone and could not be happier. It was love at first listen with the TOTL Sony and that is even knowing these headphones have a break-in time of 200 to 300 hours. A well broken-in Utopia was also auditioned since what was wanted was a dynamic, not another ortho. It all comes down to personal preference but with the Z1R, one does not wish to stop the listening session. This audiophile could not wait to remove the Utopia but wanted to give the headphone a fair chance. Have also ordered the Sony/Japan Kimber cable recommended by Tristan. Attempted to purchase this cable from Kimber directly but they do not sell it. Instead I was asked if I had heard of the Axios and how significantly better that cable sounds. Ya gotta love living in the States. The three meter Sony/Kimber is available at $219.00, free shipping and no tax through Amazon if you know how to go in the back door. The 3 meter Axios is available at $995.00 and Tristan doesn't even recommend them in his review. Thanks Tristan. A request Tristan, would you please consider doing a review of the Zed head-to-head with the R10 Bass-Heavy Version. Realize these cans may not be easily obtainable but would be very interested just how successfully this new generation of Sony engineers along with the latest technology matches up with the Sony classic.
Thanks for your review, I watched this video with Z1R and Kimber cables. Indeed Sony stepped up with this headphone from Z7, it feels like Z1R is the refinement of Z7
Holy cow. I bought the mdr z1r like 1 week ago. And holy molly, I do have a headphone collection of sorts with a great number of high end headphones and also headphones with some historical importance. The z1r is nothing short of a masterpiece, Its so resolving and fast for a dynamic, add the closed back factor too. This headphone can be an endgame headphone without a shred of doubt. Its certainly my endgame closed back headphone, I'm just stunned. As for open back headphones I consider the hedd audio headphone to be my end game open headphone. And believe me the z1r is no slouch in the slightest it can compete with anything period.
@@phototristan indeed very true. I even joked about it once saying that they should have included a neck support strap with it. Its resolution is the main reason why it's so amazing. It shares the effortless experience that the z1r expresses. Tonality wise, it might seem funny but I consider the z1r to be a closed back hedd headphone. Just lighter and more comfortable. The hedd is a tad faster but sometimes it can seem unnatural but not much its barely noticeable.
Very informative top review and love the HD resolution with the lighting. Those Z1R's are probably the best and most cohesive in design/ergonomic/aesthetics at it's segment ( besides the also magnificent Euro-chic Elears ). The melding of classic and modern looks is super impressive. I need to audition these.
I'm using a Sony MDR-1AM2 headphone with a Sony NW-WM1A Premium Walkman, using the balanced cable. For a fraction of the price, my headphones have a more natural and balanced sound, according to some reviewers who have heard both Sony headphones. I have not heard the Z1R, but I'm delighted with the sound quality and clarity I'm hearing.
Insanely good headphones. Intensity without abuse. Pure, sweet, musical and still dramatic. These are headphones for people who thought they could never replace their speakers with headphones. These could change your mind like no other. Sony has leapfrogged over all the high end headphone makers with these. These are on par with the best, even Stax. All of the above IMHO (but I guess this didn't sound so humble). Still, awesome headphones, good enough to buy without trying first. Phototristan got everything right here. I can't disagree with anything. Excellent comprehensive very descriptive review. Thanks. (By the way, the black cable that comes with it sounds absolutely fine. I don't see any real need for better one like the one shown in the video.)
sonys mainstream line is garbage in comparison to this. however these are no way acessible to the mainstream at such a high price. I guess high price for high quality. Sony should make a minio version of the z1r for 300 dollars while retaining some of its qualities. This would give Sennheisers and AKG a run for their money. also, can anyone recommend headphones to introduce someone into the audiophile world from each major brand? mainly like akg, sennheiser, audio technica etc.
Justice League and he is just another person with 2 ears... Personally never listened to this headphone. But this reviewer kinda says something for a headphone then sells it. He likes the hd 800 s but sells it likes the lcd3 and bashes the lcd4 by saying that the hd 800s will beat it easily..
Tyll loves the Utopias and hates the Z1R. Phototristan loves the Sony cans but dislikes the Utopias and he explains why. Different strokes for different folks. Zeos calls these the "Hippie" not "Hipster" cans. Classic Rock here we come. Sony is not competing with the other TOTL headphones. The goal with the Z1R is to enjoy the experience. They are Phototristan's favorite cans and he's been around the Head Fi block a few times. Apparently he enjoys listening to them. Evidently Sony succeeded in accomplishing their mission statement with these cans.
Tristan, a lot of the reviews claim these to have extremely exaggerated bass, upper midrange and upper treble with lots of peaks and valleys accentuating other areas' recession. And that tonality is basically nonexistent. That being said, incredibly clear, wide soundstage and a really soft sound. Do you notice any of that in your experience? I am cognizant of the subjective nature of each review, just curious of your take. I have not heard them, but trying to decide whether or not I want to demo. More info the better...
Thanks for the awesome review! These are on the top my list of dream TOTL headphones. Did you get a chance to test these out through a balanced headphone amp?
Awesome review. I so close to buying these, but I am not sure about the amp. I have been looking at a Mojo + Feliks Elise combo. How do you think the Elise tube amp would suite the Z1R?
Thanks for the review, I have just bought the nighthawk after your review , They sound great and very comfortable How does the Sony compare Which one you prefer? All the best , the Sony sells for £1300 in some days on amazon UK It is cheaper than the USA ,
Hey Tristan, I'm considering purchasing the HE400i. What are your thoughts of the Hifiman HE400i? Also, where do the Nighthawks fall in your "favorite" list?
hey im a newbie to audiphile stuff. What do you use to listen to these headphones? Do you use your smartphone or do you use it along with an external dac/amp. also. tahts one thing I dont underatnd what exactly is the purpose of the dac/amp. Is it just to increase volume because the source is the file inside your phone/music player. My point is there are hundreds and thousands of amp/dac both solid state and tubes. how the hell do I go about picking something good for an affordable price.
The point of the DAC/Amp is to produce the sound you hear. You can't hear digital files, so you need a DAC to as closely as possible replicate the intended signal, and then you need an amplifier to reach the desired amplitude and match the output impedance with the impedance curve of your headphones, whilst using the optimal feedback design for the intended gain. You're looking for a simple answer when I'm afraid there isn't one, at least not one to be found on the internet. Go to your nearest dealer (yes an actual professional dealer, shock horror! Not Amazon or Massdrop?!?!) and ask to try some headphones and some amps. The one tip I can give you is, pay next to no attention to the actual DAC chip used in the DAC. If you see any digital ink wasted typing stuff like "ESS Sabre 9038Q2M" or "AKM 4493" ignore it entirely. Modern DAC chips, if implemented properly, are functionally transparent. The input and output phases of the design are VASTLY more important. Also avoid pretty much all Chi-Fi gear that's just designed to have imperceptibly low noise and harmonic distortion to generate hype on forums. You will find more expensive stuff actually does sound better (again, shock horror). Edit: Just saw this comment is 7 years old. I thought it said 7 months! Hope you did alright on your journey.
Hi, I like your honest reviews. I have question about the Sony mdr z1r headphone. Can an iPhone be used to drive these headphones? Is it ok to use it with portable devices such as an iPhone? And also have you tried the audeze EL8s
phototristan thanks for the quick reply. What else do you recommend as a really good hifi headphone that would best run with an iPhone for portable use.
thanks for the review. But Even though you mentioned how good their sound stage for a closed back headphones, you forgot talk about their isolation from outside noise.
TheWingsofValmar The Mojo is well optimized for low noise floor and digital amplification. The Z1R sounds very nice out of it indeed. HD800 nice too but definitely a thinner sound.
I really wish I listened to you when you mentioned TH-900mk2 being very bright in "why you sold it" video. Last week, I ordered TH-900mk2 to see if I can stop at that price point because the next step is Z1R which is ~$1000 more. I tried very hard to keep it but I can't. It is also very bright for my taste. Sadly, it will have to go back because I just ordered Z1R. I hope you are right about Z1R and hope that it is my end game headphone haha..
tooez, do you still have the Z1R & how do you like them now compare to when you first got it or any other ones you currently use? I'm about to grab one for under $1100 new & want to make sure I'm not wasting my money, not that it really matters in the end - LoL
many owners (headf.org) are suggesting these benefit from a better cable swap out...to me it doesn't add up considering the price one has paid...you'd ''think'' Sony would have included the best SQ cable given it's boutique price. would love to see some double blind testing in cable swap outs with this set of cans.
They remind me quite a bit of the Sennheiser HD800 without that ridiculous "Ring Radiator" that ends up lessening the transparency of the sound the drivers are capable of (for the sake of artificially widening ALL soundstages; even if they don't exist in the recorded source....... Sony decided not to "Play that"
Just listened to z7s and was a little disappointed with the sound compared to my ageing Denon d7000s. I'm gonna box the denons up and retire them and need a closed back replacement. Are the Z1Rs the headphone for me? We seem to similar tastes in HiFi but Nighthawks don't have enough bass for me.
Thank you very much for your amazing and accurate review small question I hear with a transistor amplifier like BCL + P1U / CD player I listen to classical music of all kinds and are they SONY will be good for classical music - when I already have two HD800 pairs. Will whether I hear the same set loss or In small details like the edges of the hall Height and width Dynamism like having HD800 change between HD800 and SONY Z1R Thanks
in the description box, you mention that you sometimes used the Mojo in conjunction with the Liquid Carbon to power the Z1R. may I ask why you didn't use the Hugo TT and the Liquid Carbon instead? from what I understand the TT is a better DAC than the Mojo
Hi, I have a question for you in picking the best headphones for me. I have picked 4 different headphones and I like the closed backs usually for isolation and privacy. I need to know from your expertise in audio field, which is the best Between the SONY Z1R, AUDEZE LCD XC, MR SPEAKERS ETHER C FLOW and the AUDEZE EL8s TITANIUM. I listen to all types of music and I also use my iPhone for everyday listening, I would really appreciate if you help me out into making decisions a lot easier and also your reason for choosing the headphone.
Massi Qasemi it all depends on your sound preference bro. In all honesty the best way to find a signature that works for you is to audition the headphone yourself, we all hear things differently and what I like may not be what you like. A ton of factors go into buying a $1,000 plus headphone for me. Can I wear it for a long period of time? How does it sound? Does it cause fautigue? Is it built to last ect. Every headphone has its flaws but at the end of the day if it is a sound that you can live with then the investment will be worth it. I tried the elear, z1r, h800S and the utopia they all have different signatures and all of them bring something special to the table. I can't really pick one over the other, but thats what make headphones awesome each of them are unique in there own way.
phototristan Thanks for the info...what is your take on using Z1R with balanced 4-pin XLR connection as opposed to single ended..any big sonic difference?.
So im looking at an endgame set of headphones. Its either between these or the Sennheiser HD800s (possibly may consider a focal headphone at this pricepoint too). I cant decide for the life of me. I'll be using them with the latest burson conductor v2. What would you recommend? I want a smooth and refined sound but i still like detail. I'm coming from HD600s.
Cheers, will pick them up this week. I'm more about having a sound signature that allows me to enjoy my music fatigue free. I hated the original HD800s and much preferred the tonal balance of my 600s. I just want to enjoy the music I dont want anything over analytical or bright.
Can you use the z1rs without an amplifier? For example if you connect them to a Sony DAP Walkman like a zx300, will it receive enough power to drive them?
Hi bro I received my MDR z1r today, still awaiting for my amp to arrive but for the mean time I plugged the MDR z1r into my laptop and first impressing it sounds muffled and very tamed highs. If I paired this with the Sony Ta zh1es amp will the muffled sound go away and open up the highs ?
Hi, I know this is an old vid, but I wanted to ask for some help. Been having trouble finding some replacement earpads for my Z1R. Would you know where I could purchase a set? Thanks!
@@phototristan I think you are right. I checked out their supplier website and it's roughly $150 a piece (~$300 for a set) and they aren't going to be in stock for a while. Sony will be Sony..
It didn't sound as resolving as I thought it would be. The sibilance was a problem, vocals were recessed in the lower mids but the bass does sound good.
Hi I was surprised when you said they sound close to hd800s. I currently own hdv820 and hd800s but I still find them to bright in the highs. Specialy with voices that sss and thhhh is KILLING ME. How would this z1r paire with an hdv820 dac amp??? Thanks so much for the good reviews
@@DarkvirusXI he wrote 800s which a lot of people do talking about their 800. He didn't write 800S - does that make sense? It's annoying how people constantly do that referring to the 800 saying my 800s not clarifying its the 800 not the 800S
Both. Your preference for non-strident, non-fatiguing headphones fits my own. I can wear the HD800S all day with no problem. You've alluded that this is also true of the Z1R. Does the Ether Flow/C cause ear fatigue after a few hours? Which do you prefer (Sony or Mr Speakers) and why? Thank you for your time.
U see... this is the thing! I didnt like Z1R! Never listen about emotional experience of someone cause you must feel it yourself! In fact, Focal Clear is waaaaaaaay better then Z1R while he sayd opposite :)))) Guys, listening about headphones same as listening about fragrances LOL!
On a scale of 1 to 10 How do you like them? Are they overpriced? Are these the best sounding cans you ever had? Please reply I am thinking about purchasing a pair in the future.
ok...so i got the international version from amazon. These are detailed, alright...but not for me. They are unpleasant in the upper registers and do have a sibilant. I prefer the LCD3 and HD650 over these any day..On both the Auralic Tarus MKII and Violectric 281 the results where the same. The LCD3 and LCD-X have better attack/rhythm/timing. What i learnt at the end of the day don't trust rave reviews on the internet. This was a disappointment, overhyped nothing special.
You need the Sony Kimber cable: amzn.to/2iVC1kt The stock cable is a silver-plated copper one which sounds brighter and also see this for why siliver-plated copper cables are bad: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qJ-XeE-2qhI.html&t=40m14s
Not impressed, I have mdr1000x which have cool noise cancelling and xbt950bt which has insane bass. But step up to hifi territory if you A/B with HD800s then Z1R is not really in that zone yet.
To much bass to be neutral and the bass isn’t tight enough. The treble has a ”zingy” feeling to it. Look at Tylls review on them, (innerfidelity). I heard the same thing that he heard, not my cup of tea.
Tyll has been proven to be wrong if you follow the forums, etc. Jude of Head-fi measured them with a more accurate setup and did not find the treble peak Tyll did at all. My listening also does not verify what Tyll says at all either.
***** not for me thumping vibrating bass that shakes my skull and you can feel the diagrams flex is the shit. Mids yeah are where the good stuff is at but having deep bass that chatched every note and drop is amazing. But having brilliant highs is like the dream headphones for me
