Sony IER-Z1R Signature Series in-Ear Headphones (IERZ1R),Black/Silver

Product Information

It makes a great sweetener for heavy bass impacts and effects, further adding to the IER’s engrossing presence. I wonder if you fall into the same sort of listening preferences as I do because I also felt like that annihilator was truly impressive though I still preferred the tuning of the Z1R for electronic music which is most of my library but I think if I tested the same songs you did then I 100% would agree with you on the annihilator. I think the best way to convey what i mean is, these have a very hi-fi sound rather than a "monitor" sound.

Whereas Campfire Audio went for a relatively balanced tuning for the Andromeda 2020, Sony is proud of their bass driver and tuned the Z1R with sub-bass focus in mind. If you plug your wired earphones/IEMs directly into your phone or laptop, you are probably not hearing them at their best. And if you really want more bass, adding +6db to the bass for certain songs can turn these from fun, to just dummy thick bass. Highs: I don’t think I have a 100% ideal seal with the IER-Z1R, but it’s certainly far from resulting in the dreaded peakiness at 6K that some users with a poor seal may experience.Mid-range performance is definitely the weakest link in the IER-Z1R signature and that’s disappointing given the stellar bass and treble. The meticulously calibrated Sony IER-Z1R acoustic structure seamlessly integrates the trio of driver units to operate as a unified and optimal driver. I personally found the silicone to be the more comfortable of the two, and to work best with the fit, even compared to some 3rd party tips I've tried.

Microdetails such as nails plucking the nylon strings are accentuated enough to make it sound even more raw and as live as possible.But one of the best part of listening to this IEM is that it taught me about almost everything IEM related, mainly the depictions. The IER-Z1R has the unprecedented ability to shape the walls of the stage, particularly in terms of height . I know i said that in my Encore review, that they had very natural sounding highs, but after listening and comparing to the Z1R's, something just sits more right with the trebles. The IER-Z1R also has quite the interesting presentation – I would describe it as “speaker-like” or “larger than life” for lack of a better phrase. When they were released in 2018, you had to dish out 1999 USD, but nowadays they can usually be found around 1699 USD or less depending on the time of the year.

The bass and treble skew slower in decay whereas the midrange BA takes on a slightly grainy texture, thus exacerbating a difference of timbre. Their faceplates give you a jewel-like design that gives off a high-end feel that asserts a level of unparalleled value. Maybe in the first week it was rough, but now that I've found my rhythm with these earphones, its much more comfortable and manageable.Unfortunately, Sony focused a bit too much on the bass and treble and the midrange played second-fiddle to both. By analysing your unique ear shape, you can optimise your listening experience and immerse yourself in the ultimate music journey. I hear good extension to instruments up top; however, it’s somewhat overshadowed by an emphasis on stick impact. The soundstage is also impressive; however, I’ll refrain from absurd superlatives: It’s only large relative to other IEMs. By paying attention to the smallest details, you can distinguish every nuance and subtle characteristics, in astonishingly faithful sound reproduction.

The bass hooked me on my first listen, and without doubt it’s the IER-Z1R’s standout feature: Bass-heads look no further, this is your IEM. Without a deep, snug fit you’d have a hard time finding what makes the IER-Z1R so special, making it rather necessary to trial these beforehand. I think depending on taste you might prefer one over the other, I myself find the Z1R’s treble response more appealing.The U12t skews towards the upper-harmonics (think ~15kHz) which means listeners will find it anywhere from more laidback to somewhat tizzy.