All depends on how you use your Z1R and how you carry them. If you use it in a daily commute and may stuff them just in your coat pocket while not is use. Having a case is a must, Just go on eBay or Yahoo Auction JP and look at some of the used ones and you can see a lot of scratches on them. If...

How much hearing do you have left 😂. I think I've only hit ~80 once or twice on low level tracks but mostly, I'm under 80 on low gain.

If you're willing to invest in the Z1R, there's should be no reason to hold back from at least a 1AM2. I bought a ZX300 for my XBA-Z5 but I'm glad that I held back from upgrading to the ZX507 or the ZX707 (due to lack of travel during the last 2 years) and went straight to the 1AM2 when I got my...

Yep, If you're away from home often, then a high end IEM and DAP is your best bet. That's part of the reason I got into them as well (although I don't travel for work as you do but I can be away from home for close a month at a time when I go on vacation. I picked up the Z1R and M1A2 partly...

Cultural, transportation and living space also makes a difference. IEM and portable DAPs tends to sell better in countries where you have access to a lot of mass transits and smaller living space while less in countries where people drive their own cars and may have larger living space so they...

What are you planning to drive them with? That will determines how much you'll get out of it.

I would not say the mids are muffled at all, it's a bit laid back but the clarity are still all there. It also depends a lot on the type of music you listen to and I found it wonderful with female vocals.

I got pair of TPU clear case from ebay before mine even arrive and put them on right out of the box and never worried about it.

How much does it cost in Aussie dollars with Tax. Depending if you can get decent airfare from Australia to Hong Kong, the saving maybe worth your while as I got mine for US$1225 and the WM1AM2 for US$1150

I used to run 70% on the PHA-2A on my Z5 and I actually start lowering the volume since I got the Z1R as I can make out all the details and have the same bass impact at a lower level. Same hold true after I got the 1AM2 which I started at 70 and now I run at about 60-65

Not with my Z1R but I do have the Sony MUC-M1BT1 and MUC-M2BT1 (since they are the only BT adapter that support LDAC) and I used that with my ZX300/XBA-N3/XBA-Z5 setup. Both worked well with the N3 and sound close enough compared to the wired balance output from the ZX300. But even the M2BT1...

Sony does have their own 4.4mm Kimber cable part number MUC-M12SB1 but that cable signature was designed for the XBA-A3/Z5 series of IEMs.

1AM2/Z1R combo is good enough for me for the limited amount of time when I want to listen to every small detail on a new album/track at home and when I travel. I use my full size home audio system the rest of the time.

I listen mostly to female vocals and I love my Z1R/1AM2 combo.