feverfive said:

I have the SM64 & Z5, and ^^this^^ is my take on the comparison as well, FWIW.  Plus, for me, I always get a good fit w/ the Z5; the SM64 are a challenge for me fit-wise--I just can't get deep enough insertion unless I Jerry-rig eartips using Comply core w/ Sony hybrid tips (which would otherwise be too big to fit on the SM64 stem/bore).

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My favorite tips for the SM64 are the Audeo Phonak Silicone. They give me a quick, easy and comfortable seal - and add considerable height and depth to the already wide soundstage.

Since comparisons are on...
 
After a year and a half averaging something like 3 hours a day with the SE846 (80% of the time with the white filter), I'd say the Z5 sound better to my ears : wider soundstage and better depth too (Z5 has such a 3D layered sound), bass is more textured and refined (probably tied to better decay too) and overall has better impact (ok 16mm dynamic driver helps there) - sub bass remain the area where the SE846 is king, mids are probably the area where I think there is no clear winner although I feel Z5 have more body and I like vocals better, highs share a similar quality of high detail while being smooth (Z5 is smoother still and I like timbre better). The more I listen to the Z5, the more I feel the quality of the highs is overlooked, probably because it's so "civilized" it could use a tad more sparkle, but that's also what makes the Z5 non fatiguing.
 
Let me add a comparison with the IE800 I have been using a lot the past few months : soundstage is similar in terms of width but I feel the Z5 has more layers thus I perceive it as better sounding in that department, mids is where I'd give an edge to the IE800 I just feel they're more "lively" and "fun" although vocals are sometimes painfully transparent the Z5 has more civilized vocals which make them more intimate (a bit like the FAD Heaven IV), highs on the IE800 have more sparkle but can be fatiguing on some tracks/genre and sometimes they're too forward IMHO on that chapter the Z5 doesn't loose out on details but never is fatiguing. The IE800 are more transparent overall, never mind the source, the Z5 can range from lacking in that department to really good depending on the source (my own perception here).
 
Compared to the SE846 and IE800, there are things distinctive to the Z5 : the layered presentation of the sound is one very distinctive aspect which makes the soundstage as wide as it's deep (great note decay adds to that), never heard that in an IEM before (I have never tried customs and higher priced IEMs though) and it's very immersive. Imaging is revealed better somewhat. This makes all the other qualities of the Z5 more fun in my opinion. Add to this the coherence of the sound (something I liked in the single driver IE800 over the SE846) and you have something special (never tried phase coherent IEMs, and I know the Z5 are not but the multiple driver is nicely implemented here). Factor in the price and you come to realize Sony is bound to leave its mark!
 
One thing to keep in mind is the Z5 is better than you would give them credit for, both because your ear needs to adapt to the bass and also burn in is really a factor with the dynamic driver. I also feel more than the SE846 or IE800, the Z5 does benefit a great deal from a good source (I have spent quite some time out of PHA-3 balanced and I had some ah-ah "out of your head" moments with the soundstage and imaging). I'll definitely audition the Z5 in stores with high end players to check out what wonder can come out of them... 
 
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Edit : I am past the 200h now and I am experiencing a whole new level of sound quality, everything just got better, soundstage even wider and deeper, bass more nuanced, highs more vivid... call this brain burn in or whatever, it happened also with the SE846 for me like something "pops" all of a sudden and falls into place. I am in awe with those IEMs, they're definitely something very special...

Thanks for the comparison! Nice write up!

I picked up a great Amazon Warehouse deal on these for below $400. They arrived today, fantastic audio really. Distinct sound vs my previous XBA-40

Unbelievably good price! awesome deal . Glad your enjoying them. My pair should be back any day now. Sure do miss them...

davidmolliere said:

  Atfer some quality time with the good old iPod Touch 5G and the Z5 (haven't read much about the combo, thought I'd give it a spin), I think it's a far better match to the Z5 than the ZX1 (how ironic!). Obviously you loose the high res capabilities of the ZX1, but on the go I don't mind listening to Spotify at 320kbps.
 
The sound sig is fairly balanced with the iPod, bass are well extended and have nice impact and texture, but the mids on the 5G are more present than with the ZX1 and highs are detailed although a little bit recessed compared to ZX1 or better to PHA-3. I'd stay the sounstage is a tad narrower, but I am willing to trade this to the more balanced sound sig. That and for us European the more powerful output as you have a toogle to bypass EU max levels. Quite handy for Jazz or Classical on the go if you don't want to carry your mobile DAC/amp.
 
Given that I am only keeping the Z5, sold the ZX1 and for now I'll stick with the iPod.
 
I am on the watch for an audiophile player that will pair better with the Z5, if anyone has given the Z5 a spin with FiiO X5, iBasso DX90 or HiFiMan HM-650... maybe even Calyx M ?

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I like the sound of the Z5 very much with my X5. I think it sounds even better with my external amp (iCan Nano), but even without the amp the sound is quite good.

irablumberg said:

  I like the sound of the Z5 very much with my X5. I think it sounds even better with my external amp (iCan Nano), but even without the amp the sound is quite good.

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Thanks for the feedback, I'll definitely try the X5, I have a good bias with FiiO since the E18  

Well, I don't like Z5 with ZX1, but am overhauling my other sources at the moment. I've sent my DX90 to be modded by a Russian engineer  and have bought a new dap, the QLS QA360. Can't wait to see how they both pair with Z5!

t.r.a.n.c.e. said:

  Well, I don't like Z5 with ZX1, but am overhauling my other sources at the moment. 

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+1 I even sold the ZX1 after getting the Z5, as they didn't pair as well as with the SE846 or IE800, and even my old iPod Touch 5G does a much better job with the Z5... It didn't strike me right away, but as soon as I tried other sources like FiiO E18 and PHA-3, it was obvious that the Z5 is "underperforming" with the ZX1...

I'll report z5 with using eartips AKG K3003 and ortofon , ASAP

Weird comparison I know, but does anyone have anything to say about the Z5 vs. the Dunu DN-1000?
 
I ask because I owned the H3's and thought they were OK...bass was loud but the mids and highs were so-so. Got a great deal on a pair of DN-1000's which I had been eyeballing and really like them. Bass doesn't extend as low as the H3's but it's still definitely there (I'm a bit of a "bass head" some would say) and the mids and highs are awesome. 
 
Now though I have the chance to get a pair of Z5's for a rather good price but am wonder what, if anything, I'll gain from them over the DN-1000's.
 
Any help would definitely be appreciated!!!

The mids and highs are definitely improved on the Z5 over the H3. But you might prefer the A3 more depending on your tastes. From what I have read the A3 has a bit more aggressive bass and treble where as the Z5 is more relaxed or luxurious sounding. I prefer relaxed so am not in a hurry to try the A3 unless I meet someone who owns them. But if you can get a deal on the Z5 that brings the price closer to the A3 the biggest reason (value) most people buy the A3 over the Z5 will become less of a concern.

dweaver said:

The mids and highs are definitely improved on the Z5 over the H3. But you might prefer the A3 more depending on your tastes. From what I have read the A3 has a bit more aggressive bass and treble where as the Z5 is more relaxed or luxurious sounding. I prefer relaxed so am not in a hurry to try the A3 unless I meet someone who owns them. But if you can get a deal on the Z5 that brings the price closer to the A3 the biggest reason (value) most people buy the A3 over the Z5 will become less of a concern.

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Well that's why I ask about the DN-1000's because, minus a little less bass (but still completely there and enjoyable) they're pretty much better than the H3's in every single way. Mids are MUCH better, forward, cleaner, brighter as is the treble. Sound stage is better. I mean, I could describe the DN-1000's as you did the A3's in comparison to the H3's, ya know?
 
So that's why I'd like to know more about this specific comparison because it neither the Z5 or DN-1000 really compare to the H3 in anyway. 

androidvageta said:

  Well that's why I ask about the DN-1000's because, minus a little less bass (but still completely there and enjoyable) they're pretty much better than the H3's in every single way. Mids are MUCH better, forward, cleaner, brighter as is the treble. Sound stage is better. I mean, I could describe the DN-1000's as you did the A3's in comparison to the H3's, ya know?
 
So that's why I'd like to know more about this specific comparison because it neither the Z5 or DN-1000 really compare to the H3 in anyway. 

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What kind of a source do you use? To my knowledge the H3 were much better than dunu dn-2000.
The source could be a reason why the H3 worse the dunu dn-1000.
H3 do require a good source and amplification. And this is not a smartphone or a simple mp3 player.

qsk78 said:

  What kind of a source do you use? To my knowledge the H3 were much better than dunu dn-2000.
The source could be a reason why the H3 worse the dunu dn-1000.

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No, source didn't make a difference. I do know that the DN-2000 isn't really the same sound sig as the DN-1000 though. I've heard the DN-1000 be described as the more "fun" and "lively" phone compared to the DN-2000 that's more flat and soft. It's almost the same as the A3 and Z5 here...despite their price differences and supposed different "levels" the only difference really is what sound you prefer. 
 
So even comparing the DN-2000's to something like the Z5 is still no help as the DN-1000's aren't comparable. That's why that for the Z5 to be compared to the DN-1000's it has to be exactly that, Z5 vs. DN-1000.