[Gus141]

I have an RME ADI-2, that has a 5 band EQ function. Does anyone have settings for the Z1R who is using the Sony Kimber Kable?

I see that @Gus141 posted EQ settings using the stock cable, which I plan to use as a baseline. ...

I have three PEQs now for the Z1R with stock single-ended cable. I have saved them in three Setups on the RME ADI-2 DAC with all other settings the same. Assigning those setups to buttons on a Harmony remote allows me switch easily between them. In my setup they are assigned to ADI-2 Setups 1, 7 and 9 for no particular reason; I mention that only to explain why the pictures I have of the curves are labeled [S1], [S7] and [S9]. I’ll stick to that labeling for consistency.

[S1] was my favorite PEQ until recently (that’s the one I posted a while back that you linked to). Since all my curves are based on the work from @jaakkopasanen and his AutoEQ ( https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq) I made two other curves when he published some recent changes (see below [S7] and [S9].)

My listening preferences now are:
— [S1] for listening to TV/movies over Z1R headphones
— [S7] for most high-quality music (well-mastered Redbook and Hi-Res streaming)
— [S9] for lower quality music (e.g., compressed; victim of Loudness War; poorly mastered, etc.)

Sources -> RME ADI-2 DAC inputs:
TV -> Optical/Toslink
Lumin U1 Mini -> USB
Node 2i -> Coax S/PDIF

This is all subjective; it is what sounds best to me for those sources. Your mileage may vary, but since you were going to start with my [S1] settings I thought I would post a couple other PEQ curves you might like more until you find what’s best for your Kimber cable. Cheers.

original [S1] PEQ
B 1 G +1.0 F 1.35k Q 2.7
B 2 G +4.5 F 2.9k Q 9.9
B 3 G -7.5 F 3.3k Q 3.3
B 4 G +8 F 4.2k Q 3.1
B 5 G -5.5 F 10.0k Q 3.6

[S7]
B 1: G +2.0, F 1.76k, Q 0.8
B 2: G -3.5, F 2.1k, Q 2.3
B 3: G -8.0, F 3.3k, Q 3.7
B 4: G +8.0, F 4.3k, Q 1.3
B 5: G -7.0, F 10.4k, Q 1.9

[S9]
B 1: G +2.0, F 1.76k, Q 0.8
B 2: G -3.5, F 2.1k, Q 2.3
B 3: G -7.5, F 3.3k, Q 3.7
B 4: G +5.5, F 4.2k, Q 1.2
B 5: G -5.5, F 10.3k, Q 2.2

 

[darmccombs]

@Gus141 Thanks, this is terrific info.

I will try these with both the stock and Sony Kimber cables. It looks like S7 will be great with the stock cable as you found. I am guessing that S9 will work pretty well with the Sony Kimber cable since that cable is supposed to smooth things out a bit, and the S9 settings seem to be a little more subtle than S7.

 

[ubs28]

Discontinued?

im hoping amazon will have them cheap like amazon.au did recently

I’m from Bristol.

They are also discounted from regular dealers.

I was offered the Z1R for the same price as the AFC 2.

So I think Sony might come with something new soon with these kind of price cuts?

 

[Sp12er3]

it's often for sony gears to get price cuts and then discontinued, but no successor in sight, one prime example is my MA900, still the last Sony Fullsize Open Flagship even now, 4+ years after it got discontinued.
they're kinda temperamental company (?)
what are they gonna do for the next one anyway? equip it with different tuning? I don't see anyone have tried any "mods" that claim to "fix" em. the Z1R isn't like the OG Z7 which has many untapped potential hidden un done under its baffle.

 

[nc8000]

There are no price cuts in Europe as far as I’m aware

 

[tret]

Do it!

Been enjoying my HD6xx off the new Darkvoice I got lately. Stuck the Z1R from a Fiio BTR5 on. Ooof. So good still.

Do you feel like the sound quality of your Z1R from a BTR5 is impaired (as compared to a more refined dac and more powerful amp) to any significant degree?

 

[Benno1988]

Do you feel like the sound quality of your Z1R from a BTR5 is impaired (as compared to a more refined dac and more powerful amp) to any significant degree?

I've sold them now so can't test.

But it wasn't to the point where it wasn't still enjoyable. It isn't to the same standard, but it isn't dreadful.

 

[Hanafuda]

2. Is there anyone here w/ the same pairing (WM1A > stock 4.4mm balanced > Z1R) that can recommend solid EQ settings?

Many thanks in advance!

I have that setup exactly. The WM1A is on 3.01.
I use "Direct," at least 98% of the time. I'm happy with that.

yep.

 

[svinaik]

It s amazing how we get a bit biased for the headphone we already own. Since I own Z1R and have been using it for the past 2 years, When I listened to Focal Clear (Did not get a chance to listen to utopia), I felt like Focal Clear were a cheap imitation of some good headphones while Z1R continues to get better and better.

It may also be a factor that my Z1R are full broken in while the Focal clear were perhaps brand new at the store.

Every time I listen to music on the Z1R, I loose sense of time and just enjoy those moments without noticing anything in particular about frequencies etc. but just enjoy the cumulative experience of music through all aspects.

 

[tret]

I have that setup exactly. The WM1A is on 3.01.
I use "Direct," at least 98% of the time. I'm happy with that.

yep.

Awesome, thanks for commenting.

 

[up late]

It s amazing how we get a bit biased for the headphone we already own. Since I own Z1R and have been using it for the past 2 years, When I listened to Focal Clear (Did not get a chance to listen to utopia), I felt like Focal Clear were a cheap imitation of some good headphones while Z1R continues to get better and better.

It may also be a factor that my Z1R are full broken in while the Focal clear were perhaps brand new at the store.

Every time I listen to music on the Z1R, I loose sense of time and just enjoy those moments without noticing anything in particular about frequencies etc. but just enjoy the cumulative experience of music through all aspects.

there's nothing cheap about the focal clear imo. it has a different sound signature to the z1r.

 

[Slim1970]

there's nothing cheap about the focal clear imo. it has a different sound signature to the z1r.

Agreed, I have them both. The Z1R's presents music in a much more powerful, smoother, and musical way. The Z1R's are nicely balanced with good clarity. The Clears gives you more details, dynamics, speed and have even more clarity than Z1R's. Both are great headphones, IMO

 

[Sp12er3]

I've sold them now so can't test.

But it wasn't to the point where it wasn't still enjoyable. It isn't to the same standard, but it isn't dreadful.

did you try the BTR5 with the balanced out or the SE? as the Balanced has more power

I have that setup exactly. The WM1A is on 3.01.
I use "Direct," at least 98% of the time. I'm happy with that.

yep.

a WM1A owner that hadn't tried tweaking with custom FW? surprising. the WM1A/1Z thread is raving on and on about it.

 

[Benno1988]

did you try the BTR5 with the balanced out or the SE? as the Balanced has more power

a WM1A owner that hadn't tried tweaking with custom FW? surprising. the WM1A/1Z thread is raving on and on about it.

I'd only use balanced on the BTR5 with full sized cans. IEMs prob fine off the SE, but just not much juice there for a full size.

 

[Redcarmoose]

did you try the BTR5 with the balanced out or the SE? as the Balanced has more power

a WM1A owner that hadn't tried tweaking with custom FW? surprising. the WM1A/1Z thread is raving on and on about it.

It is going against the grain and putting 3rd party software in the 1A. But it’s true, the 1A has never been so close to the 1Z in sound.