what a bigot

Also, EX1000 has one of the worst fit ever in IEMs, Z1R is miles ahead. But it might still be awkward depending on how big your ear tracts are. It fits sort of like IER-M9 but with bits protruding out.

Not the original poster but: Loved the EX1000. I think these can take up the mantle of Sony universal IEM flagship: great resolution + great soundstage + natural presentation. They still use DD for bass so they retain that punch BA lacks.

Just tried DMP-Z1 with my IER-Z1R today, like the combo very much.

Found this interesting little video by Sony, with Battery Studio mastering engineer Mark Wilder who participated in the tuning of MDR-Z1R.

If you're not too worried about the transportable aspect, HAP-S1 might be more fitting for you. It's got an HDD for storage and a remote control app that you can use on your smartphone / tablet. HDD is easily upgradable to bigger specifications.

what is the ta1z?

Thank you so much for this clarification. Felt really stupid for thinking the outer shell is part of the RK501. I was thinking "if the gold coating was so important, wouldn't daily use alter its sound characteristics by exposing it". Now it all makes sense.

On that ALPS RK501... there's been pictures floating around on that copper shell falling off revealing bunch of plastics inside haha I understand it wouldn't be practical to use all metal for electronic component that's going to be subject to touch. But did the engineers ever tell you why the...

Congratulations on receiving such a beauty. I was really not interested in DMP-Z1 at first, dismissing it as an insane product with zero Sony genes in it... mostly due to its DAC chips being AKM instead of in-house. Admittedly there's more to a dac/amp product than the DAC chip. But now I'm...

wait... Mine is 047. Local Sony Store shipped like 6 of these, serial number are close together.

Only 70? Serial number is in 3 digits on some online posts in China. Perhaps some early productions went to other regions as well. My local Sony Store received no extra units. Sony Japan ships only as many units as pre-ordered.

Curious as to the HK street prices as well. Would you mind PMing me as well? Thanks in advance.

If you're looking for that old Sony sound, go for MD players with MEGABASS. Ohm-image did a bunch of great reviews of old MD units. Here they are: http://ohm-image.net/data/audio/rmaa-sony-mz-nh3d-16-bit http://ohm-image.net/data/audio/rmaa-sony-mz-b100-16-bit...

To be fair, EX1000 stock cables are extremely well made. Sony Kimber (or any mmcx cable) on EX1000 is problematic because MMCX converter quality can vary quite a lot, unless you re-terminate EX1000 themselves. Really nostalgic about EX1000 & its sibling models now because, come to think of it...

I agree. 1. Burn-in effect is significant. Mine sounded horrible brand-new: everything's clogged tight together, piercing treble, all over the place bass. It has the basic signatures of what I auditioned but just felt really really off. I was really worried at first... because the production...

Mine is 47.

They are super comfortable. They rest firmly in the ears and don't wiggle like the previous "usb stick" design.

Mine arrived today. Love them. What more can I say? Personal audio is, after all, personal. P.S. the packaging is exquisite, taking a few cues from jewelry packaging.

I have the same experience. Except that I experienced terrible signal strength at a very specific location: a local track with more than 200+ people jogging around. Never experienced any drop-offs or issues anywhere else, even in crowded gyms. Although, they do have a lot of quirks that needs...

Try completely turn off the set and hold the power button for 7 secs to enter BT pairing mode. Sometimes pairing without a full reboot will limit the volume.

Sony implemented a very interesting Digital/Analog Hybrid circuitry in their ZH1ES amp that blends their FPGA S-Master Class D amp with a Class-A amp to improve switching activity issue. Should be interesting if you can check it out and see if it's still artificial.

I notice it when the NC is off, but didn't get any ambient sounds even in Ambient mode. Maybe the IEM seal is just too good for me?

Just received mine. They're pretty good but comes with some interaction quirks that are very... Sony. 1. Volume is good but will be limited to half if one switches bluetooth device without turning it off. 2. Right ear turns itself off when reconnecting, need to be turned on separately. Feels...

Why would the transport affect sound quality?