I know, but this was just my most recent test. Previously I was using a class A tube amp which can make the MDR sound magical and some Elektron synths all w/ plenty of power. I tested the MDR and IER w/ the ZX300 just to try and rationalize the divergent views on each.

I found my zx-300 and I played some Hans Zimmer soundtracks (Bladerunner 2049, Inception, Interstellar) as Hans is a master at showing how crap your audio gear really is... and my MDR has a much more expansive sound stage. The IER is more revealing, detailed and ear drum thumping, but the MDR...

With a bit of imagination I can describe and illustrate the two for you. The MDR-Z1R (MDR) is the Rock, Mustang Shelby GT500. The IER-Z1R (IER) is J Lo, a Lexus LC. Sound stage: The IER does not do wide airy sound stage, the MDR does. Bass: The IER goes deep, but doesn't have the same body...

I think this is an urban legend. In the past 3 months Amazon has messed up ~60% of my orders, and just given me over $400 instead of asking me to return the items, and also about ~$200 in refunds for things that arrived late. If they weren't so nice about their stuff ups I would stop buying from...

... with a $1 sock? Still waiting for Sony to send me a pair... so I have nfi.

Dude, they're both apples. It's easier to relate to the IER-Z1R sound signature if I have a common reference point, and the MDR-Z1R seemed to be the best point of reference. Are the Shure 535's a better reference for you? Maybe my Persona 7F's + Dual SB-4000's...

OK; so is the bass equivalent? is the soundstage equivalent? do the IER-Z1R have brighter or darker 10-18kHz? do IER-Z1R have any weird peaks? The MDR's have a weird peak around 7-8kHz that results in a less than idea reproduction of Trap high hats or other fast transients. I've owned the...

Howdy. Can somebody who owns both the MDR-Z1R and IER-Z1R tell how they differ and how they're similar? I'm sure it's been covered somewhere in the 403 pages, but searching returns too many irrelevant posts. Thanks :)

I'm open to trying, but I honestly think the difference will be so small, and the time to change cables out too great to objectively distinguish. I have some DIY solid state amps, and changing out things like OPAMPs, makes an immediate noticeable difference. Maybe if a could A<>B cables w/ <1...

I would be really happy if I could tell the difference. I made 3 sets: The 1 below w/ shielded 6N OCC / 6N OCCS... material cost $90 Below says silver plated but it's not it has silver and copper strands...

I'm not sure this is the consensus, but from my observations it seems to be the more you spend the more you feel it addresses your perceived Z1R short comings. I recently built a number of unbalanced cables, using WAY over spec'd and slightly under spec'd cable/wire (cryo silver, copper), all...

LOL, dude that ain't paracord, that's bungeecord... Shock, bungee, elastic, tie down cord same deal. It's all come undone, you can't use it, you need some paracord, which is super easy to decore... just pull the center out and you have an empty sock which you can slide a wire through...

I would now buy a WA5-LE (2nd gen) https://wooaudio.com/amplifiers/wa5le My current one is a premium caps/tubes modified YAQIN-MS-300C the circuit would be very similar to the Woo except it also uses a 274B Tube Rectifier (B-2 schematic), it's easy to set headphone impedance (D-3), BUT in...

The OverKill Materials: Cable (shielded 6N OCC / 6N OCCS): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/MPS-X-9-99-99997-OCC-6N-OCC-Silver-Plated-headphone-cable-DIY-earphone-wire-audio/32762941590.html Solder (SN95.5 AG3.8 CU0.7): https://au.rs-online.com/web/p/solders/4364926/ Sleeving (4mm paracord)...

I'm a tube sound fan, and the Z1R sound to me best w/ a 300B tube amp; the sound is warm, enveloping, and spacious w/ a kind of magical quality that's has the perfect delay, reverb and phase. I've never listened to a TA-ZH1ES, while Sony offers exceptional build quality, I've never been a fan of...

Hi. I'm in Australia and I'm really struggling to find some decent cable at a decent price, can anyone recommend a source for: - 26 or 24AWG Copper or Copper Silver stranded, Litz or non Litz - If the cable isn't sleeved, a sleeving source too, or are people using shoe laces? *Toxic Cables...

Mine's 561x purchased a year ago.

So you make the sleeve, copper/silver? I've only found copper wire, but no sleeved wire apart from toxic cables. To avoid confusion I'm just after the wire... Litz 24AWG with either silk or cotton sleeve.

Where can I buy the cable? Don't need the splitter or terminals. Thanks.

Would you buy another FAW Noir Hybrid HPC? How does it compare to the Sony/Kimber? Would you re-terminate your Noir Hybrid HPC... to 2x 3.5mm? Thanks in advance.

True, but lets look at what a cable would have to do in order to change: Sound stage; they would need to introduce phase between the left and right... I can do this in DSP but with a cable I don't know how to delay a signal. Tighten the base; this again very difficult to achieve w/ electronics...

I'm not going to argue all your points as you seem to have fallen head over heels for the Best Buy upsell, but I just want to set the record straight for anybody reading this... The Z1R uses silver plated oxygen free copper wire , which is more expensive than the pure oxygen free copper wire...

Well there goes ~my theory. But I'll elaborate on the basis for it... according to tests and averages, humans start to lose higher frequency hearing ~40yo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbycusis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_range#cite_note-17 From what I've read; since the...

I hope this doesn't come across as ageist or offensive to anyone, but I wouldn't recommend this HP to an audience >55yo, bcos as much as I hate the Sennhisser HD800 sound signature, most people over 55 will dislike the Z1R; they just play to a younger type of hearing. I remember my uncle being...