I tried these at a portable audio show last weekend and was very surprised at how good these sound. These are simply the best closed headphone I have heard, besting the XC and Ether C.  They were offering them for around $1800 at the show.  I am kicking myself a little for not getting the.  I would say that I didn't find the bass to be as prominent as the review indicates but that may reflect my choice of music.  Getting this level of comfort and sound quality from a closed can puts these in a really special place.

@thatonenoob
 
Yes, the HEK V2 need a lot of power to shine.  I have found them to be soft sounding out of lusher amplifier.  You will have a better luck pairing them with a powerful solidstate sounding amplifier such as the GS-X MKII.  I'm using SuSy Dynahi which is a DIY amp to drive mine.  It is more or less a GS-X MKII on a steroid.  I almost want to say that every reviewer need two reference amps at their disposal with one being solidstate sounding while another be slightly warmer and lusher sounding to bring out the best from each headphones.   Synergy can really make or break a system here.  IMO, of course.

@purk certainly interesting point. I ran them put of the Hugo TT and cma800i, but i found it unimpressive. Perhaps we need to find a better synergy. Just as the t1 benefits from a good pairing. Then again, I do not own HEK, and am not interested in the stock sound enough to outfit a whole system for it (whereas the t1 stock sound shows me good potential). I shall try it again soon.

Thanks a lot for the review and comparisons. If possible, could compare the SONY with the ETHER C? 

@ thatonenoob
 
I do also own the Utopia and the 009. I have enjoyed a lot the Focal. Great dynamic headphone. But I don't think it can match the Stax 009 in overall SQ. The Utopia sounds more like the 007 IMHO. What's your opnion? Best regards.   

@ericohgb I do not have the Ether C Flow around for comparison.  I didn't really like the original Ether C, and found the imaging to be off -but then again I haven't heard it many times and I've only had experience with one unit (It's really hard to find and test in SG).  The 009 and Utopia are different I agree! Which is why I have both sitting on my "endgame" list.  The 009 highs are spectacular, and that's still one of the things that really gets me when I listen to it.

Mm....have both the Utopia and the SR 009 (just got it yesterday). I also had the pleasure of auditioning the Sony Z1R for a short time. Looking for a really good closed-back (to add to my Ether C and Foster TH 900). The Z1R is an impressive closed-back headphone. I was particularly impressed with the build , light weight and ergonomics. It sat perfectly on my head. Sound-wise, I need more time to re-audition but what I had in mind to choose is the Z1R or the Audeze LCD XC. Thanks to this review, I now have solid leads on which to get. I am leaning towards the Sony.

Great review. Some thoughts on how sound compares to AKG K812? Especially for classical?

Thanks for the great review - excellent work!

@raypin glad that it helped!  I think you won't be disappointed with the Z1R.
@EDN80 If you like a realistic classical rendering, K812 as far as I am concerned.  Maybe I shall put up a more complete comparison in the future.  However, one is open and the other is closed....so that's another factor to consider.
@pytter Thanks! 

Thank you! Always loved the AKGs for classical and opera - detail, instrument reproduction, separation, etc... and the K812 can do all music genres pretty well with bass and heft when needed. Intrigued though with the Z1R's large drivers (no rational reason), the Sony sound, and never owned a pair of high-end closed hp...

Mm....the Z1R, from my brief listening yesterday, is a bassy headphone. I think it would benefit a lot more with using an Astell & Kern rather than, say, the Sony ZX2, the former being neutralish and the latter, bass-oriented. It is also easy-to-drive, no need to use a powerful amp. Meaning, the Z1R appears to be the perfect commuter's headphone. Excellent sound isolation, minimal sound leakage, supremely comfortable and all you need is a portable DAP to enjoy world-class headphone listening. That's what I got from my brief audition.

Awesome, balanced review. So the Z1R and the Teac HA 501 is a solid pairing?  Thanks.

@raypin  definitely need something netural --to possibly (slightly brighter).  Would be great.  This does benefit from more power too.
 
@Hardstuff57 , thank you!  I tried it with the UD-501, not the HA-501 alone...did find that it was solid!

Thanks for the excellent review I would buy you a beer if I was in your town!

Really enjoyed the objective honest commentary in the videos. The way you described your biases was extremely fair and made the whole review far more authentic. Sometimes there are far too many gushing reviews, where the reviewer does not let the reader know what the reviewer's biases.

Really top effort review of the year for me.

@mrtim6 Thank you...it is high praise.  I'll gladly take you up on the offer for a beer though ;P.

Thanks for the review!
I got a chance to try Z1R with NW-WM1Z player and (with and without) TA-ZH1ES amp.
To tell the truth I am not big fan of Sony headphones.  
But these headphones (combined with  NW-WM1Z) literally gave me goosebumps. It's nothing like I have heard before.

Comparison with HD800/S also missing by accident?

Sony FTW.
They have nailed this balance of technicalities and MUSICALITY..who would have THUNK a company would dial-and-dial to make their gear the pinnacle of MUSICALITY vs just being lost in the technical side.
Great review.

Simply no comparison between BGVP DM6 and IER-Z1R due the massive price gap ?