I will say that I'm still enjoying the R1 immensely, and right now it's tied with my favorite earphone under $50 (the other being the FX40). While not forward like in the FXD80, I don't find the vocals recessed at all. But here's the thing that is making me fall in love with the R1, it has a characteristic that I've found with all dual-dynamic earphones I've heard and dual hybrids. Each of those earphones (DDM, FXT90, AF78) have a unique layering of sound that brings out extra details in vocals, background vocals and instrumentation. The R1 is not exception. I'm hearing great details and picking up nuances in background vocals of let's say Steely Dan songs (such as Deacon Blues and Hey Nineteen). Strings have great layering in some jazz tracks I've sampled with a string quartet. Acoustic guitar has very good weight to them. I don't even have 10 hours on them and I'm quite impressed. I wouldn't say the earphone sounds like an audiophile system, but it sounds like a very good high-end system (just below audiophile like some good Onkyo components). I'm really love this sound. Actually I'm loving the sound of the R1 a tad bit more than I'm loving the sound of the Adagio III. Now the signatures are not really the same, but I'm comparing more on the bass. The bass of the III reeks with POWER! It's on the verge of being too much were there is a touch of muddiness (just a touch). This may get better (and I believe it will), but there is where it's at right now.
The bass of the R1 is a couple steps behind the III, but there is that "punchy power" sound in its bass. It's really blending in with the rest of the sound spectrum quite well to my ears. Nice micro details that are pushing toward the FXT90 (not quite there but heading there with additional burn-in). This doesn't sound like the FXT90 though. More 3-Dish than the FXT90. So I was thinking about why some of the other R1 owners don't hear the detailed sound, more forward vocals, etc. My theory is that some of our members don't realize that all earphones are worn the same way. Example, some earphones are to be worn in a shallow way to get the optimum sound out of them (the AF78 is a perfect example). Other earphones must be pushed deep into the for the best sound (like with customs). Well, the R1 is one of those that need an deep insertion. The nozzle is long enough and demands it. Oh, someone asked about the size of the nozzle. Nozzle is somewhere between the size of the W4/SE535 and the FX40. In other words, it's about the diameter of the GR07. So really wide-bore tips won't work, but really tight ones won't work either. The Sony Hybrids should work, but I think the Auveos would be too wide. Actually the stock tips work well (especially the double-flange). But what I have settled on is a long large white Monster foam hybrid. Tames the bass some and pushes it close to (dare I say) a balanced sound. lol... But I wouldn't call the earphones balanced. Close with the right tips, but not quite (yet). And I'm not saying dragon is wrong though. WE ALL HEAR DIFFERENTLY! I'm REALLY liking the R1's sound signature (if that's not coming across yet).
The R1 and FX40 have different sound signatures, I should add here. I think the R1 has a more refined sound than the FX40. But for raw rock I would go with the FX40. For jazz, some classical and pop I would go with the R1. I think the R1 has more micro details. It's not a repeat in sound signature to have both.
