[Gu Sensei]

Apparently, coming this spring to the US. Retail $500. From CNET.

 

[maverickronin]

Well, the shipping will be cheaper at least...

 

[steaxauce]

The price should gradually come down after they come to the US.  Such is the way of things.  The SA5000 started at $699 and went down to around $350.  The Z1000 may very well be a sub-$300 headphone within a year or so, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to wait that long.

 

[idletime1213]

Actually, the $500 or so price it has right now is already down from the $800 MSRP it has. Doubt we'll ever see it sub $300.

 

[DaveBSC]

Quote:

Actually, the $500 or so price it has right now is already down from the $800 MSRP it has. Doubt we'll ever see it sub $300.

Sub $300 probably not, but you can buy a new HD650 for around $325. If the Z1000 falls to that level I'll pick up a pair and compare them.

 

[maverickronin]

Well the SA5K lists for like $650 but the street price is closer to $350 so sub-300 for the Z1K is feasible sometime down the road.  Not sure when that'll be.
 
How long has the SA5K been out?

 

[idletime1213]

Yeah but the SA5000 list price is also cheaper than the Z1000's ($799), so I think a steady street price of $400-$500 is more likely. Nevertheless, it would be for the benefit of all if they do drop sub $300.

 

[maverickronin]

Is $799 the US list price?
 
I thought the $500 mentioned in the article was supposed to be the list price, since they mention the price and it being sold on Sony's website.

 

[idletime1213]

Ah not sure, I didn't read the CNET article. Maybe if it's $500, they will drop to around $300 or so (which is excellent news).
 
I was going off the original retail price listed on the Sony website of $799 (and also in audiocubes). I think I'll wait till they are officially released in the US to buy one.

 

[lecky]

I tried these cans fairly briefly in a noisy shop with unfamiliar music and a hidden source and amp, and with the time pressure of my wife and daughter waiting (ie - take these impressions with a pinch of salt), but what I could garner is that they seem really very good at the price - they gave the impression of being well balanced - perhaps a little on the warm side of neutral, bass didn't seem overly emphatic nor weak, treble is not overly bright, about right for my ears. The sound stage is very decent for a closed can and they seem to impart detail quite nicely without much evidence of unwanted reflections from the cups. They isolate fairly well too. They seem beautifully built and for the ten minutes or so that I tried them they were perfectly comfortable. If I'd had the money to spare I might have bought them. For what it's worth I tried Omega 2s from a 272II and HD800s from a Luxman today too and whilst they're very plainly better overall, they didn't make me like the Sonys less.

 

[Ouspensky]

starting to become obsessed with these

 

[Szadzik]

 
Quote:

starting to become obsessed with these

You are not the only one here I have to hold on with buying these for some time but sooner or later I will get them to try them out.

 

[dfkt]

CN11 compared their sound signature to the SM3... this statement is very, very bad for my wallet. I really don't like having stuff compared to my favorite sound signature ever. I think I have to see for myself how they perform. Love their austere no-nonsense design and the fact that they come with an additional short cable with angled plug - smart move, Sony.

 

[cn11]

They're pretty efficient too, running quite respectably straight out of my Sony X1060. Probably about the same as my Ultrasone 780's in that regard. Of course an amp such as the Arrow imparts more power and control over the drivers....

 

[mobbaddict]

The treble is similar to the SM3 as well, or is it forward as most people here said?