[davidmolliere]

For that we'd need to have a baseline for the IER-Z1R... not released yet

 

[gerelmx1986]

so when will these released? Firs Q 2019?

 

[davidmolliere]

so when will these released? Firs Q 2019?

That's the unofficial info circulating around yes

 

[FangJoker]

The bass is fantastic in the Shures, just look at the various FR graphs posted. The small enclosure makes all the difference. If there is any issue with the presentation for the Shures it's in the upper treble having spikes and valleys. It's not a huge deal, but I apply some eq and find it makes a nice improvement.

Yes, there is a separate amp, which it comes with. Any of these options require a DAC, or not. It's not going to be an on-the-go pocketable system unless you're wearing cargo pants or using something like an old iPod shuffle as a source.

As to the price... as I mentioned a couple times already, I got my KSE1200s open box for the same price as the Solaris goes for new, and way less than the Sonys will be once they finally launch. If someone doesn't want to say go much above $1000, I get it. But once we're talking about options in the same price category, the fact that these aren't being regularly mentioned and compared is a grave disservice to the Head-fi community. From a technical perspective they're the most advanced thing out there, full stop, and the reviews bear out them being the most transparent/detailed things you can shove in your ears.

I listen to music 90% of the time on the desktop through a computer then a Hugo 2. I really don't want to add another device to the chain and I have several other TOTL IEMs on my list. The added hardware and because they are universal would put it behind CIEM options as of right now. I'm curious about these sonys, but doubt I will buy them unless I can try them on as my biggest fear is having an uncomfortable fit. I'm transitioning from full sized cans to IEMs due to a chronic neck pain condition so I'll likely check out the Shure in akihabara sometime next year as we plan to go there on vacation. I prefer new years so if I have my way it would be winter '19, but my girlfriend wants to go and see the cherry blossoms so if she wins, we'd be there early next year.

 

[dleblanc343]

So if I ask wich is best iem in this order which one would u pick ...

Ier z1r
Solaris
Tia forte
Phantom
Kse1200/kse1500
Hd800s

Own: HD800s, KSE1500
Tried: Solaris and Z1R

KSE1500 is really one of the most special equipments on the headphone market, it’s untouchable in all aspects of sound except perhaps it’s soundstaging realism compared to other totl iem’s.

In a tier below I’d take a well synergized/ driven HD800s, otherwise between the Z1R and Solaris it’s a toss up as I only briefly tried them in inadequate conditions with my AK380. Just expect the leanest/ least extended bass with HD800 from the lot.

The Solaris is a good upgrade over andro, similarities but more natural and musical - therefore more enjoyable. The Sony is a bit more technically capable and wider sounding but I prefer the FR of Solaris personally. It’s really a toss up.

If you have a poor source, I’d skip the Shure and settle with a Solaris and be very content. It’s well priced! Unfortunately most people who use the Shure use inadequate sources or music files, and really can’t enjoy its full potential, which is normal as it’s lackluster given an average source. It’s so ruthlessly transparent and REAL sounding if you allow it to be; it’s incredible. Otherwise it’s just a great iem, but not ethereal.

Hope someone finds this useful.

 

[jmills8]

So if I ask wich is best iem in this order which one would u pick ...

Ier z1r
Solaris
Tia forte
Phantom
Kse1200/kse1500
Hd800s

Hd800 headphone ? Is that fair ? I have been using th900 headphone snd no iem, none can compete with it.

 

[nanaholic]

Own: HD800s, KSE1500
If you have a poor source, I’d skip the Shure and settle with a Solaris and be very content. It’s well priced! Unfortunately most people who use the Shure use inadequate sources or music files, and really can’t enjoy its full potential, which is normal as it’s lackluster given an average source. It’s so ruthlessly transparent and REAL sounding if you allow it to be; it’s incredible. Otherwise it’s just a great iem, but not ethereal.

I actually disagree with this.

Considering that the Shure KSE1500/1200 is already more than half a system in itself (usually people would consider a full system being DAP + amp+ earphone, and maybe cables), it actually leaves very little room for things to go wrong in terms of finding a source for it in today's terms. I constantly pair my KSE1200 with a "lowly" Hiby R3 and compared to my WM1Z or Hugo 2 the difference is actually quite small (I'm not saying it doesn't exists, but it is small enough to not be a deal breaker, especially when on the move and not in critical listening mode) when switching source which in itself is a testament to how far DAP quality has improved over the years, heck I get more sound changes by rolling ear tips with the KSE1200 than switching DAPs. The Solaris is going to be more picky than the KSE system in terms of finding a DAP which would have the correct power delivery and sonic characteristics to match its performance, and a few would argue in order to get better performance out of the Solaris you'll need a quality balance cable etc. Whereas for the KSE system, an analogue output that is clean and FR flat is all that is required, as the rest of the heavy lifting (as well as the sound colouring) is handled by Shure's amp and the earphone, leaving very little to the DAP.

The only short fall of the KSE system is if you give it a poorly mastered file, in which case the Solaris is going to be more forgiving. But bringing out the potential of the KSE system in itself, in terms of gear pairing, IMO is actually extremely trivial, with the most you have to spend is maybe a couple of bucks to try some different eartips.

 

[marvin3003]

Doubting about cancel my z1r pre order and go for the shures instead.

 

[Vitaly2017]

Hd800 headphone ? Is that fair ? I have been using th900 headphone snd no iem, none can compete with it.

Haha k enjoy your th900 i personally havent heard so cant coment. But i find my tia forte as good if not better then my hd800s. Why because over all they sound easy on my ears and never hurt with siblances crap. More bass and just the sound sig and tuning suites me better.
Though hd800s with hdv820 could make me drop tears some times lol ot twinkles high in the notes of trebles ...

 

[Vitaly2017]

Own: HD800s, KSE1500
Tried: Solaris and Z1R

KSE1500 is really one of the most special equipments on the headphone market, it’s untouchable in all aspects of sound except perhaps it’s soundstaging realism compared to other totl iem’s.

In a tier below I’d take a well synergized/ driven HD800s, otherwise between the Z1R and Solaris it’s a toss up as I only briefly tried them in inadequate conditions with my AK380. Just expect the leanest/ least extended bass with HD800 from the lot.

The Solaris is a good upgrade over andro, similarities but more natural and musical - therefore more enjoyable. The Sony is a bit more technically capable and wider sounding but I prefer the FR of Solaris personally. It’s really a toss up.

If you have a poor source, I’d skip the Shure and settle with a Solaris and be very content. It’s well priced! Unfortunately most people who use the Shure use inadequate sources or music files, and really can’t enjoy its full potential, which is normal as it’s lackluster given an average source. It’s so ruthlessly transparent and REAL sounding if you allow it to be; it’s incredible. Otherwise it’s just a great iem, but not ethereal.

Hope someone finds this useful.

Hmmm it can be I also havent heard the kse1500 but I owned hd800s with nano eclipse cable and hdv820 with all super cables upgrades. It was pure magic but hd800 was still siblant and note sound isolation lol. I listen to music while driving in my truck soo yeaa....

I sold all of this lost cash. Now I got tia forte and sony wm1z and soon my phantom from empire ears...
Boy that new stup kills my hd800s but I miss my hdv820 it was a very detailed and supremly well tuned dac with exeption of few tunings....

So short story I prefer tia forte over hd800s and do find also my phantom better to!

Kse1500 I think they sound different probably its electrostats so it will not offer for example what tia can do. It moves air you feel bass going threw your skin its amazing. Its fluffy and fun engaging. Its like dancing and floating with music. Enjoying a lot

 

[bobeau]

Hd800 headphone ? Is that fair ? I have been using th900 headphone snd no iem, none can compete with it.

The poster above you appears to feel otherwise.

To take the point further, I've enjoyed Kef LS50Ws as my home system for the past 1.5 years. Treated the room they're in, calibrated with a custom convolution filter in Roon. Bass goes down to 40hz and is taut, imaging is precise, staging is great for the relatively confined area (7 feet apart from each other, 7 feet to listening position). Most audiophiles would probably scoff at the notion any headphone system could compete.

My KSE1200s have me taking a step back in enjoyment of that 2 channel system. Of course they lack the visceral feel and realistic staging, but the transparency and precision they deliver the music is intoxicating, and more times than not they're what I want to listen to. It sorta brings me back to that feeling I had when I was using ER4s back in 2003 for the first time, except more of it with better bass.

 

[Raketen]

My KSE1200s have me taking a step back in enjoyment of that 2 channel system. Of course they lack the visceral feel and realistic staging, but the transparency and precision they deliver the music is intoxicating, and more times than not they're what I want to listen to. It sorta brings me back to that feeling I had when I was using ER4s back in 2003 for the first time, except more of it with better bass.

I see people bring up the transparency & detail of those a lot- Do you find them tolerable with bad recordings? (If you listen to any sort of thing like very old ragtime/big band jazz, punk or overcompressed mixtape rap etc...). I think this stuff is generally fine on ER4P, tolerable but not so pleasant on ER4S- curious about KSE.

 

[bobeau]

Do you find them tolerable with bad recordings- If you listen to any sort of thing like very old ragtime/big band jazz, punk or overcompressed mixtape rap? I think this stuff is generally fine on ER4P, tolerable but much less pleasant on ER4S- just curious about KSE.

I find particularly on older recordings that lower-fi sets maybe be preferable when their presentation is tilted toward the bass (ie. the bass on those recordings can be anemic and the treble or upper mids can be etched).

As far as poorly mastered/brickwalled modern tracks, the older I get the more sound science-y I get and feel that "so detailed that it shines a light on poorly recorded tracks" is more of an a audiophile humble brag than an actual knock on the experience of listening to bad recordings with better equipment. Basically, if your listening instrument is more detailed because of boosted treble, that can be problematic. If it's more detailed because of reduced distortion, not so much (IMO).

For the KSE's in particular, I can't recall listening to anything that I for instance went, "hmm, I think I would enjoy this more on the Andromedas". I accept that others may feel that way though.

Recently I went on a Stevie Wonder binge, which is a great test of an audio system - the recording quality of his 60s output compared to his mid-70s output is huge, but I enjoyed it all on the KSEs. In large part this is because the bass is solid and extends low to give the older stuff body. Yes there is static/tearing in places but on balance it's a good experience.

 

[Kitechaser]

I see people bring up the transparency & detail of those a lot- Do you find them tolerable with bad recordings? (If you listen to any sort of thing like very old ragtime/big band jazz, punk or overcompressed mixtape rap etc...). I think this stuff is generally fine on ER4P, tolerable but not so pleasant on ER4S- curious about KSE.

Transparency through low distortion (RHA CL2 / shure electrostats) is different than transparency through trebble extension (most BA drivers)
Low distortion is forgiving with 320kbs recordings, but will tear a part poor mastering and distorted music in general.

 

[FastAndClean]

https://www.reddit.com/r/inearfidelity/comments/a13t9m/sony_ierz1r/