[dennarwhal]

Another random comparison: IER Z1R vs Moondrop S8?
Had only a short time to demo both but S8's treble reminds me of Z1R's. Bass is ofc a whole different story

Haha. I also considered doing this test but I was thinking not worth my time. I already have the blessing2. If you wish to have a taste of that S8 sound, buy a Blessing2 and save some money for that Z1R

 

[riverground]

Now if only Sony make Z1R configuration and tuning be an option in their JustEar line of Customs

You actually can through the MH1R option. It costs more but you can have practically any tuning you want with it. Even previous “Artist Tunings” like LiSA’s or Sawano Hiroyuki’s are possible to get.

I’m hoping I’d get a chance to be in Japan for at least a few months so I could get my own tuning done.

 

[JLP415]

Another random comparison: IER Z1R vs Moondrop S8?
Had only a short time to demo both but S8's treble reminds me of Z1R's. Bass is ofc a whole different story

The Z1R and S8s are my daily drivers (+B2). I enjoy both trebles. With Z1R's height and staging, the S8's techs can't compete but with the weaker BA bass of the S8, the treble really shines and it's so engaging to the point of addiction. Part of me is like, I am not a basslet after listening to the S8 but the Z1R is so smooth and such an easy listen. Also, the forward midrange of the S8 just makes singers pop, especially female vocals and it feels like they're singing to you as the lower frequencies don't engulf too much for the listening experience. I am still debating if I want to retire the S8 again and go back to the Variations for that amazing subbass that the Z1R can't hit and that almost plasticky but well-defined treble due to the EST (The treble bites harder than the S8, but the quality isn't there), but we will see. I'm just hoping Moondrop will have a great "flagship" IEM again, as I'm tired of the sub $200 items when you already venture into the Killobuck territory.

 

[DynamicEars]

IMHO the S8 is different tuned IEM that more similar to M9 rather than Z1R.
While Z1R is shining on bass and treble extension and grande Soundstage presentation, the S8 are showing their mid ability, as @JLP415 said the S8 more prominent on high mids especially female vocals. If you like sweet mids, vocals, you will like the S8 presentation that you may lacks in Z1R not because Z1R mids are bad per se but just because overshadowed by Z1R's great bass and detailed extended trebles.

On side note, I still prefer M9 to the S8 for myself but im sensitive to to 3khz moreover if tuned more than 8db from zero point. And M9 imaging is better than S8 although S8 have great resolution and details too.

 

[SQ13]

agreed with the statement, z1r strengths are its DD treble and bass which over shadow the mid. still own the z1r since its launch but i do use serial for casual youtube or conference call

 

[pushyo2khun]

Urghh Z1R's bass and guitar replay keeps echoing in my mind as I'm listening with my cheapo sets. I keep thinking of how they could've (should've) sound. That 3 hours of demoing has burnt in something in my mind...

 

[dleblanc343]

For a clear upgrade, I can only image a few IEMs beating Z1R in the bass performance, such as EVO, XE6.

I disagree here. Had VE flagships on loan last month, and the Firs last week so these are especially fresh on my mind.

On an objectivity level Z1R is a another level completely over any of the Fir's, and trading blows but generally better than the EXT. I sold off my EE Odin's which I personally prefer over the EVO, though admittedly the EE flagships have better detail retrieval up top.

Subjectively, Z1R is significantly ahead of all the above transducers as a whole product. It has a maturity and refinement to its sound, despite being colorful and bold with its big bass and sharper attack in the treble - the Sony is capable of recreating a tangible sound space with much more refined coherency and delimitations and textures much better than the counterparts.

If I am being honest, the XE6 is probably even inferior to IER-M9 if adding up all metrics in portraying music accurately, and sounds soft/ blunted if not even limp compared to most kilobuck iem's. I appreciate the effort in development for proprietary bass on the Fir stuff, but it favors midbass over sub bass and quantity over quality - not really my thing.

I think VE presents the best total package as a boutique brand, where both sound and build quality is fantastic.

Empire Ears definitely can make great sounding devices, but are known for the upper treble suppression in their house tuning (take it or leave it, it makes for a more focussed sound). Build quality to me is not great, especially since my Odin had driver flex on both earpieces and a cable that felt pretty cheap (stormbreaker).

Fir products are beautifully crafted and full of tweakability which is appreciated when you're tryign to understand what all this $ is getting you. That being said, I find the sound quality proposed by the NE4, KR5 & XE6 is not great for the asking price.


My 2 cents as someone who took a while to get Z1R and give it the respect it deserves

 

[pushyo2khun]

I was scrolling through HBB Twitter IEM impressions and I saw a tweet of his stating that Z1R is getting a refresh. Any news on that?

Edit: here's the link
https://twitter.com/HawaiibadboyB/status/1491224216196489218?t=PXzdUVoomH0X9rAbaulYCQ&s=19

 

[Vamp898]

I was scrolling through HBB Twitter IEM impressions and I saw a tweet of his stating that Z1R is getting a refresh. Any news on that?

The IER-Z1R is one of the newest one, I'd be surprised.

Sony still sells the XBA-Z5 from 2014, in think that one gets an update first

 

[wolfstar76]

I was scrolling through HBB Twitter IEM impressions and I saw a tweet of his stating that Z1R is getting a refresh. Any news on that?

Edit: here's the link
https://twitter.com/HawaiibadboyB/status/1491224216196489218?t=PXzdUVoomH0X9rAbaulYCQ&s=19

That's a very old tweet, in the end the signature series indeed got a refresh, but only to the two TOTL DAPs. There is so far no news regarding headphone or IEM.

 

[discord]

I was scrolling through HBB Twitter IEM impressions and I saw a tweet of his stating that Z1R is getting a refresh. Any news on that?

Edit: here's the link
https://twitter.com/HawaiibadboyB/status/1491224216196489218?t=PXzdUVoomH0X9rAbaulYCQ&s=19

No mention of a refresh on the Walkman blog, so no not yet.

 

[Damz87]

There are rumours of a DMP-Z1 M2 & MDR-Z1R M2 coming at the end of 2022, but nothing on IER-Z1R M2 unfortunately.

 

[dennarwhal]

There are rumours of a DMP-Z1 M2 & MDR-Z1R M2 coming at the end of 2022, but nothing on IER-Z1R M2 unfortunately.

Here's hoping a TA-ZH1ESM2 is in the works as well. I would look forward to owning one.

 

[sm0rf]

Urghh Z1R's bass and guitar replay keeps echoing in my mind as I'm listening with my cheapo sets. I keep thinking of how they could've (should've) sound. That 3 hours of demoing has burnt in something in my mind...

If your priorities are on guitar heavy music you might demoing the tia trio as well

 

[israikc]

Hello everyone. I’ve just purchased the new SpinFit W1 tips to use with the Z1R and from what I’ve experienced these do not play well together. The deeper fit of the Z1R plays against the strengths of the tips meaning the pivoting system on the tips makes it near impossible to get a seal.

Just as an FYI in case anybody here was thinking of getting those tips.