I absolutely love my NW-WM1AM2. It puts me at a sonic level I have never been. I can hear all my favourite music better than ever before. And it's portable! I still have fond memories of my Dad's Sennheiser 600's plugged straight in to my Sony CD player. Funny that I always wished it had an EQ, then wondered why it never sounded as good as that as I cranked the bass later in life. Glad I found Direct again.
Also, I'm trying to bury that rabbit hole. Love my Z7M2's, and the stock cable is good enough for me, but accidentally bought an MMCX Kimber, thinking it was a 1.2m for the Z7M2's. Perfect excuse to upgrade my 1more Triple drivers, best iem's I've owned (amazing on the AM2) and I have the Quad's too (they suck). So the iem's I'm considering are:
Final Audio E5000
7hz Timeless
Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020
Sennheiser IE900
Sony IER-M9
Sony IER-Z1R
I can't afford any of them, so I'll probably get the Z1R's. Then I'll bury and hide that hole for good! Or I could get a back-up AM2 for that price ...
Thanks for letting me rant, Happy Sunday
If quality components is on your list, do consider ier-z1r. Amazing price at used market.
It has the most amazing build that I have not seen on other astronomical priced out earbuds.
Sony, developed Balanced Amartures. Most out there is using drivers from a couple industrial producers, and one of them is Knowles. The voice coils is with Silver-plated copper (first of it kind)
Sony developed Dynamic driver taken from Z1R with magnesium dome! (Not easy with such little drivers)!!!
Cross-over networks is with audiophile grades capacitors and resistors. Let’s just say film foils capacitors and metallic foils resistors are the best kind to have in high grade audio applications. Especially the F-resistors or Fine-Sound resistors, which is collaborated between Yamaha/Sony for high-end audio performances. Yes, they are with extra dedications in developments, tolerances and performances. You can see these resistors in all Sony Signatures.
There are more, you can read from the official site. But you get my points. You will not see silver plated voice coil, and or fine sound resistors from other 3-4x cost earbuds
Overall, Z1R has a hit and a miss, you gotta wear it right because it is a bit tricky with large body. The signatures could be a little recessed in the mids when compare to other more neutral one. However, the soundstage, imagines, cues of positioning is to die for. Then comes that ”
bass”. That bass is down right delicious, vivids, most amazing, coherence, energetic, articulated bass I have ever heard from ears buds….well, I don’t use ears buds much. But, taking my experiences from full sizes, the Z1R being an ears buds with bass performances this way is “ridiculous”. Even some full sizes will struggle where the Z1R doesn’t. It is warmth, musical, but with great textures and resolutions.
It is the most underrated ears buds in this hobby. But then again, it isn’t flat out neutral or references. I think Sony must have taken into accounts all of the activities wearing Z1R, because for daily commutes, your footsteps, your breathings, sound being isolated….etc….all the distractions, you still find the Z1R to be so wonderful in it performances. Where some other buds will be lacking slams, or bass…etc…(yes, our ears and brain can filter noises out, including sounds)
This is what I told my friend. If I wanted references systems, I go for full sizes and a desktop. If I want neutral, I go for full sizes and somewhat capable portable. If I use ears buds, it is because I walk around, sitting in the park, chilling, enjoying my music, then that is where Z1R excelled at.
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