[ruinedx]

Yeah it is kinda expensive for something i can't audition. And for that kind of money i would expect them to blow the Z1R out of the water.

Better off trying HD820 if you want to hear a radically different sound than z1r

 

[adrianm]

Better off trying HD820 if you want to hear a radically different sound than z1r

Yeah i'll give it a listen once my dealer starts allowing auditions again. Everyone seems to have their own issue with it , but it is currently less than half the price the of Verite.

 

[ruinedx]

Yeah i'll give it a listen once my dealer starts allowing auditions again. Everyone seems to have their own issue with it , but it is currently less than half the price the of Verite.

I think the main issue is a lot of people buy a closed back for enhanced bass pressure , but hd820 is more like the bass of an open back sounding headphone + isolation. So a different mission than the z1r and most closed backs and thus sounds a lot different than most closed backs.

 

[S-O8]

Ok, so I had the Sony amp and Z1R and loved them. I moved to a Chord Hugo TT2 and then the MScaler connected via cables that cost too much but I loved the sound.

I have been mainly listening to my music - streamed from Tidal only - on Focal Stellia and Utopia headphones. I then decided to try my other 'favourites' the Ether 2 and Z1R. I have to say that both were great but the TT2/MSC combination makes the Z1R go to a different level. They are a great closed headphone anyway but I've found I am hearing more detail with them than I did with the Sony amp and it is a more 'comfortable' listen. The bass and sound signature of the Z1R is very present but the fog has been removed. I can't describe more but would simply say, if you have the Z1R and are looking at the Chord products then it really is worth demo'ing them ! I do not think anyone would be disappointed in the slightest ! *I know there is a huge cost implication but for those who may consider the move it is worth a try.

 

[adrianm]

Ok, so I had the Sony amp and Z1R and loved them. I moved to a Chord Hugo TT2 and then the MScaler connected via cables that cost too much but I loved the sound.

I have been mainly listening to my music - streamed from Tidal only - on Focal Stellia and Utopia headphones. I then decided to try my other 'favourites' the Ether 2 and Z1R. I have to say that both were great but the TT2/MSC combination makes the Z1R go to a different level. They are a great closed headphone anyway but I've found I am hearing more detail with them than I did with the Sony amp and it is a more 'comfortable' listen. The bass and sound signature of the Z1R is very present but the fog has been removed. I can't describe more but would simply say, if you have the Z1R and are looking at the Chord products then it really is worth demo'ing them ! I do not think anyone would be disappointed in the slightest ! *I know there is a huge cost implication but for those who may consider the move it is worth a try.

Ditto, only i made the mistake of also demo-ing Dave vs TT2+M-Scaler and at that moment price became just a number LOL.
Can't wait untill i get the M-scaler as well. The Z1R really do scale incredibly well. Are those Wave (I assume ) cables really worth it? I think i'd rather build my own with ferrites just out of principle.

 

[Slim1970]

Yeah it is kinda expensive for something i can't audition. And for that kind of money i would expect them to blow the Z1R out of the water.

The VC’s to my ears definitely do not blow the Z1R’s out of the water. They are a very enjoyable listen. The wood on the VC’s do give them a very natural sound and timbre as well. It’s a matter of taste at that price point, but the VC’s are worth a listen. They do a lot things well.

 

[adrianm]

The VC’s to my ears definitely do not blow the Z1R’s out of the water. They are a very enjoyable listen. The wood on the VC’s do give them a very natural sound and timbre as well. It’s a matter of taste at that price point, but the VC’s are worth a listen. They do a lot things well.

Did you get a chance to listen to the Final Audio D8000 Pro?

 

[RYCeT]

I've read good reviews and had 1 person recommend it but was wondering if anyone could perhaps offer some input please on it's pros and cons compared to the TA-ZH1ES? Obviously a downside is I need a couple of adapters to connect my 4.4mm cables to it, but apart from that are there any issues using the Sony BCR-NWH10 to connect my WM1A to it? I've had portable amp/dacs before but this is new territory and also now owning a high end headphone like the Z1R it may not go well with certain amps.

No, there should be no issue. You just need a USB-B cable to connect the dock to TA-ZH1ES. I have all (1A, TA-ZH1ES, Z1R, BCR-NWH10) except for the Kimber cable.

 

[Hinomotocho]

No, there should be no issue. You just need a USB-B cable to connect the dock to TA-ZH1ES. I have all (1A, TA-ZH1ES, Z1R, BCR-NWH10) except for the Kimber cable.

Thanks for your reply, I was actually meaning if I purchased the RME ADI amp if there was anything that may make the TA-ZH1ES a better option for Walkman connectivity.

 

[RYCeT]

Thanks for your reply, I was actually meaning if I purchased the RME ADI amp if there was anything that may make the TA-ZH1ES a better option for Walkman connectivity.

The connection between WM1A to RME ADI amp vs TA-ZH1ES should be similar. Your consideration should be what do you want to use them for? The reason I chose TA-ZH1ES is for the synergy between sony products, it's also a good amp for my other headphones. I loved all the different connection options eventhough I mostly use the 4.4MM balance option.

 

[Hinomotocho]

I just want to use headphone out.
I had said that the TA-ZH1ES is the most obvious choice for connections, synergy and support and tips from so many other users but if I can't stretch financially I was hoping for some feedback on the RME ADI-2 as a more affordable option. The RME ADI-2 gets very good reviews but as I will be using my MDR-Z1R I would like to know if they go well together.
If cost wasn't a factor I'd definitely go for the TA-ZH1ES.

 

[Slim1970]

Did you get a chance to listen to the Final Audio D8000 Pro?

Not yet. It's one of the few headphones that have eluded me.

 

[omegaorgun]

3d printed pad rings back.
Original on the right with red pip

What pads are these for? Do the stock pad rings come off the original pads?

 

[S-O8]

Ditto, only i made the mistake of also demo-ing Dave vs TT2+M-Scaler and at that moment price became just a number LOL.
Can't wait untill i get the M-scaler as well. The Z1R really do scale incredibly well. Are those Wave (I assume ) cables really worth it? I think i'd rather build my own with ferrites just out of principle.

I deliberately didn't listen to the Dave !

I was going to audition WAVE cables but wasn't able to in the end so went with Chord Signature super aray to connect the TT2 to the MSC. I think the std BNC cables are ok but couldn't help upgrading

 

[adrianm]

I just want to use headphone out.
I had said that the TA-ZH1ES is the most obvious choice for connections, synergy and support and tips from so many other users but if I can't stretch financially I was hoping for some feedback on the RME ADI-2 as a more affordable option. The RME ADI-2 gets very good reviews but as I will be using my MDR-Z1R I would like to know if they go well together.
If cost wasn't a factor I'd definitely go for the TA-ZH1ES.

Reach for the stars man I got my TA for 1.1k off Amazon uk, open box. There are deals if you shop around.
@darmccombs Can comment more on the Z1R and ADI-2/TA since he has all 3.