[Wiz33]

I might be willing to spend $1.8K on a pair of Z1R headphone but there's no way I'll spend $7.5K on a DAC AMP, I guess it would be ok if you don't have the proper space for a traditional Hi Fi setup. If I'm going to spend that much, I would rather spend it upgrading my fully -restored KEF 105.2 to The R900 or the B&W 700 series. At least I can enjoy my collection of over 300 vinyls with those.

 

[haoyuan]

I might be willing to spend $1.8K on a pair of Z1R headphone but there's no way I'll spend $7.5K on a DAC AMP, I guess it would be ok if you don't have the proper space for a traditional Hi Fi setup. If I'm going to spend that much, I would rather spend it upgrading my fully -restored KEF 105.2 to The R900 or the B&W 700 series. At least I can enjoy my collection of over 300 vinyls with those.

 

[doctor 66]

 

[doctor 66]

 

[Wiz33]

Damn, this thing is the size of a small brick so definitely not for portable use. The cool thing is that you can charge while running in battery mode.

 

[fahadj2003]

im considering getting z5. nut i've got a fiio q1 mk2, and it has a trrs 2.5mm balanced port. will it be good to drive the z5?
also, is there an adapter from 2 3..5mm balanced to 1 2.5mm balanced?
and ik theres a set set of highend iems revealed but between z5 and the ones revealed this month, have there been any genuine successors to z5?

oh, also, in a similar price range, is there an iem that beats the z5? (i'm coming from flc8s, and looking for a flat FR curve)

 

[Wiz33]

im considering getting z5. nut i've got a fiio q1 mk2, and it has a trrs 2.5mm balanced port. will it be good to drive the z5?
also, is there an adapter from 2 3..5mm balanced to 1 2.5mm balanced?
and ik theres a set set of highend iems revealed but between z5 and the ones revealed this month, have there been any genuine successors to z5?

oh, also, in a similar price range, is there an iem that beats the z5? (i'm coming from flc8s, and looking for a flat FR curve)

There are a large selection of 2.5mm to MMCX balance cable available

https://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=mmcx+balanced+cable+2.5mm

This one will give you the best option as it comes with adapter for 3.5mm SE and 3.5mm, 4.5mm balance so you're pretty much future proof.

https://www.amazon.com/MEE-audio-Un...916&sr=8-6&keywords=mmcx+balanced+cable+2.5mm

 

[FangJoker]

Anyone here with the Z5 and the TH900 or TH900mk2? I was wondering if they sound similar. I have the z1r and do not think that the z5 sound alike as some people say.

 

[SoundTown]

Anyone here with the Z5 and the TH900 or TH900mk2? I was wondering if they sound similar. I have the z1r and do not think that the z5 sound alike as some people say.

I don't own the TH900 or TH900 Mk2, and neither do I own the Z1R. But I've tried the TH900 Mk2 several times, I've tried the Z1R once, and I own the Z5.
Short answer, nope the TH900 and Z5 don't sound similar.
The TH900 has a lot sharper upper mids / highs. The Z5 are a lot more relaxed. The TH900 also has more emphasis on the sub-bass, while the Z5's bass has more emphasis on the mid to upper-bass. The Z5's vocal range sound a lot warmer, perhaps a bit blunted and mellow, while the TH900's vocals sound natural albeit a tad distant and it can be sibilant with the 'S' notes.
The TH900 is V-shaped in sound signature, while the Z5 is a bit more wobbly in frequency response if you graphed it (not saying either is a bad thing). If you want a point of comparison, I'd say the TH900 would sound more like the XBA-A3 / A2, or the Yamaha EPH100.
Might be a bit tmi, but hope that helps.
And yes, I agree with you, the Z1R doesn't really sound like the Z5. The Z1R, for one, has a really thin mid-section that emphasises the upper mid-range. I didn't particularly enjoy the Z1R for that reason alone.

 

[SoundTown]

oh, also, in a similar price range, is there an iem that beats the z5? (i'm coming from flc8s, and looking for a flat FR curve)

I have not tried the FLC8s, but I can tell you the Z5 does not have a flat frequency response curve. The Z5 has a very noticeable mid-bass / upper-bass bump, the mids dip a little in the upper range, and the highs extend extremely well but roll down in emphasis a little. The Z5 are warm, bassy, mellow IEMs, wouldn't really call them flat.
I've honestly not tried that many IEMs at this price point. From Sony, the XBA-N3 is definitely the closest to neutral in the entire hybrid XBA line-up thus far, and that's the best I can do for you; most IEMs I've tried at the US$300 to US$600 price-point are either on the brighter side (e.g. ER4SR, SE535, AKG N3) or are warmer (e.g. Z5, ATH-E70, ER4XR). Hard to find a neutral, flat pair.
Maybe save up and go big to something like the Andromeda if you can wait? Or wait for impressions about the new Sony IEMs to come out.
JH Audio, Unique Melody, and Final Audio might have something to your liking as well, though it still might be above your target price point.
Hope that helped, and didn't just confuse you more.

 

[FangJoker]

I don't own the TH900 or TH900 Mk2, and neither do I own the Z1R. But I've tried the TH900 Mk2 several times, I've tried the Z1R once, and I own the Z5.
Short answer, nope the TH900 and Z5 don't sound similar.
The TH900 has a lot sharper upper mids / highs. The Z5 are a lot more relaxed. The TH900 also has more emphasis on the sub-bass, while the Z5's bass has more emphasis on the mid to upper-bass. The Z5's vocal range sound a lot warmer, perhaps a bit blunted and mellow, while the TH900's vocals sound natural albeit a tad distant and it can be sibilant with the 'S' notes.
The TH900 is V-shaped in sound signature, while the Z5 is a bit more wobbly in frequency response if you graphed it (not saying either is a bad thing). If you want a point of comparison, I'd say the TH900 would sound more like the XBA-A3 / A2, or the Yamaha EPH100.
Might be a bit tmi, but hope that helps.
And yes, I agree with you, the Z1R doesn't really sound like the Z5. The Z1R, for one, has a really thin mid-section that emphasises the upper mid-range. I didn't particularly enjoy the Z1R for that reason alone.

I'm looking for another set of headphones, but I'd like it to be as close to the z5 as possible. Maybe I'll have to comb through all 315 pages to find some answers. Someone has had to make a comparison in this thread.

 

[Wiz33]

I'm looking for another set of headphones, but I'd like it to be as close to the z5 as possible. Maybe I'll have to comb through all 315 pages to find some answers. Someone has had to make a comparison in this thread.

There's always the 3 new ones that Sony just introduced. but may have to wait a while to get some decent reviews.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/three-brand-new-earphones-sony-ier-z1r-ier-m9-and-ier-m7.886121/

 

[FangJoker]

There's always the 3 new ones that Sony just introduced. but may have to wait a while to get some decent reviews.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/three-brand-new-earphones-sony-ier-z1r-ier-m9-and-ier-m7.886121/

I'm not looking for IEMs. I'm looking for another set of headphones. I already own the Z1 and focal clear and I still go to the z5 most times at home. If I can't find a good recommendation, I might try the mr speakers aeon closed back.

 

[Wiz33]

I'm not looking for IEMs. I'm looking for another set of headphones. I already own the Z1 and focal clear and I still go to the z5 most times at home. If I can't find a good recommendation, I might try the mr speakers aeon closed back.

Check out the new Sony MDR-Z7M2

 

[FangJoker]

Check out the new Sony MDR-Z7M2

I was thinking of picking up something now. I owned the OG z7 for a month and hated it. I'd need to read multiple reviews of the new version before buying it. I really really hated the original.