[ehjie]

Best single DD under $350 is Penon Fan...cannot agree...I have Fan, and I have to say Fiio FD5 is far superior!

i'll lower the price bracket, then...

 

[ehjie]

Best single-DD IEM
$110-$125 Penon FAN
>$1000 Acoustune 1670 w/ Sony Hybrid Tips on Taekyo Cables (usd.1300++ set)

Best all-BA IEM
$350-$1000 W50, one of the Basshead kings
>$1000 U18T

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
$50-$110 Intime Sora original version 2017
$110-$350 Penon Orb, full sized Can Richness
$1000-$1500 CA Solaris Gold - Super analog tuning, The largest sound field, x, y, z axes for an in ear i have ever heard...
>$1500 Z1R, the End game Trebles

Best single DD under $350 is Penon Fan...cannot agree...I have Fan, and I have to say Fiio FD5 is far superior!

i adjusted the price range...

 

[baskingshark]

Definitely my aim for this year, the sooner the better, but I need to sell some of my numerous IEMs.

It is usually difficult to decide which to sell, but the thought of the Z1R (at the end of that process) makes it a bit easier.

I had the privilege to audition a Sony Z1R last week at a local shop.

Very good sound, well tuned V shaped set. Excellent technicalities, I can see why many laud it as end game in this hobby. But for me the Z1R's fit was a joke. YMMV though, but I thought it had even worse fit than the infamous BLON BL-03!!

Sound wise, the Z1R indeed deserves its TOTL summitfi namesake, but as per usual, in this hobby the deeper you go down the rabbithole, there's bigger and bigger diminishing returns when it comes to price to performance ratio. So in addition to the cost, it might be best if you can audition a set first (if possible), as the fit may be a deal breaker for some.

 

[ChrisOc]

I had the privilege to audition a Sony Z1R last week at a local shop.

Very good sound, well tuned V shaped set. Excellent technicalities, I can see why many laud it as end game in this hobby. But for me the Z1R's fit was a joke. YMMV though, but I thought it had even worse fit than the infamous BLON BL-03!!

Sound wise, the Z1R indeed deserves its TOTL summitfi namesake, but as per usual, in this hobby the deeper you go down the rabbithole, there's bigger and bigger finishing returns when it comes to price to performance ratio. So in addition to the cost, it might be best if you can audition a set first (if possible), as the fit may be a deal breaker for some.

Thank you @baskingshark as usual well made and persuasive points.

 

[bonkers90]

I had the privilege to audition a Sony Z1R last week at a local shop.

Very good sound, well tuned V shaped set. Excellent technicalities, I can see why many laud it as end game in this hobby. But for me the Z1R's fit was a joke. YMMV though, but I thought it had even worse fit than the infamous BLON BL-03!!

Sound wise, the Z1R indeed deserves its TOTL summitfi namesake, but as per usual, in this hobby the deeper you go down the rabbithole, there's bigger and bigger diminishing returns when it comes to price to performance ratio. So in addition to the cost, it might be best if you can audition a set first (if possible), as the fit may be a deal breaker for some.

What shop allows you to demo in ears? How do they sanitize them afterwards?

 

[baskingshark]

What shop allows you to demo in ears? How do they sanitize them afterwards?

There are quite a few brick and mortar shops in Singapore where I live that allow us to physically audition gear. U just ask for whatever they have in stock and they leave u alone to listen. Some even provide amps/dacs and lossless files if u need.

I see the shop folks using alcohol wipes on the eartips after each session. So far I've only auditioned earbuds and Iems. Have not tried auditioning headphones which I am not sure if they can sanitize the big earpads well enough, but I suppose it should be the same process.

 

[ehjie]

Best single-DD IEM
$110-$125 Penon FAN
>$1000 Acoustune 1670 w/ Sony Hybrid Tips on Taekyo Cables (usd.1300++ set)

Best all-BA IEM
$350-$1000 W50, one of the Basshead kings
>$1000 U18T

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
$50-$110 Intime Sora original version 2017
$110-$350 Penon Orb, full sized Can Richness
$1000-$1500 CA Solaris Gold - Super analog tuning, The largest sound field, x, y, z axes for an in ear i have ever heard...
>$1500 Z1R, the End game Trebles

Best single-DD IEM
$110-$125 Penon FAN
>$1000 Acoustune 1670 w/ Sony Hybrid Tips on Taekyo Cables (usd.1300++ set)

Best all-BA IEM
$350-$1000 W50, one of the Basshead kings
>$1000 U18T

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
$50-$110 Intime Sora original version 2017
$110-$350 Penon Orb, full sized Can Richness
$1000-$1500 CA Solaris Gold - Super analog tuning, The largest sound field, x, y, z axes for an in ear i have ever heard...
>$1500 Z1R, the End game Trebles

Best single-DD IEM
$110-$125 Penon FAN
>$1000 Acoustune 1670 w/ Sony Hybrid Tips on Taekyo Cables (usd.1300++ set)

Best all-BA IEM
$350-$1000 W50, one of the Basshead kings
>$1000 U18T

Best Hybrid IEM (2 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
$50-$110 Intime Sora original version 2017
$110-$350 Penon Orb, full sized Can Richness
$1000-$1500 CA Solaris Gold - Super analog tuning, The largest sound field, x, y, z axes for an in ear i have ever heard...
>$1500 Z1R, the End game Trebles

Best single-DD IEM
$110-$125 Penon FAN
>$1000 Acoustune 1670 w/ Taekyo Cables (usd.1300++ set)

Best all-BA IEM
$350-$1000 W50, one of the Basshead kings
>$1000 U18T

Best Hybrid IEM (3 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
$50-$110 Intime Sora original version 2017
$270 Penon Orb, full sized Can Richness
$340 Penon Globe, All comments from the Orbs addressed including excellent detail retrieval, more Extended trebles, Better stage depth

Flagship TOTL
$1500 CA Solaris Gold - Super analog tuning, very Hi-fi tuned, The largest sound field, x, y, z axes for an in ear i have ever heard, Full sized HP size scale of imaging…
>$1500 Z1R, the End game Trebles

 

[ChrisOc]

Best single-DD IEM
$110-$125 Penon FAN
>$1000 Acoustune 1670 w/ Taekyo Cables (usd.1300++ set)

Best all-BA IEM
$350-$1000 W50, one of the Basshead kings
>$1000 U18T

Best Hybrid IEM (3 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
$50-$110 Intime Sora original version 2017
$270 Penon Orb, full sized Can Richness
$340 Penon Globe, All comments from the Orbs addressed including excellent detail retrieval, more Extended trebles, Better stage depth

Flagship TOTL
$1500 CA Solaris Gold - Super analog tuning, very Hi-fi tuned, The largest sound field, x, y, z axes for an in ear i have ever heard, Full sized HP size scale of imaging…
>$1500 Z1R, the End game Trebles

Something tells me you like your Penons......just guessing

 

[Redcarmoose]

I was listening to the IER-Z1R yesterday and there was a whole world in the super high up treble department that I never ever noticed before. This was on a song I have listened to for years and years. It wasn’t something obvious, but almost a high high up slight wash effect that was above and beyond what was/is normally present in the mix. I actually couldn’t even believe it was there? But upon replay it was. So subtle a spectacle but reality, none the less!

Best single-DD IEM
$110-$125 Penon FAN
>$1000 Acoustune 1670 w/ Taekyo Cables (usd.1300++ set)

Best all-BA IEM
$350-$1000 W50, one of the Basshead kings
>$1000 U18T

Best Hybrid IEM (3 driver types only, including DD+BA, DD+magnetostat, BA+EST, etc.)
$50-$110 Intime Sora original version 2017
$270 Penon Orb, full sized Can Richness
$340 Penon Globe, All comments from the Orbs addressed including excellent detail retrieval, more Extended trebles, Better stage depth

Flagship TOTL
$1500 CA Solaris Gold - Super analog tuning, very Hi-fi tuned, The largest sound field, x, y, z axes for an in ear i have ever heard, Full sized HP size scale of imaging…
>$1500 Z1R, the End game Trebles

 

[ehjie]

Something tells me you like your Penons......just guessing

They Hit my Mids Sweet spot. they're Not power demanding. and if i could afford right now the volts, i'd get them.
The power requirements of this pair require me to upgrade to a more powerful dap...

 

[ehjie]

I was listening to the IER-Z1R yesterday and there was a whole world in the super high up treble department that I never ever noticed before. This was on a song I have listened to for years and years. It wasn’t something obvious, but almost a high high up slight wash effect that was above and beyond what was/is normally present in the mix. I actually couldn’t even believe it was there? But upon replay it was. So subtle a spectacle but reality, none the less!

To acquire a z1r for me, Same situation as this:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...20-please-read-the-rules.950854/post-16313031
I was a Sony Fan through and through. i still am
My Flagship cassette walkman still in excellent working condition, as are my 7506...

 

[Podster]

To acquire a z1r for me, Same situation as this:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...20-please-read-the-rules.950854/post-16313031
I was a Sony Fan through and through. i still am
My Flagship cassette walkman still in excellent working condition, as are my 7506...

"My Flagship cassette walkman still in excellent working condition,"
Nice and analog ta boot