[Mediahound]

 
well, Amazon US has em, was shopping for the cheapest.  I just refuse to pay more than 1500 usd for these.

Nope. As I posted above a few days ago, they're currently listed through Amazon but from a grey market seller, no warranty. You have to pay attention to the seller when looking at Amazon listings. It could be anyone, from grey market sellers to authorized usa sellers. 

 

[Mediahound]

  I hope that means the units in the US are now being allocated for dealers, if that hasn't already happened yet. I believe that some dealers are still awaiting allocation? I could be wrong and I am speculating.

I've heard they are coming to the USA dealers soon, ie. before end of the year. 

 

[Sonic Defender]

  Of course not, no cable that expensive is really "worth it". The question really is, does it make a positive improvement to sound quality, and is it within your budget? People have been known to pay a lot chasing that last few % of quality over what they have, more power to you if you can afford it, I say 

I have to agree, if you can afford it, and I mean not with credit, yes, why not?

 

[Sonic Defender]

  I personally think Jason has a good point.  I don't think a saving of $100 or $200 is a good idea for expensive items such as signature products.  I would love to buy with warranty as well unless I can get a deep deep discount from those amazon seller.  What's warranty period for the Signature gears?   5-year ES warranty type deal?

Totally agree, once you get around the $500 point in savings it gets interesting, below that not so much.

 

[TSAVJason]

Nope. As I posted above a few days ago, they're currently listed through Amazon but from a grey market seller, no warranty. You have to pay attention to the seller when looking at Amazon listings. It could be anyone, from grey market sellers to authorized usa sellers. 

Allow me to supplement your statement. No US or any other dealer is allowed to sell Signature Series products on Amazon.com (North America). No Sony entity is allowing out of market transshipping. When you find this access you could be buying from a non-authorized entitity which could mean you have zero support. Every time I post this important information I get enormous push back. Sony's position on this is not illegal, it is not in any way inappropriate. Sony and or any company has the right in any country to enforce inventory control. Inventory access and control are common in the more premier product lines for many companies. Sony now has a huge amount of authorized dealers reporting the unauthorized sales from other markets and you'll find as these different markets continue to violate Sony's rules that those markets will suddenly dry up on inventory. Sony Japan has stepped in after seeing all these violations and is aggressively out to stop it. .....just an FYI. Thx for reading and please don't shoot the messenger, I'm simply giving you the circumstances for you to make your best buying decision.

 

[Mediahound]

Allow me to supplement your statement. No US or any other dealer is allowed to sell Signature Series products on Amazon.com (North America). No Sony entity is allowing out of market transshipping. When you find this access you could be buying from a non-authorized entitity which could mean you have zero support. Every time I post this important information I get enormous push back. Sony's position on this is not illegal, it is not in any way inappropriate. Sony and or any company has the right in any country to enforce inventory control. Inventory access and control are common in the more premier product lines for many companies. Sony now has a huge amount of authorized dealers reporting the unauthorized sales from other markets and you'll find as these different markets continue to violate Sony's rules that those markets will suddenly dry up on inventory. Sony Japan has stepped in after seeing all these violations and is aggressively out to stop it. .....just an FYI. Thx for reading and please don't shoot the messenger, I'm simply giving you the circumstances for you to make your best buying decision.

Buyers do get the warranty when buying from any authorized USA Sony dealer however. The dealer does not have to be a specific 'Sony Signature' dealer as you seem to imply. I spoke to Sony about this as well as B&H.
 
So, IF there is an authorized dealer selling on Amazon, I would not have a problem buying. Or from B&H as another example who currently have the Z1R on preorder right now.  

 

[Sonic Defender]

 
Buyers do get the warranty when buying from any authorized USA Sony dealer however. The dealer does not have to be a specific 'Sony Signature' dealer as you seem to imply. I spoke to Sony about this as well as B&H.
 
So, IF there is an authorized dealer selling on Amazon, I would not have a problem buying. Or from B&H as another example who currently have the Z1R on preorder right now.  

That was my understanding as well after speaking with a Sony agent; however, it is possible they were incorrect. I just think this whole situation is needlessly complicated. If you sell Sony and are authorized, you should be able to sell the whole line period, let customers decide who and where they purchase from.

 

[TSAVJason]

Buyers do get the warranty when buying from any authorized USA Sony dealer however. The dealer does not have to be a specific 'Sony Signature' dealer as you seem to imply. I spoke to Sony about this as well as B&H.

So, IF there is an authorized dealer selling on Amazon, I would not have a problem buying. Or from B&H as another example who currently have the Z1R on preorder right now.  

A authorized Sony dealer if authorized to sell online and on Amazon by Sony sells with a warranty and is of course authorized. A non-authorized Sony Signature seller online is also going to sell with warranty if the product comes from US and North American inventory (North American market specific). An authorized Sony Signature Series dealer is allowed to sell on their own buy now system but not 3rd party systems. So internet sales within market by an authorized Signature Series is completely above board with no jeapordy to the consumer. No Sony dealer is allowed to sell to a non-Sony dealer for resale on any Sony product. The jeapordy is not on the consumer but on the authorized dealer if this happens. I hope this makes it clear.

 

[LaCuffia]

I am an authorized consumer that you used government authorized funds to purchase the Z1R and am now authorized by my ears and brain to listen to said Z1R and have an authorized good time.
 
Sorry...the whole authorized/non-authorized thing is getting a bit boring.  I don't mean to downplay the importance of the information, but am more interested in reading reviews and comments on the Z1R itself.
 
I haven't seen many professional reviews at all.   Very curious as to what the audiophile community will think of it.

 

[Sonic Defender]

  I am an authorized consumer that you used government authorized funds to purchase the Z1R and am now authorized by my ears and brain to listen to said Z1R and have an authorized good time.
 
Sorry...the whole authorized/non-authorized thing is getting a bit boring.  I don't mean to downplay the importance of the information, but am more interested in reading reviews and comments on the Z1R itself.
 
I haven't seen many professional reviews at all.   Very curious as to what the audiophile community will think of it.

LOL, so true. I think once the North American dealers start getting stock to sell the reviews will start to come in. I like you am also looking forward to more reviews and heck, even professional reviews are welcome.

 

[TSAVJason]

I am an authorized consumer that you used government authorized funds to purchase the Z1R and am now authorized by my ears and brain to listen to said Z1R and have an authorized good time.

Sorry...the whole authorized/non-authorized thing is getting a bit boring.  I don't mean to downplay the importance of the information, but am more interested in reading reviews and comments on the Z1R itself.

I haven't seen many professional reviews at all.   Very curious as to what the audiophile community will think of it.

I do understand but I believe an informed buyer with real information is empowered and less likely to end up in a bad purchase and bad experience.

 

[XERO1]

A authorized Sony dealer if authorized to sell online and on Amazon by Sony sells with a warranty and is of course authorized. A non-authorized Sony Signature seller online is also going to sell with warranty if the product comes from US and North American inventory (North American market specific). An authorized Sony Signature Series dealer is allowed to sell on their own buy now system but not 3rd party systems. So internet sales within market by an authorized Signature Series is completely above board with no jeapordy to the consumer. No Sony dealer is allowed to sell to a non-Sony dealer for resale on any Sony product. The jeapordy is not on the consumer but on the authorized dealer if this happens. I hope this makes it clear.

​Clear as mud.
 
I personally would prefer to make a purchase from an authorized Sony Signature dealer.  But if a non-authorized dealer offers a really deep discount, then I may take my chances, as some on this thread have already done.

 

[beowulf]

And it's time for the quick dark Friday night photo. Finally some free time with the house quiet late at night.

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[AppleheadMay]

And it's time for the quick dark Friday night photo. Finally some free time.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thumbs up for the pics, thanks!

 

[HiFiGuy528]

It's understandable that us (enthusiasts) are all trying to get our paws on the new Z1R. It's been awhile since Sony released a real high-end headphone. Current Amazon and eBay listings are really attractive, but for me this is not a $200 purchase. At $2300, I would want some sort of warranty against defects or failures or even for resale value. According to my contacts at Sony U.S., inventory are on the way to their distribution centers around the country. They should arrive to authorized resellers before the year ends. I'm a HUGE Sony fanboy so I want my paws on the Z1R too.