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Headphoneus Supremus
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Better yet, post your thoughts here too.So today I finally got a pair of Z1R. Been reading this thread for months and have been very excited to listen to them. I'm coming from a pair of B&W P9 signature headphones which I have liked a lot. Will write more when I have had the chance to listen to them for a while
I have spent years listening to that type of music, and I have to say that in general the recordings are poor enough that trying to make them sound good might be a tough task. I guess it depends on what aspects of such recordings really draw you in. If you want to hear all the crisp edges of the instruments in as much clarity as possible I would think there are better choices out there. If you want to make the music more listenable the Z1R is a great choice, but there are also less expensive options. I will tell you I really like the Onkyo H900M, they are rather very good, affordable, well made and sport a nice 50mm driver so you also get the benefit of air volume movement which I do like for energetic music. The NightOwl by Audioquest is a headphone I am enjoying reading about.
Anyway, the Z1R depending on your preferences certainly could be quite good for your musical choices. I also take it you want to stay with closed headphones? By the way, that is a very nice system. I heard a Yggy/Rag LCD 3 rig at a local meet and it was very nice indeed.
I would say that type of music along with Hip Hop and RnB, are the genre's these headphones are best suited to. Essentially, any kind of modern music that relies on a good amount of bass impact and texture, whilst retaining a comparatively wide sound stage and excellent imaging. As mentioned much earlier in the thread, including multiple in-depth comparisons, I own the HD800, HD800S, T1.1's, now the LCD-3's, and finally also the MDR-Z1R's too, and I actually find the Z1R's the best balanced for the majority of the music I listen to.
I listen to mostly rock and pop and Z1R are perfect for this. If you can't afford them then Audioquest Nighthawk/Nightowl is another recommendation. The problem with many other headphones is they are too bright and analytical already and older pop/rock recordings make it too harsh sounding. That is not to say the Z1R is bad for "audiophile" music, I think they sound great on that genre as well.
If you want to also take it to another level of musicality then get rid of the schitt crap and buy a DSD DAC. I used Roon to upsample to DSD128 and a $500 Teac UD-501 and it sounds awesome.
I dig them with Elton John, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, ZZTop, Bob Dylan, Angus and Julia Stone, Eminem, The Beatles...... All of them really shine with the Z1r and make good use of it's bass capability.
I will go out on a limb here and predict the test very close to the original set Tyll tested, which is the result we should expect if the headphones are not sonically different.@gbx2006
Innerfidelity is testing another pair-the pair from Headfi. Hopefully results soon. Stay tuned.....
Yup. Totally agree. Get ready for more fireworks.....I will go out on a limb here and predict the test very close to the original set Tyll tested, which is the result we should expect if the headphones are not sonically different.
leaving your subjective impressions aside and looking at the comparative frequency response chart, the Z1R has the most boosted bass, recessed midrange and prominent spikes at 2k and between 3k and 4k and then at 10k. the hd800 has the notorious 6k spike, but it's apparent that the z1r has the most uneven frequency response out of those four totl cans. isn't that why tyll was so critical of it or am I missing something?
but the z1r has a greater midrange depression in its frequency response relative to those two headphones. the utopia and lcd-4 both have flatter frequency responses overall.
and for the record, while I respect tyll's opinion that doesn't mean that i always agree with it.
would you mind enlightening me?
Well it is Canada Day here tomorrow and for those in the US the 4th of July soon so it is fireworks season anyway, so why not, bring it on!Yup. Totally agree. Get ready for more fireworks.....
I am really surprised not many people have commented on this post. This is the most astute thing I have read about this entire debate, written by an expert, and 100% explains why many of these measurements need to be SERIOUSLY questioned.
That's the best comment I've seen on the whole debacle..Send me a PM if you are interested in the trade. Even trade, I'll pay the shipping costs. Serious traders only.
but the z1r has a greater midrange depression in its frequency response relative to those two headphones. the utopia and lcd-4 both have flatter frequency responses overall.
and for the record, while I respect tyll's opinion that doesn't mean that i always agree with it.
would you mind enlightening me?
Does Sony release their own measurements? If Tyll and Jude both come back with the same original findings, we may you never know the truth....
I have a pair to exchange for your sr009. LolWhat happen to M50X then ? I love Z1R, but I couldn't keep it due to the large housings....I need to get me a pair of m50X, probably limited edition when I am at it