[dnnaudio]

Not sure why so many get so worked up with a review. It is really just one person's opinion and being in this hobby for decades I have learned to take others' opinion including pro reviewers with a grain of salt and listen to my own gut feel. When I scouted for a HP I did not even know the Z1R at that time, I primarily looked at the HD800S, LCDX, LCD4, Utopia, HE1000V1 and Ether Flow. Of these I really liked the LCD4 but worried my amp a Hugo would not cut it. Then I passed by a Sony shop and listened to a Z1R with my iphone. I was hooked and the rest is history. Since then I have listened again to a Utopia with decent amp and I found this also fantastic. So to me it is the Z1R, Utopia and LCD4 as my top picks, but i ended up with the Sony. I am more of a speaker guy and have two decent speaker setups one using Dynaudio speakers and the other Harbeth. I got into headphones just a few years ago and when I shop I look for something that gives me a similar experience as I get with my speaker system. To me the Z1R is like listening to a decent floorstander and there is no other headphone that gave me this feeling, maybe the Utopia.. And yes cable do seem to make a positive difference with the Z1R, currently I am using DHC hybrid copper/silver cable and awaiting delivery of OCC silver cable from Norne. But the Z1R with stock cable as it is is already a hell of a package. And frankly nobody's opinion can ever alter how I feel about this.

 

[beowulf]

At the end of the day you love the z1r or you dont I remember loving my focal elears until I listened to the z1r yes i do think there is a slight slight veil over the vocals on the z1r but female vocals come off amazing. Compairing it with the focal elear the z1r clearly has a better seperation of instruments .

One of the things that confused me when I first got the Z1R was how separation/layering/positioning was so good, considering the darker, smoother signature. Despite that buttery feeling with some albuns, the thing seems to render all the detail and without mushing it all together like some closed alternatives.

Right now my favorite source is the little iFi Black Label, which I carry around often. I started by using it as a portable amp, especially at work, but started liking it so much that it is now spending a lot of time doing the job of a desktop amp at home. It's a great example on how you don't always need to spend a bucket of $ to get a decent DAC/amp pair.

Anyway, I digress... so I've been using the Black Label a lot and it made me start using the HD800 and the Z1R more than before. With the HD800, the XBass+ is a must, transforming it into what the HD800 S never was. And with the Z1R, in certain tracks the 3D really helps by giving it an airier, brighter sound, with a bit more grain and with tamed bass and lower mids. Sometimes I have the circuit on, most times it is off, but having that option makes the Z1R very versatile and probably reduces the need of having even more closed pairs for different types of music/masterings.

 

[jmills8]

One of the things that confused me when I first got the Z1R was how separation/layering/positioning was so good, considering the darker, smoother signature. Despite that buttery feeling with some albuns, the thing seems to render all the detail and without mushing it all together like some closed alternatives.

Right now my favorite source is the little iFi Black Label, which I carry around often. I started by using it as a portable amp, especially at work, but started liking it so much that it is now spending a lot of time doing the job of a desktop amp at home. It's a great example on how you don't always need to spend a bucket of $ to get a decent DAC/amp pair.

Anyway, I digress... so I've been using the Black Label a lot and it made me start using the HD800 and the Z1R more than before. With the HD800, the XBass+ is a must, transforming it into what the HD800 S never was. And with the Z1R, in certain tracks the 3D really helps by giving it an airier, brighter sound, with a bit more grain and with tamed bass and lower mids. Sometimes I have the circuit on, most times it is off, but having that option makes the Z1R very versatile and probably reduces the need of having even more closed pairs for different types of music/masterings.

You put that Amp/dac in your pocket?

 

[beowulf]

You put that Amp/dac in your pocket?

That's possible, but it's a bit of a brick. More transportable than portable. I carry it with me between the desk at work and home, but don't really listen while on the move.

 

[jmills8]

That's possible, but it's a bit of a brick. More transportable than portable. I carry it with me between the desk at work and home, but don't really listen while on the move.

this weird connection requires a big plug which makes it hard to put weight on it if I put in pocket. Also it only has 6.5 connection for headphone.

 

[beowulf]

this weird connection requires a big plug which makes it hard to put weight on it if I put in pocket. Also it only has 6.5 connection for headphone.

Yup, as a portable toy it's quite the underachiever. The patient can end up using it while jogging or in a bus (after all, we have people commuting with the Z1R). But for the regular man, it's a hassle.

I like the synergy of the Black Label with my most used gear so much (Andromeda/Z1R/HD800) that it's starting to become interesting to look into the iCan Pro. It's not easy to drive these 3 picky models well, and the little BL seems to do it better than many pricier sources, including probably Sony's own offering.

Yesterday I was listening to Sam Cooke's "Night Beat" and this is one of the albums where the Z1R doesn't benefit from the 3D ASP circuit and has a natural warmth that is perfect for the recording. In the ablum before that (the one I posted from Doug MacLeod) it was the opposite... the extra grain and brightness of the 3D circuit made it sound a bit more lively, a more.... biocellulose signature, perhaps.

 

[ChijiroKuro]

Well said

I tried to write the same; but a "standard" only stereo (without mic) "trrs" pin-out:

Only for example... , check it with the multimeter and you do it.

Thank´s in advance.
C.K.

 

[shadow04]

also don't forget to 'unfriend' him from Facebook
lol!

i reached out to Steve Guttenberg on twitter (reviewer for sound and vision, who also reviewed the Z1R, as below)
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/sony-mdr-z1r-headphones-review
his response was simply ''Not the first time me and Tyll disagree.''

in the end it's different strokes for different folks...heck even look at the Focal Utopia...despite
having wide reaching praise it's not without it's detractors, too (bass shy in some ops).

Well, at least Tyll is willing to stick his head out and take a stand on headphone(s) that he doesn't like. On the other hand, I don't think I have ever seen Steve Guttenberg turn in a negative review, take that how you will.....

 

[Whitigir]

Well, at least Tyll is willing to stick his head out and take a stand on headphone(s) that he doesn't like. On the other hand, I don't think I have ever seen Steve Guttenberg turn in a negative review, take that how you will.....

No headphones products shall be negative, they are engineered, and voiced to the best marketing and engineers desires. If anything, it is only the ignorance of the users who doesn't understand the products and it brand. Ofcourse, sometime when the majority of the market don't understand it, the products won't sell.

In the end, as a reviewer, or any person to express their own opinion, you shall at the least try to understand it, and if you don't agree with it, you just don't.

It is a breeze to sit on one asses and criticizes, but it takes more balls to engineer and put works into making a product itself.

Z1R is voiced for fun and modern musical products while achieving high definition and fidelity. It has never been advertised by Sony to be references studio professional grade headphones of any short. I don't see how Z1R is negative in those points, unless you have wood for ears. In fact to achieve this level of bass fidelity in contrast with the rest of the spectrum and it balances while being a closed back is magical

 

[up late]

Not sure why so many get so worked up with a review. It is really just one person's opinion and being in this hobby for decades I have learned to take others' opinion including pro reviewers with a grain of salt and listen to my own gut feel. When I scouted for a HP I did not even know the Z1R at that time, I primarily looked at the HD800S, LCDX, LCD4, Utopia, HE1000V1 and Ether Flow. Of these I really liked the LCD4 but worried my amp a Hugo would not cut it. Then I passed by a Sony shop and listened to a Z1R with my iphone. I was hooked and the rest is history. Since then I have listened again to a Utopia with decent amp and I found this also fantastic. So to me it is the Z1R, Utopia and LCD4 as my top picks, but i ended up with the Sony. I am more of a speaker guy and have two decent speaker setups one using Dynaudio speakers and the other Harbeth. I got into headphones just a few years ago and when I shop I look for something that gives me a similar experience as I get with my speaker system. To me the Z1R is like listening to a decent floorstander and there is no other headphone that gave me this feeling, maybe the Utopia.. And yes cable do seem to make a positive difference with the Z1R, currently I am using DHC hybrid copper/silver cable and awaiting delivery of OCC silver cable from Norne. But the Z1R with stock cable as it is is already a hell of a package. And frankly nobody's opinion can ever alter how I feel about this.

i have some thoughts on that but i'll keep them to myself. what I will say is that having hung around this forum for a while now, the responses that I've seen here to a critical review are to be expected.

 

[jscmd2000]

I recommend Herbie Hancock's album DIS IS DA DRUM on the Z1R.

Awesome... rediscovering Herbie hancock on my Z1Rs!!

 

[jmills8]

No headphones products shall be negative, they are engineered, and voiced to the best marketing and engineers desires. If anything, it is only the ignorance of the users who doesn't understand the products and it brand. Ofcourse, sometime when the majority of the market don't understand it, the products won't sell.

In the end, as a reviewer, or any person to express their own opinion, you shall at the least try to understand it, and if you don't agree with it, you just don't.

It is a breeze to sit on one asses and criticizes, but it takes more balls to engineer and put works into making a product itself.

Z1R is voiced for fun and modern musical products while achieving high definition and fidelity. It has never been advertised by Sony to be references studio professional grade headphones of any short. I don't see how Z1R is negative in those points, unless you have wood for ears. In fact to achieve this level of bass fidelity in contrast with the rest of the spectrum and it balances while being a closed back is magical

Just cause you want to like it doesnt mean you know more or that you are less ignorant. I like it cause it sounds good not cause how they made it. If another doesnt like it its either they prefer a different sound or they make themself not want to like it so not to spend money. Others might not give it a chance just because they dont like big companies or they just dont like the name of the company. Another might dislike closed headphones.

 

[beowulf]

Well, at least Tyll is willing to stick his head out and take a stand on headphone(s) that he doesn't like. On the other hand, I don't think I have ever seen Steve Guttenberg turn in a negative review, take that how you will.....

And nothing wrong with Tyll doing that. I somewhat disagree with points in both reviews (some of criticism, some of praise). It's an interesting comparison in this case because they are very contradictory.

From a purely personal point, the only aspect that surprised me about Tyll's review was not that it was negative, but that it was SO extremely negative, which frankly, almost read as if it was about a different product. It could also have used more detail - e.g. wondering if the headband is PU Leather?
However if Tyll really doesn't like them, there's no surprise that he didn't even feel like digging much more into the product, which is understandable.

To my ears the Z1R is way far from being as Meh as Tyll put it, and also isn't as wonderful as Steve wrote. There's interesting competition, but they're flawed in different ways and some have a price tag that isn't very far from the Z1R (which mops the floor with almost everything in its class when it comes at least to build+comfort).

 

[Whitigir]

Just cause you want to like it doesnt mean you know more or that you are less ignorant. I like it cause it sounds good not cause how they made it. If another doesnt like it its either they prefer a different sound or they make themself not want to like it so not to spend money. Others might not give it a chance just because they dont like big companies or they just dont like the name of the company. Another might dislike closed headphones.

For a user and consumer point of view, you are correct. For a point of view of a Reviewer, Critics, you shall try to see it both ways, Positive, and negative. You just don't go out and say "oh hell, this is not what I like, I prefer pair of beats"

The positive is that Z1R is fun, musical, and engaging with definition and fidelity with more privacy

The negative is that the Z1R is not any Flat, Neutral or balanced sound signature so that many audiophiles are calling "references grade". Z1R was never advertised to be like that

 

[canali]

i have some thoughts on that but i'll keep them to myself. what I will say is that having hung around this forum for a while now, the responses that I've seen here to a critical review are to be expected.

i think that response would apply to most any product had it been given the disingenuous swipe with the reviewer preferring a product just 1/15th it's cost. (ath m50x)... a respectful criticism is one thing but many on here feel that review was not as professional as it could have been.

and our reactions are not so different from other forums/threads with members having a vested interest in their $$$ product (whether it be a watch brand or a car)...go over, for example, to SABF and criticize any of their beloved schiit (or better yet, offer up praise on a chord product over one from schiit) and watch the response (read: .pitchforks and fire here we come).