As they say, the truth is always somewhere in between, heh. I tried a friend's Z1R over a few days and I do think that it is among the best closed headphone on the market now, even if it is a little too bassy and a touch too dark for my taste.
My thoughts exactly. Both the dark and the bassy parts can be noticed immediately and are more emphasized with certain tracks. In one of the first posts about mine I recall writing on how Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" Live had the bass guitar feeling so bloated and overwhelming. That still happens with certain tracks, but I learned to spot which ones excel on the Z1R, and when they do, they REALLY do. The darkness fortunately didn't mean lack of resolution or treble detail and with some source tweaking can be solved too.
Competing models have weaknesses that have to be compensated too. I call BS on reports that model X or Y is a flawless closed performer with everything you throw at it, with any source.
I can't say I really understand where Tyll is coming from when he mentioned the M50x in the same review as the Z1R
It was used to emphasize dislike and also value-for-money. They're in such different leagues that the Z1R could come with a M50x as a gift. Still, no doubt that comparison will become a meme for people who don't like the Z1R. Can't say I don't value the comic potential.
. Also, I agree they are extremely comfortable and has an impeccable build quality.
After owning mine for... almost 8 months now, I think the comfort aspect isn't praised enough. These are not just really comfortable headphones, they are the most comfortable I have ever tried. Granted, I haven't tried everything out there, but I don't recall anything this nice. The clamp, the shape of the pads, feeling of weight, etc. It's such a relief when I take off the HD800 for instance, and many people think the 800/800S are super comfortable. Well, they are indeed, just not as comfy.
I like Z1R, and I still like Utopia and SR009. Hell, if Z1R could fit my head when laying down on the bed I would still have it.
I no longer own Z1R, but for whatever Tyll is saying about it, it is too far off from the truth. It look like no more than an attempt to attack and defame Sony latest headphones, period.
I do understand that the direction Sony is heading and the market they are aiming is different than the past where the R10 was their flagship, but non the less, the Z1R is very successful in what it was designed for.
We should start being able to let go of the R10, IMHO. It was a fine model back then, a true cutting edge product, but today it's no longer comparable to modern offerings. The same probably applies to the Qualia. It certainly applies to the CD3000 (which interestingly also received some flak at launch, was mostly ignored and ended up being respected only many years after its death, reaching 3 or 4x the original price).
The Z1R would have been better with a brighter signature and a bit less energy on the low frequencies - at least to my taste - but it's still way better than any of the old classics, IMHO. Not to mention that the surviving bio-cellulose drivers are probably not in really good shape these days, so I wonder if anyone can still listen to them with a fidelity close to the original ~1990 days.
I pre ordered the hd800S and wrote a positive review for what it is, but the forum was hanging on for tyll review, which initially was positive. I remarked to the accolades from Tyll confirming hd800S, that phew I can rest easy now knowing i liked it. He subsequently kinda panned it and the outrage was felt on the forum. I like my la900 as well, so there, tyll is great, I always look forward to his impressions but don't let it influence what your preferences are, or bring self doubt, or irrational exuberance.
I'm OK with bad reviews as I'm fine with the concept of liking a product despite being disliked by authorities in the field. A bit like liking a movie that everyone seems to hate according to metareviews. Some people are a bit more pissed by that, as if it is an attack on their good taste.
One aspect we all have to admit, negative reviews from reference sources have the potential to impact demand, especially in the used market. The resale value sure won't be affected positively. Then again... it's a S&D market, so who knows, maybe people stop buying them so the surviving units will be worth a bit more in a distant future.
I'm keeping mine so I don't really care, but I'd be a bit bummed if I was just planning to put it on the For Sale forum.
To be sure, IMO, the Z1R is superior for soundstage projection, bass, small measure of resolution, and perhaps, tonal balance. The AEON immediately showed a little more energy in the upper mids than the norm would support, something like a performance space that is a little too bright, not awful, just a small amount. Additionally, early in the burn, there was a small amount of glare in the same region, again, just a small amount. At 120 hrs, that small touch of glare is gone, and the upper mid emphasis is reduced.
Another interesting point, are we entering a time when open/closed design means very little to the quality of the aural image projected? Started on a smaller scale with the PM3, then Z1R fully challenged the preconception, now AEON enters the arena.
The sense of space is one of the Z1R strong points that close competitors aren't matching. I really like that aspect. And it's probably not even more obvious because the tonality is a bit on the dark side.
Yes, very interesting how closed cans are starting to sound less confined, but then again, it's still a big distance between these and a HEK or HD800 or similar soundstage beast.
On the other hand, some open cans
*cof*Utopia*cof**cof* can still sound pretty tight in-your-head, despite the open design...
