Received the L9, but not the color they had me confirm. I don't mind because they sound great. Bigger soundstage and way more bass than Legacy 3. I was looking for a Sony N3 upgrade and these are a welcome addition. Of course, the bass is so strong, that its not suited for every song. At the same time, the other frequencies are very clear and detailed. Treble is on the edge to bright but I rarely think its harsh. Smartphone drives them fine, only very small difference on DX160 (maybe smoother treble but I would fail A-B test). I feel myself turning down the volume a little more with these because the bass and treble is so intense/fatiguing (that was the same for the N3). The N3 is a little more intimate because everything is closer but I usually prefer the greater perceived stage.
Cable is the same as L3, they included some CP100 tips. I use Symbio W and CP145 (most comfortable). CP100 are bass-boosters in my ears which are not necessary on L9. Fit for me is better than the L3 (even though they look the same). If you're short on money I would probably recommend the Shuoer Tape with heavy EQ to make them sound close. I still feel they're worth the asking price and you get a very individual wood shell. Not the best bang for buck because of diminishing returns and they are designed for specific genres and excel in those. I felt like the L3 could not choose what they want to do best and they kinda did everything but did not excel in some genres. You can probably tone down the L9 bass a few db and make them more all-round. A bass switch would have been insane on those but I prefer no switches to L3 switches that change so little.
Great set for bass-loving audiophiles in summary. I can't compare with other sets at this price-range or at higher prices but going by frequency, a comparison with Campfire Atlas or 7hz i99 would be interesting. JQ Hua with a little Bass EQ maybe next?
I would also be interested how far the L9 is away from the Z1R.
