Great read man!Dunu Zen vs Sony IER-Z1R
Recently I've received a review unit of the Sony IER-Z1R, and decided to throw in a comparison This is more of a David vs Goliath fight due to the Z1R being Sony's universal IEM flagship and having a more than 2x price premium, but the conclusion isn't so cut and dry.
First up: packaging and accessories. The Z1R unboxing experience is as royal as it gets and the Dunu Zen seems fairly pedestrian in comparison. However, when it comes to the actual accessories, the Dunu Zen has the Z1R beat IMO. The tip collection on the Z1R is still great but Dunu just has far superior cables and the quick-switch plug is sheer genius. Also I prefer the Dunu Zen carry case over the jewelry-box like Z1R case which looks awesome but has poor practicality.
Next, build quality. Both are well built but the Z1R shell has a density which is very hard to beat. The Zen build is no slouch by any means but I just can't get over the steampunk vibe of the Z1R.
Regarding fit and comfort: this one goes to the Zen, hands down. The Z1R is proper huge and won't fit small ears at all. Also the Z1R requires the nozzle to be fairly flush with your canals so not everyone will find it a pleasant experience. I find it fairly well fitting but still the weight and sheer presence of it persists. The Dunu Zen meanwhile simply disappears in comparison. It's a heavy IEM but the weight is well-balanced IMO.
Finally, the sound.
If I have to summarize: IER-Z1R has the better bass and treble, Dunu Zen has superior midrange (esp vocal and string instruments rendition).
Now, a bit more detail. The bass on the Z1R is truly world-class. It's the best bass I've heard till date. The tactility, the sheer physicality and slam, the texture, the sub-bass rumble - it's practically flawless bass for my tastes. The treble meanwhile has good amount of sparkle and air frequencies are portrayed well. This also gives rise to a massive soundstage and imaging is also very precise (though the Dunu Zen has similarly precise imaging to my ears, but the stage is considerably narrower).
The Zen has great bass but it's not as good as the Z1R. Also the Zen lacks upper-treble extension which can be problematic for those who needs an airy presentation. However, when it comes to the vocals, string instruments, grand piano - Dunu Zen is my pick simply because the Z1R puts the male vocals/string instruments in the backseat whereas cymbals, bass, female vocals take the front stage. Also the Zen sounds more coherent (though the Z1R is remarkably coherent for a hybrid). Zen also has better center-imaging (center-imaging is a bit diffused on the IER-Z1R in comparison due to the sheer width of the soundstage).
So yeah, the IER-Z1R is every bit the flagship it's supposed to be, but for an IEM that retails for $1000 less, the Dunu Zen is no less enjoyable and I even prefer it depending on track/genre/mood.
In the full review I will also put comparison of the Zen vs Final A8000 so let's see how that goes.
Great impressions, looking forward to your comparison to the A8000.Dunu Zen vs Sony IER-Z1R
Recently I've received a review unit of the Sony IER-Z1R, and decided to throw in a comparison This is more of a David vs Goliath fight due to the Z1R being Sony's universal IEM flagship and having a more than 2x price premium, but the conclusion isn't so cut and dry.
First up: packaging and accessories. The Z1R unboxing experience is as royal as it gets and the Dunu Zen seems fairly pedestrian in comparison. However, when it comes to the actual accessories, the Dunu Zen has the Z1R beat IMO. The tip collection on the Z1R is still great but Dunu just has far superior cables and the quick-switch plug is sheer genius. Also I prefer the Dunu Zen carry case over the jewelry-box like Z1R case which looks awesome but has poor practicality.
Next, build quality. Both are well built but the Z1R shell has a density which is very hard to beat. The Zen build is no slouch by any means but I just can't get over the steampunk vibe of the Z1R.
Regarding fit and comfort: this one goes to the Zen, hands down. The Z1R is proper huge and won't fit small ears at all. Also the Z1R requires the nozzle to be fairly flush with your canals so not everyone will find it a pleasant experience. I find it fairly well fitting but still the weight and sheer presence of it persists. The Dunu Zen meanwhile simply disappears in comparison. It's a heavy IEM but the weight is well-balanced IMO.
Finally, the sound.
If I have to summarize: IER-Z1R has the better bass and treble, Dunu Zen has superior midrange (esp vocal and string instruments rendition).
Now, a bit more detail. The bass on the Z1R is truly world-class. It's the best bass I've heard till date. The tactility, the sheer physicality and slam, the texture, the sub-bass rumble - it's practically flawless bass for my tastes. The treble meanwhile has good amount of sparkle and air frequencies are portrayed well. This also gives rise to a massive soundstage and imaging is also very precise (though the Dunu Zen has similarly precise imaging to my ears, but the stage is considerably narrower).
The Zen has great bass but it's not as good as the Z1R. Also the Zen lacks upper-treble extension which can be problematic for those who needs an airy presentation. However, when it comes to the vocals, string instruments, grand piano - Dunu Zen is my pick simply because the Z1R puts the male vocals/string instruments in the backseat whereas cymbals, bass, female vocals take the front stage. Also the Zen sounds more coherent (though the Z1R is remarkably coherent for a hybrid). Zen also has better center-imaging (center-imaging is a bit diffused on the IER-Z1R in comparison due to the sheer width of the soundstage).
So yeah, the IER-Z1R is every bit the flagship it's supposed to be, but for an IEM that retails for $1000 less, the Dunu Zen is no less enjoyable and I even prefer it depending on track/genre/mood.
In the full review I will also put comparison of the Zen vs Final A8000 so let's see how that goes.
With comparisons to Xelento, IE 800 S, Luna, Vega 2020 & HS 1670 SS. Enjoy & Happy Listening, as always!
Dunu Zen Review
