Sound QualityAt first blush the MDR-Z1R sounds like a warm warm headphone with some treble emphasis—a bit smilie face, but not bad. May brain never did get around to accommodating though. The bass is a bit too strong and remains emphasized too far into the midrange giving it a thick character. A moderately withdrawn presence region adds some veil to the thick bass. A lack of energy 4-6kHz leaves cymbals lacking body, and a big peak at 10kHz add too much zing to everything and, while not piercing as would a 5kHz be, becomes significantly fatiguing over time. When switching back and forth between it and the Mr. Speakers Aeon and Ether C Flow, and Sonoma e-stat to compare tonal balance I was regularly struck with how the others provided a much better sense of an integrated whole; the Sony in comparison was disjointed and incoherent. Not once did it make me tap my feet.
The MDR-Z1R is a spectacularly beautiful, comfortable, well built headphone, but the bass-heavy, veiled, and zingy character is just far too uneven for a headphone at this price. I'm very disappointed. Almost 30 years ago they built the legendary MDR-R10 that now sells for around $6000 used...and in my opinion they have fallen short ever since. To me it feels like they come up with seriously innovative ideas and designs, but fail to listen and tune, or throw out entirely, these concepts when they don't sound up to snuff.
Click here to view on YouTube. Resources
Sony home page, Z1R product page, and user manual.
Head-fi reviews and thread.
Superbestaudiofriends.org thread.
