Sony MDR-Z1R Headphones

Great listening with a perhaps an overkill on the packaging box. Supplied adapter jack was pretty basic but they're basic anyway. 4.4 cord could have been the same length as the other cord supplied. As for listening the headphones are fantastic and they are vey comfortable to wear. Great built quality even listening to my old Sony 152SD cassette deck they brought out sounds on old cassette tapes that I hadn't heard previously. Expensive but you get the best closed set of headphones you are ever likely to need.

I’ve read and seen the YouTube reviews on these but for pure music enjoyment and long listening session the Z1R have been a outstanding. Now I had to get my chain right to get here so let me tell you what I’m using. I’ve got an Oppo HA-1, with the Oppo Sonica streaming DAC, I run Apple Music hard wired into the Sonica to get the lossless audio out of a iphoneX running IOS 15.6. I connect the Z1R’s to the HA-1 using a 4pin balanced Audiophile Ninja cable.My original intent was to use these for rock and the blues which they do very well. But jazz, classical, singer song writer, strings, sound tracks are just as stunning. These are definitely for music lovers.

I bought these Z1R headphones without trying them because I couldn’t find anyone who had them in.Sony we’re less than helpful in locating them or the TA-ZH1ES amplifier and the IER-Z1R either.Now they want me to review the Headphones, well they are overpriced at £1749, I paid £1650, Amazon were asking £1549.81 but in the end couldn’t supply them and so they cancelled the order for me.The build quality is a mix of premium materials, the sheepskin leather cushions are exceptionally comfortable, the 70mm drivers angled towards the ear provide for a well balanced presentation although for me a little brighter with the mid tones would be nice having said that some material is recorded “bright” so this really does depend on the type of material you are listening to, ... MoreI bought these Z1R headphones without trying them because I couldn’t find anyone who had them in.Sony we’re less than helpful in locating them or the TA-ZH1ES amplifier and the IER-Z1R either.Now they want me to review the Headphones, well they are overpriced at £1749, I paid £1650, Amazon were asking £1549.81 but in the end couldn’t supply them and so they cancelled the order for me.The build quality is a mix of premium materials, the sheepskin leather cushions are exceptionally comfortable, the 70mm drivers angled towards the ear provide for a well balanced presentation although for me a little brighter with the mid tones would be nice having said that some material is recorded “bright” so this really does depend on the type of material you are listening to, I’m currently using Tidal Masters.The headphones are a great sleeping pill, they can put me out like a light, the resonance filter works very well leaving total silence between tracks.As with everything, what suits one persons taste doesn’t suit another, I’m happy with them although that huge case they come in is really a nuisance and of little use once the headphones are in use plus everything is black, black case black interior, black Chinese cables, black cable wallet and of course the headphones themselves are - you guessed it. Maybe a nice maroon plush interior next time Sony, something warm and inviting.No carry bag/case is provided.Cables - 2 cables are provided, a 3mtr 3.5mm cable makes good sense but the Pentaconn 4.4mm cable is 1.2mtr long - WHY, why can’t I have a 3mtr Pentaconn cable, I’m going to have to sit at or lye on the floor next to my system to use this useless accessory. I did buy some Dekoni velour ear cushions as an alternative to the sheepskin, these can be changed very easily without the need for tools.I do wonder just how premium this Hi-Res equipment actually is, I believe you can judge this by the length of the warranty and in this case it’s a very paltry 12 months, so……. In comparison my basic TV has a 5 year warranty.Would I recommend this product to a friend, I would let them try them and they can make their own mind up as to wether they like the sounds they produce but for the next question I’ll answer yes.