Sony MDRZ1R Signature, Hi-Res Headphone, Black

I been hearing lots of praise for the mdr-z1r and now that I have my own I believe it definitely deserves it.The mdr-z1r are extremely well constructed and designed with absolutely no creaking and at least for my head the headband is just the right tension that works together with the deep molded earpads that soft in a way that It seals around your ear but it's firm enough to maintain its shape keeping my ears from making contact with the drivers, making these the most comfortable headphones I worn yet.For this section I may not know the correct technical audiophile terms to describe the mdr-z1r's performance and you can get a better description from other reviewers here, but I can probably describe the z1r better by comparison with other headphones I have, for example:Mdr-1am2, good build quality and light as a feather but earcups are shallow and sometimes it creaks a bit, sound profile is v shaped with more emphasis on the highs compared to the z1r but somewhat less subbass and very narrow soundstage which is expected for a typical close back of its price range.Mdr-z7m2, this one is very comparable in build quality and comfort and having that wide soundstage but the sound profile while still v shaped and detailed it's kinda dull across the board especially when compared to the 1am2. It's like if the z1r was to split into two separate headphones with the z7m2 having the build quality and the soundstage while the 1am2 keeps the exciting sound profile.That concludes my review of the mdr-z1r and I hope this gives you a better idea if you happen to own either of those headphones in the comparison.

Headphones...like all audio devices/equipment...have their own unique sound signature. Some will find the Sony MDR-Z1R to their linking, few won’t. What’s undeniable is that from the presentation, unboxing and feeling in your hands and on your head, it’s easy to see that this is truly a flagship product. You can tell Sony held nothing back in terms of giving its designers and engineers free reign to create their dream headphone...and in my eyes and hands, they’ve truly delivered.But what about sound? Here is where you will find the never ending debate come to a head (pardon the pun): Closed-back vs. Open-Back designs. If you prefer an open-back sound, there probably isn’t anything the Sony can do to sway you from the absolute best open-back cans. However, the Z1R’s have the widest, deepest soundstage I’ve ever heard from a closed design as well as presenting well recorded music with all the air and layering you would only expect from a really good open-back. And, due to the closed-back, you get an amazing amount of bass that’s always in control, with a full sense of depth and tightness, never boomy or muddy. They also have a great amount of isolation from the outside world. FWIW, I mostly use my Z1R’s with my Sony NW-ZX2 Hi-Res player and on my laptops & iPad Air with the incredible THX Onyx DAC/headphone amplifier. Material is Tidal (CD and MQA quality) streaming and stored high-res FLAC and DSD files.All in, these are undoubtedly the best closed-back headphones in the world, with reference-levels of sound quality and amazing build quality to boot. If you value the sonic signature and other qualities that a closed-back headphone brings...bass presence and authority, tempo, control and isolation are areas the Sony excels in...then you probably can’t go wrong with the Z1R’s. They are hugely expensive, yes, but the best is rarely ever cheap.

These are true reference headphones with glorious sound and build quality unrivaled. Beat out (very slightly) my Sennheiser HD820s in sound, and substantially in build quality.

These Sony MDR-Z1R headphones are simply incredible! I am using them with the Sony NW-WM1A Walkman. These are more than what one would call “detailed”. These make music come alive to the point that the materials the instruments are made of can be heard and felt....Wooden instruments sound like wood, metal strings sound like metal, the friction of the hairs of a violin bow against the metal strings can be felt, synthetic drum heads can be distinguished from animal skin ones, vocals sound human. These go beyond accuracy, instrument separation, imaging, sound stage, etc. and actually “create” the music. As a musician I can say I have not yet heard any headphones as good as these or like these at any price. These are a conduit to the musicians on the other end. They also achieve this even while listening at very low volumes which is pretty amazing and are also outstandingly comfortable and light weight too. These headphones should be considered musical instruments in themselves. Bravo, Sony!

The Z1Rs are my first high end pair of headphones. I bought them after I spent a few months with my first DAC, and realized how good music, movies, and games could actually sound. The Z1Rs take every bit of sound quality my DAC provides and clearly has even greater potential. So I ordered a ScHiit Magnius and Modius combo in order to experience balanced audio. These headphones are beautiful to look at, and in the elegant complexity of their construction. They are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn, despite a greater than normal size. That extra size provides a really amazing sense of space and depth to the sound. They are very easy to drive, requiring very little power from an amp in order to sound their best. I am not an Audiophile. The best recommendation I can offer is to tell you that I spent $1800.00 + on this pair of headphones, and I consider the purchase one of the very best that I have ever made!

Absolutely mind-boggling … to have this quality you would need to pay 2 to 3 times this price in other premium models. Two things to take into account: first use the balanced 4.4 mm jack otherwise you’re losing part of its full potential. Second it absolutely absolutely needs a headphone amplifier but a top range one to reach its potential , and if you want to use your smartphone use a super DAC/AMP my advise the QueStyle M18i amazing quality for the money.