Upper mids are recessed on Z1R so, vocals and electric guitars on N5005 are more lively and energetic. Some background: for customs my audiologist to the stars Aid2Hearing in London says that my canals are narrow opening but 'once inside the space seems to be normal'.

I’ve heard they’re using zirconium alloy for the build, which if true is definitely an interesting design decision. Would i recommend the IER-Z1R over something like the Vision Ears EST, UE LIVE, 64 Audio Fourté and similar?For this section, I’ll mostly be drawing comparisons to my only flagship IEM, the 64audio U12t because it serves as a good reference point.

The top of the IEM houses the color-coded channel markings, where I can see something that resembles a vent. Every detail, no matter how small, is thoughtfully rendered to ensure you can perceive the most delicate nuances with remarkable accuracy. With advances in cable-making techniques and radical approaches to manufacturing, there are now several solutions to this universal problem. Now, we're not talking they compete with open headphones like HD800, but it makes music sound grand. The expertise and intuition of Sony’s engineers play a crucial role in acoustic design, resulting in the most authentic sound reproduction.

You can expect said contrast to correspond to thinner notes; generally, these sorts of dips to frequency response are also used to impart a sense of spaciousness. That is common for all non IEM and it even happens with an IEM at one point, if its too loud, its too loud, but it happens too early with the IER-Z1R imho. The IER-Z1R is a more difficult IEM to drive; however, I had no trouble powering it off of my iPhone with - heresy, I know - the Apple dongle . To say that this unboxing experience doesn't heightens the experience of getting this pair would be an understatement.