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Tudor314
3
Aug 4, 2017
There are way better options out there for the money. Hell, you can get a pair of cans and an amp that would make a great combo for the money.
Vigrith
4081
Aug 4, 2017
Tudor314That can be said for every pair of headphones out there - there are always "better deals" to be had; why buy the $2000 Z1R if you can get Ether Flows for 1799? Why buy Ether Flows for 1799 if you can get AEONs for 799? Why buy the AEON for 799 if you can get TH600s for 599? Why buy TH600s if you can get 00X when they pop up on here for 399? Why wait for those when you can get MX50s for 100 bucks? Why buy M50s for 100 when you can just get VE Monks for 5 USD? Why buy closed backs when open backs are invariably better at the same price point?
Point being, value is what you make of it - do I PERSONALLY think the Z1R are worth their retail of 2200~ USD? No. Even the $1700~ they can be had for here and/or on discount elsewhere as has been discussed is a bit of a stretch but do I like them a lot? Yes I do.
My qualm with the Z1R is that you're paying a lot (too much) for technology and engineering which leads to lacklustre sound quality to price ratio - then again, the same happens with most other TOTL closed back headphones (except the AEON, those are fucking amazing and imo a bargain).
Plenty of people out there had no problem paying 2 grand for these and are very happy with their purchase, as I stated down below in another comment these are very polarising but when you like them you like their sound signature then you'll love them; they're also incredibly comfortable and look beautiful in person (imo).
Tudor314
3
Aug 4, 2017
VigrithExactly my point. You can get more bang for your buck from so many headphones at around 1700$. Have not herd an enthusiastic review on these cans yet, but herd raving reviews on many others, close back or open. And let's not star bring Stax in the equation. Kinda disappointed at what Massdrop is doing lately with anything except their usual suspects (the HD 6xx, fostex and what have you).
Vigrith
4081
Aug 4, 2017
Tudor314There are many enthusiastic reviews over on head-fi but you're right, many of the bigger reviews and more known names aren't too keen on them and I can't blame them. What-Hifi is a prominent and respected source for reviews within Europe and they loved them for example - https://www.whathifi.com/sony/mdr-z1r/review
That said, a few things worth noting: 1. Sony tends to cater to an "older"/more die-hard audiophile audience/demographic. 2. these are admittedly very expensive
This can contribute to the lack of reviews compared to other more mainstream and/or cheaper headphones. Past a certain point, due to diminishing returns obviously, it becomes harder and harder to justify cost. Not just with these but with any almost - people love the Hifiman HE-1000s, plenty of raving reviews, are they worth 3 grand? Everyone loves the Focal Utopia and they're regarded as the best headphones in the world by almost everybody, are they worth 4 grand? That's up to the consumer, that's what I meant by value being what you make of it.
It's like saying "yea a 1989 Ferrari F40 is definitely worth 1 and a half million dollars", it's not something one can or should recommend lightly.
Pellegrini
3
Aug 4, 2017
VigrithThis also can be used with guitars as an example. There are the Custom Shops, signature, standard, low-cost (Squier, Mexican Fender, Epiphone, etc.) and it is up to you if it is worth the price. Why buying a custom shop if you can get a standard and make some tweaks? why getting a standard if you can have a lower cost and improve it? There are better brands than Gibson, Fender, Martin, etc. but if you have the money for it and are willing to buy, go for it>
BUT, if possible, always do a "test-drive" with the guitar/headphone with a proper equipment to see its full potential and decide if it is worth it
VigrithThe AKG K872 is probably a better closed back than these Z1Rs for a lot less!
I have the Aeon and love it, but I need a new open back highly resolving set of cans as well. 🤔
I adore my K702s for classical recordings, especially big hall where the lack of bass energy is realistic. They're holographic. I'd pay 10x what I paid for the K702 if I could get something with a driver that matches the transient response and resolution of the K702 but had bass extension suitable for pop/rock/jazz/electronic...
Anyway, I'm thinking of taking the plunge on the K812. If it has similar qualities to the K702 but a frequency coloration more suited to non-classical genres, I'll snatch it up!
Tudor314
3
Aug 5, 2017
prestidigitatorYou can always go Stax ;)
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