SONY Sony MDR-Z1R headphones, or a treasure that can be loaded into the history of SONY headphones

Preface:

Chatting on this SONY new flagship headset, unconsciously will think of its designer ~ Mr. Kakuda. I remember that once there was an interview with SONY, I had the pleasure to meet with Mr. Kakuda. I also took a photo with him and signed a name on the equipment. That was my first time in Shanghai.

The MDR-Z7 introduced previously was not written by Mr. Kakuda. The naming of the model also made me think that "7" is not capable of bearing historical changes and represents a brilliant product of the times. I began to look forward to the arrival of the "1", which is truly flagship.

In the conference at the end of 2014, SONY brought a new name for their products. This word, which is generally used in the evaluation article to describe the sound of pipework, was first applied to Sony's MDR-Z7, MDR-Z5.

In my understanding, it is probably emphasizing the sense of space and three-dimensionality. Unfortunately, the MDR-Z5 I borrowed at the time, MDR-Z7 did not interpret the term "air sense" very well. On the contrary, heavy low-frequency, rich music made me feel uncomfortable. Until today... I met Mr. Kakuda's work again.


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The first time I actually heard the MDR-Z1R was actually on November 5, 2016. Why I would remember this time, because I will be traveling the next day. Before I traveled, I came to Guangzhou Zhitong and listened to their prototype in the store. Frankly, the first impression did not impress me. Or to put it this way, at that time, because the wire was the original line of the MDR-Z7, it was a bit wrong to say what we heard.

Some people may ask, on September 2nd, the auditorium in Guangzhou on September 10 did not hear it? Yes, I didn't hear it. No chance to hear it. But it does not matter, there is always the opportunity to hear, only sooner or later.

The second time I heard this headset, it was time to write this article. It has been a week since the prototype was received. The first-hand friend estimated that he did not deliberately take the opportunity to use his head, so the headphone sound can still feel the status of the new machine. The MDR-Z1R uses a large-diameter unit of 70mm, so even if it crashes, it will take some time. In view of this, it can only be written according to the state of the new machine.

Unfortunately, this audition only borrowed the MDR-Z1R and NW-WM1A, and the thrust of the NW-WM1A was limited. To drive this large headset intact, it was a bit reluctant. So, the next sense of hearing, mainly with the desktop headset system as a front-end to share.

Before sharing the sense of hearing, we must first talk about the MDR-Z1R's overview, appearance, wear, and work experience.

【product description】

In the fall of 2016, SONY released a new generation of players, headphones, and a series of high-definition audio products. With this release, it can be seen that the reserve will be used for two years and SONY will make another effort. As the founder of walkman, SONY’s skill in carrying audio is still deep. However, we must say that the new aircraft NW-WM1A and NW-WM1Z released this time have both increased in size and weight compared to the previous flagship NW-ZX2. What about new headphones? The size of the MDR-Z1R is also not small. It is also slightly larger than the MDR-Z7. Of course, just the increase in volume, weight, it is certainly not SONY want to bring everyone. This generation of products brings a new gameplay that is SONY's newly defined 4.4mm balanced output. The new headset MDR-Z1R is also equipped with a 4.4mm balanced headphone cable to correspond to the balanced output of its own system.

Since it is the flagship, of course, the use of materials has been stressed: 70mm large size unit, magnesium ball dome diaphragm, no resonant shell, leather ergonomic ear pads, titanium alloy head beams, aluminum alloy arms and sliders. It seems that the MDR-Z1R is more a result of the accumulation of intentions than the previous generation.

【Appearance】

From the flat bottom case of the MDR-Z7, it is now a meshed and streamlined case. The change in the cavity is still quite large. There are friends who ridicule the MDR-Z1R's appearance like a bra. Indeed, looking a few more times is a bit like it. Perhaps their vision is also viewed from the side. And this MDR-Z1R, which is also the earphone I've touched, has the most real-shaped and most special one.

Although a large-sized speaker unit is used, the earphones are not inconsistent in appearance. The whole machine is based on black, giving a calm, atmospheric, mellow but stylish feeling. Two effects are applied to the wire sheath. The main line is a bump stripe effect, and the line is the same as the surface of an ordinary wire.

The MDR-Z1R uses a separate headphone body and headphone cable design, and comes with a 4.4mm balanced headphone cable. Unlike some market-changing earphones, the MDR-Z1R earphone is connected to the wire via a 3.5mm plug/female connector. The plug end also has a threaded knob lock to prevent loosening of the earphone and poor contact.

[workplace origin]

The MDR-Z1R is made in Japan and has excellent workmanship as before. Usually, only special models or some products that have been given a flagship title will be produced in Japan. I remember that the MDR-Z1000, which was written by Mr. Kakuda six years ago, was a flagship monitor at the time but was only produced in Malaysia.

MDR-Z1R this flagship price of more than 10,000 yuan, work is considered outstanding. From the tightness and feel of the slider, to the size of the seam at the joint of the part, to the surface treatment of the metal and so on. All of them reveal the sophisticated installation and craftsmanship of Dachang. At this point, there was no quality problem in my use of the week.

[wearing experience]

Although the MDR-Z1R has a certain weight, wearing comfort is good. Wearing a head does not feel tired. The large-sized unit, of course, requires a large ear pad, so that it can basically completely wrap the ear. And this pair of ear pads are designed according to ergonomics. After wearing headphones, they feel very fit and have very low pressure on the head.

The elasticity and toughness of the head beam are good and they are not chucked. Both ends of the sliding block provide 10 stages of adjustment for users with different types of heads. Of course, if your head is extraordinarily large or very small, that's no problem. However, SONY in the design of the first beam, sliding block size parameters should be collected, the current head of the mainstream population data, it is estimated that wearing or not wearing particularly loose cases.

【Sound characteristics】

The impression MDR-Z1R gave me was not the kind of ear that surprised me. It was a headset that needed to be played slowly to feel its advantages and disadvantages. Because of the limited time, we can only try to find some familiar music to test its sound. After a week of contact. The MDR-Z1R gave me the feeling of a headset with good sound reproduction. Compared to the previous generation MDR-Z7, the MDR-Z1R has a higher degree of fidelity than the sound. Compared with Mr. Kakuda's 6 years ago, MDR-Z1000, the sound quality has improved significantly.

The advantage of the MDR-Z1R lies in the sound field and sense of space. The MDR-Z1R sound field is not only broad, but also has depth in vertical depth and sound level. After the desktop system, this wide sound field and three-dimensional space are fully reflected. This is where I think the MDR-Z1R is the best. Of course, the sound quality, separation, analysis, details and other hard qualities are equally weak. From the analysis of the style of the sound, the MDR-Z1R will be a highly reproducible live or recording source.

【Listen and feel】

(a) Listen and listen alone

This section is just to pick up some familiar music for audition alone, without any equipment comparison.

Source: NW-WM1A

Headphones: MDR-Z1R

Music: <empty stool> Xia Yusheng "è°™ II"

This combination is the evaluation and the official combination of audition. The voice of the NW-WM1A, compared with the previous generation flagship NW-ZX2, has increased in the low-middle frequency. The sound becomes more solid and solid. The width of the sound field is slightly inferior to the NW-ZX2, but the depth of field is better than that of the NW-ZX2. The output power has been improved compared to the predecessor, although not as powerful as the national brick, but driving the MDR-Z1R, the voice has its own set.

First share the sense of hearing in the direct push. After all, it is the collocation of the products in the own brand. Although the sound of the combined output of the NW-WM1A + MDR-Z1R is not amazing, it is not bad. Probably limited by the thrust of the front end, the strength, density, and penetration of the sound are very general. However, it is still relatively harmonious. There is a saying well, "Thinned camel is better than Martha." Indeed, MDR-Z1R has a good sense of space, transparent, relaxed and natural. The only thing to pick is that the vocal knot is a little behind.

When the 4.4mm is replaced, the first ear feels better in depth and the sound field is more rounded. The voice of the vocal is more pronounced, and the three-dimensionality of the sound can be felt instead of being single and planar. This auditory stereotaxation does not depend on raising the bass and causing the intermediate frequency image to shrink. The output of the balanced end is mainly reflected in changes in the sound field, the image, and the sense of hierarchy, which makes the sound more three-dimensional and the sense of space more vivid.

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BONUS:

About NW-WM1A's review

Seeing here, a friend may ask, since they are talking about NW-WM1A, can you share more? Of course, if you are directed at the subject of this article, then the previously shared NW-WM1A with the MDR-Z1R is already finished. However, since this player has also been borrowed, here I simply share my feelings with you.

Through a week's exposure, the NW-WM1A gave me the impression that the machine was sounding not overly brilliant, overall details, and sound and space.

Since the listing of the NW-WM1A, the limelight has been suppressed by its compatriot NW-WM1Z. After all, the thinking of the Chinese people is only looking at the most expensive, only looking forward to the best. So it is understandable. Although on the day of the audition event in Guangzhou, I did not hear the MDR-Z1R, because when I arrived at the venue, there were 15 minutes to leave the venue. I just briefly listened to the NW-WM1A and NW-WM1Z players. Compare the equipment that was taken at that time. At that time, I listened to Faye Wong's "Beats".

The NW-WM1A's mid-range and low-frequency parts are not as condensed, strong and textured as the NW-WM1Z. Of course, this is related to the difference between the shell and the material. The high-frequency contrast NW-WM1A will appear relatively simple, while the NW-WM1Z's high-pitched part will be more transparent, bright, and sound more dense and strong. The two players also differ in the sound field space. The burglar image of the BRIC NW-WM1Z will be slightly forward with respect to the NW-WM1A, with good density and clear positioning. In this way, in the sense of hearing, the separation of vocal and background will be more obvious, and the spatial three-dimensional feeling will be more prominent. This is the place where BRIC is winning.

Of course, NW-WM1A is still a good player without AB contrast. Control, interface, and workmanship can all reflect the quality of first-rate audio products. Although sound is a subjective thing, it is better or worse. In fact, it is more time to look at collocations. After listening and comparing, the difference between NW-WM1A and NW-WM1Z was also felt. However, given the huge price difference between the two. So, my opinion, for the fancier, the NW-WM1A has a significantly better price/performance ratio. And in actual use, the portability is better. After all, the difference in weight is also obvious. The sound gap between the two can be used to fill in the earplugs with funds that are different from each other, and it is absolutely possible to recover the difference in this paragraph.

About NW-WM1A, let's talk about it here. If you are still hesitating to choose between brick and brick, you can evaluate your wallet and beliefs first, so that you can easily find the ideal answer.

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(B) Contrast listening

Source: HM901s + DOCK-1 (HIFIMAN)

Headphones: Taurus (AURALIC)

Headphones: MDR-Z1R (SONY)

MDR-Z1000(SONY)

Music: <In fact, you do not understand my heart> Zhao Peng "Voice II Subwoofer"

/"Suppé and Auber Overtures"

In the second round, it is still on the desktop amp to drive it. Mr. Kakuda's work was found six years ago, MDR-Z1000, which was the flagship of the “Z” series. For SONY's recent naming rules, my 33-year-old Sony user did not quite understand it. However, there is a pattern that follows, that is, Sony’s flagship has always been related to the number “1”. But as for why this time is still adding "R" at the back, this ... I will not explain.

Gossip about this, next talk to everyone about two headphones, the difference in this system.

Under this system, both headphones can get better driving results. In the first song, the MDR-Z1000 voice sounds more full, and the knot looks more advanced than the MDR-Z1R. The separation of music and voice is not as obvious as the MDR-Z1R. The MDR-Z1000 sound field is slightly horizontal, with a sense of depth. The MDR-Z1R still maintains its wide sound field and large space advantage. In the music, the vocal and background separation is excellent and the leveling is clear. In contrast, the old flagship MDR-Z1000 was slightly crowded.

The second piece of music shared is a large orchestral work, Supe's "Hatch of the Hussars." This music has a high demand for the system. The space provided by the MDR-Z1000 is not large, and its depth is slightly less. The instruments seemed to be close together and the layers stretched slightly. The medium-frequency band is slightly prominent, with full-bodied musical instruments in the middle band and a frontier image. When the orchestral group played together, the scene was somewhat crowded. Plug in the MDR-Z1R, the sense of space is very obvious. The sound field has been opened, has a width, depth, and the level between instruments has become clear and orderly. The MDR-Z1R's musical instrument is moderately sculpted, and the mid-range is not as protruding as the MDR-Z1000. Sound balance is better than the MDR-Z1000.

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Conclusion:

As a new generation of flagship headsets, with excellent quality, balanced sound, relaxed sound field, and a clear sense of space, the MDR-Z1R is indeed a work worth looking forward to. Of course, if you like playing this headset, the front end needs to have a certain amount of investment. Pushing the Walkman directly can only mean listening to an improvise, listening to pop music can also be, listening to large-scale or some recording high-quality music, the bottleneck.

The domestic amp, this evaluation uses AURALIC's Taurus (Taurus) effect is good, in addition, Hao world CMA-800R is also worth considering. In the desktop decoding one machine, we can try the QT of the high price of new products. If conditions permit, we can upgrade the headphone cable. However, it is estimated that I do not say that some of the most eager players will also look for higher-end headphone cables to match their MDR-Z1R.

Finally, thanks to the friends who have read this post, I hope that my sharing will help us understand this headset a little bit. Thank you!

Liu Jiaming


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