Sony - IER-Z1R

Exactly, I owned z1r before. Ie900 has slightly more sub bass but z1r has overall slightly better bass quality.

Having been through almost everything, nothing beats the Fatfreq Maestro SE or the Sony IER-Z1R for a well rounded bass experience. If you're looking for something more all around but can deliver truly excellent bass when called upon, my favourite IEM of all time... Campfire Astrolith.

OK First up, the really easy one, and it's a really big one - sub bass. A headphone cannot deliver sub bass like an IEM can. I own three of the big (and very good, rather than novelty type) IEMs known for their bass belivery - Fatfreq Maestro SE, which I have the CIEM version of (and thus delivers even more sub bass of due to the deep fit/isolation), the Sony IER-Z1R & thr best IEM of last year IMO, the Campfire Astrolith. There are plenty of others as well. I love my sub bass - and there are certain genres that really need it. I've tried several of the more popular bottom heavy headphones, and they just don't come close - Sony MDR-Z1R, Fostex (forgot the model number - big shiny red domes) & a couple of others. Unfortunately once you're used to how really good, sub heavy IEMs, headphones just don't come close. I do love headphones, but all of those got sold - most very quickly. --- The other big one is how hybrid driver designs work - I don't know if you're a fan, but Alessandro Cortini of NIN (Nine Inch Nails) & an artist of a very different kind in his own right is a huge fan of how hybrid IEMs work vs traditional headphones - and released a collaboration hybrid IEM with Campfire Audio; the Clara. The amazing thing with the better hybrids (done well - they need to be implement intelligently & tested thoroughly/tweaked before launch) is really how different driver types work together to create something very special. Of course you can do this with headphones, but it doesn't work in the same way as you need them to be packed together & given a small exit point to really work their magic - my personal favourite example of a hybrid design is the Thieaudio Prestige Ltd; I use these daily & I had them CIEM'd after ten months as I know I'll never sell them & CIEMs both sound better & are more comfortable. It feels like you're wearing nothing. They usd a combination of electrostatic drivers (which are incredible for high frequencies & the imaging/detail of those frequencies) balanced armatures which handle the mids & dynamic drivers which hand the bass. These are a beautifully balanced set which I have used for 8-12h very regularly & they still sound magical to me. It's not an aggressive sounding set - zero fatigue from long sessions & you cannot possibly have a similar audio experience with overheads. I absolutely adore overheads, too & I never thought IEMs could catch up - but they have - but it's a very different thing & they both have their place.

Set myself the task of having - within reason - the best line up of IEMs possible (and the best way to drive them). Fortunately I'm in a position where I can borrow loaners of pretty much anything and I tried a LOT. I only kept one IEM from last year & that was the Thieaudio Prestige Ltd - I reshelled those into a CIEM (varnished wood faceplate/clear shell) as I absolutely adore them (369 days of near daily use & counting) & nothing else does quite what they do. They're my all day listens & the comfort of them being a CIEM & that little bass boost due to a better seal 👌 One of my biggest priorities for the artillery refresh was durability. The Prestige Ltd cost me $1300 & as much as I loved the sound... Thieaudio's shells are absolute crap, when compared with the likes of Campfire or even Unique Melody who make really excellent resin (?) shells as per the Mest MKII. The other CIEM is the black & white ska pattern Maestro SE 'MK 1.5' (significantly revised internals apparently). They're kind of a bonus as FF really messed me around with a pair of Maestro SE uni's & I thought I was going to get a refund... they offered me a full custom & I'm glad I took it as they are firm favourites... but I certainly wouldn't pay $3000 for them. I produce & DJ drum n bass & these are my favourites for simple production stuff & digital 'crate digging' as well as familiarising myself with new tracks I'm going to play out... and just enjoying dnb or any bass heavy music. Those blue/green abalone shell with the gold trim are the QDC Emperor. Personally I adore them. I loved the detail & treble of the QDC Anole VX, but hated the all BA bass. Their new flagship, the Emperor (which retail at $3000, but I got ex demo for $2200) has 15 drivers per side including DD's for sub & EST's for the highs. I think these were greatly overlooked by western reviewers (because QDC don't seem to send review pairs out & do very well in China anyway) & at a quick listen they can come across as 'dark'. I can understand that, and it's typically not something I love - but I think these just sound rich & full bodied... I already loved the good parts of the Anole VX & these just seemed to take what was good with those & improve it enormously. The sound incredible with very full sounding music such as heavy electronic stuff (Justice) & heavier rock (Nirvana). They're so different from anything else & that suits me just fine - I do have to boost the bass quite significantly with the DSP on my Mojo 2 to get them to my liking - and they're certainly capable of it. You need to take your time with these to really appreciate them. Top right are the Final A8000. I'd naively decided I wasn't interested in single DD IEMs as I really didn't like Sennheisers IE600/900 or the Softears Twlight very much (def preferred the Softears over the Senns massively, but just not for me)... these single beryillium driver beauties proved me so very wrong. Unbelievable imaging. Unparalleled clarity. Some people feel the treble is too much - but that's just how drums etc really sound. These are usually $2000, but I got them for about half of that & I'd absolutely recommend them at this sort of price point. They look so sexy, too. My IEM of the year was a big surprise. Never been a fan of Campfire or planar IEM's & these are both. The bass is incredible, the second planar for the treble really works wonders, yet the mids still sound clear & forward - they sound like nothing else & have to be heard to be believed. Great all rounder, too. Lastly - the Sony IER-Z1R - I love bass & I tried so many high end pairs known for their bottom end... I'd read so many comments about how uncomfortable these are. Not for me or anyone I know who actually has or has owned a pair. They look like they should be uncomfortable, but they're not in the slightest & IMO they beat more modern IEMs known for their bass such as the Fir XE6 & the 64 Audio Volour (my biggest disappointment. Really didn't like anything about them beyond build quality & how pretty they are!). These can go to toe to tie with the Fatfreq Maestro SE as a superb very v shaped basshead set... these are the only two somewhat similar pairs I own & quite honestly I think the Sony's are a MUCH better deal given the build quality (these will last forever!). A classic for a reason. A couple of lessons I learned this year - I will never buy a DAP again (until they become very small, very fast & less than $1000 - and even then I'll just use it as a music transport)... I owned a few of the so called TOTL DAPS... A&K SP3000, Shanling M9/M9+, Sony Wm1zm2 etc & none of them were a patch on the Chord Mojo 2 in terms of sound quality, which I put way above everything else. The Mojo 2 is absolute witchcraft, and yes, I have a Poly, and yes - it is a horrible finickety device & I was lucky to get one for exactly $238 second hand & I wouldn't have paid more than $250. Lastly - if you're going to spend big bucks on IEMs, get some custom tips made. Tip rolling - forget it. Customs are the business.

Thanks. It took a lot of work - I'm far from rich! But it makes me very happy as I'm rarely without a set in my ears or a pair of headphones on my head & I worked in music for 25 years. I really got into personal audio a couple of years ago when I stopped drinking etc - I realised I missed the music on excellent soundsystems more than I did anything else... I think my booze etc money more than covered it. The SE is a nice bonus, but it's similar for my needs to the Sony IER-Z1R which is a much better deal IMO. Prestige Ltd have taken up 50% of my listening time over the last year plus now, and when I have had at any one time 12-15 pairs of excellent IEMs/headphones, I think that speaks for itself.

I couldn't give a shit what anyone else likes. I went through dozens (60+)of pairs to get through to six I love last year. IEMS - QDC Emperor/CA Astrolith/Fatfreq Maestro SE CIEM/Thieaudio Prestige Ltd CIEM/Final A8000/Sony IER-Z1R I have Xenns Tea Pro OTW as my out & about IEM as I live in Thailand & it's very humid. Anything I wear outside will absolutely get damaged & those are all 1600-3000. I wish the 'diminishing returns begin at $300' line was real. It isn't. Not even close - but it's good that you can get genuinely excellent IEMs sub $500. I'd also say that if you are goin high tier, you're better off buying one pair & a Chord Mojo 2 before you buy another pair. A lot of people love to rubbish the difference dac/amps make, but this thing is better than any truly portable device (it makes a HUGE difference - the Prestige Ltd /Mojo 2 combo is incredible & I have put a lot of people onto this. Include $4000 DAPs, of which I've owned most of the big ones). It's also the best for home use than any desktop amp/dac, including the $9000 Sony DMP-Z1 dac/amp/player, which I bought for overheads & will do me for life. I absolutely adore all of these. I owned the Prestige Ltd for 10 months before I reshelled/CIEM'd it because I know I'll never sell it - plus one thing these all have in common is that BUILD QUALITY is fantastic. Many great sounding IEMs are not & spending money like this on IEMs, I expect them to last me for many years. This is something a lot of reviewers overlook. My favourites are the Prestige Ltd & the Campfire Astrolith. I'm probably the only person I've ever heard who loves the Final A8000 as the highs are very abrasive for most ears. I used to play the drums - these IEMs are the most natural sounding & that's how drums sound. I've worked in music for 30 years & am myself through being a hobbyist producer a 'one hit wonder'. I've also tuned some of the best nightclub/music venue systems in the world. Music paid for these.

I've CIEM'd my PL's so I won't be selling them. I didn't like the Monarch 2 or 3 at all... that's what I went to the store thinking I'd buy... I'd never even heard of the PL's & was walking out when the manager came out of the back with the PL's that has arrived about an hour before I arrived & said 'try these' blew me away. Still my favourites after 14 months & my other six pairs are all things I bought after. The Astrolith are a very close #2/maybe even a joint #1. The Tea Pro are my going out pair & I haven't opened them yet. Only really interested in hearing the Glacier & the Fir RN6. How is the build on the Glacier? Does the metal scratch easily? I have to treat my A8000 very carefully as they apparently scratch very easily - they look like jewelry & I want them to stay that way. Fortunately the case they come with is the best/most practical IEM case I've ever seen/used. IEMS - QDC Emperor/CA Astrolith/Fatfreq Maestro SE CIEM/Thieaudio Prestige Ltd CIEM/Final A8000/Sony IER-Z1R/Xenns Tea Pro

I think my sony ier z1r sounds dynamic it adds reverb to songs making the sense of space a bit big compared to my latest um mest it's 3dish sound but don't have the added reverb of the sony makes sense? 😅

I have 2 iems sony ier z1r and aful cantor I use the cantor for mixing and mastering audio because of it's balanced tuning while the sony ier z1r is purely for listening to music Next time i get Canpur Cp622b because of the cantor changed my opinion about BA bass

For me it's Grand Maestro I am getting rid of my Z1R to afford it

I use kz prx it has nice bass. The explosions sound big and the vr enhances the experience and I play games with dolby atmos enabled so the sound became somewhat 3d But since then i upgraded to a sony ier z1r and looking forward to get Fatfreq Grand Maestro after I have enough extra cash

Does it still sound dynamic in mono music? I test every IEM in mono music (mono mode on in dap) if it still sounds as dynamic even in mono. So far my sony ier z1r still sounds dynamic in mono but I'm looking for an upgrade one thaf retains the dynamic feel and my audio supplier recommended me the Novus and it looks so tempting to buy. After all these years I've only listened to one iem and a speaker system. They don't offer a loan and am too far away to demo it

I prefer headphones but I recently bought this old gem sony ier z1r and it sounds like a pretty decent headphone but in my ears as I listen to habs Zimmer dune and interstellar ost it gives a grand soundfield I'm sure iems like the Thieaudio Origin can also give

Happy it helped! I think pro gamers double up to block out crowd noise haha. I'm just thinking of CS pros, so my knowledge on that is limited. >Drivers, what are the pros and cons of single, dual, hybrid, etc.? I'll give the **pros** for each first. So the most common driver for IEMs out there is the balanced armature (BA) driver. It was the first major alternative to dynamic driver (DD), and allowed makers to put multiple drivers into a small form factor like the IEM. Each driver than concentrate on a specific frequency range instead, given the manufactured cared enough to put enough crossovers and tune them. Otherwise you have a bunch of drivers doing the exact same thing, defeating the purpose of having a multi-driver setup. These days it's hard to find an IEM without BA involved. Hybrids typically refer to a combination of BA and DD. One *seemingly* weakness of the BA design is its bass. Actual "weakness" is interesting and not an actual auditory weakness: [/u/oratory1990 made a great post about it](https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/comments/nk243a/comment/gzdlw80/). DD is far more forgiving, so you can have it handle the bass while the BAs handle the rest. Tribrids are usually DD, BA, and electrostatic (EST) drivers. EST on paper is very accurate which translates to great detail retrieval. DD for bass, BA for mids, and EST for highs. More recently we have quadbrids. Uncommon so multiple flavors. Usually begins with the tribrid, then adds bone conduction (BC), piezo (PZT), etc. All have their quirks in terms of sound, but I wonder if that's inherent to the drivers themselves or not. The outlier is planar magnetic drivers. On paper planars are extremely fast, can reproduce the entire spectrum very well. These days they're typically packaged in tribrid and quadbrid flavors. Of course there are other driver combos, but these are the most common. Now, the **cons** of each. In terms of sound? Nothing. There are fantastic IEMs for every driver configuration out there. 64Audio U12T is all-BA, Sony IER-Z1R is a hybrid, ThieAudio Monarch Mk. II is a tribrid, and ThieAudio Origin is a quadbrid. I think it has less to do with what kind of drivers and more to do with how the manufacture designed/tuned it. Also it depends on your preference of sound. In terms of fit? All BA tend to have few fit issues because the drivers are tiny. Hybrid/tribrid/quadbrids can have fitment issues due to the large DD--some of the most uncomfortable IEMs feature the DD (IER-Z1R, Monarch Series, etc.) Planars are large, too. Single DD IEMs tend not to have fitment issues, either. Price is an issue. EST and planar drivers are more expensive, and it reflects in the price. **Original post category examples:** Not a comprehensive list, just rattling off the top of my head. - neutral tuning: Etymotic ER4XR/ER4SR, Hidition NT6 - mild-V/U+V/U tuning: Sony IER-Z1R, ThieAudio Monarch Mk. III, Symphonium Crimson, UM MEST Mk. II - bassheads: Sony IER-Z1R, FatFreq Maestro SE, FatFreq Grand Maestro - trebleheads: Letshuoer S12 (I think people don't like "spicy" sounds...)

It goes to show you how different people's ears are. I've owned or borrowed (for a week) most of these & I own a couple as the rest didn't do if for me. My opinions on a few that really stand out - The 64 Audio Volur were a huge disappointment for me. And the bass really isn't very special to my ears. It was lacking in both quality & quantity. I typically hate all BA bass, but I've chosen the U12T over them (which were a rare blind but & got sold extremely quickly). The Campfire Astrolith are one of the very few IEMs that I believe are actually worth spending that kind of money on... I don't find the treble an issue at all. I was given the option to borrow a demo pair for a week & within 10 minutes of using the demo pair I'd transfered the funds to purchase. It was the quickest IEM decision I've ever made alongside the Prestige Ltd. The Sony IER-Z1R are by a very, very long way biggest selling high end IEM of all time & for very good reason - they are incredible and can do blow for blow (and usually win - at worst, a draw) with any $4000 bass centric set. You need to gets to use the right tips (the Sony Triple Comfort tips that are one of two kinds they are boxed with & hook them to your ears properly with cables that will allow for it - reinforced in the few inches leading up to the MMCX cable or something a generally a bit stronger). The comfort issues are a common complaint, but they are mostly unwarranted. It's a little bit like learning to tiw your shoelaces, but with 90% less time & effort once you understand how. You certainly wouldn't be putting them above the Volur for bass & I think that's objective rather than subjective. Unless you can find someone who seems proven to have very similar tastes to you in things you have tried in terms of both likes & dislikes of several sets... I wouldn't take their opinion very seriously as it's unlikely you will have a similar experience.

I got my Z1Rs for $800. Worth it.

I got my Z1Rs in excellent second hand condition for $800. Obviously MSRP is more than $1000, but it’s very common with the Z1R that people don’t take them out of their homes and tend to baby them because of the high MSRP— so getting a secondhand pair in excellent condition is very common. Just got to find one for a price you’re comfortable with.

Or the IER-Z1R (source: me, an owner).

I somehow enjoy Odin's bass more than the Z1R. It has that bouncy and loose feel that I enjoyed. I think the LCDi4 being that low is just due to not finding the right EQ but that is just me.

**Introduction** I attended an audio show and had the chance to listen to over 30 IEMs. Rather than going too deep on every single one, I wanted to highlight the 3 IEMs that truly impressed me and share some rapid-fire thoughts on the rest. Do note that these are my subjective impressions, and the rapid-fire takes might not convey everything. **64 Audio U12t** 64 Audio was the brand I had looked forward to the most at the show. And U12t was easily the best IEM I heard there. The first thing that caught my attention was its imaging and soundstaging, it was one of the few IEMs that gave me a true sense of holographic staging. I really liked the treble tuning, it was extended, crisp, and avoided being sibilant. The midrange was on the warmer, lusher side, with upper mids slightly recessed for my taste. I hadn’t expected the bass to sound this good coming from BAs. It was detailed, hit hard, but decayed a tad faster than typical DDs. **Softears Enigma** At first, I thought it was just another ridiculously overpriced IEM that would sound mediocre. But I was wrong, the bass quality was pretty good, better than U12t. I didn’t feel anything special about the mids, they were neither shouty nor recessed. I sensed a dip around 5-6 kHz, as I am quite sensitive to peaks there. This made vocals much smoother to listen to, but there was a lack of excitement, so vocals weren’t the strong suit of this IEM. But it was the treble that hooked me and made me want to keep listening. The treble had an 'ethereal' quality. It felt lighter, extended, refined, and more importantly, exciting. Because of this, I just kept listening and ended up staying longer than I had planned, it was that good. **64 Audio U4s** This is basically a 'baby U12t', with a dynamic driver for the bass, giving it a proper bass thump. It had all the qualities I mentioned in U12t, but the overall technical prowess was slightly lower. I am still confused whether I preferred U12t’s faster bass response or U4s meatier bass response, nevertheless it was good. The midrange had similar qualities to what I described in U12t impressions. But the treble performance was a slight downgrade compared to U12t, it was on the splashier side with touch less refinement. **Top Performers in:** **Bass** * 64 Audio Volur * Sennheiser IE 900 **Mid-range** * 64 Audio U12t/U4s * Mega5EST **Treble** * Softears Enigma * 64 Audio U12t **Rapid-fire impressions** **64 Audio Fourte** * Emphasized bass * Recessed vocals * Non-offensive treble * No wow factor * Overpriced **64 Audio Trio** * Recessed mids, but not as much as Fourte * Non-offensive treble * Third best 64 Audio IEM for me **64 Audio U18t** * Treble presentation didn’t work for me * Not as good as U12t **64 Audio Volur** * Best bass I’ve ever heard in an IEM * Treble is quite peaky **64 Audio Nio** * Darkest among the 64 Audio lineup I’ve tried * Not my preferred sound signature **64 Audio Solo** * Best planar IEM I heard at the show * Bass quality wasn’t the best compared to others * Technical performance not up to the price **ThieAudio Monarch MK3** * Chonky shell, but still comfortable to wear * Emphasized yet controlled bass * Treble was slightly peaky * No wow factor **Sony IER Z1R** * Uncomfortable to wear, lacks proper seal * Because of that, bass suffered, I had to hold it with my hands to get the best seal * Bass quality is great (not the best I’ve heard, can’t say much due to poor fit) **Sennheiser IE 900** * Vocals sounded stuffy, weird, and recessed * One of the best bass I heard at the show after 64 Audio Volur * Lacking in detail and imaging for the price **Sennheiser IE 600** * Better tonality than IE 900, especially in the upper mids * Again, not the best in technical performance **Mega5EST** * Most normal-sounding IEM I heard at the show * Quite bassy for this type of mid-range * Not the best in subjective qualities **Dunu Da Vinci** * Similar impression to Mega5EST * This type of sound signature doesn’t work well with such a bass boost **Letshuoer Cadenza 12** * Fairly neutral with a bass boost * Lacks the wow factor * Treble was slightly on the harsher side **Elysian Pilgrim** * Non-offensive sound signature * Treble is a bit forward and spicy * Lacks excitement **Softears RSV** * Bass quality was good * Vocals sounded strained * Nothing special about the treble **Softears Volume S** * Non-offensive, but somewhat shouty on some songs * Slightly peaky treble (in some songs) **Softears Studio 4** * Sounded okay (but in a good way) * Nothing particularly special **FATfreq Maestro Mini** * Driver flex * Too much bass (works well with engaging songs) * Treble not refined **FATfreq Scarlet Mini** * Driver flex * Even more bass (too much on top of the already excessive bass of Maestro Mini) **FATfreq Grand Maestro** * Didn’t felt as bassy as compared to others * Faced similar fit issues like the IER Z1R **Campfire Audio Andromeda Emerald Sea** * Warm sounding with non-offensive treble * Didn’t felt anything special about the rest **Campfire Audio Trifecta** * Very weird sounding (that’s what I wrote in the notes:) * Overpriced for what it is * But looks stunning though **Campfire Audio Astrolith** * Too much treble * Again, overpriced **Campfire Audio Solaris Stellar Horizon** * Best sounding Campfire Audio IEM in my opinion * Bass quality was good * Mids sounded recessed * Energetic treble response

I would take my hd600s over any expensive IEMs ( I’ve had the ier-z1r / monarch mk3 etc ) any day. The timbre cannot be matched. And IEMs feel too claustrophobic for me. Granted it’s great for office use but once I’m at home I’d grab my open cans over anything else.

Z1R is the ultimate benchmark for me honestly <3

lol, I have heard that before. I hate the fact that the Z1R are heavy and they just slip out of my ears. Too big for my ears. Though they are a benchmark for me, I much prefer the Grand maestro in terms of comfort, and I like the module tuning (quite unique) but prefer bass qty from Z1R

They don't sound any worse now than they did when they were released (how could they?). They also don't fit people any better now than they did when they were released. They also don't cost any less. Take those three facts into consideration.

I heard them recently - a friend of mine owns a set. I think they still compete with the very best in terms of resolution and technicalities. The tuning is not my cup of tea, but I can easily imagine it being a final-boss endgame level set for someone who has that preference. We both agreed they were very uncomfortable to wear. :-)

Headphones: OG HE-6> Susvara=Utopia> Sr-009> HD580=He-500 I would say the Susvara is objectively my best headphone, but my heart still belongs to the He-6. The Sr-009 is a beast and can easily outperform any of my headphones; However, it's very recording/genre specific. IEM: EE Odin> IER-Z1R> Shure KSE-1500= Audeze LCD-i4 > 64audio u12t Fallen out from the IEM game a while ago after getting my Odin. It's still head and shoulders above anything I own and is still my go to to this day. The Z1R's bass does feel thicker than the Odin's, as well as the 1500 being more detailed than it; However as an entire package, nothing quite beats the Odin for me. P.S. I completely feel you on the LCD-4s man. Loved their sound but they were just not practical in the long run :(

They're still very good, if you like something with more focus on bass and soundstage and vocals a bit recessed. Fit and confort are usually the two biggest concerns with these. Some people have no issues, others can't get a good fit or they find them too heavy for long sessions.

Meh. TOTL IEMs from 5 or 7 years ago still hold their own. IER-Z1R is still very much relevant and will be.

Thats true the maestro is quite perfectly balanced, its pretty bassy but you dont miss out anything. and Z1Rs reputation speaks for itself!

I compare everything at this tier to the IER-Z1R, doesn't look like this wins.

Try & find some Sony IER-Z1R second hand. Far, far superior to either.

I had Anni OG's the bass is a joke & I don't get the fuss otherwise. The best bass heavy (quality - none of the Scarlet/Maestro mini novelty nonsense) Fatfreq are definitely the Gand Maestro. They are the Maestro SE... CIEM process works wonders. I was offered to trade my pre-CIEM'd Maestro SE for Grand Maestro & borrowed them for a week. Even with the most bass heavy plug in the bass isn't a patch on Maestro SE. I've owned the Fir XE6 (heavier bass than RN6 - same price). They definitely didn't deliver close to the Maestro SE. I sold them quickly because although I liked them (for reasons beyond not having THE BIGGEST BASS!) - the metal part dug into my ear & after a few hours listening my ear was fucking sore for a few days. I've heard the Canpur are great. Would love to try. Sony IER-Z1R are still absolute classics & I use mine frequently. Quantity/quality of bass isn't (with custom tips) far off - maybe equal to - the Maestro SE. Much cheaper & will last you forever as they are absolute tanks... not the best for out & about though - but no comfort issues for me with either regular or custom tips...

It's one of the GOATs. I haven't heard a ChiFi IEM I prefer over it, and that includes $6k stuff from UM. Just be aware that fit might be an issue.

I think most of the modern iems chifi or not come with large shells that make them somewhat uncomfortable. I still prefer my z1r over the monarch mkii so I'd say that they still hold up really well. z1r actually has decent mids even when I compare it to the monarch mkii. However the z1r is still annoying when it comes to the fit. When testing them out go with smaller tips than you're used to and go from the smallest tip up till the seal/noise reduction doesn't improve and you've found your size. I use the smallest/second smallest tips on them and ensure that they go deep into my ears, they'll sound like they have no mids when you don't shove them deep enough.

Is the biggest issue with these the nozzle? I am really considering these but am scared of the fit being absolutely atrocious. I already know the monarch is too big for me but I had issues with the Z1R as well (although, the fitment issues for that pair are a little unique).