Every once in a while a product will come around and change our viewpoint of audio. Most of us have been searching, scratching an itch to simply get new stuff. This searching can go on for years as the “magic unicorn” doesn’t exist; or does it?

So for most of us this is already going to be the largest soundstage ever created my mankind in an IEM. But you already knew that before you started reading right? But if I may, I would like to introduce another concept that is going on here. In the world of high-powered Japanese restomods, one name has long stood apart: AC Sanctuary. Founder Hiroyuki Nakamura opened his shop in the 1990s. Since then, they’ve built a global reputation for producing air-cooled monsters that combine the spirit and silhouette of their original donors with a host of modern performance upgrades.This test had a slightly different outcome than I would have guessed. Remember too, stuff like this is purely subjective. Still this section will help understand the personality concepts involved. Taking the Sony house sound to a more mature and maybe advanced level; because everything is clearer; it’s that detailed 3D no stopping clarity! A more physical and carved-out bass than with the full-size Z1R yet focused like the Z7. The IEM here actually becomes of more finesse yet touchable as well as comprehensible! Here we are met with a more in-your-head soundstage, being a more concentrated and mind-bending elixir. We should get the subject of the XBA-Z5 IEM out of the way right at the start. First off it’s a stepping stone to the IER-Z1R. It’s safe to say the IER-Z1R would not exist without it’s older brother. Sony learned about improving form factor and fit. Sony has basically taken the Z5 sound and super-sized it; more on that later. If you loved the 2014 Sony Flagship your going to love the IER-Z1R. These look and feel stunning in the hands. The way Sony presented them in the little jewelry box really solidifies what Sony wanted these to be; a halo product that is one of a kind. They're built very well and can easily last generations with the machining being super precise.

At times other famous 2019 flagships have painted a pretty picture for me but it was painted on clear cellophane. At first I could recognize the musical information but at closer inspection it wasn’t truly there. Since I have the Tesla, I feel that the driving experience feels the same. Nothing really wows me. The only 2 that wowed me are Anole VX and M5. Probably because they are so easy to drive. But VX is the one that caught my attention the most. Iem itself is gorgeous, fit perfectly in my ears. Since Z1R is kinda my first time, other than Anole VX, the build for the rest of the iems feels too light and cheap, But Anole VX is almost double the price than Z1R, its like maybe Electric Bugatti without the Self-Driving feature. The Bass is most likely what makes the show for most. Its as strong in terms of volume as the IER-M9, but the feeling of air, the impact, the physical sensation is much higher. The cable included is fine except for the ear hooks. Now, these are very heavy earpieces and they can put a lot of strain on your ears if there's no support. The ear hooks are so loose, they they don't actually loop around the ear on hold the earphone up. For me it just hovers above my ears. I would heavily appreciate a metal wire or something that i can shape to my ear. What the IER-Z1R does in the end is provide a really big soundstage. Ok stop. It’s kinda beyond soundstage.......it’s the Matrix. It’s the biggest most darn soil-your-shorts-soundstage you or I have ever heard. It’s not just big, it’s everywhere. It’s behind your ears where those things that hold your glasses on end. It’s above your head a distance and almost where the top of your shoulders are. Hold your hand three inches above your head in the center.......yep..it’s there too, it’s everywhere it’s the Matrix.

Materials and Technology

The high has sparkle but never fatiguing as it somewhat overshadowed by the bass. I can say that the high is smooth and detailed. Incredible, the zirconium shell appears very robust, you are getting a high level of build quality as one would expect paying 2k+ RCM builds are geared toward the great air-cooled superbikes of the 1970s-80s, including the Suzuki Katana, Kawasaki GPz1100, Kawasaki Zephyr, Honda CB, and the Kawasaki Z series, including the Z1-R like you see here. Inheriting MDR-Z1R's diaphragm structure, the 0.47" dynamic driver's diaphragm consists of magnesium dome and aluminum-coated LCP. This full-range driver offers deep bass and fine mid-high sound. What Sony calls Xtra Bass, mostly cheap non-audiophile headphones --> Can be used for every genre but tends to sound mushy and boring and consists of mostly bass. If you're older than 20, you're most likely not enjoying these.

The Ts-200 enabled me to use them for hours without comfort issues and are the tips that seem to make them sound most unmodified (if that makes sense). Deeper insertion provides the best bass, while shallower insertion provides the biggest staging. Triple comfort tips provide a more emphasis on the lower end, the silicones being the most neutral, perhaps removing some bass, but i found that silicone tips provide a very nice isolation, better than TC tips. Comply foams are not a match with these IEMs, they mute the treble and affect the signature, making them less revealing and more darker sounding.But to stay grounded here, the TA-ZH1ES is absolutely the grandeur in amplification going on in my home. I know this is not a review of the TA-ZH1ES but I will reiterate why it would be a good choice over the more expensive Walkman 1Z if you wanted a home rig with the IER-Z1R. It’s one simple word......imaging!