Yeah, if I was deskbound anyway I'd have a fat stack on my desk still. And headphones.

The counter 'argument' to this is that, sound quality aside, I personally switched to IEMs and DAPs to get away from having to sit at a desk to listen to music, or worry about clean AC power, or mess with digital cables and DDCs. Yes, of course SQ will generally improve between DAP and desktop...

Cool artist this, thanks for the tip!

As someone form whom Z1R is an easy and perfect fit (only with the 'right' tips of course), I'm amazed how much time people spend trying to get them to fit when they don't. I guess it's probably because they're so good, so when they don't fit it's quite upsetting. My own view is that if an IEM...

It's just physics. Larger desktop amps have far more real estate for larger capacitors and other high-grade audio hardware, plus a much beefier power supply. This gives them far more drive, and if an IEM is able to scale to take advantage of that drive, it will sound 'bigger', more spacious...

Most (many) audiophiles equate brightness with more detail and clarity and therefore hear 'brighter' IEMs as more technical. Even Z1R derives its 'technical performance' (like resolution and stage size) from its high level of clarity/treble forwardness/sparkle. That's mainly my understanding of...

Funny you say that, I still remember the first time I heard U12t thinking "this sounds absolutely right". Very few IEMs ever managed to replicate that for me. Z1R comes closest, as long as we're not comparing bass. I usually find flat neutral boring, too analytical. I imagine the 18t is tuned...

I was going to ask, price aside, which is the better IEM between M9 and U12t for you? I suspect it'll still be the U12t, but possibly depends on preference. They U12t is still the pinnacle of all-BA IEMs for my taste, the most balanced between musical and technical - and excellent at both. And...

Something that will maximise its strengths. Depending on your budget, something like the neutral-musical HiBy R6 Pro II might be a very good fit.

It would, very much so. I shudder to think how much more of the U12t's sound potential you'll hear with a good DAP. Apple dongle has lovely tonality but is quite limited technically.

Cost aside (I agree, tip prices are irrelevant when you're buying them for high-end IEMs), getting stuck in the ear and raising lower treble are two instant dealbreakers for me. Although for me the dealbreaker with Coreir was the fit - simply too long and hard (sorry!) compared to the infinitely...

I agree, IE900 has many shades of Z1R. Good call.

Totally agree, two different worlds. Just answering the OP that they sound nothing alike 🤷🏻

Sadly they don't sound anything alike. MDR has more forward mid/upper treble, and lacks the resolution of the IER across the range. Still a fantastic sounding headphone though, with probably the best build quality I've seen on any headphone.

Yes, Anni 23. My ears aren't compatible with those new thick Elysian nozzles 😕 Still a great IEM!

Annihilator falls short of Z1R bass quality (it's not even close imo) but it does have more quantity and better treble. Very different IEMs imo, but YMMV. I really like both. PS. Ironically for all the jokes about Z1R fit, it fits me much better than Anni. I wouldn't buy Anni primarily because...

Short answer: yes. Long answer: depends on what you're looking for from a newer flagship IEM and what you're willing to spend. Nothing I've heard sounds quite like the Z1R, so if you want that Z1R sound, you still have only one real option.

I use black too.

Congrats, great choice!

Hey guys, my review of the excellent solid-core duo, Code 24 and 24C, is now online here. Thanks as always to the one and only @JordonEA

Oh now you're opening a can of worms. I'm forever balancing out numerical sequences. If two pieces of gear have the same sequence number, they automatically have to go together. Xe6, Rn6, two peas in a pod. R8 II, RS8...really need the RS8 II to balance the scales. I can go on and on but my...

Not sure what you mean by 'layer', but Xe6 is one of the best IEMs ever made so it's not really surprising.

I hear you, which is why I'd never use my R8 II without the case 😅 Thankfully I discovered that with a little bit of pressure, both Pentaconn OEM, Beat Audio and PWA 4.4mm plugs actually DO fit without issue. Tight, but they fit. That removes any restriction for me for using the case, so...

@tjzurlaaa @Eric Chong - sincere apologies, it seems I simply wasn't fitting my OTL Versa mmcx correctly, and it DOES INDEED support IE-mmcx connections. Please disregard my previous comment - Eletech Versa fully supports IE900/600/300/200.

That's a good point. I tried my OTL Versa and it doesn't fit IE900 - my bad! Maybe if we ask @Eric Chong really nicely he'll consider making IE900-compatible Versa for IE900 🤗 Couldn't agree more. Wait till you hook it up to a TOTL DAP with a TOTL cable...it really scales, even though it's so...