Overall_Falcon_8526 t1_j9c3a3n wrote on February 20, 2023 at 8:54 PM

I have:
Sony MDR-Z1R
Sony MDR-Z7M2
Sony MDR-7506
Sony MDR-1000X
Dan Clark Aeon Closed X
and I returned Hifiman HE400SE.

I would not want to part with the Z1R. Everything else could go I suppose, but I like having the Aeon Closed X as a high end backup for it, and it is my work office set of cans.

I have been considering dabbling in open backs again (I disliked the openness of the HE400SE) and am looking at Focal Clear and LCD-2 Classic. But this is just an idle thought really, as I am very satisfied with what I've got.

blucsigma05 OP t1_j9grzyd wrote on February 21, 2023 at 9:37 PM

I have the Clear, I love them! The Z1R it's something about their sound it's kind of addictive. Deciding between the ier-z1r or the mdr Z1R closed back for my sound isolated needs.

Overall_Falcon_8526 t1_j9hdrfa wrote on February 22, 2023 at 12:00 AM

How would you compare the Bathys to the Z1R?

blucsigma05 OP t1_j9kwund wrote on February 22, 2023 at 6:53 PM

I had to go listen to them again. Also, forgive me as I am terrible with terms and comparing lol. I got the Bathys first to upgrade my Bluetooth experience, but kept researching and went down the wired rabbit hole so once I went wired I don't use them much.

Listening to both, definitely prefer the Z1R to the Bathys. You can listen to the Bathys wired through a usb-c, I initially purchased with that as a plus, but now that I have other wired ones I would never listen to them that way, actually prefer how it sounds BT vs wired. The bathys aren't as comfortable with smaller ear cups(i have bigger ears my ears don't touch the cups but it does touch the actual speaker which is uncomfortable just a little irritating sometimes), and more clamp force, also the Soundstage is much smaller so compared to Z1R some songs sound a little busy if that makes sense just a lot of sounds overlapping. One of the best things I like about the Z1R is how warm and laid back it sounds, Bathys is bright and vocals can feel shouty on some songs just because of how forward the midrange is. Z1R also the sound just sounds fuller to me compared to the focals but that could be the "warmer" part. Bathys have good bass which i like but its a little more punchy vs the Z1R is more rumble which I prefer.

I still prefer my Clear over everything but Z1R are the best-closed back I have heard. Bathys I tried pretty much all the BT options and for me, I think it was the best, you could argue the ML 5909, it was better technically but it wasn't as enjoyable musically for me, felt more analytical to me than for casual listening.