Sony IER Z1R VS Empire Ears Raven

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Sony IER Z1R and Empire Ears Raven use 2DD+1BA and 2DD+5BA+4EST+1BC driver setups respectively. Sony IER Z1R costs $1,700 while Empire Ears Raven costs $3,600. Empire Ears Raven is $1,900 more expensive. Empire Ears Raven holds a slight 0.4-point edge in reviewer scores (8.2 vs 8.5). Sony IER Z1R has significantly better bass with a 1.5-point edge, Empire Ears Raven has significantly better mids with a 1.2-point edge, Sony IER Z1R has significantly better treble with a 1.8-point edge, Empire Ears Raven has better dynamics with a 0.8-point edge, Empire Ears Raven has significantly better details with a 1.6-point edge and Empire Ears Raven has slightly better imaging with a 0.4-point edge.

Insights

Metric Sony IER Z1R Empire Ears Raven
Bass 9.5 8
Mids 6.8 8
Treble 7.8 6
Details 7.4 9
Soundstage 8 8.5
Imaging 8.6 9
Dynamics 7.3 8
Tonality 8.1 8.2
Technicalities 8.2 8.9

Sony IER Z1R Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Smirk Audio Precogvision Shuwa-T Tim Tuned
Crin Nymz
Super* Review Jays Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

8.2

Very Positive


Empire Ears Raven Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Precogvision
Jays Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

8.5

Excellent


Sony IER Z1R User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Empire Ears Raven User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Sony IER Z1R Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.6

Gaming Grade

B+

Empire Ears Raven Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7.1

Gaming Grade

A-

Sony IER Z1R Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A+
  • Refined execution with coherent frequency integration. Natural timbre reproduction and engaging presentation. Strong versatility.

Average Technical Grade

A+
  • Very competent with articulate presentation. Well-defined layers and precise imaging. Soundstage is immersive and handles dynamics well.
Bass S
World-class bass performance. Perfectly balanced between visceral impact, texture, and depth with zero bleed into mids.
Mids B+
Good midrange presence with solid clarity. Vocals are clear and instruments have reasonable texture and body.
Treble A
Excellent treble: airy, extended and well-controlled. Great micro-detail retrieval without sibilance or harshness.
Dynamics A-
Excellent dynamics with great contrast and speed. Transients are crisp and micro-details are clearly articulated.
Soundstage A+
Exceptional soundstage with holographic imaging. Creates a truly three-dimensional space where instruments float naturally around you.
Details A-
Excellent detail retrieval: highly resolving without being clinical. Effortlessly reveals micro-details and textural subtleties.
Imaging S-
Exceptional imaging with holographic precision. Creates a palpable sense of physical placement with perfect positional stability.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Empire Ears Raven Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A+
  • Refined execution with coherent frequency integration. Natural timbre reproduction and engaging presentation. Strong versatility.

Average Technical Grade

S-
  • Excellent clarity and detail. Precise imaging and expansive soundstage. Manages complex passages with minimal smearing and good transient speed.
Bass A+
Excellent bass response - powerful yet controlled. Deep extension with authoritative slam while maintaining clarity.
Mids A+
Superb midrange that's rich and resolving. Exceptional transparency and micro-details with perfect vocal/instrument balance.
Treble B
Good treble response - clear and detailed without fatigue. Well-extended with proper air and sparkle.
Dynamics A+
Superb dynamic range - powerful yet nuanced. Exceptional transient response with lifelike impact and subtle volume gradations.
Details S
Reference-class detail: microscopic resolution with perfect texture reproduction. Nothing is lost, revealing the absolute truth of the recording.
Imaging S
Reference-class imaging: perfectly pinpoint accuracy in 3D space. Utterly realistic placement with zero positional drift.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Sony IER Z1R Reviews

Super* Review 9* * score normalized
check links for more info:

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
- Super* Review
Jays Audio 9 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
S Tech
Best of the best in most areas, but vocals and mids can be thin due to fit issues. Insane bass texture/detail and HUGE soundstage. One of the best trebles I've heard.

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Crin 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
S- Tech
Extended yet natural treble, realistic sub-bass focus and spacious imaging capabilities.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel
- Crin
Nymz 8 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Recessed mids I can't approved but best bass tactility I've heard. One of the best stage I've heard. Top of the class treble. Fit is a massive problem for most - one of those that needs to be demoed before pressing checkout.

Nymz original ranking

Nymz Website

- Nymz
Bass: S+ Mids: B Treble: A+ Details: A- Imaging: S
Smirk Audio 7.9 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A Tech
Visceral, hard-hitting bass, sparkly treble, and a large, spherical soundstage with impressive height. Fit may pose a challenge for many. Cons: Poor fit.

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

- Smirk Audio
Bass: S Mids: A Treble: A+ Dynamics: A Details: A- Imaging: S-
Precogvision 7.9 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A Tech
Top-tier bass, treble, and soundstage height and width. I don't approve of the midrange these days.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
- Precogvision
Bass: S+ Mids: B Treble: A+ Dynamics: A- Details: A- Imaging: S
Shuwa-T 7.9 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Fun sounding without going overboard with the subbass, organic timbre The fit is atrocious, treble can get spicy on hi-hats

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

- Shuwa-T
Bass: S- Mids: A Treble: A- Soundstage: A+ Details: S- Imaging: A+
Tim Tuned 7.5 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
A+ Tech
Incredible extensions on both ends Lower midrange

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
- Tim Tuned
Bass: S+ Mids: A- Treble: A+

Empire Ears Raven Reviews

Jays Audio 9 Reviewer Score
S Tuning
S Tech
V/W Shaped. Energetic treble. Great tech. Fun bass and engaging signature. Overpriced?

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel
- Jays Audio
Precogvision 8 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
S- Tech
Sounds quite hi-fi and grand sounding, but coherency could use work - bass is distinct from the EST tweeters.

Precogvision original ranking

Precogvision Youtube Channel
- Precogvision
Bass: A+ Mids: A+ Treble: B Dynamics: A+ Details: S Imaging: S

Sony IER Z1R User Reviews

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Empire Ears Raven User Reviews

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