Sony IER Z1R VS Unique Melody MEST mkII
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Sony IER Z1R and Unique Melody MEST mkII use 2DD+1BA and 1DD+4BA+2EST+1BC driver setups respectively. Sony IER Z1R costs $1,700 while Unique Melody MEST mkII costs $1,500. Sony IER Z1R is $200 more expensive. Sony IER Z1R holds a slight 0.3-point edge in reviewer scores (8.2 vs 7.9). Sony IER Z1R has significantly better bass with a 1.4-point edge, Unique Melody MEST mkII has better mids with a 0.7-point edge, Sony IER Z1R has better treble with a 0.7-point edge, Sony IER Z1R has slightly better dynamics with a 0.3-point edge, Unique Melody MEST mkII has better details with a 0.8-point edge and Sony IER Z1R has significantly better imaging with a 1.1-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Sony IER Z1R | Unique Melody MEST mkII |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 9.5 | 8.1 |
| Mids | 6.8 | 7.5 |
| Treble | 7.8 | 7.1 |
| Details | 7.4 | 8.2 |
| Soundstage | 8 | 8 |
| Imaging | 8.6 | 7.5 |
| Dynamics | 7.3 | 7 |
| Tonality | 8.1 | 7.4 |
| Technicalities | 8.2 | 7.9 |
Sony IER Z1R Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
8.2Very Positive
Unique Melody MEST mkII Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
7.9Strongly Favorable
Reviews Comparison
Sony IER Z1R reviewed by Super* Review
9*
* score normalized
Unique Melody MEST mkII reviewed by Super* Review
10*
* score normalized
Sony IER Z1R reviewed by Jays Audio
9
Reviewer Score
Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Unique Melody MEST mkII reviewed by Jays Audio
8.5
Reviewer Score
Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Sony IER Z1R reviewed by Crin
8
Reviewer Score
Sony’s IER-Z1R goes full luxury flex: an over-the-top unboxing with nested boxes, a ring-case display, two stock cables (3.5 mm SE and 4.4 mm balanced), and a mountain of tips. The shells are solid metal and surprisingly heavy, feeling like they could survive a drop—or crack a desk. Driver count is “only” three, but the focus is on large dynamic drivers rather than BA stuffing; build and presentation scream premium from the first lift of the lid.
Sonically, the headline is the bass: deep, rumbly, clean, and fast, delivering both sub-bass rumble and well-separated hits—described as the best bass heard from a universal IEM. The midrange has a thicker, weighty character that plays nicer with brighter voices and pop than with male vocals or cello, which can feel a touch heavy. The treble is fit-dependent: a deep seal nets a smooth, extended top end; a shallow fit can tilt peaky and splashy—so ear anatomy and tip choice matter more than usual.
On source pairing, the IER-Z1R scales on a beefy amp but runs just fine off an Apple dongle, undermining fears that it’s a diva. As for value, the verdict is blunt: performance is stellar, but not cost-efficient; similar results can be had for half or even a quarter of the price. This set targets listeners chasing the last 10–20% of performance (or those who simply want the full Sony flagship experience), with the caveat that fit decides whether the treble sings or stings.
Crin Youtube Channel
Unique Melody MEST mkII reviewed by Crin
6.5
Reviewer Score
Sony IER Z1R reviewed by Nymz
8
Reviewer Score
Unique Melody MEST mkII reviewed by Nymz
7.6
Reviewer Score
Sony IER Z1R reviewed by Precogvision
7.9
Reviewer Score
Sony’s IER-Z1R puts on a proper flagship show from the jump: an exquisite unboxing, hefty zirconium shells, and faceplates with a watch-grade finish that scream luxury. Sonically, the focus is the sub-bass—massive extension, physical rumble, and satisfying decay that together form a true basshead endgame. Compared to the 64 Audio U12t, the Z1R’s low end is clearly superior in slam and texture, while avoiding plasticky BA timbre; resolution is strong overall, even if the U12t keeps a slight edge in microdetail.
The tuning skews moderately V-shaped: male vocals can sound a touch hollow from a dip around the lower mids, whereas female vocals pop with presence and clarity—ideal for J-/K-pop and anime OSTs. Treble carries good extension but emphasizes stick impact that can draw attention over the air up top, a preference call more than a flaw. Staging is notable: among IEMs, the Z1R projects a “speaker-like” scale with one of the widest head-stages heard—still IEM-bound, but grander than most peers, and paired with a warm, engaging timbre.
The catch is fit and ergonomics. The shells are large and unforgiving, and for many ears comfort collapses within minutes; seal is extremely sensitive, with a poor fit turning the treble peaky around ~6 kHz. It’s the single biggest caveat: audition first rather than blind-buying. When the fit cooperates, this is a phenomenal-sounding flagship—arguably preferred over U12t for the right genres—yet its brilliance is undercut by comfort risks that will be a deal-breaker for some.
Precogvision Youtube Channel
Unique Melody MEST mkII reviewed by Precogvision
7.1
Reviewer Score
Precogvision Youtube Channel
Sony IER Z1R reviewed by Shuwa-T
7.9
Reviewer Score
Unique Melody MEST mkII reviewed by Shuwa-T
8
Reviewer Score
Sony IER Z1R reviewed by Tim Tuned
7.5
Reviewer Score
Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Unique Melody MEST mkII reviewed by Tim Tuned
7
Reviewer Score
Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Sony IER Z1R (more reviews)
Sony IER Z1R reviewed by Smirk Audio
7.9
Reviewer Score
Unique Melody MEST mkII (more reviews)
Unique Melody MEST mkII reviewed by Audionotions
8.5
Reviewer Score
Unique Melody MEST mkII reviewed by
Fresh Reviews
5.5*
* The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
Sony IER Z1R Details
Driver Configuration: 2DD+1BA
Tuning Type: V-Shaped
Brand: Sony Top Sony IEMs
Price (Msrp): $1,700
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Unique Melody MEST mkII Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+4BA+2EST+1BC
Tuning Type: Warm V
Brand: Unique Melody Top Unique Melody IEMs
Price (Msrp): $1,500
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Sony IER Z1R User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
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Unique Melody MEST mkII User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
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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
6.6Gaming Grade
B+Unique Melody MEST mkII Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
6.7Gaming Grade
B+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.
Unique Melody MEST mkII Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A-- Pleasing tonal balance with good technical control. Minor quirks present but not distracting. Demonstrates decent genre versatility.
Average Technical Grade
A- Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.
Sony IER Z1R User Reviews
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