Mobile Hifi 3.0 - Pulled the trigger on Sony NW-WM1Z

Well I personally wouldn't touch the HD820. The headphone is all over the place and vocals incredibly recessed. I think they should have redesigned the driver for use in a closed environment personally. 

For a decent closed back headphone then the LCD2 closed is actually really surprisingly good and so too is the ED5 from ultrasone. The ultrasone is a little brighter and it's needed to be paired correctly. 

The Kaiser Encore is a good earphone but you can hear it's a balanced armature. Much like all the other BA earphones they all have that standard signature. The SE846 is quite a warm sound with certain tips.

As you have the z1r you should definitely stick with that you are right there. It's better than the sp1000 cu sonically so long as you have the uncapped non euro version. 

In terms of earphones to blow you away, Marco did an amazing job eith the In ear prophile8 which offers incredible resolution and accuracy or take a look at completely different technology such as the AMT driver in the EAMT2 range. Big headphone sound from an earphone. 

Adam Zielinski posted:

Guys

For that sort of money you can have your custom-moulded ultra-high quality headphones from either UltimateEars or Westone.
Most of the current fashion for in-ear headphones stems from those two Pro brands.
Their primary use is in-ear monitoring for either on-stage or in studios. However their sound quality is absolutely on par with our ‘audiphile’ requirements.

I’ve used Westone for many years now. They are so sensitive, my AKG wireless transmitter has a limiter running, just in case something goes wrong and I get a signal spike, which could blow my ear-drums out.

Alternatively - have a look at Shure SE series.

I been in the custom road, better isolation witout the long term confort for me..... Encore got a custom option as well 

i own both sp1000 and 1z, they are both great, i jazz and rock in 1Z and Classic in SP1000... Tidal MQA is a big plus for SP1000, now it is also offline as well

i would not Trade 1Z but add SP1000M - the Small one - for walks in the park if you are a rich Walker

now i am traveling with my SR15 and Tin Hi-Fi T2 Pros... 50$ wonders

Emre posted:

Hello Bert 

As far as i understand you are looking for a end game closed can or iem, so i am not commenting about Utopia  maybe i will....

- My opinion dont go for HD820, is overpriced HD800S..... if you want a close one there are good value options, like focal Elegia, very good with a better price. Even Sony MDR1Z could be an option, Mr. Speakers Ether C closed, if you like warm signatures Fostex TH900. Also Shure KS1200 electrostatic is an option as a different choice for closed back experience. 

 

But i strongly recommend kimber cabled ( mine is cooper one, low price one ) 4.4mm connection Utopia!!! You will need silence to enjoy it. 

As for the new Sony " Portable but not desktop Amp/Dac " i think they missed the target this time, offering a desktop without desktop power, an over priced and underperformed Hugo 2 from what i read... 

I also recommend a SP1000M for going mobile, it is very but very good. Now it is with offline Tidal/MQA and soon even Roon, it became a very good transport/streamer actually. I listen to it almost same as mine SP1000 way better than my SR15 

Emre (and Burt)

Emre - as usual spot on with the comments above.

The HD820 as a closed back - very disappointing.  I was not impressed.  The Sony Z1R is a polarizing headphone - you either like it or you don't.  If you do (and I own it and do) it is the best closed back headphone available which will not leak sound (nor let any in).

1Z - combined with a Utopia - just about the best portable solution around

Kimber Axios - expensive however well worth the price.  I own a set for my Utopia's and my Z1R (and yes I demoed other cables)

Sony 1Z - with the new firmware Sony has released implementing DAC functionality -  a MAJOR game changer.  I now use my iPhone to feed uncompressed TIDAL to the 1Z - and use my iPhone as a ROON endpoint to listen to my ripped collection at home.

NOW - all of the above statements, and my previous ones, need to be clarified.  While I maintain my original statement made early on in this thread

"when I want to downsize and rid myself of my 552/500/KDS I will be more than happy with a 1Z/Utopia/Kimber Axios"

is still valid  - it has been surpassed this summer by my new play toys.

One word - STAX!  nothing more need to be said.  I think they truly are the end game in headphone world.  In my forum readings it seems that many other Naim users concur.

Best

Gregg

glevethan posted:

 

Sony 1Z - with the new firmware Sony has released implementing DAC functionality -  a MAJOR game changer.  I now use my iPhone to feed uncompressed TIDAL to the 1Z - and use my iPhone as a ROON endpoint to listen to my ripped collection at home.

Hmm - I'd forgotten about the firmware update. Must give that one a go.

glevethan posted:

Emre posted:

Hello Bert 

As far as i understand you are looking for a end game closed can or iem, so i am not commenting about Utopia  maybe i will....

- My opinion dont go for HD820, is overpriced HD800S..... if you want a close one there are good value options, like focal Elegia, very good with a better price. Even Sony MDR1Z could be an option, Mr. Speakers Ether C closed, if you like warm signatures Fostex TH900. Also Shure KS1200 electrostatic is an option as a different choice for closed back experience. 

 

But i strongly recommend kimber cabled ( mine is cooper one, low price one ) 4.4mm connection Utopia!!! You will need silence to enjoy it. 

As for the new Sony " Portable but not desktop Amp/Dac " i think they missed the target this time, offering a desktop without desktop power, an over priced and underperformed Hugo 2 from what i read... 

I also recommend a SP1000M for going mobile, it is very but very good. Now it is with offline Tidal/MQA and soon even Roon, it became a very good transport/streamer actually. I listen to it almost same as mine SP1000 way better than my SR15 

Emre (and Burt)

Emre - as usual spot on with the comments above.

The HD820 as a closed back - very disappointing.  I was not impressed.  The Sony Z1R is a polarizing headphone - you either like it or you don't.  If you do (and I own it and do) it is the best closed back headphone available which will not leak sound (nor let any in).

1Z - combined with a Utopia - just about the best portable solution around

Kimber Axios - expensive however well worth the price.  I own a set for my Utopia's and my Z1R (and yes I demoed other cables)

Sony 1Z - with the new firmware Sony has released implementing DAC functionality -  a MAJOR game changer.  I now use my iPhone to feed uncompressed TIDAL to the 1Z - and use my iPhone as a ROON endpoint to listen to my ripped collection at home.

NOW - all of the above statements, and my previous ones, need to be clarified.  While I maintain my original statement made early on in this thread

"when I want to downsize and rid myself of my 552/500/KDS I will be more than happy with a 1Z/Utopia/Kimber Axios"

is still valid  - it has been surpassed this summer by my new play toys.

One word - STAX!  nothing more need to be said.  I think they truly are the end game in headphone world.  In my forum readings it seems that many other Naim users concur.

 

Best

Gregg

Thanks glevethan...

i have a friend who is selling 900 Stax with dt 006 which I can buy it with a good price.... I can listen to them but in June or something..

i like to compare Stax combo/ nd555 vs Utopia/1z but i can not till June but I can book them now.. the headphones are good as far as I read but the amp I am not Shure of it

Any comments ? I never listen Stax or any other electrostatic other than Shure’s 

also electrostatics are now poping out with different brands such as woo etc... 

Emre posted:

Thanks glevethan...

i have a friend who is selling 900 Stax with dt 006 which I can buy it with a good price.... I can listen to them but in June or something..

i like to compare Stax combo/ nd555 vs Utopia/1z but i can not till June but I can book them now.. the headphones are good as far as I read but the amp I am not Shure of it

Any comments ? I never listen Stax or any other electrostatic other than Shure’s 

also electrostatics are now poping out with different brands such as woo etc... 

Emre

It is almost universally acknowledged that current Stax amplifiers are not quite good and they are the Achilles heel of all Stax systems.  Most serious users use third party amplifiers  -  the OVERWHELMING majority being designed by the infamous (and legendary) Dr. Kevin Gilmore.  Many of his designs have additional input from a gentleman named Birgir (Spritzer) who is located in Iceland.  Dr. Gilmore is so well respected that Stax Japan officially authorized him to redesign their legendary T2 amplifier (which bankrupted the company) and make the revised circuit boards available to the DIY community.

KG (Kevin Gilmore) amplifiers can be obtained either by commissioning one of several "builders" - or the easier way would be to purchase directly from Birgir in Iceland.  Google is your friend - Mjolinir Audio will give you all the information you need.

The other universally acknowledged alternative would be a Blue Hawaii SE tube amplifier from HeadAmp here in the States.  Justin who is the owner of the company (and builder of the amp) is a friend of Dr. Gilmore and also works closely with him.

I did not want a tube amplifier (however I did audition and loved the Blue Hawaii) and instead went with the top of the line KG solid state amplifier - The Carbon - and purchased it directly from Birgir instead of from one of the other commissioned builders.  My opinion was that it was best to get the amplifier directly from the source who also participated in its design!

Woo - imho stay away.  Enough said.

As for listening comparisons I own both the 009S and Utopia and am able to compare the 009S (the recently introduced model) running from a Birgir (Mjolinir Audio) supplied Carbon Amplifier vs. Utopia running from a Moon Neo 430HA headphone amplifier (also considered totl) - both being fed by a Linn Klimax DS (current spec).  Not quite a ND555 but close  

Quite simply put the Stax is in another league.  As good as the Utopia is  - and it is considered the best non electrostatic headphone available today - the Stax is simply better.  There is something that electrostatics do which is magic.  Fast speed, tuneful and toe tapping (does it sound like Naim?) airy and space around the instruments.  Maybe like comparing my KDS (and my previous CD555) with my LP12.  There is just something about the LP12.... and something about the Stax.

I have been a member of the Naim forum since 2003.  In my many years here I can definitely say that many Naim users appear to have an affinity and love for Stax.  It took me until this year to discover Stax - now I can see what our fellow Naimees have been talking about for all these years.

Have fun

Best

Gregg

Many tnx...

So 900 not an S one could be a start then go for the amp.....if my friend sells me just the 900, I am sucker for a good deal

i only have a gustard20 amp at the moment, enjoying headphones with DAPs..

Blue Hawaii is a legend but now the market is full of new amps to choose from

i think I might go for a tube sound just to have a different flavour, need a lot of research...

i was eyeing moon as well but then bought a Violectric v200 then sold it.

now the DAPs are so good that I wonder if I need and amp for easy to drive Utopia , now i am looking at to Violectric, SPLand Hugo TT2 but might go for electrostatic tube or even a woo33 all the items that I just don’t need)

Just bought the Stax 009 and 006t amp from my friend.... actually bought all his headphone stuff with a good deal... Bryston BHA-1 and a HE6 ) 

what a night! 

İ real that S model that is better than 900 but it is a start for electrostat and stax.... maybe a hawaii later or mijolinir..

Emre posted:

 

now the DAPs are so good that I wonder if I need and amp for easy to drive Utopia

Emre

Congratulations and welcome to Stax!  Even with a 006t you will be happy however....eventually you need to move on to a KG amplifier

As for your quote which I pasted above I agree 100%.  I have here my KDS as a source and a Moon amplifier - let me tell you that the Sony WM1Z easily holds its own against this powerhouse of a combination.  So yes - I completely agree with your statement about current DAP's being good enough to do it all.  With the Sony 1Z capable of a total 750 gigabyte of storage - and now the ability to function as an external DAC and receive TIDAL streams from an iPhone - there is very quickly starting to be no need for anything else. 

As for some of your other comments I agree that the new Chord Hugo TT2 (with or without the external Hugo M Scaler) is something which will be very interesting to investigate.

Have fun with your new Stax toys!

Best

Gregg

Thanks Gregg  i will be posting about stax vs utopia...

glevethan posted:

Emre posted:

 

now the DAPs are so good that I wonder if I need and amp for easy to drive Utopia

Emre

Congratulations and welcome to Stax!  Even with a 006t you will be happy however....eventually you need to move on to a KG amplifier

As for your quote which I pasted above I agree 100%.  I have here my KDS as a source and a Moon amplifier - let me tell you that the Sony WM1Z easily holds its own against this powerhouse of a combination.  So yes - I completely agree with your statement about current DAP's being good enough to do it all.  With the Sony 1Z capable of a total 750 gigabyte of storage - and now the ability to function as an external DAC and receive TIDAL streams from an iPhone - there is very quickly starting to be no need for anything else. 

As for some of your other comments I agree that the new Chord Hugo TT2 (with or without the external Hugo M Scaler) is something which will be very interesting to investigate.

Have fun with your new Stax toys!

Best

Gregg

Just was puzzled by your statement on 750 gb, but now understand. My card of 400gb is no longer the biggest anymore, now we are talking about 512gb

Bert Schurink posted:

 

Just was puzzled by your statement on 750 gb, but now understand. My card of 400gb is no longer the biggest anymore, now we are talking about 512gb

Bert

Correct

I have to admit however that with the implementation of DAC functionality on the 1Z I am almost exclusively streaming from Tidal off of my iPhone rather than listening to my ripped collection