SONY MDR-Z1R WW2 Signature, Hi-Res Headphone, Black (International Version)

Pros: Excellent bassy sound that still brings out the micro details. Leather case Light and comfortable Headband Adjustment markers Detachable Cables Easy to drive Made-in-Japan Cons: You want top quality amps and dacs Painful hotspot on head if headband not adjusted properly 4.4mm balanced cable The Z1R is an amazing headphone. You got that rich bass that don't mask the details in the mids and trebles. The headphone is also light, comfortable and easy to use. The adjustment markers are very useful and I don't know why others don't do it. On the other hand, it did took me a couple of tries to find the right headband number for my head. If the headband is too long, it will create a painful hot spot on the top of my head. Sound isolation is just ok. It is not the best. The folding ear cup helps but to me the folding add more to comfort than isolation. This headphone does needs the right headphone amp and dac to truly bring out that thumping bass which I do have thankfully. (Bryston) Portability is bad due to its big size. And even though I love the leather case, it is not a portable one. But lets face it, unless you are made of money, you will probably not going to risk having this stolen or getting scratched by bring it outside. Finally, lets talk about cables. Even on such a high-end product, Sony went very Sony by including a 4.4mm balanced cable that only works on the 1% of the amp and dacs out there (TA-ZHE1S, HDV 820 and Sony Walkmans). All in all, Sony made an excellent end-game worthy headphone and even though I don't like the 4.4mm cable I would still recommend this product for its solid sound quality. Good job Sony.