IER-Z1Rvs.Valhalla
Sound & Specs Comparison
Information
Both IEMs are widely regarded in the audiophile community. See how they differ in terms of sub-bass response, upper mids, clarity, and overall tonality. Spider charts and rating breakdowns included.
Objective Comparison
Facts, details, stuff.
| General Info | IER-Z1R | Valhalla |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sony | Thieaudio |
| Country | – | China |
| IEM Description | Despite their small size, the Sony IER-Z1R earphones feature a sophisticated 3-way design with two dynamic drivers and a highly precise balanced armature. The sound quality is not just high-resolution—it's ultra-high-resolution, reaching an impressive frequency response of up to 100 kHz. Housed in a precisely crafted, virtually resonance-free aluminum shell, the design ensures that all three drivers remain in perfect phase alignment. The cables are fully balanced and made from high-purity OFC copper with silver plating for maximum detail retrieval. | A flagship 19-driver BA IEM offering subwoofer-level bass, warm midrange, and smooth, extended treble—all housed in lightweight titanium with audio-grade cabling. |
| Price Level | 2.000 + | 1.000 – 2.000 |
| Housing & Driver | ||
|---|---|---|
| Driver Config | Hybrid | Multi-BA |
| Driver Types | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature | Balanced Armature |
| Shell Material | – | CNC-machined Grade 5 Titanium |
| Cable | – | EliteNoir premium silver‑plated LCOFC, 20 AWG, 161‑core, Mundorf-soldered |
| Technical | ||
|---|---|---|
| Freq Range | 3-100.000 Hz | 10 Hz – 44 kHz |
| Impedance (Ω) | – | 9 |
| Sensitivity (dB) | 103 | 103 |
| Crossover | – | 4‑way passive with 4‑bore acoustic tubing |
| Platform Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| Comments | 0 | 2 |
| Visit Count | 93 | 479 |
| External Reviews | 1 | 1 |
Meta Ratings
IER-Z1R reveals microdetails and transient responses with softly better articulation, helping listeners uncover nuances often missed with Valhalla. For comfort fit, Valhalla performs significantly better (8.3 vs 6.8). While Valhalla is passable in its design, IER-Z1R stands slightly above, particularly in terms of assembly quality, material choice, and finish. Cable-wise, It is overwhelmingly better built, featuring sturdier connectors and less tangling — traits where Valhalla falls slightly short. It’s bundled components feel vastly more premium, suggesting a stronger focus on user satisfaction and long-term value.
| IER-Z1R | Valhalla | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 9.8 | 9.1 |
| Comfort Fit | 6.8 | 8.3 |
| Build Quality | 9.8 | 9.3 |
| Stock Cable | 8.5 | 2.3 |
| Accessories | 8.3 | 2.1 |
Sound Characteristics
IER-Z1R creates a a wider soundstage, giving instruments more space and a better sense of placement than Valhalla (10 vs 9.2). The upper range of vocals is a cleaner and more forgiving on It, helping it avoid sibilant harshness that Valhalla shows (9.5 vs 8.8). Timbre on It sounds s more realistic and natural, whereas Valhalla feels slightly more artificial or colored (9.5 vs 9).
| IER-Z1R | Valhalla | |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Bass | 9.0 | 9.1 |
| Bass | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| Bass Feel | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Lower Mids | 8.5 | 8.9 |
| Upper Mids | 8.5 | 8.9 |
| Lower Treble | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| Upper Treble | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Sound Stage Width | 10.0 | 9.3 |
| Detail | 9.5 | 9.7 |
| Layering | 9.5 | 9.4 |
| Masking | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| Note Weight | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| Slam | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Sibilance | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| Timbre Color | 9.5 | 9.0 |
| Tonality | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Texture | 9.0 | 9.0 |
Tonal Signature
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