Easy To Love

Sony MDR-Z1R

- Kenny Yeo

In the late Eighties, Sony made a headphone called the MDR-R10. The MDR-R10 has a closed-back design with ear cups made from 200-year-old Zelkova wood sourced from the Aizu region in Japan. It also used 50mm-wide bio-cellulose drivers that were revolutionary for its time. Also impressive was its price, back then a pair of MDR-R10 headphones was an eye-watering US$2,500. The MDR-R10 is still, even today, considered one of the best headphones ever made, and Sony has never really made a successor – until now.

Announced at IFA 2016, the Sony MDR-Z1R is easily one of the best-made headphones we have ever come across. The headband is made out of beta titanium for lightness and strength. It is also lined with leather and generous amounts of padding for wearing comfort. The headband slides to accommodate heads of various sizes, and the slider mechanism is numbered so it is easy for users to adjust the headphones to get their favorite fit. The slider and the hangers that hold the ear cups in place are both made out of aluminum. Finally, the ear pads, which are angled and covered with sheepskin leather, are super plush and large. Insofar as comfort is concerned, few headphones we have tried can rival the MDR-Z1R.