Sony
Sony IER-Z1R
$1999.99
Released 2018
Best In Ear Monitors · head-to-head
Sony IER-Z1R vs Meze Alba
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Meze Alba is cheaper at $159. Every spec and price links to its source.
Meze Audio
Meze Alba
$159Cheaper
Which is better: the Sony IER-Z1R or Meze Alba?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Meze Alba is the cheaper at $159.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Sony IER-Z1R | Meze Alba |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $1999.99 | $159 |
| Brand | Sony | Meze Audio |
| Released | 2018 | — |
| Driver type | hybrid | dynamic |
| Driver config | — | 1DD |
| Impedance ohms | 40 | 32 |
| Sensitivity db mw | 103 | 109 |
| Frequency response (Hz) | 3-100000 | 15-25000 |
| Connector type | mmcx | 2pin-0.78mm |
| Cable detachable | Yes | Yes |
| Plug termination | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| Shell material | zirconium-alloy | zinc-alloy |
| Weight grams | 26 | — |
Sources — Sony IER-Z1R: sony.co.in (verified 2026-07-11). Meze Alba: mezeaudio.com (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the Sony IER-Z1R and Meze Alba?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 10). Matching specs are omitted.
- Driver type: Sony IER-Z1R hybrid vs Meze Alba dynamic
- Impedance ohms: Sony IER-Z1R 40 vs Meze Alba 32
- Sensitivity db mw: Sony IER-Z1R 103 vs Meze Alba 109
- Frequency response (Hz): Sony IER-Z1R 3-100000 vs Meze Alba 15-25000
- Connector type: Sony IER-Z1R mmcx vs Meze Alba 2pin-0.78mm
- Shell material: Sony IER-Z1R zirconium-alloy vs Meze Alba zinc-alloy
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Sony IER-Z1R
No sourced tester review yet.
Meze Alba
Both whitelisted hands-on reviews — SoundGuys (Apr 2025) and TechRadar (Sep 2025) — recommend the $159 Meze Alba as an excellent entry-level audiophile IEM with detailed sound, weighty bass, a comfortable fit and a bundled USB-C DAC adapter; both flag edgy/painful upper treble at high volume and the lack of a mic or in-line controls. Only SoundGuys ran lab MDAQS measurements (Overall 4.8/5, HEAD acoustics). All quotes and measured values were verified as literal substrings of the source text; no sources were dropped. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Detailed, clear sound across the frequency range; Weighty, punchy bass for such a small IEM; Premium-feeling build and looks (zinc alloy/anodized aluminium) at a low $159 price.
Flagged: Upper treble gets edgy/painful at higher volumes; No microphone or in-line/volume controls; Cable issues (tangling / poor over-ear fit).