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Author Topic: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review  (Read 22338 times)

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Marvey

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Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« on: October 19, 2014, 04:08:57 AM »


I'm a little bit of Sony fanboy, having grew up with Walkmans (cassette) and stuff. So when Sony announced the MDR-Z7, I couldn't wait to get my hands on one. Now being a fanboy doesn't mean that I need to be an idiot. I went in fully cognizant that the MDR-Z7 would probably sound like about 50%-60% the price (USA). Then again, having a "Changstar Proper Price Point" of 50% of retailer price is pretty decent given the price inflation of all the other headphones other there.

PRE-MEASUREMENT SUBJECTIVE IMPRESSIONS

The Z7 is definitely somewhere along the lines of the two prior Sony headphones I've tested: MA900 and MDR-1R. Timbre is similar. Similarities in frequency response in terms of increasing bass sloping upwards from the mids (with the MA900 dropping like a rock after the mid-bass, so really closer to MDR-1R). All three of these 'phones mentioned are slightly laid-back in the mids with a deeper depression in the upper mids. This is easily noted by lack of bite, edge, crunch, or shrillness. The MA900 in comparison is a bit brighter throughout the entire treble region. The treble (and actually all other) characteristics  of the Z7 is actually most similar to that of the 1R. I think it's fair to say that the Z7 is a 1R that doesn't fall apart at higher volumes.

I could hear a small bump a little after 7kHz. I figure that spot because it's similar to the "problem" spot of the TH900, but pushed up a little bit in frequency. However with the Z7, this spike is not what I would call problematic. It's more rounded and less in amplitude of the TH900's spike. Sharp ears will hear it. Most people will not - mainly because of the elevated bass which reaches into the mids. The TH900 bass lift is very much localized in the sub and low bass with a suckout in the lower mids. The Z7 bass emphasis bleeds into the mids ever so slightly. It does relax a bit going down to 20-40Hz instead of getting crazier and crazier like the TH900 as we go lower. From mid-treble up to the air region, the Z7 is gentle.

Using EQ by ear, I reduced pushed down a broad region (Q=1.2) around 80Hz by 4db and pushed up 4.5khz 3db with a Q of 3. That seemed to do the trick. It's good to know that the Z7 responds to a few PEQ adjustments extremely well.

Imaging isn't super deep like an HD800, but seamless without being excessively wide. Good stable center image without a three-blob effect where there are gaps between the sides and center.

In terms of technicalities (resolution, precision, tautness, clarity), I'd say it's about on par with the W1000, W3000 drivers. A little bit more plankton in mids. A little bit more soft and indistinct in bass. Compared to TH900, the TH900 is just cleaner sound with better blackground - the Z7 comes off as a bit grey. (IME is subjective attribute correlates strongly with distortion.) The Z7 is not what I would consider a Summit-Fi headphone. But I need to balance the connection to see what it can do with the Rag's balanced outputs (the Rag's SE output is gimped). BTW, Sony does an extra set of cables: their version of balanced cables with two phono connectors. Terminating to 4-pin XLR should be easy.

It might be interesting to apply some mods. Lots of plastic, so I wonder if some mass loading will help "tighten up" then sound.

Comfort is superb. The adjustment mechanism is Sony at its best.


Measurements: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1839.msg49936.html#msg49936
Pictures: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1839.msg49934.html#msg49934
Effect of covering ports: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1839.msg49995.html#msg49995
Internals and modding potential: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1839.msg49999.html#msg49999
Modded measurements: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1839.msg50008.html#msg50008
« Last Edit: October 20, 2014, 01:24:21 AM by marvey »
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Marvey

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2014, 04:28:47 AM »

pictures
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wnmnkh

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2014, 04:36:40 AM »

Regardless of the sound, the finish on these headphones is really good.
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Marvey

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2014, 04:44:58 AM »

Measurements.

Bass isn't all that clean. Better than Denon D series, but short of the quality bass heard on the TH900. At least they are not horrible. However, I would have liked better quality bass from a closed headphone.

Fit, finish, ergo are top-shelf.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2014, 05:41:11 PM by marvey »
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OJneg

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2014, 04:46:06 AM »

In terms of technicalities (resolution, precision, tautness, clearity), I'd say it's about on par with the W1000, W3000 drivers.

Huh, I've always considered the AT woodies to be quite poor in technicalities. Or maybe they have good technicalities but they're masked by the strange tuning and design. Regardless, I would hope that if Sony is putting some engineering muscle into designing a speshal driver it would have better technicalities than those.
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Marvey

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2014, 04:48:01 AM »

I do wonder if they took a tweaked version of the MA900 drivers and stuck them in a cup. The drivers are HUGE!
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TMRaven

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2014, 04:57:07 AM »

Don't think I want one anymore.
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Maxvla

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #7 on: October 19, 2014, 05:07:08 AM »

And I keep telling myself not to buy one. Measurements look pretty good.
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Marvey

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #8 on: October 19, 2014, 05:20:20 AM »

It's late. I'll balance the connectors and give it another go tomorrow. My frame of reference in terms of technicalities has been HD800 lately.
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donunus

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2014, 07:47:53 AM »

I think it's fair to say that the MA900 is a 1R that doesn't fall apart at higher volumes.
wait, what? My ma900 was distorted even in regular volume levels way below 100db
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