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Author Topic: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review  (Read 22339 times)

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Bill-p

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #60 on: January 08, 2015, 04:32:59 AM »
Okay, well, I think I'm getting closer using shelf-liner as reflection absorbers to leave a bit of space inside the ear cups. I wonder why the Z7 sounds like it "collapses" when that space is filled with... well, whatever. It's like the whole presentation mesh together and become a gooey soup rather than nicely spaced out like before.

And yet it doesn't sound cavernous or reverberant.

Oh, and tried to put foam and felt on dynamat, too. It made the sound... "warmer". So I'm putting shelf-liner there, too.

So far, only 2 things have helped with speed and clarity: dynamat, and shelf-liner.
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Bill-p

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #61 on: March 01, 2015, 07:22:39 PM »
So, I was waiting to see Tyll's measurements, but... I figured, it'll be good to post these for peer reviews now anyway.

Here is my set of measurements on the modded Sony MDR-Z7. Distortions may not be accurate, but I'm posting for reference. FR and CSD seem in line with what I hear subjectively, so I think those are good.

This set is comparable to the other measurements I have posted recently (LCD-2 and ATH-M50) since they all use the same coupler. same microphone, etc...
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Hands

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #62 on: March 01, 2015, 08:08:59 PM »
I'd have to see more headphones on your rig to get a good feel for it, but looks like it might be relatively balanced and perhaps a tad bright in some regards? I suppose it would really help to see how stock looked on your rig, but I believe you said you made some extensive changes, so I don't expect that.
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Bill-p

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #63 on: March 01, 2015, 11:19:03 PM »
Yeah. That's why I'm waiting to see Tyll's measurements to see how they will correlate with mine.

Subjectively, this one doesn't sound all that bright. A bit dark, even. Certainly lacking energy in the treble relative to both the LCD-2 and HE-560. Perhaps it would be better to undo my mods for the HE-560 and then do some measurements to see how it'll look relative to Marv's.
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Byrnie

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #64 on: March 02, 2015, 02:42:01 PM »
Quote from: Bill-p on March 01, 2015, 11:19:03 PM
Yeah. That's why I'm waiting to see Tyll's measurements to see how they will correlate with mine.

Subjectively, this one doesn't sound all that bright. A bit dark, even. Certainly lacking energy in the treble relative to both the LCD-2 and HE-560. Perhaps it would be better to undo my mods for the HE-560 and then do some measurements to see how it'll look relative to Marv's.

Tyll's measurements on the Z7 have been up for months now :)

http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SonyMDRZ7.pdf

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Headphones: TH900, HE-560, HD700, SRH1540, X2, HD590, AH-D600, X10, Bridge MS500
Amp/Sources: Schiit Modi, Schiit Bifrost Uber USB, Schiit Asgard 2, Emotiva XDA-2, Sansa Fuze 8GB, Samsung Note 3

Bill-p

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #65 on: March 02, 2015, 04:30:11 PM »
Oh, mine is kinda extensively modded, though, so it is quite different from stock.

It's en route to Tyll now, so we'll see his measurements one of these days. :)
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tommypinball

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #66 on: July 31, 2015, 05:26:58 PM »
Quote from: marvey on January 07, 2015, 09:37:10 PM
Stick foam on top of the dynatmat metal liner and then felt on top of that. You don't need to overdo the dynamat. I just used a few tiny strips. Or if internal, adding acoustic fiber does absorb the reflections.

Ultimately, the Z7 is un-salvageable, even into the lower rungs a top-tier headphone.

Hello, I am curious as to why the headphones went from "flawed but ok" to being unsalvagable? That seems like a pretty huge downgrade. thx.
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Marvey

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #67 on: July 31, 2015, 06:02:09 PM »
unsalvagable in terms of making it beyond mid-fi.
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tommypinball

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #68 on: July 31, 2015, 06:48:15 PM »
thanks for the clarification! *reverts to lurking*
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