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Author Topic: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review  (Read 22344 times)

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wnmnkh

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #20 on: October 19, 2014, 05:59:01 PM »
Thanks for the impressions and measurements. Did you try these in balanced setup?
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Hands

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #21 on: October 19, 2014, 06:18:44 PM »
Regarding measurements, overall curve of the response is not bad looking. Probably something I'd enjoy. I'd like to see some things smoothed and filled out, in particular that 7KHz emphasis looks like it could be toned down a bit. That treble spot would probably annoy me. I can see the similarities compared to the HD600 when it comes to bass distortion. My guess is these can probably be improved with damping and other mods, like pretty much every other headphone. CSDs look pretty good above the upper-mids.

Thanks for sharing!
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munch

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7
« Reply #22 on: October 19, 2014, 06:34:18 PM »
hmm I was kinda hoping these would be a good upgrade to the MDR-1R (modded) for portable use but I'm not sure they seem like a great portable.
measurements look alright and CSD looks good. I'm definitely going to have to go and hear them some time. comfort of sony headphones has got me all cozy.

impressed you got these measured so quick and all that, thanks a lot!
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Kunlun

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #23 on: October 19, 2014, 08:32:24 PM »
Quote from: Sforza on October 19, 2014, 04:00:23 PM
Went to listen to the Z7 earlier at the Sony building in Ginza. I was able to use my music files, but out of a balanced sony PHA-3 (ES9018 dac) via OTG.

Subjective impressions were that I thought it was neutral overall, but had some technical issues. The treble lacked a little sparkle or detail, probably due to the 4khz dip. The low bass was accurate enough, but lacking in detail and texture. Overly polite, but not distorted sounding. It might have been the source, but compared to Marv's impressions I found the imaging to be good enough horizontally, but there was no depth to the music. In fact vocals sounded a bit hollow. I actually think the MA900 (distorted or not), might be more preferable to my tastes because of its treble and better depth.

The thing is though, here it's sold for 55,000 JPY, around $515 so I actually find the price to alright since it seems to be around the same level as the old denon D2000 but with a totally different sound. It doesn't really compare to the flagships from Senn and Hifiman.
Could you listen to the xba-z5, the flagship iems, and report back, please?
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Marvey

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #24 on: October 19, 2014, 09:25:14 PM »
TOP GRAPH: Z7 - small top vent covered. Gray line is original.
BOTTOM GRAPH: Z7 - big bottom vent covered. Gray line is original.

I did not like covering the bottom vent. Results in too much of that "hollow" sound - probably internal cup reflections and also makes that treble peak much more evident. The soft nature of the bass doesn't gel with with the reduced amplitude.

Covering the top vent yielded decent results. While graph does look nice and straight, I think that slight depression subjectively helps in not having the bass bleed into the mids.

Covering both vents is a bad idea, hence not pictured.
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Anaxilus

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #25 on: October 19, 2014, 09:56:12 PM »
So is covering the bottom vent the "Stax mod"?  Any perceivable change in low end distortion using the holes?
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Marvey

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #26 on: October 19, 2014, 10:01:41 PM »
Slight measurement differences ~5db @20-30Hz, but too close to call. I feel confident with repeating FR measurements. No so with distortion, especially with kids running around the house. Subjectively, maybe - but again too close to call.

Huge modding potential though. I think the sound can be made much "tighter". See pics below. No damping material. Thin plastic cups. Surprising, not as hollow or reverberant as many other closed headphones. Baffle the driver rests on is extremely lightweight.
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Hands

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #27 on: October 19, 2014, 10:28:45 PM »
OMG that driver! WOW.

Thin plastic cups, no damping materials...several hundred dollars. Hooray...But modding is always fun.
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Marvey

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #28 on: October 19, 2014, 11:20:38 PM »
And yields pretty good results. I applied some very simple mods:
  • Dynamat in a few select places on back of driver and on the baffle.
  • None on the cups.
  • Acoustic fiber slightly compressed in the cups. (NOT THE SAME THING AS COTTON)
Much tighter sound now, less soft. Note bass is pushed down about 3-4db. Just perfect. Smoother peaks and dips.

No more of that hollow reverb stuff.
Good plankton now.
Bass is better.
« Last Edit: October 20, 2014, 12:32:21 AM by marvey »
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zerodeefex

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Re: Sony MDR-Z7 Measurements and Succinct Review
« Reply #29 on: October 19, 2014, 11:54:19 PM »
So, pre modded and post modded, what is the Chang approved price?
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