mink said:

  I'm not even curious about the Kimbers Kables...
All my previous reservations about the Z7s are gone, even doubting my last post about the "lack of texture with some recordings".
These are the best headphones I ever owned and one of the best I ever listened to.
I think it is time for me to stop posting evaluations in this thread and just enjoy them.
 

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No doubt that the Z7 is good in a stock form but they are far from being perfect.  They are noticeably better when using a high quality upgraded cable upgrade (I recommend silver wire) or perform some sort of modded like Bill P did to enhance clarity and tighten the bass note.  I'm glad you are happy with the stock Z7 but just remember that your headphones can certainly sound noticeably better by simply swapping the cable.
 

bill-p said:

 
Sounds like your brain has been severely burned in by now. If you go back to your past headphones, I bet you'll feel they are too bright, too "abrasive". too "grainy", and lacking punch/impact.

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Could very well be.  I'm still evaluating your mods Z7 and your pair is noticeably better sounding than my stock out of my PHA-3.  I notice improvement in clarity and wider & deeper soundstage right off the batt.  Bass note is no longer bleed into the lower mid and more controlled.  My recabled Z7 is also noticeably improved from stock but the jury is still out whether which do I like better.  I'm leaning toward yours though.
 

dl. said:

 
I second that. This is the best headphone I have ever owned. I much prefer this sound signature over the HD700. The HD700 sounds very thin to me now.
 
dL

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That is not saying much given that the HD700 isn't really well received.  The Z7 will also make the HD800, R10, Qualia, Orpheus, and SR009 sound thin next to it IMO.
 

egoldberger said:

  Someone tried this cable? http://www.moon-audio.com/audio-cables/moon-audio-silver-dragon-v3-headphone-cable.html
 
Or compared to the cable with Kimber Kable?
 
Because I proved the kimber kable and not notice greater impruvement (there was much noise in the place that probe)
 

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I'm pretty sure that the Silver Dragon V3 will be a great match with the Z7 but $275 isn't cheap.  If you are handy with soldering iron, you can save a lot of money by doing some DIY cable upgrade.  

My pair is on the way! The MDR-1A were so good that once I saw I could get MDR-Z7 for $499 I had to do it! Purk, I'd love to hear the PHA-3 sometime, I'm in the ATL too!

I decided on the Marantz HD-DAC1 instead of the PHA-3, so I should have that to listen to and compare to the PHA-3 in a week or so...

purk said:

  Could very well be.  I'm still evaluating your mods Z7 and your pair is noticeably better sounding than my stock out of my PHA-3.  I notice improvement in clarity and wider & deeper soundstage right off the batt.  Bass note is no longer bleed into the lower mid and more controlled.  My recabled Z7 is also noticeably improved from stock but the jury is still out whether which do I like better.  I'm leaning toward yours though.

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I have yet to try the PHA-3, but I hope I'll get the chance soon.
 
Glad you're liking my pair! I also thought they sounded much better than the stock pair from memory, but I didn't have the stock to compare.
 
If you don't mind, can you let me know how the modded pair compares against the CD3K and R10?

jmsaxon69 said:

My pair is on the way! The MDR-1A were so good that once I saw I could get MDR-Z7 for $499 I had to do it! Purk, I'd love to hear the PHA-3 sometime, I'm in the ATL too!

I decided on the Marantz HD-DAC1 instead of the PHA-3, so I should have that to listen to and compare to the PHA-3 in a week or so...

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Congratulations on your gear. I'm seriously considering the Z7s as a nice set of closed cans is always good. Marantz have a long history of making good to great components so I would think they could make a really nice DAC. Looking forward to hearing your impressions. 

sonic defender said:

Congratulations on your gear. I'm seriously considering the Z7s as a nice set of closed cans is always good. Marantz have a long history of making good to great components so I would think they could make a really nice DAC. Looking forward to hearing your impressions. 

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Thanks! It's getting some great reviews and i am a Marantz dealer, so getting it for such a great price that it is the better deal compared to the Sony

jmsaxon69 said:

Its getting some great reviews and i am a Marantz dealer, so getting it for such a great price that it is the better deal compared to the Sony

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Marantz dealer, now more than ever I want to be your friend! I have owned some nice Marantz gear. I still have a CD 53 I believe I bought new in 1996 that works, and it sounded very, very good for quite a few years. My brother has it now and despite a sticking tray once in a while, and e odd skip, he tells me it is still running well.

My Z7 is due to arrive tomorrow. I'll be using it on a Gustard H10 and an ECP Black Diamond. I'm very, very excited about this. 

Somehow, I've managed to live for nearly eighty years under the impression that gold is the most conductive metal. I read somewhere, back in the 'Forties, that gold isn't used for wiring instead of copper only because gold is too expensive and too heavy and I've believed that till now. I've Googled it, so I know that you are correct, sir. As they say, "you never know" and "you're never too old to learn."

purk said:

  I'm glad you are happy with the stock Z7 but just remember that your headphones can certainly sound noticeably better by simply swapping the cable.
 

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+1 I definitely don't regret the Kimber upgrade, although I was already very happy with the Z7 (after brain burn in), the upgrade really did it for me, bringing the extra thing that made them really shine and sound exceptional (to my ears).
 

That is not saying much given that the HD700 isn't really well received.  The Z7 will also make the HD800, R10, Qualia, Orpheus, and SR009 sound thin next to it IMO. 

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Now that's saying much, comparing Z7 to legends like those, especially since most of them are way out of the Z7 price range...
 
I guess it might lead some people to give the Z7 a listen
 
Quick note : Would you categorize the Z7 a closed back headphone despite the vents ? It's not like they're semi-open but neither are they fully closed, sound is leaking from that vent.

davidmolliere said:

   
 
 
Quick note : Would you categorize the Z7 a closed back headphone despite the vents ? It's not like they're semi-open but neither are they fully closed, sound is leaking from that vent.

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Depends what you compare them to...
 
The TH600s leak much more, and the Alpha Dogs/Prime far, far less...

^ agree with Jeff.
It doesn't leak out as much as TH600 even though by design TH600 is a fully closed headphone. The sound still leak out more than the Z7 which I believed is due to the design of the TH600 pads

bill-p said:

   
I have yet to try the PHA-3, but I hope I'll get the chance soon.
 
Glad you're liking my pair! I also thought they sounded much better than the stock pair from memory, but I didn't have the stock to compare.
 
If you don't mind, can you let me know how the modded pair compares against the CD3K and R10?

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Wow listening to what purk said seems that your mods are worth to try, is it the same mod that you post back then or any other change?
 
maybe you could share the latest mods later on after getting your unit back.

After seeing so many rigs like this here on head-fi, I can finally post a picture of mine (Just a little bit of a Sony fanboy)! Kind of forgot that the PHA-3 is supposed to be used to drive something like the Z7 on the go, as I've just been using it on my desk with my PC for night time music listening and gaming. Not sure if I like the idea of bringing this along with the Z7 attached to it with me to work to use on the bus though...

Hi everyone - new member here.
I've just got on the portable audio train - with a Sony ZX1 my GF brilliantly got me for Christmas, and since then I've picked up the Sony PHA-3 and Sony MDR-Z7s.
Kimber Cables incoming soon I reckon.
Love the sound of the MDRs - I'm really enjoying music once again! 

^^^ Wow, does she have a sister?