Oddly I think I have a white one that was a gift, going to check that later.
Don't think I liked it though, fell wayy short of the FX850s! Very curious to how the Z7 sounds now - 2/3 days before I get it!
It would be interesting to hear how you felt it fell short. I hear no defects but we all hear different of course. Massive bass, good sub reach (with the right ear tips, I had to use the largest, inserted properly. Mids are not boosted or scooped. Highs have detail but the least amount of edge (what treble fans call *sparkle*) I'd heard in any IEMs. I am sensitive to highs so I'm biased there.
Sitting with the Audioquest Nighthawk. Happened to sample a pair of the Z7 at a Best Buy Magnolia and they're the first headphones to make me want to move on from the hawks. Wow sony. VERY well done.
Sitting with the Audioquest Nighthawk. Happened to sample a pair of the Z7 at a Best Buy Magnolia and they're the first headphones to make me want to move on from the hawks. Wow sony. VERY well done.
It would be interesting to hear how you felt it fell short. I hear no defects but we all hear different of course. Massive bass, good sub reach (with the right ear tips, I had to use the largest, inserted properly. Mids are not boosted or scooped. Highs have detail but the least amount of edge (what treble fans call *sparkle*) I'd heard in any IEMs. I am sensitive to highs so I'm biased there.
Probably not fair given the fx850 costed about 8x the XB50 at the time of purchase for me, but the resolution of the fx is that much better. There is much more clarity in the mids and high, better stage and depth too. They both have similar bass quantity but the fx is much more cleaner and hits harder
In terms of an overall sound, I think the XB50 sounds like a downslope EQ from left to right, whereas the fx850 has the left side slightly up, and the rest flat.
The Z7 vs Alpha Prime. You would expect the Prime to win on bass, being a planar, but no. The Z7 has more mid bass, and maybe even more sub bass. The Prime does have better instrument presentation and separation. Spacing just seems more accurate. But the Prime, in my opinion, lacks that romantic quality I like in headphones. It's just not as musical or forgiving as the Z7, in my opinion...
I haven't heard the Omni yet, but I have heard the Blackwood Vibro. Now that headphone is very romantic, with a darker overall presentation. But I think the Z7 still has superior sub bass, but loses out on mids.
The Z7 vs Alpha Prime. You would expect the Prime to win on bass, being a planar, but no. The Z7 has more mid bass, and maybe even more sub bass. The Prime does have better instrument presentation and separation. Spacing just seems more accurate. But the Prime, in my opinion, lacks that romantic quality I like in headphones. It's just not as musical or forgiving as the Z7, in my opinion...
I haven't heard the Omni yet, but I have heard the Blackwood Vibro. Now that headphone is very romantic, with a darker overall presentation. But I think the Z7 still has superior sub bass, but loses out on mids.
I have love and hate relationship with the z7 where ilove the warm and good exension of the bass. But i really dislikes the poor imaging and soundstage presentation.
All frequencies seems bleeding into each other eventhough i ran via balanced 4 pin xlr with master 9 amp.
I have love and hate relationship with the z7 where ilove the warm and good exension of the bass. But i really dislikes the poor imaging and soundstage presentation.
All frequencies seems bleeding into each other eventhough i ran via balanced 4 pin xlr with master 9 amp.
That's so strange, I just got a pair of Z7 and find imaging and soundstage very good for a closed phone ! Just goes to show we all hear different. I just finished listening to three old prog. rock Genesis albums (when Phil was the drummer). They really sound very good. I even picked up on a lot of backing vocals, I had never really heard before. The only thing they were a little weak with was the treble, like the hi hat cymbals, they were a little sub-dued. But hell yes these are very forgiving and quite lovely. Makes me wonder why these are not more popular ! Do people not try these out at the meets ? Oh well, I really like them. The Nighthawks and Omni are next on my list to try.
That's so strange, I just got a pair of Z7 and find imaging and soundstage very good for a closed phone ! Just goes to show we all hear different. I just finished listening to three old prog. rock Genesis albums (when Phil was the drummer). They really sound very good. I even picked up on a lot of backing vocals, I had never really heard before. The only thing they were a little weak with was the treble, like the hi hat cymbals, they were a little sub-dued. But hell yes these are very forgiving and quite lovely. Makes me wonder why these are not more popular ! Do people not try these out at the meets ? Oh well, I really like them. The Nighthawks and Omni are next on my list to try.
Oh I completely agree, again for a closed headphone. The Omni is my next headphone too. Being semi-open and having thicker pads, the soundstage should be wider...
That's so strange, I just got a pair of Z7 and find imaging and soundstage very good for a closed phone ! Just goes to show we all hear different. I just finished listening to three old prog. rock Genesis albums (when Phil was the drummer). They really sound very good. I even picked up on a lot of backing vocals, I had never really heard before. The only thing they were a little weak with was the treble, like the hi hat cymbals, they were a little sub-dued. But hell yes these are very forgiving and quite lovely. Makes me wonder why these are not more popular ! Do people not try these out at the meets ? Oh well, I really like them. The Nighthawks and Omni are next on my list to try.
It's been a real long while since I last gave the z7 a go. However, I do think it is a very good sound. I feel the z7 soundstage criticism may be due to the fact that while it is good for a closed can, you nonetheless get the sense that it is closed. Whereas with something like a TH900, the soundstage goes beyond good for closed and into the realm of being competitive with certain open options. Just my perspective on how to better understand this disparity in opinions.
It's been a real long while since I last gave the z7 a go. However, I do think it is a very good sound. I feel the z7 soundstage criticism may be due to the fact that while it is good for a closed can, you nonetheless get the sense that it is closed. Whereas with something like a TH900, the soundstage goes beyond good for closed and into the realm of being competitive with certain open options. Just my perspective on how to better understand this disparity in opinions.
I agree to your opinions bro with the sense of smaller soundstage of z7.
Some forum said due to the large driver act like subwoofer which can cause the disturbance of other frequency. This causing poor imaging and separation of instrument and later to smaller sounstage.
But the z7 is still a fun sounding can.
I love the warm and comfy of z7 which i was able to wear for longer time.
The sound of the MDR-Z's isn't as wide as my D5000s and especially my ATH-A900Xs, but it sure has more depth, with a 3D-ish surround effect.
And without ruining details, imaging and texture. I think Z7's imaging is almost at the same level as my BeoPlay H6s, which are commonly recognized as headphones with excellent imaging.
(Edited: replaced BeoLab by BeoPlay
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