Nice write-up. I had the first gen Z7 and liked them, but never loved them. I have thought since about trying the gen 2, but never commited. And the Z1R is too expensive for me.

You do make them sound good though!

@Shane D, They're really good. I listened to the track "The Map Room: Dawn" on the John Williams Raiders of the Lost Ark score. The Z7M2 nailed it from top to bottom. There are times and tracks in which the Z7M2 gets really close to the Z1R. But the Z1R is definitely just a bit better across the board, especially, like I say, when the mix is busier.

If you're looking for a closed back in this range, I would say the Z7M2, Aeon Closed X, and Focal Elegia are the places to look for your preferred sound signature.

It's funny, my memory of the Z7 (mark 1) is better than the M2. But I don't have them on hand to confirm this, so it could just be nostalgia or something

Currently I like the Cascades for fun and my favourite is the Focal Radiance. Elegia's didn't do it for me.

Well now, you're almost into Z1R money with the Radiance!