I agree about all of the Momentums. I have two over ears (I and II) and the on Ears II. all share that same characteristic. I was hoping that the msr7 would put the top end and give me more clarity but for me, they seem to play notes but not music! The Momentums are clouded but give a good 'feel'.
The Sony has a bigger bass hump and the m100 is entertaining with an even bigger bass hump. Out of the three of them, I just find the Momentum has less of a hump there so that spoken voice reproduction is better. With both the Sony and the M100, it can be a bit boomy.
I tried very hard to get into the msr7, since voice reproduction is very good. For me, the extreme top and bottom is missing so my search for a decent closed portable goes on. I had a dt1350 for a while but found that a little odd too.
Smaller closed headphones seem to be problematic.
I understand our observations and can agree on some points tried a few hf's these last months. None I heard is flat, then does every Dap, sounds the same?
Momentums, sound good for a while, but then you miss the sprinkle, a bit same story for the Sony 1 A. It can sound very pleasant on some recordings, but OOOOh so boring on others, missing life in it. I listened also yesterday to a Marshall, on ear, price was around 80 €. Well this sounds also fun, is not agressive, and a good deal for your buck.
Like I wrote here before, The ATh M40X, first impression, is really fun and would be the best price/quality, but after 10 minutes it makes me want to put it off. The treble is more present then in the MDR7, that is true. But that is just also why it is edgy, and voices, are NOT beautiful. Sometimes I hardly recognize the voice of the singer. it is to thin, sometimes like a small "speed up".
I am keeping the Ath MSR 7, like you said for the voices. They sound beautiful! And I play mostly that. About the treble, yes, you could argue, there is a bit of lack here and there, but, compared to the SONY 1A, you notice it is all there, and with people saying it is bright, it still sound smooth enough. The Bass, indeed could go some deeper, here and there, especially on modern music. But at other times, it roars, when you not expect it.
It all comes down with the shortcomings, combination you use your headphone with. I not agree with you, that is plays notes, and not music. Violins sound so fantastic too, like it should be, detailed but not smooth. I would never use this HF, with a cheap dac or phone. There the Sony will marry much better.
And for those who complain about bass. first of all on some recordings, it is very natural, but if you really need more if you turn it higher on your dap, the HF reacts well to it. At times I would tune it a little bit, but flat it can sound so beautiful, and musical, with the right music. Try Leonard Cohen "Popular problems", Patricia Barber "Nightclub", perfect recordings, and tell me if there is bass missing or anything else......
