Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 Discussion Thread

[tolis626]

Thanks @tolis626 Yes you are right, I did link a 3 pole socket, obviously my hearing deficiency affected my thinking ability too . The socket I got was from China via Amazon. I didn't provide a link to the one I used because it isn't gold plated, I don't think the lack of gold plating makes a lot of difference, but I do think some may prefer gold plated.

I'm quite amazed at the sound the MSR7 can produce they are great value to be honest. If I just had one headphone I would be happy if it were the MSR7. The only issue most, if not all people have with them, is top of the head comfort over long listening sessions, which as we all know can be "improved" a bit with some headband tweeking.

I also didn't realise until I took the ear pad off to do this modification that the driver is of the angled variety, something that I do believe improves sound-stage.

Ah, I see. Well, as long as it's a high quality part, I don't really care about gold plating. It doesn't do much, if anything at all. It's nice to have, I guess, it looks better, but that's about it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. They are among the best closed back cans I've heard, and even more so if we throw portability in the equation. Their drivers are great!

The issue with the headband is a bit annoying, true. It's like they were designed for people with completely flat heads, But they are metal, so they bend easily and it's not a problem any more.

The drivers are at an angle, and quite a steep one at that. That's part of the reason why I had problems with the stock pads, my ears would touch the driver housing. But yes, you'd be correct, it's supposed to improve soundstage. And for what they are, the MSR7 have a great soundstage. It's not like the Fidelio X2 or Argons or something crazy like that, but they're closed back. The fact that there's a large ball around your head where sounds come from, with the occassional very distant drum or rumble and the occassional intimate, close, in your head singing is something I find great. And that is exaggerated a bit by larger pads. It's a subtle change, but mostly it's the fact that the mids are still intimate without getting the feeling that there's someone with an annoying voice screaming directly into your face using a loudspeaker cone. That and instruments can, but don't always do so, become more distant. It's great. And it's also crazy what removing a tiny piece of felt can do.

 

[zwillmaster]

What is the best portable dac for msr7?
My budget is $600. i dont care about value i just want to get the one that will sound the best.

 

[tolis626]

What is the best portable dac for msr7?
My budget is $600. i dont care about value i just want to get the one that will sound the best.

Well, personally at this stage I'd go for the Fiio Q5. From what I've heard, SQ wise it's up there with the best of them, and it's got all the features you could want. Swappable amp modules, balanced outputs, bluetooth connectivity (which actually is great, because bluetooth acts as sort of a USB cable and then the Q5 does the conversion to analog with that signal), a plethora of inputs (USB, optical/coaxial, line in), you name it. And IMO it looks gorgeous.

Other than that, for that kind of money you can get all sorts of great DACs/amps. My second choice for more power (as if the MSR7 needs any) would be the iFi iDSD Micro Black Label with all its knobs and switches and 4W of power. Then there's also the Chord Mojo and, if you can find one, the Oppo HA-2 or HA-2SE. All these are great, but none are as complete a package as the Q5 IMO. Can't go wrong with any of them I guess.

 

[zwillmaster]

Well, personally at this stage I'd go for the Fiio Q5. From what I've heard, SQ wise it's up there with the best of them, and it's got all the features you could want. Swappable amp modules, balanced outputs, bluetooth connectivity (which actually is great, because bluetooth acts as sort of a USB cable and then the Q5 does the conversion to analog with that signal), a plethora of inputs (USB, optical/coaxial, line in), you name it. And IMO it looks gorgeous.

Other than that, for that kind of money you can get all sorts of great DACs/amps. My second choice for more power (as if the MSR7 needs any) would be the iFi iDSD Micro Black Label with all its knobs and switches and 4W of power. Then there's also the Chord Mojo and, if you can find one, the Oppo HA-2 or HA-2SE. All these are great, but none are as complete a package as the Q5 IMO. Can't go wrong with any of them I guess.

Thank you for the info. I heard that a warm dac is very recommended for msr7.I am trying to figure out witch one will pair best. i dont care about any features,other then being able to hook it up to my phone. Do you know witch one of those would have a warm sound and that would pair best?

 

[tolis626]

Thank you for the info. I heard that a warm dac is very recommended for msr7.I am trying to figure out witch one will pair best. i dont care about any features,other then being able to hook it up to my phone. Do you know witch one of those would have a warm sound and that would pair best?

Q5, definitely. It's got a dual AKM 4490 config, and that's supposed to be a warmer sounding DAC, compared to the more analytic/harsh offerings from ESS. Plus, interchangeable amp modules make it possible to customize it further. Also, bluetooth is a godsent for portable use.

 

[Blinxat]

Still selling my 7SE

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audio-technica-msr7se.887482/#post-14492955

 

[zwillmaster]

Q5, definitely. It's got a dual AKM 4490 config, and that's supposed to be a warmer sounding DAC, compared to the more analytic/harsh offerings from ESS. Plus, interchangeable amp modules make it possible to customize it further. Also, bluetooth is a godsent for portable use.

Ok thank you very much for your info i do not care about bluetooth but i just wanted to get the best sound i can get from my msr7's on the go i already got me a sony Silver-coated oxygen-free copper headphone cable as well as A Silver-coated oxygen-free copper otg cable and was wanting to find the best way i could it all

 

[tolis626]

Still selling my 7SE

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audio-technica-msr7se.887482/#post-14492955

Damn, if I hadn't just bought a pair of HD 58x from Massdrop, I'd buy these in a heartbeat. My wallet's run dry sadly.

With that said, if they remain unsold by the time I have enough again, I'm so getting these. May I ask why you're selling them?

Ok thank you very much for your info i do not care about bluetooth but i just wanted to get the best sound i can get from my msr7's on the go i already got me a sony Silver-coated oxygen-free copper headphone cable as well as A Silver-coated oxygen-free copper otg cable and was wanting to find the best way i could it all

Wow, you are really going overboard with this. These cables are way overkill man, if they cost how much I think they cost. Unless you're planning on modding your MSR7 to make them balanced (like @SteveOliver did), I don't think these cables are worth the hassle. Also, I may sound like a broken record at this point, but I'd suggest doing my mod to get the most out of your cans. If you're spending that much dough for these, at least don't let a tiny piece of felt restrict your headphones' performance to 70% of their potential.

Also, you may wanna check out Sony's DAC/amps, like the PHA-1 and PHA-3, but I have no idea how much they cost and how good they are, I just know they're good. These and maybe RHA's Dacamp (that's the name of the thing) too.

 

[zwillmaster]

Damn, if I hadn't just bought a pair of HD 58x from Massdrop, I'd buy these in a heartbeat. My wallet's run dry sadly.

With that said, if they remain unsold by the time I have enough again, I'm so getting these. May I ask why you're selling them?


Wow, you are really going overboard with this. These cables are way overkill man, if they cost how much I think they cost. Unless you're planning on modding your MSR7 to make them balanced (like @SteveOliver did), I don't think these cables are worth the hassle. Also, I may sound like a broken record at this point, but I'd suggest doing my mod to get the most out of your cans. If you're spending that much dough for these, at least don't let a tiny piece of felt restrict your headphones' performance to 70% of their potential.

Also, you may wanna check out Sony's DAC/amps, like the PHA-1 and PHA-3, but I have no idea how much they cost and how good they are, I just know they're good. These and maybe RHA's Dacamp (that's the name of the thing) too.

The cables only costed $190 total but i plan to use them with other headphones down the line.
Does remove the felt ring have any negative effects? If not what is it there for?

 

[tolis626]

The cables only costed $190 total but i plan to use them with other headphones down the line.
Does remove the felt ring have any negative effects? If not what is it there for?

"Only" 190$. We have a different meaning for the word only my friend, very different.

Well, you can find details about the whole thing a few pages back or here (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the...dphone-mods-here.867426/page-13#post-14446717). To be worth the effort, you have to replace the pads (which is the biggest upgrade IMO, the comfort). I use sheepskin flat HM5 pads and they work absolutely great, but I guess other similarly big pads will work. Basically, that felt ring is used as back dampening. Fillin the back cup with cotton completely has the exact same result. But with added space in front of the driver, freeing the back results in a more open sound with more bass (especially sub bass) which is just enough to make these cans shine. Also, it calms some of the shouty mids down, but not too much so that they lose their character. If you just add bigger pads without removing the ring, the resulting sound is disastrously bad. Also, removing the felt ring with the stock pads adds bass, but it's a bit muddy and not really good. I'd give it a try if I were you, it's really easy and 100% reversible (just store these little felt rings somewhere safe, I have them in the headphone's box). Just be careful when putting the cans back together, don't squish the internal wiring anywhere. Good luck!

 

[zwillmaster]

Damn, if I hadn't just bought a pair of HD 58x from Massdrop, I'd buy these in a heartbeat. My wallet's run dry sadly.

With that said, if they remain unsold by the time I have enough again, I'm so getting these. May I ask why you're selling them?


Wow, you are really going overboard with this. These cables are way overkill man, if they cost how much I think they cost. Unless you're planning on modding your MSR7 to make them balanced (like @SteveOliver did), I don't think these cables are worth the hassle. Also, I may sound like a broken record at this point, but I'd suggest doing my mod to get the most out of your cans. If you're spending that much dough for these, at least don't let a tiny piece of felt restrict your headphones' performance to 70% of their potential.

Also, you may wanna check out Sony's DAC/amps, like the PHA-1 and PHA-3, but I have no idea how much they cost and how good they are, I just know they're good. These and maybe RHA's Dacamp (that's the name of the thing) too.

I just tried taking off the felt and i did not like the sound at all so i put them back on also i dont want any other pads i like the sound signature already and do not have a problem with the comfort

 

[tolis626]

I just tried taking off the felt and i did not like the sound at all so i put them back on

Told ya, you need bigger pads. Stock pads sound meh.

 

[zwillmaster]

I just tried taking off the felt and i did not like the sound at all so i put them back on

And i am

Told ya, you need bigger pads. Stock pads sound meh.

I heard puting differnt pads on destroys the sound and i think they sound amazing already. I was just wondering what would be a better dac for it then the fiio q1 that i am using, unless it wont make any differnce

 

[tolis626]

And i am

I heard puting differnt pads on destroys the sound and i think they sound amazing already. I was just wondering what would be a better dac for it then the fiio q1 that i am using, unless it wont make any differnce

It does. But if you use bigger pads AND remove the felt, it sounds amazing. Very close to stock, but takes away some of the shoutiness in the high mids and tangibly increases the, admittedly lacking, bass.

I'm using the Q1 too and it does an admirable job, but I guess all of the DACs I mentioned above will be better hands down.

 

[zwillmaster]

It does. But if you use bigger pads AND remove the felt, it sounds amazing. Very close to stock, but takes away some of the shoutiness in the high mids and tangibly increases the, admittedly lacking, bass.

I'm using the Q1 too and it does an admirable job, but I guess all of the DACs I mentioned above will be better hands down.

Well i have some shure 940 pads. Do you think they will sound ok with velour?