[Lohb]

Quick question while I'm working my way through this thread, does going balanced input cause any issues with the sound quality ?

I guess on the low-end it will tighten up bass speed and definition/texture with the voltage increase, but does it kick out the FR badly
anywhere else...bloating etc ?

I read someone else did not get a good result with the iBasso PB3 balanced out on this or the other thread regarding synergy which was interesting, as it was a decent mobile amp I had my eye on for Sony XBA-N3 I will pick up later in the year, and Z7s.

The richness and musicality of the N3 hybrid IEMs was just great and I think Z7 uses the same cone and cone treatment. What a steal the N3 are, considering the leaps in pricing on the new Sony stuff as they price like boutiques but they have 50+ years of 'economies of scale' LOL...wonder what their BOM (bill of materials) on the new gear is, 1/100 ?

 

[Raketen]

Quick question while I'm working my way through this thread, does going balanced input cause any issues with the sound quality ?

I guess on the low-end it will tighten up bass speed and definition/texture with the voltage increase, but does it kick out the FR badly
anywhere else...bloating etc ?

I read someone else did not get a good result with the iBasso PB3 balanced out on this or the other thread regarding synergy which was interesting, as it was a decent mobile amp I had my eye on for Sony XBA-N3 I will pick up later in the year, and Z7s.

The richness and musicality of the N3 hybrid IEMs was just great and I think Z7 uses the same cone and cone treatment. What a steal the N3 are, considering the leaps in pricing on the new Sony stuff as they price like boutiques but they have 50+ years of 'economies of scale' LOL...wonder what their BOM (bill of materials) on the new gear is, 1/100 ?

I didn't notice any significant differences when I ran mine balanced from GOV2+, compared to my single end portable amp, but I think they were under-powered a little bit that way. I finally got a small SE desktop amp (Corda Rock FF) not too long ago and they seem better overall, a little more even-keeled from that than any of my portable gear, SE or BAL. In addition to the power difference this amp does have somewhat high output impedance- I've not enough understanding to draw any conclusions from this.

Maybe it's crazy talk, but I actually prefer tonal balance of N3 to Z7, I think each of these headphones could learn a little from the other.

 

[Lohb]

No crazy talk, final SQ preference can only be subjective....regardless of price.

So after reading the entire thread, I saw there were some who used medical tape in the cups and some who used dynamat/charcoal foam.
Anyone use both and have a final preference..I think the foam moved the mids back to be less subjectively shouty with a 1Khz peak being tamed ?
Edit : I guess a 3rd option that is not either/or is porous foam in the cups and tape on the back of the drivers like other can mods..Fostex etc.

 

[kefs]

Swapped cables with my Z1R, Norne Draug Silver, omg, a much larger difference than with the Z1R's even. I was already using Sony Kimber, but they are closed in and nasally in comparison, the sound becomes MASSIVE and 3 dimensional, treating each element of the music individually, but also as a whole performance. I cannot listen to anything lesser now. @TigzStudio

 

[Lohb]

Swapped cables with my Z1R, Norne Draug Silver, omg, a much larger difference than with the Z1R's even. I was already using Sony Kimber, but they are closed in and nasally in comparison, the sound becomes MASSIVE and 3 dimensional, treating each element of the music individually, but also as a whole performance. I cannot listen to anything lesser now. @TigzStudio

Was it difficult to remove the cheap $1 or whatever stock cabling inside the cups, just before the cones, and solder in the Norne Draug Silver ?

 

[kefs]

Was it difficult to remove the cheap $1 or whatever stock cabling inside the cups, just before the cones, and solder in the Norne Draug Silver ?

I havn't modded mine yet, but will when i have time

 

[viivo]

Does anyone know if newplast clay often used in modding the Fostex T50RPs would be at all beneficial to the z7?

 

[lesale08]

I havn't modded mine yet, but will when i have time

Did you mean you just swapped the stock z1r cable to the z7 and that made all the huge improvements? Sorry not very particular with z1r' cable.

 

[kefs]

Did you mean you just swapped the stock z1r cable to the z7 and that made all the huge improvements? Sorry not very particular with z1r' cable.

Hi, no i swapped over with my Norne Audio draug silver cable that i had made and use with the Z1R's. @TigzStudio

 

[Lohb]

Hi, no i swapped over with my Norne Audio draug silver cable that i had made and use with the Z1R's. @TigzStudio

Right, so the headphone port connector on Z1R and Z7 are the same. Good to know.

 

[kefs]

Yes, they are identical

 

[kefs]

Wow, replacement pads fitted, there is now bass AND soundstage and my ears aren't rubbing on the drivers!
Next has to be some mods.
So i need some 'micropore' tape firstly?
I then get my colleague to swap internal wiring to high quality silver?
Cutting and inserting shaped foam or other ( what thickness) to the internal of pads?
Listening as typing this and goodness they sound nice.
Ps, there were no screws holding the pads on so i presume the original owner removed and not replaced, what size are they please, something like spectacle screws ?

 

[AlexCBSN]

Wow, replacement pads fitted, there is now bass AND soundstage and my ears aren't rubbing on the drivers!
Next has to be some mods.
So i need some 'micropore' tape firstly?
I then get my colleague to swap internal wiring to high quality silver?
Cutting and inserting shaped foam or other ( what thickness) to the internal of pads?
Listening as typing this and goodness they sound nice.
Ps, there were no screws holding the pads on so i presume the original owner removed and not replaced, what size are they please, something like spectacle screws ?

Where did you got the replacement pads sorry? I’m looking for a pair

 

[AlexCBSN]

So! Got a spare used pair, already treat em with dynamite, removed the front of the driver black pad, still need a new cable (cause the one I’ve got em with is seriously ****ed) and re wire em, I’m looking forward the re wiring, i think that and a proper cable will make em top notch, for what i paid (they are in quite a rough shape, need pads and new cables, the driver is on shape so I’m ok with em, i can embrace the fact that i normally get to unbox all my stuff, this came in a bag...) I’m quite happy

 

[kefs]

Where did you got the replacement pads sorry? I’m looking for a pair